2003 CHEVROLET VENTURE Owners Manual

What Makes an Air Bag In¯ate?
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 in¯ator, which
in¯ates the air bag. The in¯ator, the air bag and
related hardware are all part of the air bag modules.
Frontal air bag modules are located inside the steering
wheel and instrument panel. For vehicles with side
impact air bags, the air bag modules are located in the
seatback closest to the driver's and/or right front
passenger's door.
How Does an Air Bag Restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal collisions,
even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel or
the instrument panel. In moderate to severe side
collisions, even belted occupants can contact the inside
of the vehicle. The air bag supplements the protection
provided by safety belts. Air bags distribute the force of
the impact more evenly over the occupant's upper
body, stopping the occupant more gradually. But the
frontal air bags would not help you in many types
of collisions, including rollovers, rear impacts, and many
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 vehicles with a driver's and right front
passenger's side impact air bag.
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What Will You See After an Air
Bag In¯ates?
After the air bag in¯ates, it quickly de¯ates, so quickly
that some people may not even realize the air bag
in¯ated. Some components of the air bag module will be
hot for a short time. These components include the
steering wheel hub for the driver's frontal air bag and the
instrument panel for the right front passenger's frontal
air bag. For vehicles with side impact air bags, the side
of the seatback closest to the driver's and/or right
front passenger's door will be hot. 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 de¯ated air bags. Air
bag in¯ation does not prevent the driver from seeing or
being able to steer the vehicle, nor does it stop
people from leaving the vehicle.
{CAUTION:
When an air bag in¯ates, 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
in¯ates, then get fresh air by opening a
window or a door. If you experience breathing
problems following an air bag deployment, you
should seek medical attention.
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In many crashes severe enough to in¯ate an air bag,
windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage may also occur from the
right front passenger air bag.
·Air bags are designed to in¯ate only once. After an
air bag in¯ates, you'll need some new parts for
your air bag system. If you do not get them, the air
bag system will not 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 vehicle covers the need to replace
other parts.
·Your vehicle is equipped with two electronic frontal
sensors, which help the sensing system distinguish
between a moderate frontal impact and a more
severe frontal impact. Your vehicle is also 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 system
commands air bag in¯ation and driver's safety belt
usage at deployment. The module also records
speed, engine rpm, brake and throttle data.
·Let only quali®ed technicians work on your air bag
systems. Improper service can mean that an air
bag system will not 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.Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped
Vehicle
Air bags affect how your vehicle should be serviced.
There are parts of the air bag systems in several places
around your vehicle. Your dealer and the service
manual have information about servicing your vehicle
and the air bag systems. To purchase a service manual,
see
Service Publications Ordering Information on
page 7-10.
{CAUTION:
For up to 10 seconds after the ignition key is
turned off and the battery is disconnected, an
air bag can still in¯ate during improper
service. You can be injured if you are close to
an air bag when it in¯ates. Avoid yellow
connectors. They are probably part of the air
bag system. Be sure to follow proper service
procedures, and make sure the person
performing work for you is quali®ed to do so.
The air bag systems do not need regular maintenance.
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Restraint System Check
Checking Your Restraint Systems
Now and then, make sure the safety belt reminder light
and all your belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors
and anchorages are working properly. If your vehicle
has a built-in child restraint, also periodically make sure
the harness straps, latch plates, buckle, clip, child
head restraint and anchorages are working properly.
Look for any other loose or damaged safety belt system
parts. If you see anything that might keep a safety
belt system from doing its job, have it repaired.Torn or frayed safety belts may not protect you in a
crash. They can rip apart under impact forces. If a belt
is torn or frayed, get a new one right away.
If your vehicle has the built-in child restraint, torn or
frayed harness straps can rip apart under impact forces
just like torn or frayed safety belts can. They may not
protect a child in a crash. If a harness strap is torn
or frayed, get a new harness right away.
Also look for any opened or broken air bag covers, and
have them repaired or replaced. (The air bag system
does not need regular maintenance.)
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Replacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash
{CAUTION:
A crash can damage the restraint systems in
your vehicle. A damaged restraint system may
not properly protect the person using it,
resulting in serious injury or even death in a
crash. To help make sure your restraint
systems are working properly after a crash,
have them inspected and any necessary
replacements made as soon as possible.If you've had a crash, do you need new safety belts or
built-in child restraint parts or LATCH system parts?
After a very minor collision, nothing may be necessary.
But if the safety belts or built-in child restraint harness
straps were stretched, as they would be if worn during a
more severe crash, then you need new parts. If the
LATCH system was being used during a more severe
crash, then you may need new LATCH system parts.
If the frontal air bags in¯ate, you'll also need to replace
the driver's and right front passenger's safety belt
buckle assembly. Be sure to do so. Then the new buckle
assembly will be there to help protect you in a collision.
If safety belts or built-in child restraint harness straps
are cut or damaged, replace them. Collision damage
also may mean you will need to have safety belt, built-in
child restraint, LATCH system or seat parts repaired
or replaced. New parts and repairs may be necessary
even if the safety belt, built-in child restraint or
LATCH system wasn't being used at the time of the
collision.
If an air bag in¯ates, you'll need to replace air bag
system parts. See the part on the air bag system earlier
in this section.
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Keys...............................................................2-3
Remote Keyless Entry System.........................2-5
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation...........2-6
Doors and Locks.............................................2-9
Door Locks....................................................2-9
Power Door Locks........................................2-11
Last Door Closed Locking..............................2-12
Programmable Automatic Door Locks..............2-12
Lockout Protection........................................2-13
Leaving Your Vehicle....................................2-13
Dual Sliding Doors........................................2-13
Power Sliding Door (PSD)..............................2-17
Liftgate........................................................2-22
Windows........................................................2-24
Manual Windows..........................................2-24
Power Windows............................................2-25
Side Window Latches....................................2-25
Power Rear Quarter Windows........................2-26
Sun Visors...................................................2-26
Theft-Deterrent Systems..................................2-27
Content Theft-Deterrent.................................2-27
PASS-Key
žIII ..............................................2-29
PASS-KeyžIII Operation...............................2-29
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle................2-31
New Vehicle Break-In....................................2-31Ignition Positions..........................................2-31
Starting Your Engine.....................................2-32
Engine Coolant Heater..................................2-33
Automatic Transaxle Operation.......................2-34
Parking Brake..............................................2-38
Shifting Into Park (P).....................................2-39
Shifting Out of Park (P).................................2-41
Parking Over Things That Burn.......................2-42
Engine Exhaust............................................2-42
Running Your Engine While You Are Parked. . . .2-43
Mirrors...........................................................2-44
Manual Rearview Mirror.................................2-44
Outside Power Mirrors...................................2-44
Outside Convex Mirror...................................2-45
Outside Heated Mirrors..................................2-45
OnStar
žSystem.............................................2-45
HomeLinkžTransmitter...................................2-47
Programming the HomeLinkžTransmitter.........2-48
Storage Areas................................................2-51
Glove Box...................................................2-51
Cupholder(s)................................................2-51
Compact Overhead Console...........................2-52
Overhead Console........................................2-52
Front Seat Storage Net.................................2-54
Luggage Carrier...........................................2-55
Section 2 Features and Controls
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Rear Storage Area........................................2-57
Convenience Net..........................................2-57
Convenience Center......................................2-58
Vehicle Personalization...................................2-61
Entering Programming Mode..........................2-62
Delayed Illumination and Exit Lighting..............2-62
Automatic Door Locks...................................2-63Last Door Locking and Lockout Deterrent.........2-64
Remote Driver Unlock Control........................2-65
Remote Lock and Unlock Con®rmation.............2-66
Content Theft-Deterrent System......................2-67
Arming and Disarming the Content
Theft-Deterrent System...............................2-68
Exiting Programming Mode.............................2-70
Section 2 Features and Controls
2-2