1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE wheel

Both outside mirrors can be folded forward or rearward.
In the rearward position, they will fold almost flush with
the vehicle. This feature is particularly useful
in
automatic car washes.
Your mirrors have
a blue tint to reduce glare while
driving at night.
Convex Outside Mirror
Your passenger’s side mirror is convex. A convex
mirror’s surface is curved
so you can see more from
the driver’s seat.
A CAUTION: I
A convex mirror can make things (like other
vehicles) look farther away than they really are.
If you cut too sharply into the right lane, you
could hit a vehicle on your right. Check your
inside mirror or glance over your shoulder before
changing lanes.
Storage Compartments
Your vehicle’s large carrying capacity can store many
items. If you have the extended wheelbase version, you
can carry things as large as a
4’ x 8’ piece of plywood.
You can also use the floor pins that are used to attach the
seats, to secure larger loads. This section also describes
storage areas for specific items like sunglasses and cups.
Glove Box
Your vehicle has a glove box below the instrument panel.
To open the glove box, lift the latch release. Use the key
to lock or unlock the glove box.
The glove box door has a detent to prevent the door
from lowering too far. Open the
glove box until the door
is partway open, then pull the door down if you need it
fully open.
To close the glove box, the door must be
pushed up past the detent.
In the door of the glove box, you will find a tissue pack
holder and clip for
a pen or pencil.
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Traction Control System Warning
Light (Option)
This warning light should
come on briefly as you
start
the engine. If the warning
light doesn’t come on then,
have
it fixed so it will be
ready to warn you if there’s a problem.
If it stays on, or comes on when you’re driving, there
may be a problem with your traction control system and
your vehicle may need service. When this warning light
is on, the system will not limit wheel spin. Adjust your
driving accordingly. The
traction control system warning light may come on
for the following reasons:
If there’s a brake system problem that is specifically
related to traction control, the traction control system will turn
off and the warning light will come on. If
your brakes begin
to overheat, the traction control
system will
turn off and the warning light will come
on until your brakes cool down.
0 If the traction control system is affected by an
engine-related problem, the system will
turn off and
the warning light will come
on.
If the traction control system warning light comes on
and stays on for an extended period
of time when the
system
is turned on, your vehicle needs service.
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Low Traction Light (Option)
LOW
TRACTION
If your vehicle has the
traction control system,
there will be a LOW
TRACTION light on
the instrument panel.
When your anti-lock system
is adjusting brake pressure
to help avoid
a braking skid, or when your traction
control system is limiting wheel spin, the LOW
TRACTION light will come on. Slippery road
conditions may exist if this light comes
on, so adjust
your driving accordingly. The light will come on and
stay on for four seconds when your anti-lock system
adjusts brake pressure for less than four seconds or
when your traction control system limits wheel spin
for less than four seconds. Otherwise, the light will
go
out as soon as the anti-lock system stops adjusting
brake pressure or the traction control system stops
limiting wheel spin.
The
LOW TRACTION light also comes on briefly,
as a bulb check, when the engine is started. If the light
doesn’t come on then, have it fixed
so it will be there to
tell you when the system is active.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage

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United States
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Canadian
This gage shows the engine coolant temperature. If
the gage pointer moves into the red area, your engine
is too hot!
It means that your engine coolant has overheated. If you
have been operating your vehicle under normal driving
conditions, you should pull off the road, stop your vehicle and turn
off the engine as soon as possible.
In “Problems on the Road,” this manual shows you what
to do. See “Engine Overheating” in the Index.
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Rear Air Vents Ventilation System
To maximize airflow through the rear heater outlet,
place the left bucket
seat in the second row in the
forward position (see “Adjusting Rear Seats” in
the Index).
The vent behind the left rear seat is the cold air return
vent. Be sure to keep it free of obstructions.
Please keep the area around the base of the center
instrument panel console and between and under the
front seats free
of objects that could obstruct airflow to
the rear. Your
vehicle’s flow-through ventilation system supplies
outside air into the vehicle when it is moving. Outside air will also enter the vehicle when the fan
is running.
Your vehicle has air outlets that allow you to adjust the
direction and amount
of airflow inside the vehicle. Push
the outlet up
or down to direct airflow to your
preference. Increase or reduce the amount of airflow by
opening and closing the louvers. Opening and closing
the louvers will also direct airflow from side to side.
The air-flow through the vents can be shut
off
completely by turning the thumb-wheel next to each
outlet all the way down. You can also stop outside air
from entering by turning the fan to
OFF and pushing the
RECIRC button.
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Here’s how anti-lock works. Let’s say the road is wet.
You’re driving safely. Suddenly an animal jumps out in
front of you. 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.
A computer senses that wheels are slowing down. If one
of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the computer will
separately work the brakes at each front wheel and at
both rear wheels.
As you brake, your computer keeps receiving updates on
wheel speed and controls braking pressure accordingly.
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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 a
slight brake pedal pulsation or notice some noise, but
this is normal.
LOW
TRACTION
If your vehicle has the
traction control system, this
light will come on when
your anti-lock system is
adjusting brake pressure to
help avoid
a braking skid.
See
“Low Traction Light” in the Index.
Traction Control System (If Equipped)
Your vehicle may have a traction control system that
limits wheel spin. This is especially useful in slippery
road conditions. The system operates only if it senses
that
one or both of the front wheels are spinning or
beginning to lose traction. When this happens, the
system works
the front brakes and reduces engine
power to limit wheel spin.
LOW
TRACTION
’ This light will come on
when the traction control
system is limiting wheel
spin. See “Low Traction
Light”
in the Index.
You may feel or hear the system working, but this
is normal.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the traction
control system begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise
control will automatically disengage. When road
conditions allow you to safely use
it again, you may
reengage the cruise control. (See “Cruise Control”
in the Index.)
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This light should come
on briefly when you start #- -
:TCS: 1 0
the engine. If it stays
on
or comes on while you
are driving, there’s a
problem with your traction
d control system.
See “Traction Control System Warning Light” in the
Index. When this warning light
is on, the system will not
limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.
The traction control system automatically comes
on
whenever you start your vehicle. To limit wheel spin,
especially in slippery road conditions, you should
always leave the system on. But you can turn the
traction control system off if you ever need to. (You
should turn the system off if your vehicle ever gets stuck
in sand, mud, ice or snow. See “Rocking Your Vehicle”
in the Index.)
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To turn the system off, press
the
TCS symbol on the
bottom
of the button in the
center console switchbank.
The indicator light on the
traction control button will
go
off.
If the system is limiting wheel spin when you press the
button,
the indicator light will go off, but the system will
not turn
off until there is no longer a current need to
limit wheel spin. You can turn the system back
on at any
time by pressing the button again. The traction control
system warning light should go
off.
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.
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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.
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.
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