1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE lock

Theft Parking at Night
Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities.
Although your vehicle has
a number of theft-deterrent
features, we know that nothing we put on it can make
it impossible to steal. However, there are ways you
can help.
Key in the Ignition
If you leave your vehicle with the keys inside, it’s an
easy target for joy riders or professional thieves
-- so
don’t do it.
When you park your Chevrolet and open the driver’s
door, you’ll hear
a chime reminding you to remove
your key from the ignition and take it with
you.
Always do this. Your steering wheel will be locked,
and
so will your ignition and transaxle. And remember
to lock the doors. Park in
a lighted spot, close all windows and lock your
vehicle. Remember to keep your valuables out of sight.
Put them in a storage area, or take them with you.
Parking Lots
If you park in a lot where someone will be watching
your vehicle, it’s best to lock it up and take your key.
But what if you have to leave your key? What if you
have to leave something valuable in your vehcle?
Put your valuables in a storage area, like your
glove box.
0 Lock all the doors except the driver’s.
2-22
ProCarManuals.com

Content Theft-Deterrent (Option)
If your vehicle has this option, it has a theft-deterrent
alarm system.
A light located on top of your instrument panel (near the
center of the vehicle, next to the windshield) will flash
slowly to let you know that the system has been armed.
While armed, the doors will not unlock with the power
lock switch. Once
armed, the alarm will go off if someone tries to
enter the vehicle (without using
the remote keyless entry
transmitter or a key), breaks a window, tries to damage
the vehicle or turns the ignition on. The
horn will sound
and your vehicle’s parking lamps will flash for up
to
two minutes. The system will also cut off the fuel
supply, preventing the vehicle from being driven.
When the alarm is armed, the liftgate may be opened
with the remote keyless entry transmitter or with a key.
Arming with the Power Lock Switch
Your alarm system will arm when you use either power
lock switch to lock the doors while any door
or the
liftgate is open and the key is removed from the ignition
(if you would like to turn off power lock switch arming,
see “Locks and Lighting Choices” in the Index).
The security light flashes quickly to let you know when
the system is ready to arm with the power door lock
switches. The security light will stop flashing and stay
on, when you press the rear of the power lock switch, to
let
you know the system is arming. After all doors and
the liftgate are closed and locked, the security light will
begin flashing at a very slow rate
to let you know the
system
is armed.
2-23
ProCarManuals.com

Arming with the Remote Keyless Entry Transmitter
Your alarm system will arm when you use your remote
keyless entry transmitter to lock the doors, if the key is
not in the ignition. The security light will turn on to let
you know the system is arming. After all doors and the
liftgate
are closed and locked, the security light will
begin flashing at
a very slow rate to let you know the
system is armed.
Arming with Your Key
Your alarm system will arm when you use your key to
lock the doors. The security light will
turn on to let you
know the system is arming. After all doors and the
liftgate are closed and locked, the security light will
begin flashing at
a very slow rate to let you know the
system
is armed. If you would like your key not to
arm the system, see “Locks and Lighting Choices”
in the Index.
Arming Confirmation
If remote unlock confirmation is on (see “Locks and
Lighting Choices”
in the Index), your parking lamps
will flash briefly to let you know when your alarm
system has armed.
Disarming with the Remote Keyless
Entry Transmitter
Your alarm system will disarm when you use your
remote keyless entry transmitter to unlock the doors.
The security light will stop flashing to let you know the
system is no longer armed.
Disarming with Your Key
Your alarm system will disarm when you use your key
to unlock the doors. The security light will stop flashing
to let you know the system is no longer armed. If you
would like your key not to disarm the alarm system,
see “Locks and Lighting Choices” in the Index.
2-24
ProCarManuals.com

Nuisance Alarms
If you experience nuisance alarms (alarms which are
not caused by the opening of a door or the liftgate and
are not desirable), you may need to reduce the damage
detection sensitivity. Try programming the Content
Theft-Deterrent to Mode
1.
If you continue to experience nuisance alarms, you
may want to try turning off damage detection by
programming your Content Theft-Deterrent to Mode
2.
If you are still having trouble with nuisance alarms,
you can turn off the Content Theft-Deterrent system by
programming your Content Theft-Deterrent to Mode
3.
See “Locks and Lighting Choices” in the Index for more
information. See your dealer or qualified technician
for service.
New Vehicle 4LBreak-In’’
NOTICE:
Your vehicle doesn’t need an elaborate
“break-in.” But it will perform better in the long
run
if you follow these guidelines:
0 Don’t drive at any one speed -- fast or
slow
-- for the first 500 miles (805 km).
Don’t make full-throttle starts.
200 miles (322 km) or so. During this time
your new brake linings aren’t yet broken
in. Hard stops with new linings can mean
premature wear and earlier replacement.
Follow this breaking-in guideline every
time you get new brake linings.
See “Towing a ’Ikailer” in the Index for
more information.
Avoid making hard stops for the first
0 Don’t tow a trailer during break-in.
2-25
ProCarManuals.com

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.
2-26
ProCarManuals.com

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.
2-27
ProCarManuals.com

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.
I
PRND321
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.
ProCarManuals.com

Move the lever up as far as it will go.
3. Move the ignition key to LOCK.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave your vehicle with the ignition key in your
hand, your vehicle
is in PARK (P).
Leaving Your Vehicle With the
Engine Running
It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with
the engine running. Your vehicle could move
suddenly
if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P)
with the parking brake firmly set. And, if you
leave the vehicle with the engine running,
it could
overheat and even catch fire. You or others could
be injured. Don’t leave your vehicle with the
engine running unless
you have to.
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your vehicle
is in PARK (P) and your
parking brake is firmly set before you leave it. After
you’ve moved the shift lever into PARK
(P), hold the
regular brake pedal down. See if you
can move the
shift lever away from PARK
(P) without first pulling
it toward you. If you can, it means that the shift lever
wasn’t fully locked into PARK
(P).
2-36
ProCarManuals.com