1997 CHEVROLET EXPRESS brake

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If the ignition is on when the parking brake is released,
the brake system warning light will go off.
NOTICE:
Driving with the parking brake on can
cause your rear brakes
to overheat. You may
have to replace them, and you could also damage
other parts of your vehicle. Always check to be
sure your parking brake is fully released before
you drive.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on any hill,
see “Towing a Trailer’’
in the Index. That section shows
what
to do first to keep the trailer from moving.
Shifting Into PARK (P)
I
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
If you have left the engine running, the vehicle
can move suddenly. You or others could be
injured.
To be sure your vehicle won’t move, even
when you’re on fairly level ground, use the steps
that follow. If you’re pulling
a trailer, see
“Towing a Trailer” in
the Index.
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
set the parking brake.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Leaving Your Vehicle With the
Engine Running
A CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with
the engine running. Your vehicle could move
suddenly if the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P)
with the parking brake firmly set. And, if you
leave the vehicle with the engine running, it could
overheat and even catch fire. You or others could
be injured. Don’t leave your vehicle with the
engine running unless you have to.
Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and you don’t shift your
transmission into PARK
(P) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl in
the transmission. You may find it difficult to pull the
shift lever out
of PARK (P). This is called “torque lock.”
To prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and then
shift into
PARK (P) properly before you leave the
driver’s seat.
To find out how, see “Shifting Into
PARK (P)” in the Index.
When
you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out of
PARK
(P) before you release the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to have another
vehicle push yours a little uphill
to take some of the
pressure from the parking pawl in the transmission,
so you can pull the shift lever out of PARK
(P).

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Shifting Out of PARK (P)
Your vehicle has a brake-transmission shift interlock
system. You have to fully apply your regular brakes
before you can shift from PARK
(P) when the ignition
is in RUN.
See “Automatic Transmission” in the Index.
If you cannot shift out of PARK
(P), ease pressure on
the shift lever and push the shift lever all the way up
into PARK (P) as
you maintain brake application.
Then, move the shift lever into the gear
you want.
If you ever hold the brake pedal down but still can’t
shift out
of PARK (P), try this:
1. Turn the key to OFF.
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.
3. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the vehicle and then shift to the drive gear
you want.
5. Have the brake-transmission shift interlock system
fixed as soon as
you can.
Parking Over Things That Burn
a CAUTIO, i: I
.
Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust
parts under your vehicle and ignite. Don’t park
over papers, leaves, dry grass or other things that
can burn.
2-27

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I A CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine
is
running unless you have to. If you’ve left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You
or others could be injured. To be sure your
vehicle won’t move, even when you’re on fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever
to PARK (P).
Windows
Manual Windows
To operate your manual windows, turn the hand crank
on each door to raise or lower your side door windows.
Power Windows (Option)
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle won’t
move. See “Shifting Into PARK (P)” in the Index.
If you’re pulling a trailer, see “Towing a Trailer” in
the Index.
If you have the optional power windows, the controls
are
on each of the side doors.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Cruise Control (Option)
With cruise control, you can maintain a speed of about
25 mph (40 km/h) or more without keeping your foot on
the accelerator. This can really help on long trips. Cruise
control does not work at speeds below about
25 mph
(40km/h).
When you apply your brakes,
the cruise control
shuts
off.
I
Cruise control can be dangerous where you
can’t drive safely at
a steady speed. So,
~ don’t use your cruise control on winding
’ roads or in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous on
slippery roads. On such roads, fast changes
in tire traction can cause needless wheel
spinning, and you could
lose control. Don’t
use cruise control on slippery roads.
Setting Cruise Control
I
I a CA JTION:
If you leave your cruise control switch on
when you’re not using cruise, you might hit a
button and go into cruise when you don’t want
to.
You could be startled and even lose control.
Keep the cruise control switch
OFF until you
want to use it.
1. Move the cruise control switch to ON.
2. Get up to the speed you want.
3. Press in the SET button
at the end
of the lever
and release
it.
4. Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Resuming a Set Speed
Suppose you set your cruise control at a desired speed
and then
you apply the brake. This, of course, shuts off
the cruise control. But you don’t need to reset it.
Once you’re going about
25 mph (40 km/h) or more,
you can move the cruise control switch from ON to
R/A (Resume/Accelerate) for about half a second.
You’ll go right back up
to your chosen speed and
stay there.
Remember, if you hold the switch at RIA longer than
half a second, the vehicle will keep going faster
until
you release the switch or apply the brake. So unless you
want to go faster, don’t hold the switch at R/A.
Increasing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed:
Use the accelerator pedal to get to the higher speed.
Push the button at the end
of the lever, then release
the button and the accelerator pedal. You’ll now
cruise at the higher speed.
Move the cruise switch from ON to R/A. Hold it
there until
you get up to the speed you want, and
then release
the switch. To increase your speed in
very small amounts, move the switch to
R/A for less
than half a second. Each time
you do this, your
vehicle will
go about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster.
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to reduce your speed while using
cruise control:
Push in the button at the end of the lever until you
reach the lower speed you want,
then release it.
0 To slow down in very small amounts, push the
button
for less than half a second. Each time you
do this, you’ll go 1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed. When
you take your foot off the pedal, your vehicle will slow
down
to the cruise control speed you set earlier.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load and the steepness of the hills.
When going up steep hills,
you may have to step on
the accelerator pedal
to maintain your speed. If the
steepness of the hill causes the vehicle speed to drop
more than
15 mph (9.4 kmh) below the set speed, your
cruise control will automatically disengage. When
going
downhill, you may have to brake or shift to a lower gear
to keep your speed down.
Of course, applying the brake
takes
you out of cruise control. Many drivers find this to
be too much trouble and don’t use cruise control
on
steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
There are two ways to turn off the cruise control:
Step lightly on the brake pedal; or
0 Move the cruise switch to OFF.
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition,
your cruise control set speed memory is erased.
Exterior Lamps
Your parking/headlamp switch is on the driver’s side of
your instrument panel.
Your instrument panel dimmer wheel now has
two
detent positions.
2-38

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Headlamps On Reminder
A tone will sound when your headlamps are turned on
and your ignition is in OFF, LOCK or ACCESSORY.
If
you need to use your headlamps when the ignition
switch is in
OFF, LOCK or ACCESSORY, the tone
can be turned off by turning the thumb wheel next
to
the parking lamp/headlamp switch all the way down.
Daytime Running Lamps (If Equipped)
Daytime Running Lamps (Dm) can make it easier for
others
to see the front of your vehicle during the day.
DRL can be helpful
in many different driving conditions,
but they can be especially helpful in the short periods
after dawn and before sunset.
The DRL system will make your headlamps come on at
a reduced brightness when:
The ignition is on,
The headlamp switch is off, and
0 The parking brake is released.
If your vehicle was first sold, when new,
in Canada,
your headlamps will come on at reduced brightness.
If your vehicle was first sold, when new, in the United
States, your vehicle may be equipped with DRL.
If your
vehicle has DRL, you
will see the the DRL indicator light
on your instrument panel and your low-beam
headlamps will come on at reduced brightness.
When the DRL are on, only your headlamps will be on.
The taillamps, sidemarker and other lamps won’t be
on.
Your instrument panel won’t be lit up either.
When it begins to get dark, your
DRL indicator light is a
reminder to
turn your headlamp switch on. The other lamps
that come on
with your headlamps will also come on.
When
you turn off the headlamp switch, the regular
lamps will go
off, and your headlamps will change to
the reduced brightness of DRL.
To idle your vehicle with the engine on and the DRL off,
set the parking brake. The DRL will stay off until you
release
the parking brake.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
Dome Lamps
The dome lamps will come on when you open the doors.
You can also turn the dome lamps on by rotating the
thumb wheel, located next to the headlamp knob, all
the way up
to the second notch. In this position, the
dome lamps will remain
on whether the doors are
opened or closed.
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