Page 1 of 388

Seats and Restraint Systems........................... 1-1
Front Seats
............................................... 1-3
Rear Seats
............................................... 1-6
Safety Belts
.............................................1-10
Child Restraints
.......................................1-30
Airbag System
.........................................1-61
Restraint System Check
............................1-72
Features and Controls..................................... 2-1
Keys
........................................................ 2-2
Doors and Locks
....................................... 2-7
Windows
.................................................2-16
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................2-19
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
...........2-20
Mirrors
....................................................2-31
OnStar
®System
......................................2-34
Storage Areas
.........................................2-35
Instrument Panel............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 3-4
Climate Controls
......................................3-18
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators
........3-24
Audio System(s)
.......................................3-41
Driving Your Vehicle....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
..... 4-2
Towing
...................................................4-36Service and Appearance Care.......................... 5-1
Service
..................................................... 5-3
Fuel
......................................................... 5-5
Checking Things Under the Hood
...............5-10
All-Wheel Drive
........................................5-43
Rear Axle
...............................................5-44
Front Axle
...............................................5-45
Noise Control System
...............................5-45
Bulb Replacement
....................................5-47
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.........5-52
Tires
......................................................5-53
Appearance Care
.....................................5-86
Vehicle Identi cation
.................................5-94
Electrical System
......................................5-95
Capacities and Speci cations
...................5-100
Maintenance Schedule..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance and Information.............. 7-1
Customer Assistance and Information
........... 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects
...........................7-11
Index................................................................ 1
2005 Chevrolet Express Owner ManualM
Page 13 of 388
The passenger’s side pin has a black cap with a
white “R” marked on it:
3. Pull the pin handle up to disengage the pin from
the retaining clip, then pull the pin out.
4. Repeat this procedure for the pin on the other
seat base.
5. Pull the seat rearward about 2 inches (5 cm) and
then lift the seat from the oor rails.
6. Remove the seat from the vehicle.7. For the rst row rear
seat, stow the safety
belt latch by attaching
the clip on the safety
belt latch to the trim just
inside the side door. For
the remaining rear
seats, stow the safety
belt latch plate on the
clip at the window trim.
1-7
Page 31 of 388
Rear Seat Passengers
It’s very important for rear seat passengers to buckle
up! Accident statistics show that unbelted people in the
rear seat are hurt more often in crashes than those
who are wearing safety belts.
Rear passengers who aren’t safety belted can be
thrown out of the vehicle in a crash. And they can strike
others in the vehicle who are wearing safety belts.
Rear Seat Outside Passenger Positions
The positions next to the windows have lap-shoulder
belts.
Lap-Shoulder Belt
Here is how to wear a lap-shoulder belt properly.
1. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you.
Do not let it get twisted.
1-25
Page 47 of 388
A forward-facing child seat (C-E) provides restraint for
the child’s body with the harness and also sometimes
with surfaces such as T-shaped or shelf-like shields.A booster seat (F-G) is a child restraint designed to
improve the t of the vehicle’s safety belt system. Some
booster seats have a shoulder belt positioner, and some
high-back booster seats have a ve-point harness. A
booster seat can also help a child to see out the window.
1-41
Page 73 of 388

How Does an Airbag Restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions,
even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel or
the instrument panel. Airbags supplement the protection
provided by safety belts. Airbags distribute the force of
the impact more evenly over the occupant’s upper body,
stopping the occupant more gradually. But airbags 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 those
airbags. Airbags 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.
What Will You See After an Airbag
In ates?
After an airbag in ates, it quickly de ates, so quickly that
some people may not even realize the airbag in ated.
Some components of the airbag module — the steering
wheel hub for the driver’s airbag, or the instrument panel
for the right front passenger’s airbag —will be hot for a
short time. The parts of the airbag 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 airbags. Airbag 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 airbag 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
cannot get out of the vehicle after an airbag
in ates, then get fresh air by opening a
window or a door. If you experience breathing
problems following an airbag deployment, you
should seek medical attention.
Airbags are designed to in ate only once. After an
airbag in ates, you will need some new parts for
your airbag system. If you do not get them,
the airbag system will not be there to help protect
you in another crash. A new system will include
airbag modules and possibly other parts. The
service manual for your vehicle covers the need to
replace other parts.
1-67
Page 81 of 388

Keys...............................................................2-2
Remote Keyless Entry System.........................2-3
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation...........2-4
Doors and Locks.............................................2-7
Door Locks....................................................2-7
Power Door Locks..........................................2-8
Cargo Door Relocking.....................................2-9
Rear Door Security Locks................................2-9
Lockout Protection........................................2-10
Sliding Side Door..........................................2-11
60/40 Swing-Out Side Door............................2-13
Rear Doors..................................................2-14
Windows........................................................2-16
Manual Windows..........................................2-16
Power Windows............................................2-17
Swing-Out Windows......................................2-18
Sun Visors...................................................2-18
Theft-Deterrent Systems..................................2-19
Passlock
®....................................................2-19
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle................2-20
New Vehicle Break-In....................................2-20
Ignition Positions..........................................2-20
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)...................2-21Starting the Engine.......................................2-21
Fuel Regulator.............................................2-22
Engine Coolant Heater..................................2-22
Automatic Transmission Operation...................2-24
All-Wheel Drive............................................2-26
Parking Brake..............................................2-26
Shifting Into Park (P).....................................2-27
Shifting Out of Park (P).................................2-28
Parking Over Things That Burn.......................2-29
Engine Exhaust............................................2-29
Running the Engine While Parked...................2-30
Mirrors...........................................................2-31
Manual Rearview Mirror.................................2-31
Outside Manual Mirror...................................2-31
Outside Camper-Type Mirrors.........................2-31
Outside Power Mirrors...................................2-32
Outside Convex Mirror...................................2-33
Outside Heated Mirrors..................................2-33
OnStar®System.............................................2-34
Storage Areas................................................2-35
Section 2 Features and Controls
2-1
Page 82 of 388
Keys
{CAUTION:
Leaving children in a vehicle with the ignition
key is dangerous for many reasons. They
could operate the power windows or other
controls or even make the vehicle move. The
children or others could be badly injured or
even killed. Do not leave the keys in a vehicle
with children.
2-2
Page 96 of 388
Windows
{CAUTION:
Leaving children, helpless adults, or pets in a
vehicle with the windows closed is dangerous.
They can be overcome by the extreme heat
and suffer permanent injuries or even death
from heat stroke. Never leave a child, a
helpless adult, or a pet alone in a vehicle,
especially with the windows closed in warm or
hot weather.
Manual Windows
To operate your manual windows, turn the hand crank
on each door to raise or lower your side door windows.
2-16