2003 CHEVROLET EXPRESS brake

Instrument Panel Overview...............................3-4
Hazard Warning Flashers................................3-6
Other Warning Devices...................................3-6
Horn.............................................................3-6
Tilt Wheel.....................................................3-6
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.........................3-7
Turn and Lane-Change Signals........................3-8
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer..................3-8
Flash-to-Pass.................................................3-9
Windshield Wipers..........................................3-9
Windshield Washer.......................................3-10
Cruise Control..............................................3-10
Exterior Lamps.............................................3-13
Headlamps on Reminder................................3-14
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL).......................3-14
Instrument Panel Brightness...........................3-15
Dome Lamps...............................................3-15
Dome Lamp Override....................................3-15
Entry Lighting...............................................3-16
Exit Lighting.................................................3-16
Reading Lamps............................................3-16
Battery Run-Down Protection..........................3-16
Accessory Power Outlets...............................3-16
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter........................3-17Climate Controls............................................3-18
Climate Control System.................................3-18
Outlet Adjustment.........................................3-20
Rear Heating System....................................3-20
Rear Air Conditioning and Heating System.......3-21
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators............3-22
Instrument Panel Cluster................................3-23
Speedometer and Odometer...........................3-24
Trip Odometer..............................................3-24
Engine Speed Limiter....................................3-24
Safety Belt Reminder Light.............................3-25
Airbag Readiness Light..................................3-25
Airbag Off Light............................................3-26
Charging System Light..................................3-28
Voltmeter Gage............................................3-28
Brake System Warning Light..........................3-29
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light.............3-30
StabiliTrak Not Ready Light............................3-30
StabiliTrak Indicator Light...............................3-31
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage..................3-31
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.............................3-32
Oil Pressure Gage........................................3-34
Change Engine Oil Light................................3-35
Security Light...............................................3-36
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-1

Windshield Washer
L(Washer Fluid):There is a paddle marked with the
windshield washer symbol at the top of the multifunction
lever. To spray washer uid on the windshield, push
the paddle. The wipers will clear the window and then
either stop or return to your preset speed.
{CAUTION:
In freezing weather, do not use your washer
until the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the
washer uid can form ice on the windshield,
blocking your vision.
Cruise Control
If your vehicle has 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).
If you apply your brakes, the cruise control will
disengage.
{CAUTION:
Cruise control can be dangerous where you
cannot drive safely at a steady speed. So, do
not use your cruise control on winding roads
or in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous on slippery
roads. On such roads, fast changes in tire
traction can cause needless wheel spinning,
and you could lose control. Do not use cruise
control on slippery roads.
3-10

Resuming a Set Speed
Suppose you set your cruise control at a desired speed
and then you apply the brake. This, of course,
disengages the cruise control. But you don’t need to
reset it.
Once you’re going about 25 mph (40 km/h) or more,
you can move the cruise control switch from on to
resume/accelerate briey.
You’ll go right back up to your chosen speed and
stay there.
If you hold the switch at resume/accelerate briey, the
vehicle will keep going faster until you release the switch
or apply the brake. So unless you want to go faster,
don’t hold the switch at resume/accelerate.
Increasing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed:
Use the accelerator pedal to get to the higher
speed. Press the set button at the end of the lever,
then release the button and the accelerator
pedal. You’ll now cruise at the higher speed.
Move the cruise switch from on to
resume/accelerate. Hold it there until you get up to
the speed you want, and then release the switch.
To increase your speed in very small amounts,
move the switch to resume/accelerate briey. Each
time you do this, your vehicle will go about
1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster.
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
Press and hold the set button at the end of the
lever until you reach the lower speed you want, then
release it.
To slow down in very small amounts, press the set
button briey. Each time you do this, you’ll go
about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using
Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed.
When you take your foot off the pedal, your vehicle will
slow down to the cruise control speed you set earlier.
3-12

Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load and the steepness of the
hills. When going up steep hills, you may want to step
on the accelerator pedal to maintain your speed.
When going downhill, you may have to brake or shift to
a lower gear to keep your speed down. Of course,
applying the brake takes you out of cruise control. Many
drivers nd this to be too much trouble and don’t use
cruise control on steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
There are three ways to turn off the cruise control:
Step lightly on the brake pedal.
Move the cruise control switch to off.
If your vehicle has the Stabilitrak®feature, cruise
control will deactivate if road conditions cause
Stabilitrak
®to activate.
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition, your
cruise control set speed memory is erased.
Exterior Lamps
The control on the driver’s
side of your instrument
panel operates the
exterior lamps.
The exterior lamp control has four positions:
Ø (Defeat):Turn the control to this position to turn off
the DRL.
i(Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)):Turning the
control to this position selects the DRL. When the
vehicle is shifted out of PARK (P), the instrument panel
lamps will illuminate and the DRL will turn on, unless
defeated. When the DRL are active, the DRL indicator
will illuminate.
3-13

You can only drive for a short time with the reading in
either warning zone. If you must drive, turn off all
unnecessary accessories.
Readings in either warning zone indicate a possible
problem in the electrical system. Have the vehicle
serviced as soon as possible.
Brake System Warning Light
With the ignition on, the brake system warning light will
come on when you set your parking brake. The light
will stay on if your parking brake doesn’t release fully. If
it stays on after your parking brake is fully released,
it means you have a brake problem.
Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided into
two parts. If one part isn’t working, the other part can still
work and stop you. For good braking, though, you
need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there could be a brake
problem. Have your brake system inspected right away.This light should come on briey when you turn the
ignition key to RUN. If it doesn’t come on then, have it
xed so it will be ready to warn you if there’s a problem.
If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off the
road and stop carefully. You may notice that the pedal is
harder to push. Or, the pedal may go closer to the
oor. It may take longer to stop. If the light is still on,
have the vehicle towed for service. SeeTowing
Your Vehicle on page 4-34.
{CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working
properly if the brake system warning light is on.
Driving with the brake system warning light on
can lead to an accident. If the light is still on
after you have pulled off the road and stopped
carefully, have the vehicle towed for service.
United States
Canada
3-29

Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light
With the anti-lock brake
system, this light will come
on when you start your
engine and may stay on
for several seconds.
That’s normal.
If the light stays on, or comes on when you’re driving,
your vehicle needs service. If the regular brake
system warning light isn’t on, you still have brakes, but
you don’t have anti-lock brakes. If the regular brake
system warning light is also on, you don’t have anti-lock
brakes and there’s a problem with your regular
brakes. SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 3-29
for more information.
The anti-lock brake system warning light should come
on briey when you turn the ignition key to RUN. If
the light doesn’t come on then, have it xed so it will be
ready to warn you if there is a problem.
StabiliTrak Not Ready Light
If your vehicle has the
StabiliTrak®system, this
light will come on
according to the
description table for the
StabiliTrak
®system.
For more information, seeStabiliTrak
®System on
page 4-8.
You will hear three chimes if the light turns on and one
chime if the light turns off.
3-30

Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle..........4-2
Defensive Driving...........................................4-2
Drunken Driving.............................................4-2
Control of a Vehicle........................................4-5
Braking.........................................................4-5
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS).........................4-6
Braking in Emergencies...................................4-7
Locking Rear Axle..........................................4-7
StabiliTrak
®System........................................4-8
Steering......................................................4-10
Off-Road Recovery.......................................4-12
Passing.......................................................4-12
Loss of Control.............................................4-14
Driving at Night............................................4-15
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads..................4-16City Driving..................................................4-19
Freeway Driving...........................................4-20
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.......................4-21
Highway Hypnosis........................................4-21
Hill and Mountain Roads................................4-22
Winter Driving..............................................4-24
If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud,
Ice or Snow..............................................4-28
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out.................4-28
Loading Your Vehicle....................................4-29
Towing..........................................................4-34
Towing Your Vehicle.....................................4-34
Recreational Vehicle Towing...........................4-34
Towing a Trailer...........................................4-34
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
4-1

Your Driving, the Road, and
Your Vehicle
Defensive Driving
The best advice anyone can give about driving is:
Drive defensively.
Please start with a very important safety device in your
vehicle: Buckle up. SeeSafety Belts: They Are for
Everyone on page 1-10.
Defensive driving really means “be ready for anything.”
On city streets, rural roads, or freeways, it means
“always expect the unexpected.”
Assume that pedestrians or other drivers are going to
be careless and make mistakes. Anticipate what
they might do. Be ready for their mistakes.
Rear-end collisions are about the most preventable of
accidents. Yet they are common. Allow enough following
distance. It is the best defensive driving maneuver, in
both city and rural driving. You never know when the
vehicle in front of you is going to brake or turn suddenly.
Defensive driving requires that a driver concentrate on
the driving task. Anything that distracts from the driving
task — such as concentrating on a cellular telephone call,
reading, or reaching for something on the oor — makesproper defensive driving more difficult and can even
cause a collision, with resulting injury. Ask a passenger to
help do things like this, or pull off the road in a safe place
to do them yourself. These simple defensive driving
techniques could save your life.Drunken Driving
Death and injury associated with drinking and driving is
a national tragedy. It is the number one contributor
to the highway death toll, claiming thousands of victims
every year.
Alcohol affects four things that anyone needs to drive
a vehicle:
Judgment
Muscular Coordination
Vision
Attentiveness
Police records show that almost half of all motor
vehicle-related deaths involve alcohol. In most cases,
these deaths are the result of someone who was
drinking and driving. In recent years, more than
16,000 annual motor vehicle-related deaths have been
associated with the use of alcohol, with more than
300,000 people injured.
4-2