1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE wheel

Ignition Positions
With the ignition key in the ignition switch, you can turn
the switch to five positions.
C
A E
ACCESSORY
(A): This is an on position in which you
can operate your electrical power accessories. Press in
the ignition switch as you
turn the top of it toward you.
LOCK (B): This is the only position in which you can
remove the key. This locks your steering wheel, ignition
and transaxle.
OFF (C): This position unlocks the steering wheel,
ignition and transaxle, but does not send electrical
power to any accessories. Use this position if your
vehicle must be pushed or towed, but never try to
push-start your vehicle.
A warning chime will sound if
you open the driver’s door when the ignition is off and
the key is
in the ignition.
RUN (D): This is an on position to which the switch
returns after you start your engine and release
the
switch. The switch stays in RUN when the engine is
running. But even when the engine
is not running, you
can use
RUN to operate your electrical power
accessories, and
to display some instrument panel
warning lights.
START (E): This position starts the engine. When the
engine starts, release
the key. The ignition switch will
return
to RUN for normal driving.
Note that even if
the engine is not running, the positions
ACCESSORY and RUN are positions that allow you to
operate your electrical accessories, such as the radio.
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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.
NOTICE:
Don’t try to shift to PARK (P) if your Chevrolet
is moving.
If you do, you could damage the
transaxle. Shift to
PARK (P) only when your
vehicle is stopped.
Using a tool to force
it could break the key or the
ignition switch.
If none of this works, then your ignition key to START. When the engine starts, let
vehicle needs service.
go of the key. The idle speed will go down as your
1.
Without pushing the accelerator pedal, turn your
I engine gets warm.
Starting Your Engine
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:
Holding your key in START for longer than
15 seconds at a time will cause your battery to
be drained much sooner. And the excessive heat
can damage your starter motor.
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Automatic Transaxle Operation
There are several different positions for your shift lever. If you
cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever
-- push the shift lever all the way into
PARK
(P) as you maintain brake application. Then
move the shift lever into the gear you wish. See
I( “Shifting Out of PARK (P)” in this section.
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PARK (P): This locks your front wheels. It’s the best
position to use when you start your engine because your
vehicle can’t move easily.
Ensure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before
starting the engine. Your vehicle has
a Brake-Transaxle
Shift Interlock (BTSI). You have to fully
apply your
regular brakes
before you can shift from PARK (P)
when the ignition key is in RUN. As you step on the
brake pedal, while in PARK
(P), you may hear a click
from the solenoid of the BTSI. This ensures that the
BTSI is operating properly.
I
It is 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 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, always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever to
PARK (P).
See “Shifting Into PARK (P)” in the Index. If
you’re pulling a trailer, see “Towing a Trailer‘’
in the Index.
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REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up.
NOTICE:
Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle is
moving forward could damage your transaxle.
Shift to
REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle
is stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth
to get out of snow,
ice or sand without damaging your transaxle, see
“Stuck: In Sand,
Mud, Ice or Snow” in the Index.
NEUTRAL
(N): In this position, your engine doesn’t
connect with the wheels.
To restart when you’re
already moving, use NEUTRAL
(N) only. Also, use
NEUTRAL
(N) when your vehicle is being towed. Shifting
out of PARK (P) or
NEUTRAL (N)
while your engine is “racing” (running at high
speed) is dangerous. Unless your foot is firmly on
the brake pedal, your vehicle could move very
rapidly. You could lose control and hit people or
objects. Don’t shift out
of PARK (P) or
NEUTRAL
(N) while your engine is racing.
I 1
I NOTICE:
Damage to your transaxle caused by shifting out
of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) with the engine
racing isn’t covered by your warranty.
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NOTICE:
If your vehicle seems to start up rather slowly,
or
if it seems not to shift gears as you go faster,
something may be wrong with a transaxle system
sensor.
If you drive very far that way, your
vehicle can be damaged.
So, if this happens,
have your vehicle serviced right away. Until then,
you can use
SECOND (2) when you are driving
less than
35 mph (55 km/h) and THIRD (3) for
higher speeds. FIRST
(1): This position gives
you even more power
(but lower fuel economy) than
SECOND (2). You can
use it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud.
If
the selector lever is put in FIRST (l), the transaxle
won’t downshift into fist gear until the vehicle
is
going slow enough.
NOTICE:
If your front wheels can’t rotate, don’t try to
drive. This might happen
if you were stuck in
very deep sand or mud or were up against
a
solid object. You could damage your transaxle.
Also, if you stop when going uphill, don’t hold
your vehicle there with only the accelerator
pedal. This could overheat and damage the
transaxle. Use your brakes or shift into
PARK (P)
to hold your vehicle in position on a hill.
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Power Rear Quarter Windows
(If Equipped)
I This button, located in the
c overhead console
C switchbank, is used for
C opening and closing the
rear quarter windows.
Press the top ribbed side of the button to open the
windows; both windows will open. The windows can
be opened fully or only a portion depending on how
long the button is pushed.
Press the bottom symbol side
of the button to close
both windows.
Rear Side Panels (Cargo Van)
The windows on the cargo van are opaque glass.
These operate the same as the rear side windows
in the regular van.
Horn
You can sound the horn by pressing the horn symbols on
your steering wheel.
Tilt Wheel
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 exit
and enter 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.
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Rear Window Washer/ Wiper
! The rear window wiper
- switch is located in
the instrument panel
1 switchbank.
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 (40 km/h).
When you apply your brakes, the cruise
control disengages.
Push
the wiper symbol on the bottom of the button to
turn on the intermittent wiper. To
turn off the wiper,
gently push the top
of the button.
To wash and wipe the rear window, push in the washer
symbol on the top
of the button. Washer fluid will
spray as long as the button is held in. When the top
of
the button is released, the wiper will continue to cycle
three more times.
To wash the rear window when the rear wiper is already on,
push on the top
of the button with the wash symbol on it.
Push in the bottom
of the button to continue the intermittent
wiper cycle after the washing cycle is completed.
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.
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.
Cruise control can be dangerous on
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If your vehicle is in cruise control when the optional
traction control system begins to limit wheel spin, the
cruise control will automatically disengage. (See
“Traction Control System” in the Index.) When road
conditions allow you to safely use it again, you
may
turn the cruise control back on.
Setting Cruise Cc ’rol
d
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 3. Push in the SET button at the end of the lever and
could be startled and even lose control. Keep the release it.
cruise control switch off until you want to use it. 4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
1. Move the cruise control switch to ON.
2. Get up to the speed you want.
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