1998 CHEVROLET EXPRESS instrument panel

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows AIR BAG. The system checks the
air bag’s electrical system for malfunctions. The light
tells you if there is an electrical problem. The system
check includes the air bag sensor, the air bag modules,
the wiring and the crash sensing and diagnostic module.
For more information on the air bag system, see “Air
Bag” in the Index.
AIR
BAG
This light will come on
when you start your engine,
and it will flash for a few
seconds. Then the light
should
go out. This means
the system is ready.
If
the air bag readiness light stays on after you start the
engine or comes on when you are driving, your air bag
system may not work properly. Have your vehicle
serviced right away. The
air bag readiness light should flash for
a few
seconds
when you turn the ignition key to RUN. If the
light doesn’t come on then, have it fixed
so it will be
ready to warn you if there is a problem.
Charging System Light
This light should come on
briefly
when you turn on the
ignition, before starting the
engine,
as a check to show
you it is working.
After the engine starts, the light should
go out. If it stays
on or comes on while you are driving, you may have a
problem with your charging system. It could indicate a
problem with the alternator drive belt, or some other
charging system problem. Have it checked right away.
Driving while this light is on could drain your battery.
If you must drive a short distance with this light
on, it
helps to turn off all your accessories, such as the radio
and air conditioner.
2-54

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Daytime Running Lamps Indicator Light
You may have this light on
the instrument panel. It will
light whenever the
DRL are
on. It is also a reminder to
turn on your headlamps
when driving at night.
Check Gages Light
CHECK
GAGES
The CHECK GAGES light
will come on briefly when
you are starting the engine.
If
the light comes on and stays on while you are driving,
check your coolant temperature and engine oil pressure
gages
to see if they are in the warning zones.
2-62

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Comfort Controls Fan Knob
This section tells you how to make your air system
work for you. Your comfort control system uses
ozone-friendly
R- 134a refrigerant.
With these systems,
you can control the heating,
cooling and ventilation in your van. Your vehicle also
has a flow-through ventilation system described later
in this section. The
knob on the left side of the heating system control
panel controls the fan speed. The knob has four speed
positions. To increase airflow, move the knob toward
HI. To decrease airflow, move it toward LO. To turn the
fan off, move the mode knob on the
far right to OFF.
Temperature Knob
The middle knob on the control panel lets you select the
relative temperature
of the air flowing into the passenger area
of your vehicle. This knob will allow you to adjust
the
Heater Controls
relative air temperature independently of the function knob
setting. Move
the knob toward the red area for warmer air.
Move the knob toward the blue area for cooler
air.
Mode Knob
If your vehicle does not have air conditioning, your
heater controls will look like this. The
right knob changes the heater setting.
+.
/J VENT This setting directs air through the
instrument panel vents.
- +.
+fl BI-LEVEL: Use this setting to divide airflow
between the heater floor vents and instrument panel vents.
+’ HEAT This setting directs air through the heater
floor vents. This setting
is useful for cold weather.
e
3-2

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine A/C: Use for normal cooling on hot days. This setting
cools outside air and directs it through the instrument
panel outlets.
+', BI-LEVEL A/C: Use this setting to divide aifflow
between the heater floor vents and instrument panel
vents. The air conditioning compressor may operate
in
this setting to cool the air.
+e
-e
VENT: This setting directs air through the
instrument panel vents.
+H HEAT This setting directs air through the heater
floor vents. This setting
is useful for cold weather.
0
G?
HEAT/DEFROST: Use this setting to divide
aifflow between the heater floor vents and windshield.
DEFROST: This setting directs air through the
windshield defroster vents. This setting is useful when
you have fog or ice on the windshield.
Rear Heater (Without Air Conditioning)
If you have a rear heater (without rear air conditioning),
the control switch is located on
the instrument panel. To
increase and decrease the flow
of heated air to the
rear floor vents, move the switch marked REAR HEAT
to the blower speed
you want.
The
knob has three speed positions. To increase the flow
of heated air, move the switch toward HIGH. To turn the
fan
off, move the switch to OFF.
3-4

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Air Conditioning 1 ~ ~ ting
Before using your vehicle’s air conditioning, open the
windows to clear the vehicle
of hot air. This reduces the
time it takes for your vehicle to cool down. Then keep
your windows closed for the air conditioner to work at
its best.
You can use
MAX A/C with the temperature knob in the
blue area when it’s really hot outside and you need to
cool the inside air quickly. MAX A/C lets in only a little
air from the outside.
If you first use MAX A/C, you can then use A/C with
the temperature knob in the blue area, as soon as
the
vehicle has cooled down, so outside air will be going
through your vehicle.
If your vehicle has rear air conditioning, setting
it on LO
may enhance front A/C performance by allowing
trapped refrigerant in rear lines
to circulate.
When the air conditioning, DEFROST or
BLEND is on,
you may notice
a slight increase or decrease in engine
speed, due to compressor operation. This is normal
because the system is designed
to cycle the compressor
on and off
to keep the desired temperature. On
cold days,
use HEATER with the temperature knob
in the red area. Outside air will be brought in through
the floor outlets. The heater works best
if you keep your
windows closed while using it.
If you
use the optional engine coolant heater before
starting your engine, your heating system will produce
warmer air faster to heat the passenger compartment in
cold weather. See “Engine Coolant Heater”
in the Index.
Ventilation Tips
Keep the hood and front air inlet free of ice, snow, or
any other obstruction (such as leaves). The heater
and defroster will work far better, reducing the
chance
of fogging the inside of your windows.
When you enter a vehicle in cold weather, turn the
blower fan to HI for a few moments before driving
off. This helps clear the intake ducts
of snow and
moisture, and reduces the chance of fogging the
inside
of your windows.
0 Keep the air path under the front seats clear of objects.
This helps air to circulate throughout your vehicle.
Your vehicle has air vents in the center and
on the sides
of your instrument panel.
3-6

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Making Turns
NOTICE:
Making very sharp turns while trailering could
cause the trailer to come in contact with the vehicle. Your vehicle could be damaged. Avoid
making very sharp turns while trailering.
When you’re turning with a trailer, make wider turns than normal.
Do this so your trailer won’t strike soft shoulders,
curbs, road signs, trees or other objects. Avoid jerky or
sudden maneuvers. Signal well in advance.
lhrn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle has to have extra
wiring and a heavy-duty turn signal flasher (included in
the optional trailering package).
The arrows on your instrument panel will flash
whenever you signal a turn or lane change. Properly
hooked up, the trailer lamps will also flash, telling other
drivers you’re about to turn, change lanes or stop. When
towing
a trailer, the arrows on your instrument
panel will flash for turns even if the bulbs
on the trailer
are burned out. Thus,
you may think drivers behind
you are seeing your signal when they are not. It’s
important to check occasionally
to be sure the trailer
bulbs are still working.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you start
down a long or steep downgrade. If you don’t shift
down, you might have
to use your brakes so much that
they would get hot and no longer work well.
On a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce your
speed
to around 45 mph (70 kdh) to reduce the
possibility of engine and transmission overheating.
When towing at high altitude
on steep uphill grades,
consider the following: Engine coolant will boil at a lower
temperature than
at normal altitudes. If you turn your
engine
off immediately after towing at high altitude on
steep uphill grades, your vehicle may show signs similar
to
engine overheating. To avoid this, let the engine run while
parked (preferably
on level ground) with the automatic
transmission in PARK
(P) for a few minutes before tumine
the engine off. If you do get the overheat warning, see
“Engine Overheating”
in the Index.
4-35

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Rear Towing
I NOTICE:
Do not tow the vehicle from the rear with loads
approaching rated
GVW as the weight transfer will
cause the front suspension to become overloaded.
I
NOTICE:
Do not tow with the sling-type equipment or the
rear bumper will be damaged. Use wheel lift or
car-carrier equipment. Additional ramping may
be required for car-carrier equipment. Use safety
chains and wheel straps.
Towing a vehicle over rough surfaces could
damage a vehicle.
To help avoid damage, install
a towing dolly and raise the vehicle until
adequate clearance is obtained between the
ground and/or wheel-lift equipment.
Engine Overheating (Gasoline Engine)
You will find a coolant temperature gage on your vehicle’s
instrument panel.
If you have a diesel engine, you will also
find a low coolant light on your instrument panel.
If your vehicle has a diesel engine, see “Engine
Overheating” in the Diesel Engine Supplement.
5-11

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If your vehicle is certified to meet California Emission
1 Standards (inhcated on the underhood emission control
label), it is designed to operate on fuels that meet
California specifications.
If such fuels are not available
in states adopting California emissions standards, your
vehicle
will operate satisfactorily on fuels meeting
federal specifications, but emission control system
performance may be affected. The malfunction indicator
lamp on your instrument panel may
turn on andor your
vehicle may fail a smog-check test. If this occurs,
return
to your authorized GM dealer for diagnosis to determine
the cause of failure. In the event it is. determined that the
1 cause of the condition is the type of fuels used, repairs
, may not be covered by your warranty.
Some gasolines that are not reformulated for low
emissions contain an octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT);
ask your service station operator whether
or not his fuel
contains MMT. General Motors does not recommend the
use of such gasolines.
If fuels containing MMT are used,
~ spark plug life may be reduced and your emission
control system performance may be affected. The
malfunction indicator lamp on your instrument panel
may
turn on. If this occurs, return to your authorized
GM dealer for service.
~
i
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines in the United States
are now required to contain additives that will help
prevent deposits from forming in your engine and fuel
system, allowing your emission control system to
function properly. Therefore, you should not have to add
anything to the fuel. In addition, gasolines containing
oxygenates, such as ethers and ethanol, and
reformulated gasolines may be available in your area to
help clean the air. General Motors recommends that you
use these gasolines if they comply with the
specifications described earlier.
NOTICE:
Your vehicle was not designed for fuel that
contains methanol. Don’t .use it. It can corrode
metal parts in your fuel system and also damage
plastic and rubber parts. That damage wouldn’t
be covered under your warranty.
6-4
I