1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE fuse

Things you put inside your vehicle can strike
and injure people in a sudden stop or turn, or in
a crash.
0 Put things in the cargo area of your vehicle.
0 Never stack heavier things, like suitcases,
Try to spread the
weight evenly.
inside the vehicle
so that some of them are
above the tops
of the seats.
Don’t leave an unsecured child restraint in
your vehicle.
0 When you carry something inside the
vehicle, secure
it whenever you can.
0 Don’t leave a seat folded down unless you
need to.
Payload (Cargo Van Only)
The payload capacity is shown on the Certificatioflire
label. This is the maximum load capacity that your
vehicle can carry. Be sure to include the weight of the people inside as part
of your load.
If you added any
accessories or equipment after your vehicle left the
factory, remember to subtract the weight
of these things
from the payload. You should never exceed the
GVWR
or the GAWR. Your dealer can help you determine
your payload.
Electronic Level Control (Option)
On vehicles equipped with the optional electronic level
control, the rear of the vehicle is automatically kept
level as you load or unload your vehicle. However, you
should still not exceed the
GVWR or the GAM.
You may hear the compressor operating when you load
or unload your vehicle, and periodically as the system
self-adjusts.
This is normal.
The compressor should operate for brief periods of time.
If the sound continues for an extended period of time,
your vehicle needs service. To keep your battery from
being drained, you may want to remove the ELC fuse in
the fuse control panel until you can get your vehicle
serviced (see “Fuses and Circuit Breakers” in the Index)\
.
Using heavier suspension components to get added
durability might not change your weight ratings. Ask
your dealer to help you load your vehicle the right way.
4-32
ProCarManuals.com

Your vehicle has a remote
positive (+)jump starting
terminal. The terminal is
under a tethered cap at the
front of the underhood fuse
and relay center. Pull up
the
cap to access the remote
positive
(+) terminal.
You should always use the remote positive
(+) terminal
instead of the positive
(+) terminal on your battery. Using
a match near a battery can cause battery
gas to explode. People have been hurt doing this,
and some have been blinded.
Use a flashlight if
you need more light.
Be sure the battery
has enough water. You don’t
need to add water to the ACDelco Freedom’
battery installed in every new
GM vehicle. But if
a battery has filler caps, be sure the right amount
of fluid is there. If it is low, add water to take
care of that first.
If you don’t, explosive gas could
be present.
Battery fluid contains acid that can burn you.
Don’t get
it on you. If you accidentally get it in
your eyes or
on your skin, flush the place with
water and get medical help immediately.
5-5
ProCarManuals.com

A vehicle can fall from a car carrier if it isn’t
adequately secured. This can cause a collision,
serious personal injury and vehicle damage. The
vehicle should be tightly secured with chains or
steel cables before it is transported.
Don’t use substitutes (ropes, leather straps,
canvas webbing, etc.) that can be cut
by sharp
edges underneath the towed vehicle. Always use
T-hooks inserted in the T-hook slots. Never use
J-hooks. They will damage drivetrain and
suspension components.
~~
NOTICE:
If you are using car-carrier equipment, you must
pull the Electronic Level Control (ELC) fuse, in
the instrument panel fuse block, before securing
the vehicle.
Damage to the shocks or leveling system may
occur if the Electronic Level Control (ELC) fuse
is not disabled.
When your vehicle is being towed, have the ignition key
in
OFF. The steering wheel should be clamped in a
straight-ahead position, with a clamping device
designed for towing service.
Do not use the vehicle’s
steering column lock for this. For front towing, the
transaxle should be in
PARK (P) and the parking brake
released. For rear towing, the transaxle should be in
NEUTRAL (N) and the parking brake engaged.
5-9
ProCarManuals.com

Fuel
L
You can be injured and your ve :le could be
damaged if you try to do service work on a
vehicle without knowing enough about
it.
Be sure you have sufficient knowledge,
experience, the proper replacement parts
and tools before you attempt any vehicle
maintenance task.
Be sure to use the proper nuts, bolts and
other fasteners, “English” and “metric”
fasteners can be easily confused.
If you use
the wrong fasteners, parts can later break
or fall
off. You could be hurt.
Adding Equipment to the - hide of
Your Vehicle
Things you might add to the outside of your vehicIe can
affect the airflow around
it. This may cause wind noise
and affect windshield washer performance. Check with
your dealer before adding equipment to the outside
of
your vehicle. Use regular unleaded gasoline rated at
87 octane
or
higher. At
a minimum, it should meet specifications
ASTM
D4814 in the United States and CGSB 3.5-M93
in Canada. Improved gasoline specifications have been
developed by the American Automobile Manufacturers
Association (AAMA) for better vehicle performance
and engine protection. Gasolines meeting the
AAMA
specification could provide improved driveability
and emission control system protection compared to
other gasolines.
Be sure the posted octane is at least 87. If the octane is
less than 87,
you may get a heavy knocking noise when
you drive. If it’s bad enough, it can damage your engine.
If you’re using fuel rated at
87 octane or higher and you
hear heavy knocking, your engine needs service. But
don’t worry if you hear a little pinging noise when
you’re accelerating or driving up
a hill. That’s normal,
and you don’t have
to buy a higher octane fuel to get rid
of pinging. It’s the heavy, constant knock that means
you have
a problem.
ProCarManuals.com

When you lift the hood, you'll see these items:
rn
A. Underhood Fuse and D. Radiator Pressure Cap H. Transaxle Fluid Dipstick
B. Remote Positive (+) Terminal
C. Windshield Washer
Fluid Reservoir Relay Center
E. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir I. Brake Master Cylinder
E Engine Oil Fill Location J. Air Cleaner
G. Engine Oil Dipstick K. Engine Coolant Reservoir
6-10
ProCarManuals.com

When to Check Power Steering Fluid
It is not necessary to regularly check power steering
fluid unless you suspect there is a leak in the system or
you hear an unusual noise. A fluid
loss in this system
could indicate a problem. Have the system inspected
and repaired.
How To Check Power Steering Fluid
When the engine compartment is cool, wipe the cap and
the top of the reservoir clean, then unscrew the cap and
wipe the dipstick with a clean rag. Replace the cap and
completely tighten it. Then remove the cap again and
look at the fluid level on the dipstick.
When the engine compartment
is hot, the level should
be at the
H mark. When it’s cold, the level should be at
the
C mark. If the fluid is at the ADD mark, you should
add fluid.
What to Use
To determine what kind of fluid to use, see
“Recommended Fluids and Lubricants” in the Index.
Always
use the proper fluid. Failure to use the proper
fluid can cause leaks and damage hoses and seals.
Windshield Washer Fluid
What to Use
When you need windshield washer fluid, be sure to read
the manufacturer’s instructions before use. If you will be
operating your vehicle in an area where the temperature may fall below freezing, use
a fluid that has sufficient
protection against freezing.
Adding Washer Fluid
on the passenger’s side
of the vehicle, near the
fuse and relay center.
Open the cap labeled WASHER FLUID
ONLY. Add
washer fluid until the tank is full.
6-25
ProCarManuals.com

Electrical System
Add-on Electrical Equipment
NOTICE:
Don’t add anything electrical to your vehicle
unless you check with your dealer first. Some
electrical equipment can damage your vehicle
and the damage wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty. Some add-on electrical equipment
can keep other components from working as
they should.
Your vehicle has an air bag system. Before attempting to
add anything electrical to your vehicle, see “Servicing
Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle” in the Index.
Headlamp Wiring
The headlamp wiring is protected by an internal circuit
breaker in the
IfP fuse panel. An electrical overload will
cause the lamps to
go on and off, or in some cases to
remain
off. If this happens, have your headlamp wiring
checked right away.
Windshield Wipers
The windshield wiper motor is protected by an internal
circuit breaker and a fuse. If the motor overheats due to
heavy snow, etc., the wiper will stop until the motor
cools. If the overload is caused by some electrical
problem, be sure to get
it fixed.
Power Windows and Other Power Options
Circuit breakers in the ID? fuse panel protect the power
windows and other power accessories. When the current
load is too heavy, the circuit breaker opens
and closes,
protecting
the circuit until the problem is fixed.
6-57
ProCarManuals.com

Fuses and Circuit Breakers
The wiring circuits in your vehicle are protected from
short circuits by a combination of fuses, circuit breakers
and fusible thermal links.
Look at the silver-colored band inside the fuse. If
the
band is broken or melted, replace the fuse. Be sure you
replace a bad fuse with a new one of the identical size
and rating.
If you ever have a problem on the road and don’t have
a spare fuse, you can borrow one that has the same
amperage or use one of the spare fuses in the underhood
fuse and relay center. Just pick some feature of your
vehicle that you can get along without
-- like the radio
or cigarette lighter -- and use its fuse, if it is the right
amperage. Replace it as
soon as you can.
There are two fuse blocks in your vehicle: the
instrument panel fuse block and the underhood fuse
and relay center.
Instrument Panel Fuse Block
The instrument panel
fuse block is to the right
of the glove box. Pull the
door open to access the
instrument panel fuse block.
6-58
ProCarManuals.com