Black plate (18,1)Chevrolet Express Owner Manual - 2012
1-18 In Brief
Portable Audio Devices
This vehicle may have an auxiliary
input located on the radio faceplate
and a USB port located on the
instrument panel. External devices
such as an iPod
®, laptop computer,
MP3 player, CD changer, or USB
storage device can be connected to
the auxiliary port using a 3.5 mm
(1/8 in) input cable or the USB port
depending on the audio system.
See "Using the Auxiliary Input Jack"
and "Using the USB Port" in
Auxiliary Devices on page 7‑19.
Bluetooth®
For vehicles with a Bluetooth
system, it allows users with a
Bluetooth‐enabled cell phone to
make and receive hands-free calls
using the vehicle’ s audio system
and controls.
The Bluetooth‐enabled cell phone
must be paired with the Bluetooth
system before it can be used in the
vehicle. Not all phones will support
all functions. For more information,
visit www.gm.com/bluetooth.
For more information, see Bluetooth
on page 7‑24.
Steering Wheel Controls
For vehicles with audio steering
wheel controls, some audio controls
can be adjusted at the steering
wheel.
w: Press to go to the next
favorite radio station, track on a
CD, or folder on an iPod
®or
USB device.
c/x: Press to go to the
previous favorite radio station, track
on a CD, or folder on an iPod
®or
USB device. Also press to reject an
incoming call, or end a current call.
Black plate (19,1)Chevrolet Express Owner Manual - 2012
In Brief 1-19
b/g:Press to silence the vehicle
speakers only. Press again to turn
the sound on. Press and hold longer
than two seconds to interact with
OnStar
®or Bluetooth systems,
if equipped.
+
e: Press to increase volume.
−
e: Press to decrease volume.
SRCE: Press to switch between
the radio and CD, and for equipped
vehicles, the front auxiliary.
¨: Press to seek the next radio
station, the next track while sourced
to the CD, or to select tracks and
folders on an iPod
®or USB device.
For more information, see Steering
Wheel Controls on page 5‑2.
Cruise Control
For vehicles with cruise control, the
buttons are located on the left side
of the steering wheel.
J: Turns the system on or off.
+RES: Press briefly to make the
vehicle resume to a previously set
speed, or press and hold to
accelerate. SET−:
Press to set the speed and
activate cruise control or press and
hold to decelerate.
[: Press to disengage cruise
control without erasing the set
speed from memory.
For more information, see Cruise
Control on page 9‑37.
Power Outlets
The accessory power outlets can be
used to plug in electrical equipment,
such as a cell phone or an MP3
player.
The vehicle may have two
accessory power outlets located on
the instrument panel.
Remove the cover to access and
replace when not in use.
See Power Outlets on page 5‑10.
Black plate (12,1)Chevrolet Express Owner Manual - 2012
2-12 Keys, Doors, and Windows
Vehicle Security
This vehicle has theft-deterrent
features; however, they do not
make it impossible to steal.
Immobilizer
SeeRadio Frequency Statement on
page 13‑22 for information
regarding Part 15 of the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC)
rules and Industry Canada
Standards RSS-GEN/210/220/310.
Immobilizer Operation
This vehicle is equipped with the
PASS-Key®III+ (Personalized
Automotive Security System)
theft-deterrent system.
PASS-Key III+ is a passive
theft deterrent system.
The system is automatically armed
when the key is removed from the
ignition. You do not have to manually arm or
disarm the system.
The security light will come on if
there is a problem with arming or
disarming the theft-deterrent
system.
When the PASS-Key III+ system
senses that someone is using the
wrong key, it shuts down the
vehicle's starter and fuel systems.
The starter will not work and fuel will
stop being delivered to the engine.
Anyone using a trial-and-error
method to start the vehicle will be
discouraged because of the high
number of electrical key codes.
If the engine does not start and the
security message comes on, the
key may have a damaged
transponder. Turn the ignition off
and try again.
If the engine still does not start, and
the key appears to be undamaged,
try another ignition key. At this time,
you may also want to check the
instrument panel PASS KEY fuse.
If the engine still does not start with
the other key, the vehicle needs
service. If the vehicle does start, the
first key may be faulty. See your
dealer or a locksmith who can
service the PASS-Key III+ to have a
new key made. See
Fuses and
Circuit Breakers on page 10‑41.
It is possible for the PASS-Key III+
decoder to learn the transponder
value of a new or replacement key.
Up to 10 keys may be programmed
for the vehicle. This procedure is for
learning additional keys only. If all
the currently programmed keys are
lost or do not operate, you must see
your dealer or a locksmith who can
service PASS-Key III+ to have keys
made and programmed to the
system.
Black plate (9,1)Chevrolet Express Owner Manual - 2012
Seats and Restraints 3-9
WARNING (Continued)
It is extremely dangerous to ride
in a cargo area, inside or outside
of a vehicle. In a collision,
passengers riding in these areas
are more likely to be seriously
injured or killed. Do not allow
passengers to ride in any area of
the vehicle that is not equipped
with seats and safety belts.
Always wear a safety belt, and
check that all passenger(s) are
restrained properly too.
This vehicle has indicators as a
reminder to buckle the safety belts.
See Safety Belt Reminders on
page 5‑17 for additional information.
Why Safety Belts Work
When riding in a vehicle, you travel
as fast as the vehicle does. If the
vehicle stops suddenly, you keep
going until something stops you.
It could be the windshield, the
instrument panel, or the safety belts! When you wear a safety belt, you
and the vehicle slow down together.
There is more time to stop because
you stop over a longer distance and,
when worn properly, your strongest
bones take the forces from the
safety belts. That is why wearing
safety belts makes such good
sense.
Questions and Answers About
Safety Belts
Q: Will I be trapped in the vehicle
after a crash if I am wearing a
safety belt?
A: You could be—whether you are
wearing a safety belt or not.
Your chance of being conscious
during and after a crash, so you
can unbuckle and get out, is
much greater if you are belted.
Black plate (18,1)Chevrolet Express Owner Manual - 2012
3-18 Seats and Restraints
Airbag System
The vehicle has the following
airbag:
.A frontal airbag for the driver.
The vehicle may have the following
airbags:
.A frontal airbag for the right front
passenger.
.A roof-rail airbag for the driver
(cargo van).
.A roof-rail airbag for the right
front passenger position
(cargo or passenger van
equipped with a sliding door).
If you have a passenger van
with a right front passenger
roof-rail airbag and a sliding
door, you will also have a
separate roof-rail airbag for the
passenger seated directly
behind the right front passenger
and the third row outboard
passenger position.
.A roof-rail airbag for the driver,
the passenger seated directly
behind the driver, and the third
row outboard passenger position
(passenger van equipped with a
sliding or hinged door).
.A roof-rail airbag for the right
front passenger, the passenger
seated directly behind the right
front passenger, and the
third row outboard passenger
position (passenger van
equipped with a hinged door).
All of the airbags in the vehicle will
have the word AIRBAG embossed
in the trim or on an attached label
near the deployment opening.
For frontal airbags, the word
AIRBAG will appear on the middle
part of the steering wheel for the
driver and on the instrument panel
for the right front passenger.
With roof-rail airbags, the word
AIRBAG will appear along the
headliner or trim. Here are the most important things
to know about the airbag system:
{WARNING
You can be severely injured or
killed in a crash if you are not
wearing your safety belt
—even if
you have airbags. Airbags are
designed to work with safety
belts, but do not replace them.
Also, airbags are not designed to
deploy in every crash. In some
crashes safety belts are your only
restraint. See When Should an
Airbag Inflate? on page 3‑22.
Wearing your safety belt during a
crash helps reduce your chance
of hitting things inside the vehicle
or being ejected from it. Airbags
are “supplemental restraints” to
the safety belts. Everyone in your
vehicle should wear a safety belt
properly —whether or not there is
an airbag for that person.
Black plate (19,1)Chevrolet Express Owner Manual - 2012
Seats and Restraints 3-19
{WARNING
Airbags inflate with great force,
faster than the blink of an eye.
Anyone who is up against, orvery close to, any airbag when it
inflates can be seriously injured
or killed. Do not sit unnecessarily
close to the airbag, as you would
be if you were sitting on the edge
of your seat or leaning forward.
Safety belts help keep you in
position before and during a
crash. Always wear your safety
belt, even with airbags. The driver
should sit as far back as possible
while still maintaining control of
the vehicle.
Occupants should not lean on or
sleep against the door or side
windows in seating positions with
roof-rail airbags.
{WARNING
Children who are up against,
or very close to, any airbag when
it inflates can be seriously injured
or killed. Airbags plus
lap-shoulder belts offer protection
for adults and older children, but
not for young children and infants.
Neither the vehicle safety belt
system nor its airbag system is
designed for them. Young
children and infants need the
protection that a child restraint
system can provide. Always
secure children properly in the
vehicle. To read how, see Older
Children on page 3‑38 orInfants
and Young Children on
page 3‑40.
There is an airbag readiness light
on the instrument panel, which
shows the airbag symbol.
The system checks the airbag
electrical system for malfunctions.
The light tells you if there is an
electrical problem. See Airbag
Readiness Light on page 5‑18 for
more information.
Black plate (20,1)Chevrolet Express Owner Manual - 2012
3-20 Seats and Restraints
Where Are the Airbags?
The driver frontal airbag is in the
middle of the steering wheel.
If the vehicle has one, the right front
passenger airbag is in the
instrument panel on the
passenger side.Driver Side Shown, PassengerSide Similar
If the vehicle is a cargo or
passenger van with a sliding door
and it has a roof-rail airbag for the
driver and right front passenger
position, the roof-rail airbags are in
the ceiling above the side window.
Black plate (23,1)Chevrolet Express Owner Manual - 2012
Seats and Restraints 3-23
Dual-stage airbags adjust the
restraint according to crash severity.
The vehicle has electronic frontal
sensors, which help the sensing
system distinguish between a
moderate frontal impact and a more
severe frontal impact. For moderate
frontal impacts, dual-stage airbags
inflate at a level less than full
deployment. For more severe frontal
impacts, full deployment occurs.
The vehicle may or may not have
roof-rail airbags. SeeAirbag System
on page 3‑18. Roof-rail airbags are
intended to inflate in moderate to
severe side crashes. In addition,
these roof-rail airbags are intended
to inflate during a rollover. Roof-rail
airbags will inflate if the crash
severity is above the system's
designed threshold level. The
threshold level can vary with
specific vehicle design. Roof-rail airbags are not intended to
inflate in frontal impacts, near-frontal
impacts, or rear impacts. All roof-rail
airbags will deploy when either side
of the vehicle is struck.
In any particular crash, no one can
say whether an airbag should have
inflated simply because of the
damage to a vehicle or because of
what the repair costs were.
For frontal airbags, inflation is
determined by what the vehicle hits,
the angle of the impact, and how
quickly the vehicle slows down.
For roof-rail airbags, deployment is
determined by the location and
severity of the side impact.
In a rollover event, roof‐rail airbag
deployment is determined by the
direction of the roll.What Makes an Airbag
Inflate?
In a deployment event, the sensing
system sends an electrical signal
triggering a release of gas from the
inflator. Gas from the inflator fills the
airbag causing the bag to break out
of the cover and deploy. The inflator,
the airbag, and related hardware are
all part of the airbag module.
Frontal airbag modules are located
inside the steering wheel and
instrument panel. For vehicles with
roof-rail airbags, there are airbag
modules in the ceiling of the vehicle,
near the side windows for the first,
second, and third rows (if equipped).
See
Where Are the Airbags? on
page 3‑20 for more information.