
Seats and Restraint Systems........................... 1-1
Front Seats
............................................... 1-3
Rear Seats
............................................... 1-7
Safety Belts
.............................................1-30
Child Restraints
.......................................1-55
Air Bag Systems
......................................1-93
Restraint System Check
..........................1-103
Features and Controls..................................... 2-1
Keys
........................................................ 2-3
Doors and Locks
....................................... 2-9
Windows
.................................................2-24
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................2-27
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
...........2-31
Mirrors
....................................................2-44
OnStar
žSystem
......................................2-45
HomeLinkžTransmitter
.............................2-47
Storage Areas
.........................................2-51
Vehicle Personalization
.............................2-61
Instrument Panel............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 3-4
Climate Controls
......................................3-25
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
.........3-35
Message Center
.......................................3-50
Driver Information Center (DIC)
..................3-58
Audio System(s)
.......................................3-61Driving Your Vehicle....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
..... 4-2
Towing
...................................................4-32
Service and Appearance Care.......................... 5-1
Service
..................................................... 5-3
Fuel
......................................................... 5-4
Checking Things Under the Hood
...............5-10
All-Wheel Drive
........................................5-50
Bulb Replacement
....................................5-52
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.........5-58
Tires
......................................................5-60
Appearance Care
.....................................5-87
Vehicle Identi®cation
.................................5-95
Electrical System
......................................5-96
Capacities and Speci®cations
...................5-103
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
....5-104
Maintenance Schedule..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance Information.................... 7-1
Customer Assistance Information
.................. 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects
............................ 7-9
Index.................................................................1
2003 Chevrolet Venture Owner ManualM

Vehicle Damage Warnings
Also, in this book you will ®nd these notices:
Notice:These mean there is something that could
damage your vehicle.
A notice will tell you about something that can damage
your vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be
covered by your warranty, and it could be costly. But the
notice will tell you what to do to help avoid the
damage.
When you read other manuals, you might see
CAUTION and NOTICE warnings in different colors or in
different words.
You'll also see warning labels on your vehicle. They use
the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.
Vehicle Symbols
Your vehicle has components and labels that use
symbols instead of text. Symbols, used on your vehicle,
are shown along with the text describing the operation
or information relating to a speci®c component, control,
message, gage or indicator.
If you need help ®guring out a speci®c name of a
component, gage or indicator, reference the following
topics:
·Seats and Restraint Systems in Section 1
·Features and Controls in Section 2
·Instrument Panel Overview in Section 3
·Climate Controls in Section 3
·Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators in Section 3
·Audio System(s) in Section 3
·Engine Compartment Overview in Section 5
iv

B (LOCK):This is the only position from which you can
remove the key. This position locks your ignition,
steering wheel and transaxle.
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.
Turn the key only with your hand. Using a tool
to force it could break the key or the ignition switch.
If none of these works, then your vehicle needs
service.
C (OFF):This position unlocks the ignition, steering
wheel and transaxle but, does not send power to
any accessories. Use this position if your vehicle must
be pushed or towed, but never try to push-start your
vehicle.
D (RUN):This is the position to which the switch
returns after you start your engine and release the
ignition key. This is the position for driving. Even when
the engine is not running, you can use RUN to
operate your electrical accessories and to display some
instrument panel warning lights.
E (START):This position starts the engine. When the
engine starts, release the ignition key. The switch
will return to RUN for normal driving.If the engine is not running, ACCESSORY and RUN are
positions that allow you to operate your electrical
accessories, such as the radio.Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
With RAP, the power windows, power rear quarter
windows, audio system and the automatic level control
will continue to work up to 10 minutes after the
ignition key is turned to OFF and none of the doors are
opened.
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:Shifting into PARK (P) with the vehicle
moving could damage the transmission. Shift
to PARK (P) only when your vehicle is stopped.
1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn your
ignition key to START. When the engine starts, let
go of the key. The idle speed will go down as
your engine warms up.
2-32

Driver Information Center (DIC).......................3-58
Audio System(s).............................................3-61
Setting the Time for Radios without Radio
Data Systems (RDS)..................................3-61
Setting the Time for Radios with Radio
Data Systems (RDS)..................................3-61
AM-FM Radio...............................................3-62
Radio with CD..............................................3-65
Radio with Cassette and CD..........................3-72
Radio with Six-Disc CD.................................3-81
Entertainment System....................................3-92
Rear Seat Audio (RSA) (Without
Entertainment System)...............................3-99Rear Seat Audio (RSA) (With
Entertainment System)..............................3-101
Theft-Deterrent Feature (Non-RDS Radios).....3-103
Theft-Deterrent Feature (RDS Radios)............3-103
DVD Distortion............................................3-103
Understanding Radio Reception....................3-104
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player...............3-104
Care of Your CDs and DVDs........................3-105
Care of Your CD and DVD Player.................3-105
Cleaning Your DVD Player...........................3-105
Cleaning the Video Screen...........................3-105
Fixed Mast Antenna....................................3-105
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-2

The main components of the instrument panel are the following:
A. Side Outlets. See
Outlet Adjustment on page 3-28.
B. Front Outlets. See
Outlet Adjustment on page 3-28.
C. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever. See
Turn
Signal/Multifunction Lever on page 3-7.
D. Hazard Warning Flasher Switch. See
Hazard
Warning Flashers on page 3-6.
E. Instrument Panel Cluster. See
Instrument Panel
Cluster on page 3-36.
F. Center Outlets. See
Outlet Adjustment on page 3-28.
G. Audio System. See
Audio System(s) on page 3-61.
H. Side Outlets. See
Outlet Adjustment on page 3-28.
I. Exterior Lamps Control. See
Exterior Lamps on
page 3-15.
J. Hood Release. See
Hood Release on page 5-10.
K. Horn. See
Horn on page 3-7.L. Ignition Switch. See
Ignition Positions on page 2-31.
M. Climate Controls. See
Climate Control System on
page 3-25.
N. Rear Fan Controls. See
Rear Climate Control
System (Without Entertainment System) on
page 3-29
orRear Climate Control System (With
Entertainment System) on page 3-31.
O. Cupholder Tray. See
Cupholder(s) on page 2-51.
P. Accessory Power Outlet. See
Accessory Power
Outlets on page 3-24.
Q. Instrument Panel Switchbank. See
Instrument Panel
Switchbank on page 3-21.
R. Glove Box. See
Glove Box on page 2-51.
S. Front Outlets. See
Outlet Adjustment on page 3-28.
T. Instrument Panel Fuse Block. See
Fuses and
Circuit Breakers on page 5-96.
3-5

Audio System(s)
Notice:Before you add any sound equipment to
your vehicle ± like a tape player, CB radio, mobile
telephone or two-way radio ± be sure you can
add what you want. If you can, it's very important to
do it properly. Added sound equipment may
interfere with the operation of your vehicle's engine,
radio or other systems, and even damage them.
Your vehicle's systems may interfere with the
operation of sound equipment that has been added
improperly.
So, before adding sound equipment, check with
your dealer and be sure to check federal rules
covering mobile radio and telephone units.
Your audio system has been designed to operate easily
and to give years of listening pleasure. You will get
the most enjoyment out of it if you acquaint yourself with
it ®rst. Figure out which radio you have in your vehicle,
®nd out what your audio system can do and how to
operate all of its controls to be sure you're getting the
most out of the advanced engineering that went into it.
Your vehicle has a feature called Retained Accessory
Power (RAP). With RAP, you can play your audio
system even after the ignition is turned off. See
ªRetained Accessory Power (RAP)º under
Ignition
Positions on page 2-31.
Setting the Time for Radios without
Radio Data Systems (RDS)
Press and hold the HR or MIN arrow for two seconds.
Then press the HR arrow until the correct hour appears
on the display. Press and hold the MIN arrow until
the correct minute appears on the display. The time may
be set with the ignition on or off.
Setting the Time for Radios with
Radio Data Systems (RDS)
Your radio may have a button marked with an H or HR
to represent hours and an M or MN to represent
minutes.
Press and hold the hour button until the correct hour
appears on the display. AM will also appear for morning
hours. Press and hold the minute button until the
correct minute appears on the display. The time may be
set with the ignition on or off.
To synchronize the time with an FM station broadcasting
Radio Data System (RDS) information, press and
hold the hour and minute buttons at the same time until
UPDATED appears on the display. If the time is not
available from the station, NO UPDAT will appear on the
display instead.
3-61

Setting Preset Stations
The six numbered pushbuttons let you return to your
favorite stations. You can set up to 18 stations (six FM1,
six FM2, and six AM) by performing the following
steps:
1. Turn the radio on.
2. Press AM FM to select FM1, FM2, or AM.
3. Tune in the desired station.
4. Press and hold one of the six numbered
pushbuttons until you hear a beep. Whenever you
press that numbered pushbutton, the station
you set will return.
5. Repeat the steps for each pushbutton.
Setting the Tone (Bass/Treble)
AUDIO:To adjust the bass and the treble, press and
release the AUDIO button until BAS or TRE appears on
the display. Then press and hold the up or the down
arrow to increase or to decrease. If a station is weak or
noisy, you may want to decrease the treble.
To adjust bass or treble to the middle position, select
BAS or TRE. Then press and hold the AUDIO button for
more than two seconds until you hear a beep. B and
a zero or T and a zero will appear on the display.
To adjust both tone controls and both speaker controls
to the middle position, ®rst end out of audio mode
by pressing another button, causing the radio to perform
that function, or by waiting ®ve seconds for the display
to return to time of day. Then press and hold the AUDIO
button for more than two seconds until you hear a
beep. CEN will appear on the display.
3-63

Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)
AUDIO:To adjust the balance between the right
and the left speakers, press and release the AUDIO
button until BAL appears on the display. Then press and
hold the up or the down arrow to move the sound
toward the right or the left speakers.
To adjust the fade between the front and the rear
speakers, press and release the AUDIO button until
FAD appears on the display. Then press and hold the up
or the down arrow to move the sound toward the front
or the rear speakers.
To adjust balance or fade to the middle position, select
BAL or FAD. Then press and hold the AUDIO button
for more than two seconds until you hear a beep. L and
a zero or F and a zero will appear on the display.To adjust both tone controls and both speaker controls
to the middle position, ®rst end out of audio mode
by pressing another button, causing the radio to perform
that function, or by waiting ®ve seconds for the display
to return to time of day. Then press and hold the AUDIO
button for more than two seconds until you hear a
beep. CEN will appear on the display.
Radio Messages
CAL (Calibration):Your audio system has been
calibrated for your vehicle from the factory. If CAL
appears on the display it means that your radio has not
been con®gured properly for your vehicle and must
be returned to the dealer for service.
LOC (Locked):This message is displayed when the
THEFTLOCK
žsystem has locked up. You must
return to the dealer for service.
3-64