1998 CHEVROLET EXPRESS steering

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine LOCK (B): This position locks your ignition, steering
wheel and transmission.
It’s a theft-deterrent feature.
You will only be able to remove your key when the
ignition is turned
to LOCK.
OFF (C): This position lets you turn off the engine but
still
turn the steering wheel. It doesn’t lock the steering
wheel like LOCK. Use
OFF if you must have your
vehicle in motion while the engine is off (for example, if
your vehicle is being pushed).
RUN (D): This is the position for driving.
START (E): This starts your engine.
NOTICE:
If your key seems stuck in LOCK and you can’t
turn
it, be sure you are using the correct key; if
so, is it all the way in? If it is, then turn the
steering wheel left and right while you turn the
key hard. But turn the key only with your hand.
Using
a tool to force it could break the key or the
ignition switch. If none of this works, then your
vehicle needs service.
Starting Your Gasoline Engine
If you have a diesel engine, see “Starting Your Diesel
Engine” in
the Diesel Engine Supplement.
Move your shift lever to
PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
Your engine won’t start in any other position -- that’s a
safety feature. To restart when you’re already moving,
use NEUTRAL
(N) only.
NOTICE:
Don’t try to shift to PARK (P) if your vehicle is
moving. If you do, you could damage the
transmission. Shift to
PARK (P) only when your
vehicle is stopped.
1. Without pushing the accelerator pedal, turn your
ignition key to START. When the engine starts, let
go
of the key. The idle speed will go down as your
engine gets warm.
2-1s

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Engine Cool-nt Heater (If Equipped) To Use the Engine Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine. I
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.
The cord for the engine coolant heater is located
on
the driver’s side of the engine compartment and is
attached
to the hose for the power steering reservoir.
In very cold weather,
0°F (- I 8OC) or colder, the engine
coolant heater can help. You’ll get easier starting and
better fuel economy during engine warm-up. Usually,
the coolant heater should be plugged in a minimum
of
four hours prior to starting your vehicle.
I
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 1 IO-volt AC outlet.
1 A
CAUTION:
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet
could cause an electrical
shock. Also, the wrong
kind
of extension cord could overheat and cause
a fire. You could be seriously injured. Plug the
cord into
a properly grounded three-prong
110-volt
AC outlet. If the cord won’t reach, use a
heavy-duty three-prong extension cord rated for
at least 15 amps.
2-20

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine A CAUTAN:
It can be dangerous to drive with the rear
swing-out windows or rear door(s) open because
carbon monoxide (CO) gas can come into your vehicle. You can’t see or smell CO. It can cause
unconsciousness and even death.
If you must drive with the rear swing-out
windows or rear door(s) open or if electrical
wiring or other cable connections must pass
through the seal between the body and the rear
swing-out windows or rear door(s):
Make sure all windows are shut.
CAUTION: (Continued)
I CAUTION: (Continued)
Thrn the fan on your heating or cooling
system to its highest speed with the setting
Additionally, on vehicles with heatingair
conditioning systems,
NORM A/C or
BI-LEVEL A/C can be used. That will
force outside air into your vehicle. See
“Comfort Controls” in the Index.
If you have air outlets on or under the
’. instrument panel, open them all the way.
See “Engine Exhaust” in the Index.
on
VENT, HEAT, BLEND or
DEE
Horn
Press the horn symbol in the middle of the steering
wheel to sound the horn.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Tilt Wheel (Option)
A tilt steering wheel allows you to adjust the steering
wheel before you drive. You can also raise it to the
highest level to give your legs more room when
you
enter and exit the vehicle.
To tilt the wheel, hold the steering wheel and pull the
lever. Move the steering wheel to a comfortable level.
then release the lever to lock the wheel in place.
Turn SignaVMultifunction Lever
The lever on the left side of the steering column
includes your:
Turn Signal and Lane Changer
0 Headlamp High/Low Beam Changer
0 Windshield Wipers
0 Windshield Washer
0 Cruise Control (Option)
2-34

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Section 4 Your Driving and the Road
Here you’ll find information about driving on different kinds of roads and in varying weather conditions. We’ve also
included many other useful tips on driving.
4-2
4-3
4-5
4-6
4-8
4-11
4-1
1
4- 12
4-
14
Defensive Driving Drunken Driving
Control of a Vehicle
Braking
Steering
Off-Road Recovery
Passing
Loss
of Control
Driving at Night 4-
15
4- 18
4-
19
4-20
4-2
1
4-2 1
4-23
4-27
4-28 Driving
in Rain and on Wet Roads
City Driving
Freeway Driving
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Highway Hypnosis Hill and Mountain Roads
Winter Driving
Loading Your Vehicle
Towing a Trailer

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine right answer. What if there’s an emergency, a need to
take sudden action, as when a child darts into the street?
A person with even a moderate BAC might not be able
to react quickly enough to avoid the collision.
There’s something else about drinking and driving that many people don’t know. Medical research shows that
alcohol in a person’s system can make crash injuries
worse, especially injuries to the brain, spinal cord or
heart. This means that when anyone who has been
drinking
-- driver or passenger -- is in a crash, that
person’s chance
of being killed or permanently disabled
is higher than if the person had not been drinking.
Drinking and then driving is very dangerous.
Your reflexes, perceptions, attentiveness and
judgment can be affected by even
a small amoun
of alcohol. You can have a serious
-- or even
fatal
-- collision if you drive after drinking.
Please don’t drink and drive or ride with a drive
who has been drinking. Ride home in a cab; or
if
you’re with a group, designate a driver who will
not drink.
Control of a Vehicle
You have three systems that make your vehicle go where
you want it to go. They
are the brakes, the steering and
the accelerator. All three systems have to
do their work
at the places where the tires meet the road.
Sometimes, as when you’re driving on snow or ice, it’s
easy to ask more of those control systems than the tires
and road can provide. That means you can lose control
of your vehicle.
4-5

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine The anti-lock system can change the brake pressure faster
than any driver could. The computer is programmed
to
make the most of available tire and road conditions.
You can steer around the obstacle while braking hard.
As you brake, your computer keeps receiving updates on
wheel speed and controls braking pressure accordingly. Remember: Anti-lock doesn’t
change the time you need
to get your foot up to the brake pedal or always decrease
stopping distance. If you get too close to the vehicle
in
front of you, you won’t have time to apply your brakes
if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops. Always leave
enough room up ahead to stop, even though you have
anti-lock brakes.
Using Anti-Lock
Don’t pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal down
firmly and let anti-lock work for
you. You may feel the
brakes vibrate, or you may notice some noise, but this
is normal.
Braking in Emergencies
With anti-lock, you can steer and brake at the same
time. In many emergencies, steering can help you more
than even the very best braking.
Steering
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist because the engine
stops or the system is not functioning,
you can steer but
it will take much more effort.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Speed Sensitive Steering
Your vehicle is equipped with a speed sensitive steering
system.
This system automatically varies the amount of
steering effort in proportion
to your vehicle speed. The
required steering effort increases as your speed increases.
Steering Tips
Driving on Curves
It’s important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
A lot
of the “driver lost control” accidents mentioned on
the news happen
on curves. Here’s why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each of
us is subject to
the same laws of physics when driving on curves. The
traction
of the tires against the road surface makes it
possible for the vehicle
to change its path when you turn
the front wheels. If there’s no traction, inertia will keep
the vehicle going
in the same direction. If you’ve ever
tried
to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you’ll understand this.
The traction you can get in a curve depends on the
condition
of your tires and the road surface, the angle at
which the curve is banked, and your speed. While you’re
in a curve, speed is the one factor you can control. Suppose
you’re steering through
a sharp curve.
Then you suddenly accelerate. Both control
systems
-- steering and acceleration -- have to do
their work where the tires meet the road. Adding the
sudden acceleration can demand too much of those
places. You can lose control.
What should
you do if this ever happens? Ease up on the
accelerator pedal, steer the vehicle the way you want it
to go, and slow down.
Speed limit signs near curves warn that
you should
adjust your speed.
Of course, the posted speeds are
based
on good weather and road conditions. Under less
favorable conditions you’ll want to go slower.
If you need to reduce your speed as you approach a
curve, do
it before you enter the curve, while your front
wheels are straight ahead.
Try to adjust your speed so
you can “drive” through the
curve. Maintain a reasonable, steady speed. Wait to
accelerate until
you are out of the curve, and then
accelerate gently into the straightaway.