2006 CHEVROLET EXPRESS automatic transmission

Owner Checks and Services
Starter Switch Check
{WARNING:
When you are doing this inspection, the vehicle
could move suddenly. If the vehicle moves, you or
others could be injured.
1. Before starting this check, be sure there is enough
room around the vehicle.
2. Firmly apply both the parking brake and the regular
brake. SeeParking Brake on page 3-36.
Do not use the accelerator pedal, and be ready to
turn off the engine immediately if it starts.
3. Try to start the engine in each gear. The vehicle
should start only in P (Park) or N (Neutral). If the
vehicle starts in any other position, contact
your dealer/retailer for service.
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock
Control System Check
{WARNING:
When you are doing this inspection, the vehicle
could move suddenly. If the vehicle moves, you or
others could be injured.
1. Before starting this check, be sure there is enough
room around the vehicle. It should be parked on a
level surface.
2. Firmly apply the parking brake. SeeParking Brake
on page 3-36.
Be ready to apply the regular brake immediately if
the vehicle begins to move.
3. With the engine off, turn the ignition to ON/RUN,
but do not start the engine. Without applying the
regular brake, try to move the shift lever out
of P (Park) with normal effort. If the shift lever
moves out of P (Park), contact your dealer/retailer
for service.
7-10

Ignition Transmission Lock Check
While parked, and with the parking brake set, try to turn
the ignition to LOCK/OFF in each shift lever position.
•The ignition should turn to LOCK/OFF only
when the shift lever is in P (Park).
•The ignition key should come out only in
LOCK/OFF.
Contact your dealer/retailer if service is required.
Parking Brake and Automatic
Transmission P (Park) Mechanism
Check
{WARNING:
When you are doing this check, the vehicle could
begin to move. You or others could be injured and
property could be damaged. Make sure there is
room in front of the vehicle in case it begins to roll.
Be ready to apply the regular brake at once
should the vehicle begin to move.Park on a fairly steep hill, with the vehicle facing
downhill. Keeping your foot on the regular brake,
set the parking brake.
•To check the parking brake’s holding ability:
With the engine running and the transmission
in N (Neutral), slowly remove foot pressure from
the regular brake pedal. Do this until the vehicle
is held by the parking brake only.
•To check the P (Park) mechanism’s holding
ability: With the engine running, shift to P (Park).
Then release the parking brake followed by
the regular brake.
Contact your dealer/retailer if service is required.
7-11

Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants
This maintenance section applies to vehicles with a
gasoline engine. If the vehicle has a diesel engine
and/or an Allison Transmission, see the maintenance
schedule section in the DURAMAX
®Diesel manual.
Fluids and lubricants identified below by name,
part number, or specification can be obtained from your
dealer/retailer.
Usage Fluid/Lubricant
Engine OilEngine oil which meets
GM Standard GM6094M and
displays the American Petroleum
Institute Certified for Gasoline
Engines starburst symbol.
To determine the proper viscosity
for your vehicle’s engine, see
Engine Oil on page 6-15.
Engine Coolant50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and use only DEX-COOL
®
Coolant. SeeEngine Coolant on
page 6-29.
Usage Fluid/Lubricant
Hydraulic Brake
SystemDOT 3 Hydraulic Brake Fluid
(GM Part No. U.S. 12377967,
in Canada 89021320).
Windshield
WasherOptikleen
®Washer Solvent.
Parking Brake
Cable GuidesChassis Lubricant
(GM Part No. U.S. 12377985, in
Canada 88901242) or lubricant
meeting requirements of NLGI #2,
Category LB or GC-LB.
Power Steering
SystemGM Power Steering Fluid
(GM Part No. U.S. 89021184,
in Canada 89021186).
Automatic
TransmissionDEXRON
®-VI Automatic
Transmission Fluid.
Key Lock
CylindersMulti-Purpose Lubricant, Superlube
(GM Part No. U.S. 12346241,
in Canada 10953474).
Chassis
LubricationChassis Lubricant
(GM Part No. U.S. 12377985, in
Canada 88901242) or lubricant
meeting requirements of NLGI #2,
Category LB or GC-LB.
7-12

Usage Fluid/Lubricant
Front Wheel
BearingsWheel bearing lubricant meeting
requirements of NLGI #2,
Category GC or GC-LB
(GM Part No. U.S. 1051344,
in Canada 993037).
Front and
Rear AxleSAE 75W-90 Synthetic
Axle Lubricant
(GM Part No. U.S. 89021677, in
Canada 89021678) or equivalent
meeting GM Specification 9986115.
Transfer CaseDEXRON
®-VI Automatic
Transmission Fluid.
One-Piece
Propshaft Slip
Yoke Spline,
Two-Piece
Propshaft
Slip-in-Tube
SplineSpline Lubricant, Special Lubricant
(GM Part No. U.S. 12345879, in
Canada 10953511) or lubricant
meeting requirements of
GM 9985830.
Usage Fluid/Lubricant
Hood HingesMulti-Purpose Lubricant, Superlube
(GM Part No. U.S. 12346241,
in Canada 10953474).
Weatherstrip
ConditioningWeatherstrip Lubricant
(GM Part No. U.S. 3634770,
in Canada 10953518) or
Dielectric Silicone Grease
(GM Part No. U.S. 12345579,
in Canada 992887).
Weatherstrip
SqueaksSynthetic Grease with
Teflon, Superlube
(GM Part No. U.S. 12371287,
in Canada 10953437).
7-13

Audio System(s).............................................4-62
Automatic Door Lock.......................................3-11
Automatic Door Unlock....................................3-11
Automatic Headlamp System............................4-11
Automatic Transmission
Fluid..................................................6-21, 6-24
Operation...........................................3-27, 3-32
Axle, Rear.....................................................6-50
B
Battery..........................................................6-43
Electric Power Management..........................4-13
Run-Down Protection...................................4-14
Belt Routing, Engine.......................................7-15
Brake
Emergencies................................................ 5-5
Brakes..........................................................6-40
Antilock....................................................... 5-4
Parking......................................................3-36
System Warning Light..................................4-27
Braking........................................................... 5-3
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 5-5
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................3-22
Bulb Replacement...........................................6-58
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)........6-56
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker and Parking
Lamps ....................................................6-55
Halogen Bulbs............................................6-53Bulb Replacement (cont.)
Headlamps.................................................6-53
License Plate Lamps....................................6-58
Taillamps....................................................6-56
Buying New Tires...........................................6-79
C
Calibration.....................................................4-42
California
Perchlorate Materials Requirements................. 6-4
Warning....................................................... 6-4
California Fuel.................................................. 6-6
Canadian Owners............................................... iii
Capacities and Specifications..........................6-116
Carbon Monoxide
Engine Exhaust...........................................3-40
Winter Driving.............................................5-16
Care of
Safety Belts..............................................6-104
Cargo Door Relocking.....................................3-10
CD, MP3 .......................................................4-72
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)...........6-56
Chains, Tire...................................................6-84
Charging System Light....................................4-26
Check
Engine Lamp..............................................4-30
Checking Things Under the Hood......................6-12
Chemical Paint Spotting.................................6-108
2

Engine (cont.)
Coolant Heater............................................3-25
Coolant Temperature Gage...........................4-29
Cooling System...........................................6-28
Drive Belt Routing.......................................7-15
Exhaust.....................................................3-40
Fan Noise..................................................6-37
Fast Idle System.........................................3-25
Oil .............................................................6-15
Overheating................................................6-35
Starting......................................................3-23
Engine Oil
Life System................................................6-18
Enhanced Technology Glass.............................3-19
Entry/Exit Lighting...........................................4-13
Event Data Recorders.....................................8-18
Extender, Safety Belt.......................................2-29
Exterior Lamps................................................. 4-9
F
Fast Idle System............................................3-25
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner......................................6-20
Finish Damage.............................................6-108
Fixed Mast Antenna........................................4-78
Flashers, Hazard Warning.................................. 4-3Flash-to-Pass................................................... 4-5
Flat Tire........................................................6-85
Flat Tire, Changing.........................................6-86
Flat Tire, Storing...........................................6-100
Fluid
Automatic Transmission........................6-21, 6-24
Power Steering...........................................6-38
Windshield Washer......................................6-39
Front Axle......................................................6-50
Fuel............................................................... 6-5
Additives...................................................... 6-7
California Fuel.............................................. 6-6
E85 (85% Ethanol)........................................ 6-8
Filling a Portable Fuel Container....................6-12
Filling the Tank...........................................6-10
Fuels in Foreign Countries.............................. 6-9
Gage .........................................................4-35
Gasoline Octane........................................... 6-6
Gasoline Specifications.................................. 6-6
Fuel Economy
Driving for Better.........................................1-18
Fuses
Engine Compartment Fuse Block.................6-112
Floor Console Fuse Block...........................6-111
Fuses and Circuit Breakers.........................6-110
Windshield Wiper.......................................6-110
5

Traction
StabiliTrak®System....................................... 5-5
Transmission
Fluid, Automatic..................................6-21, 6-24
Transmission Operation, Automatic............3-27, 3-32
Transportation Program, Courtesy......................8-11
Trip Odometer................................................4-22
Turn and Lane-Change Signals.......................... 4-4
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever........................... 4-4
U
Uniform Tire Quality Grading............................6-81
V
Vehicle
Control........................................................ 5-3
Loading......................................................5-19
Remote Start................................................ 3-7
Running While Parked..................................3-41
Symbols......................................................... ivVehicle Customization, DIC..............................4-52
Vehicle Data Recording and Privacy..................8-18
Vehicle Identification
Number (VIN)............................................6-109
Service Parts Identification Label..................6-109
Ventilation Adjustment......................................4-17
Visors...........................................................3-19
Voltmeter Gage..............................................4-27
W
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators...............4-20
Warnings
DIC Warnings and Messages........................4-44
Hazard Flashers............................................ 4-3
Safety and Symbols......................................... iv
Wheels
Alignment and Tire Balance..........................6-82
Different Size..............................................6-80
Replacement...............................................6-82
When It Is Time for New Tires..........................6-78
Where to Put the Child Restraint.......................2-40
13