1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE cooling

NOTICE:
Be sure there are no overhead obstructions, such
as
a garage door, before you open the liftgate.
You could slam the liftgate into something and
break the glass.
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To close the liftgate, pull down on the handle, then
firmly shut the liftgate. Don’t drive with the liftgate
open, even slightly. See “Engine Exhaust” in the Index.
A light on your instrument panel will warn you if the
liftgate is not completely closed (see “Door Ajar
Warning Light” in the Index).
It can be dangerous to drive with the liftgate
open because carbon monoxide (CO) gas can
come into your vehicle. You can’t see or smell
CO. It can cause unconsciousness and even death.
If you must drive with the liftgate open or if
electrical wiring or other cable connections
must pass through the seal between the body
and the liftgate:
Make sure all windows are shut.
lbrn the fan on your heating or cooling
system to
its highest speed with the setting
on bi-level (outside air button is pressed).
That will force outside air into your vehicle.
See “Comfort Controls” in the Index.
0 If you have air outlets on or under the
instrument panel, open them all the way.
See “Engine Exhaust’’ in the Index.
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Temperature Knob Comfort Controls
This section tells you how to make your air system work
for
you. Your comfort control system uses
ozone-friendly
R- 134a refrigerant.
With these systems,
you can control the heating,
cooling and ventilation
in your vehicle. Your vehicle
also has a flow-through ventilation system described
later
in this section. The
center
knob controls the temperature of the air
coming through the system. Turn it to the left (toward
the blue area) for cooler air. Turn it to the right (toward\

the red area) for warmer air.
Mode Knob
This knob selects the direction of where the air will
enter the vehicle.
-be
fl UPPER: This setting directs outside air through
the instrument panel outlets.
+fl BI-LEV: This setting directs outside air into your
vehicle in two ways. Cooler air
is directed toward your
upper body through the front instrument panel outlets,
while warmed air
is directed through the heater ducts at
your feet.
+e
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+fl LOWER: This setting brings in most of the air
air to the rear of the vehicle. Keep the area under the
the rear of the vehicle.
- through the floor ducts. This setting is also used to send
Fan Knob front seats free of objects that could obstruct airflow to
The left knob is the fan knob and selects the force of air
you want. Turn the knob to the right to increase fan speed
and to the left to decrease
fan speed. The fan must be
turned on for the
air conditioning compressor to operate.
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w.
+# DEFOG: This setting directs air to the windshield
and through the floor ducts. This mode is particularly
useful during cold or inclement weather because of your
vehicle’s larger windshield area.
the windshield and side window vents.
DEFROST: This setting directs most of the air to
Mode Buttons
e RECIRC: Press this button (the light will glow)
to limit the amount
of fresh air entering your vehicle by
recirculating much of the air inside your vehicle. You
may use this setting to limit odors entering your vehicle.
Press the OUTSIDE AIR button (the light on the RECIRC button will go
off) to let outside air circulate
into the vehicle.
OUTSIDE AIR: Press this button (the light will
glow) to send outside air into your vehicle. Using this
setting while trying to defrost or defog the windows will
help clear the vents of moisture. Press the RECIRC
button (the light on the
OUTSIDE AIR button will go
off) to limit outside air entering the vehicle. When the
DEFOG
or DEFROST setting is selected, the system
will automatically go to OUTSIDE AIR mode.
Air Conditioning
On very hot days, your vehicle will cool down more
quickly and economically if you open the windows long
enough to let hot, inside air escape. For all settings,
adjust the temperature control knob and fan speed
as desired.
To get maximum cooling or a quick cool-down on very
hot days, press the A/C and RECIRC buttons (the lights
will glow) and turn the temperature knob to the left
(toward the blue area). Adjust the mode
knob to direct
the air to the desired location. This setting should not be
used for long periods
of time because the air may
become too cold and dry. Push the A/C button again (the
light will go off) to turn
off the air conditioning.
When the air conditioner compressor is on, you may sometimes notice slight changes
in your vehicle’s engine
performance and power. This is normal. The system
is
designed to help fuel economy while it maintains the
desired cooling level.
The air conditioner removes moisture from the air,
so
you may sometimes notice water dripping from under
your vehicle’s engine compartment when it is idling or
after it has been turned off. This is normal.
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If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you’re
planning to visit there, here are some tips that can make
your trips safer and more enjoyable.
0 Keep your vehicle in good sk -le. Check all fluid ~
levels and also the brakes, tires, cooling system
and transaxle. These parts can work hard on
mountain roads.
0 Know how to go down hills. The most important
thing
to know is this: let your engine do some of the
slowing down. Shift to a lower gear when you go
down a steep or long hill.
,A CAUTION:
If you don’t shift down, your brakes could
get
so hot that they wouldn’t work well. You
would then have poor braking or even none going
down a hill. You could crash. Shift down to let
your engine assist your brakes on
a steep
downhill slope.
Joasting downhill in NEUTRAL (N) or with the
ignition
off is dangerous. Your brakes will have to
do all the work of slowing down. They could get so
hot that they wouldn’t work well. You would then
have poor braking or even none going
down a hill.
You could crash. Always have your engine running
and your vehicle
in gear when you go downhill.
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Know how to go uphill. You may want to shift down
to a lower gear. The lower gears help cool your engine
and transaxle, and you can climb the hill better.
Stay in your own lane when driving on two-lane
roads in hills or mountains. Don’t swing wide or cut
across the center
of the road. Drive at speeds that let
you stay in your own lane.
As you go over the top of a hill, be alert. There could be
something in your lane, like a stalled car or
an accident.
You may see highway signs on mountains that warn of
special problems. Examples are long grades, passing or
no-passing zones, a falling
rocks area or winding
roads. Be alert to these and take appropriate action.
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Safety Chains
You should always attach chains between your vehicle
and your trailer. Cross the safety chains under the tongue
of the trailer
so that the tongue wdl not drop to the road
if it becomes separated from the hitch. Instructions
about safety chains may be provided by the hitch
manufacturer or by the trailer manufacturer. Follow the
manufacturer’s recommendation for attaching safety
chains and
do not attach them to the bumper. Always
leave just enough slack
so you can turn with your rig.
And, never allow safety chains to drag on the ground.
Driving with a Trailer
Trailer Brakes
If your trailer weighs more than 1,000 lbs. (450 kg)
loaded, then it needs its own brakes
-- and they must be
adequate. Be sure to read and
follow the instructions for
the trailer brakes
so you’ll be able to install, adjust and
maintain them properly.
Because you have anti-lock brakes, do not
try to tap into
your vehicle’s brake system.
If you do, both brake
systems won’t
work well, or at all.
A CAUTION:
If you have a rearmost window open and you
pull a trailer with your vehicle, carbon monoxide
(CO) could come into your vehicle. You can’t see
or smell CO. It can cause unconsciousness or
death.
(See “Engine Exhaust” in the Index.) To
maximize your safety when towing a trailer:
Have your exhaust system inspected for
leaks, and make necessary repairs before
starting on your trip.
0 Keep the rearmost windows closed.
0 If exhaust does come into your vehicle
through a window in the rear or another
opening, drive
with your front, main
heating or cooling system on and with the
fan on any speed. This
will bring fresh,
outside
air into your vehicle. Do not use
RECIRC because
it only recirculates the
air inside your vehicle. (See “Comfort
Controls’’ in the Index.)
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When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking
on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:
Start your engine;
@ Shift into a gear; and
Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until thc .ailer
is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have son --- pick up and store the chocks.
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Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re
pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for more
on this. Things that are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transaxle fluid (don’t overfill),
engine oil, belts, cooling system and brake adjustment.
Each
of these is covered in this manual, and the Index
will help you find them quickly. If you’re trailering, it’s
a good idea to review these sections before
you start
your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
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When you decide it’s safe to lift the hood, here’s what
rou’ll see:
i. Radiator Pressure Cap
3. Electric Engine Fans
3. Coolant Recovery Tank
A CAUTION:
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An electric engine cooling fan under the hood can
start
up even when the engine is not running and
can injure you. Keep hands, clothing and tools
away from any underhood electric fan.
If the coolant inside the coolant recovery tank is boiling,
don’t
do anything else until it cools down.
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The coolant level should be at or above the
FULL COLD mark.
If it isn't, you may have a leak in the radiator hoses,
heater hoses, radiator, water pump or somewhere else
in
the cooling system.
A CAUTION:
Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine
parts, can be very hot. Don't touch them.
If you
do, you can be burned.
Don't run the engine if there is
a leak. If you run
the engine, it could lose all coolant. That could
cause an engine fire, and you could be burned.
Get any leak fixed before you drive the vehicle.
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