1998 CHEVROLET EXPRESS check engine

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Fuels in Foreign Countries (Gasoline Engines)
If you plan on driving in another country outside the
United States or Canada, the proper fuel may be hard to
find. Never use leaded gasoline or any other fuel not
recommended in the previous text on fuel. Costly
repairs caused by use of improper fuel wouldn’t be
covered by your warranty.
To check on fuel availability, ask an auto club, or
contact a major oil company that does business in the
country where you’ll be driving.
YOU can also write us at the following address for
advice.
Just tell us where you’re going and give your
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN).
General Motors Overseas Distribution Corporation
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario
L1H 8P7
Filling Your Tank (Gasoline Engine)
If your vehicle has a diesel engine, see “Filling Your
Tank (“Diesel Engine)” in the Diesel Engine Supplement.
11 The fuel cap is behind a
hinged door on the driver’s
side of your vehicle.
Gasoline vapor is highly flammable. It burns
violently, and that can cause very bad injuries. Don’t smoke if you’re near gasoline or refueling
your vehicle. Keep sparks, flames and smoking
materials away from gasoline.
7 A
6-5

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Checking Things Under the Hood
A CAUTION:
If your vehicle has air conditioning, the auxiliary
engine fan under the hood can start up and
injure
you even when the engine is not running.
Keep hands, clothing and tools away from any
underhood electric fan.
A CAUTION:
I
Things that burn can get on hot engine parts
and start
a fire. These include liquids like
gasoline or diesel fuel, oil, coolant, brake fluid,
windshield washer and other fluids, and plastic
or rubber.
You or others could be burned. Be
careful not
to drop or spill things that will burn
onto
a hot engine.
To open the hood, first
pull this handle inside the
vehicle. It is just
in front of
the driver’s side door frame
near the floor.
6-8

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Fan and Drive:
0 Removal of fan clutch (if equipped) or rendering
0 Removal of the fan shroud (if equipped).
clutch inoperative.
Air Intake:
0 Removal
of the air cleaner silencer.
0 Reversing the air cleaner cover.
Exhaust:
0 Removal of the muffler and/or resonator.
0 Removal of the exhaust pipes and exhaust
pipe clamps.
Engine Oil (Gasoline Engine)
If your vehicle has a diesel engine, see “Engine Oil
(Diesel Engine)” in the Diesel Engine Supplement.
It’s a good idea to check your engine oil every time you
get fuel.
In order to get an accurate reading, the oil must
be warm and
the vehicle must be on level ground.
- -
The engine oil dipstick has
a yellow handle and is
located near the center
of
the engine compartment.
Turn
off the engine and
give the oil a few minutes
to drain back into the oil
pan.
If you don’t, the oil
dipstick might not show
the actual level.
6-12

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Checking Engine Oil
Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel or
cloth, then push it back in all the way. Remove it again,
keeping the tip down, and check the level.
When to Add Engine Oil
If the oil is at or below the ADD mark, then you’ll need
to add at least one quart of oil. But you must use the
right kind. This part explains what kind
of oil to use. For
crankcase capacity,
see “Capacities and Specifications”
in the Index.
NOTICE:
Don’t add too much oil. If your engine has so
much oil that the oil level gets above the upper
mark that
shows the proper operating range,
your engine could be damaged.
The engine oil filler cap is located between the coolant
recovery tank and
the air cleaner.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 5. Install a new filter element with the folds in the
down position.
Reverse Steps 1 through
4 to replace the air cleaner.
See “Normal Replacement Parts” for the proper filter
to use.
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule
to determine when to
replace the air filter and crankcase ventilation filter.
See “Scheduled Maintenance Services” in the Index.
I /!1 CAUTION:
Operating the engine with the air cleaner off can
cause
you or others to be burned. The air cleaner
not only cleans the air, it stops flame
if the engine
backfires.
If it isn’t there, and the engine
backfires, you could be burned. Don’t drive with
it
off, and be careful working on the engine with
the air cleaner
off.
I NOTICE: I
If the air cleaner is off, a backfire can cause a
damaging engine fire. And, dirt can easily get
into your engine, which will damage it. Always
have the air cleaner in place when you’re driving.
Automatic Transmission Fluid
If your vehicle has a diesel engine, see “Automatic
Transmission Fluid” in the Diesel Supplement.
When to Check and Change
A good time to check your automatic transmission fluid
level is when the engine oil
is changed.
Change both the fluid and filter every
50,000 miles
(83 000 km) if the vehicle’s GVWR is over 8,600 or
if the vehicle
is mainly driven under one or more of
these conditions:
In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
regularly reaches
90” F (32” C) or higher.
In hilly or mountainous terrain.
0 When doing frequent trailer towing.
6-17

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service.
If your vehicle’s GVWR is not over
8,600 and you
do not use your vehicle under any of these conditions,
change the fluid and filter every 100,000 miles
(166 000 km).
See “Scheduled Maintenance Services”
in the Index.
How to Check
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you
may choose to have this done at your GM dealership
Service Department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow all the
instructions here, or you could get a false reading
on the dipstick.
NOTICE:
Too much or too little fluid can damage your
transmission.
Too much can mean that some of
the fluid could come out and fall on hot engine
parts
or exhaust system parts, starting a fire. Be
sure to get an accurate reading if you check your
transmission fluid.
Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the
transmission fluid level
if you have been driving:
0 When outside temperatures are above 90°F (32°C).
0 At high speed for quite a while.
In heavy traffic -- especially in hot weather.
0 While pulling a trailer.
To get the right reading, the fluid should be at normal
operating temperature, which is
180°F to 200°F
(82°C to 93 “C). See “Checking Transmission Fluid
Hot” in the Index.
Checking Transmission Fluid Hot
Get the vehicle warmed up by driving about 15 miles
(24 km) when outside temperatures are above
50°F
(10°C). If it’s colder than 50°F (lO”C), drive the
vehicle in
in DRIVE (D) until the engine temperature
gage moves and then remains steady for 10 minutes.
Then follow the hot check procedures.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Checking Transmission Fluid Cold
A cold check is made after the vehicle has been sitting
for eight hours or more with the engine off and is used
only
as a reference. Let the engine run at idle for five
minutes if outside temperatures are
50°F ( 10°C) or
more. If it's colder than
50°F (lO"C), you may have
to idle the engine longer. Should the fluid level be low
during a cold check, you
must perform a hot check
before adding fluid. This will give you a more
accurate reading
of the fluid level.
Checking the Fluid Hot or Cold
0
0
0
0
Park your vehicle on a level place. Keep the engine
running.
With the parking brake applied, place the shift lever
in PARK (P).
With your foot on the brake pedal, move the shift
lever through each gear range, pausing for about
three seconds in each range. Then, position the
shift lever in PARK
(P).
Let the engine run at idle for three minutes or more. Then, without shutting
off the engine, follow these steps:
,., I
1. The
transmission dipstick has a red handle and is
located near the center
of the engine compartment.
Flip
the handle up and then pull out the dipstick
and wipe it with a clean rag or paper towel.
2. Push it back in all the way, wait three seconds and
then pull it back out again.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 3. Check both sides of the dipstick, and read the lower
level. The fluid level must be in the COLD area for a
cold check or in the
HOT area or cross-hatched area
for a hot check.
4. If the fluid level is in the acceptable range, push the
dipstick back in all the
way; then flip the handle
down to lock the dipstick
in place.
How to Add Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine’what
kind of transmission fluid
to use. See “Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants” in the Index.
Add fluid only after checking the transmission fluid
while it is hot. (A cold check is used only as a
reference.) If the fluid level is low, add only enough of
the proper fluid
to bring the level up to the HOT area
for a
hot check. It doesn’t take much fluid, generally
less than
one It (0.5 L). Don’t overfill.
NOTICE:
We recommend you use only fluid labeled
DEXRON@-111, because fluid with that label
is
made especially for your automatic transmission.
Damage caused
by fluid other than DEXRON-111
is not covered by your new vehicle warranty.
After adding fluid, recheck the fluid level as
described under “How to Check.”
0 When the correct fluid level is obtained, push the
dipstick back in all the way; then flip the handle
down
to lock the dipstick in place.