1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE instrument panel

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or the instrument panel . . . or the safety belts !
With safety belts, you slow down as the vehicle does.
You get more time to stop. You stop over more distance,
and your strongest bones take the forces. That’s why
safety belts make such good sense.
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There is an air bag
readiness light on the
instrument panel, which
shows a deployed air bag.
The system checks the air bag electrical system for
malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical
problem. See “Air Bag Readiness Light” in the Index
for more information.
How the Air Bag Systems Work
Where are the air bags?
The driver’s frontal air bag is in the middle of the
steering wheel.
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The right front passenger’s frontal air bag is in the
instrument panel on the passenger’s side. The
right front passenger’s side impact air bag is in the
side
of the passenger’s seatback closest to the door.
The driver’s side impact air bag is
in the side of the
driver’s seatback closest to the door.
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In any particular crash, no one can say whether an air How does an air bag restrain?
bag should have inflated simply because of the damage
In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal collisions,
to a vehicle or because of what the repair costs were. For even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel or
frontal air bags, inflation is determined by the angle of
the impact and how quickly the vehicle slows down in the instrument panel. In moderate to severe side
collisions, even belted occupants can contact the inside
frontal and near-frontal impacts. For side impact air
of the vehicle. The air bag supplements the protection
bags, inflation is determined by the location of the
provided by safety belts. Air bags distribute the force
of
and how quickly the side Of the deforms* the impact more evenly over the occupant’s upper body,
What makes an air bag inflate?
In an impact of sufficient severity, the air bag sensing
system detects that the vehicle is in a crash. For both
frontal and side impact air bags, the sensing system
triggers a release
of gas from the inflator, which inflates
the air bag. The inflator, air bag and related hardware
are all part
of the air bag modules inside the steering
wheel, instrument panel and the side
of the front
seatbacks closest to the door. stopping
the occupant more gradually But the frontal air
bags would not help you in many types of collisions,
including rollovers, rear impacts, and side impacts,
primarily because an occupant’s motion is not toward
the air bag. Side impact air bags would not help you in
many types of collisions, including frontal or near
frontal collisions, rollovers, and rear impacts, primarily
because an occupant’s motion is not toward those air
bags. Air bags should never be regarded as anything
more than a supplement to safety belts, and then only in
moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions for
the driver’s and right front passenger’s frontal air bags,
and only in moderate
to severe side collisions for the
driver’s and right front passenger’s side impact air bags.
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What will you see after an air bag inflates?
After an air bag inflates, it quickly deflates, so quickly
that some people may not even realize the
air bag
inflated. Some components of the air bag module
-- the
steering wheel hub for the driver’s air bag, the
instrument panel for the right front passenger’s bag, the
side of the seatback closest to the door for the driver and
right front passenger’s side impact
air bags -- will be
hot for a short time. The parts of the bag that come into
contact with you may be warm, but not too hot to touch.
There will be some smoke and dust coming from the
vents in the deflated
air bags. Air bag inflation doesn’t
prevent the driver from seeing or being able to steer the
vehicle, nor does it stop people from leaving the vehicle.
When an air bag inflates, there is dust in the air.
This dust could cause breathing problems for
people with a history of asthma or other
breathing trouble.
To avoid this, everyone in the
vehicle should get out as
soon as it is safe to do so.
If you have breathing problems but can’t get out
of the vehicle after an air bag inflates, then get
fresh air by opening a window or a door.
In many crashes severe enough to inflate an air bag,
windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage may also occur
from the
right front passenger
air bag.
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Air bags are designed to inflate only once. After an
air bag inflates, you’ll need some new parts for your
air bag system.
If you don’t get them, the air bag
system won’t be there to help protect you in another
crash.
A new system will include air bag modules
and possibly other parts. The service manual for your
velucle covers the need to replace other parts.
Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing and
diagnostic module, which records information about
the frontal
air bag system. The module records
information about the readiness
of the system, when
the sensors are activated and driver’s safety belt
usage at deployment.
Let only qualified technicians work on your air bag systems. Improper service can mean that an air bag
system won’t work properly. See your dealer
for service.
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NOTICE:
If you damage the covering for the driver’s or the
right front passenger’s air bag, or the air bag
covering on the driver’s and right front
passenger’s seatback, the bag may not work
properly. You may have to replace the air bag
module in the steering wheel, both the air bag
module and the instrument panel for the right
front passenger’s air bag, or both the air bag
module and seatback for the driver’s and right
front passenger’s side impact air bag.
Do not
open or break the air bag coverings.
If your vehicle ever gets into a lot of water -- such as
water up to the carpeting or higher
-- or if water enters
your vehicle and soaks the carpet, the air bag controller
can
be soaked and ruined. If this ever happens, and then
you
start your vehicle, the damage could make the
frontal and side impact air bags inflate and safety belt
pretensioners activate, even if there’s no crash.
You
would have to replace the air bags, all the sensors and
related parts, parts of the safety belt system and parts
of
the driver and right front passenger’s seatbacks. If your
vehicle is ever
in a flood, or if it’s exposed to water that
soaks the carpet, you can avoid needless repair costs by
turning
off the vehicle immediately. Don’t let anyone
start the vehicle, even to tow it, unless the battery cables
are first disconnected.
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0 Section 2 Features and Controls
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional features on your vehicle, and i\
nformation on starting,
shifting and braking. Also explained are the instrument panel and the warning systems that tell you if everything is
working properly
-- and what to do if you have a problem.
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2-4
2-8
2-12
2-13
2- 14
2-20
2-22
2-23
2-25 2-26
2-27
2-29
2-30
2-34
2-35
2-37 Keys
Door Locks
Keyless Entry System (Option)
Switchbanks
Sliding Door
Power Sliding Door (Option)
Liftgate
Theft
Content Theft-Deterrent (Option)
New Vehicle “Break-In”
Ignition Positions
Starting Your Engine
Engine Coolant Heater (If Equipped)
Automatic Transaxle Operation
Parking Brake Shifting Into PARK
(P)
Shifting Out of PARK (P) 2-38
2-38
2-39
2-40
2-50
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2-60
2-6 1
2-65
2-66
2-78
2-7
8
2-80 2-82
2-86
2-98 Parking
Over Things That Burn
Engine Exhaust
Running Your Engine While You’re Parked
Locks and Lighting Choices
Windows Turn SignaVMultifunction Lever
Exterior Lamps
Interior Lamps
Mirrors
Storage Compartments
Sun Visors
Accessory Inflator System (Option)
Accessory Power Outlet Instrument Panel
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Option)
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Instrument Panel Switchbank Sliding Door
IF, L
This switchbank is located in the instrument panel below the comfort controls. The switches and controls that you
may find
in this switchbank are the Rear Fan Knob, Rear
Window WiperNasher and Traction Control.
If your
vehicle does not have some
of the options controlled by
these switches, there will be a blank button in its place.
For more information, please
see each of these features
in the Index.
If your vehicle is not equipped with the optional rear
climate control system, there will be
a storage space in
this switchbank. The rubber mat can be removed for
cleaning. Snap the mat into place after cleaning.
To open the sliding door from outside the vehicle, pull
the handle out and then pull the door toward the rear.
If
you slide the door all the way back, the door will rest in
a detent position. The door must overcome this detent
when closing.
To move the door forward, you must first pull the door
past the open detent position.
I I CAUTION:
If your vehicle is facing downward on a steep
grade
(15 percent or more), the door may not stay
open and could slam shut, possibly injuring someone.
To make sure the door does not slam
shut, be sure to hold it open until everyone is clear
of the door, and only then allow it to slowly close.
Does your vehicle have a sliding door on the driver’s
side?
If it does, this door is designed to open only a little
if the fuel door
is open. If this ever happens, don’t try to
force the sliding door, Just close the driver’s side sliding
door. Then when the
fuel filler door is closed, the
driver’s side sliding door can be opened normally.
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