Page 40 of 430

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.
Page 41 of 430

Black plate (13,1)Chevrolet Express Owner Manual - 2012
Keys, Doors, and Windows 2-13
See your dealer or a locksmith who
can service PASS-Key III+ to get a
new key blank that is cut exactly as
the ignition key that operates the
system.
To program the new key:
1. Verify the new key has
1
stamped on it.
2. Insert the original, already programmed key into the ignition
lock cylinder and start the
engine. If the engine will not
start, see your dealer for service.
3. After the engine has started, turn the key to LOCK/OFF and
remove the key. 4. Insert the key to be programmed
and turn it to ON/RUN within
10 seconds of removing the
previous key.
The security message will turn
off once the key has been
programmed. It may not be
apparent that the security
message went on due to how
quickly the key is programmed.
5. Repeat Steps 1 through 4 if additional keys are to be
programmed. If you lose or damage a
PASS-Key III+ key, see your dealer
or a locksmith who can service
PASS-Key III+ to have a new
key made.
Do not leave the key or device
that disarms or deactivates the
theft-deterrent system in
the vehicle.
Page 45 of 430
Black plate (17,1)Chevrolet Express Owner Manual - 2012
Keys, Doors, and Windows 2-17
If the vehicle has power windows,
the controls are located on each of
the side doors.The driver door has a switch for the
passenger window also. The power
windows will work when the ignition
has been turned to ON/RUN or
ACC/ACCESSORY, or when
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) is
active. See
Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) on page 9‑21.
Press the switch to lower the
window.
Pull up on the front edge of the
switch to raise the window.
Express‐Down
The driver window switch also has
an express-down feature that allows
the window to be lowered without
holding the switch. Press fully and
release the window switch marked
AUTO to activate the express-down
mode. This mode can be cancelled
at any time by pulling up on the
switch. To open the window part
way, lightly tap the switch until the
window is at the desired position.
Page 76 of 430
Black plate (28,1)Chevrolet Express Owner Manual - 2012
3-28 Seats and Restraints
United StatesCanada and Mexico
To turn off the right front passenger
frontal airbag, insert the ignition key
into the switch, push in, and move
the switch to the off position. The airbag off light will come on
to let you know the right front
passenger airbag is off. The airbag
off light will stay on to remind you
that the airbag is off. See
Airbag
On-Off Light on page 5‑18. The right
front passenger airbag will remain
off until you turn it back on again.
{WARNING
If the airbag readiness light
ever comes on and stays on, it
means that something may be
wrong with the airbag system.
For example, the right front
passenger airbag could inflate
even though the airbag on-off
switch is turned off.
(Continued)
Page 77 of 430
Black plate (29,1)Chevrolet Express Owner Manual - 2012
Seats and Restraints 3-29
WARNING (Continued)
To help avoid injury to yourself or
others, have the vehicle serviced
right away. SeeAirbag Readiness
Light on page 5‑18 for more
information, including important
safety information.
United StatesCanada and Mexico
To turn the right front passenger
airbag on again, insert the ignition
key into the switch, push in, and
move the switch to the on position.
The right front passenger frontal
airbag is now enabled, and
may inflate. See Airbag On-Off Light
on page 5‑18 for more information.
Page 125 of 430

Black plate (13,1)Chevrolet Express Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-13
If the vehicle has a diesel engine,
see the Duramax diesel supplement
for more information.
Speedometer
The speedometer shows the
vehicle's speed in either kilometers
per hour (km/h) or miles per
hour (mph).
Odometer
The odometer shows how far the
vehicle has been driven, in either
kilometers or miles.
This vehicle has a tamper‐resistant
odometer. The digital odometer will
read 999,999 if it is turned back.
If the vehicle needs a new odometer
installed, it must be set to the
mileage total of the old odometer.
If that is not possible, then it must
be set at zero and a label must be
put on the driver door to show the
old mileage reading when the new
odometer was installed.
Trip Odometer
The trip odometer can show how far
the vehicle has been driven since
the trip odometer was last set
to zero.
Press the
3on the Driver
Information Center (DIC) switch to
display the trip odometer and the
regular odometer information.
See Driver Information Center (DIC)
on page 5‑28 for more information
on resetting the trip odometer.
To display the odometer reading
with the ignition off, press the
3
on the Driver Information
Center (DIC) switch.
Page 126 of 430

Black plate (14,1)Chevrolet Express Owner Manual - 2012
5-14 Instruments and Controls
Fuel Gauge
Metric
English
The fuel gauge, when the ignition is
on, indicates how much fuel is left in
the vehicle fuel tank.
An arrow on the fuel gauge
indicates the side of the vehicle the
fuel door is on.
The gauge first indicates empty
before the vehicle is out of fuel, and
the fuel tank should be
refueled soon. Listed are four situations customers
might experience with the fuel
gauge. None of these indicate a
problem with the fuel gauge:
.At the gas station, the fuel pump
shuts off before the gauge
reads full.
.It takes a little more or less fuel
to fill up than the fuel gauge
indicated. For example, the
gauge may have indicated the
tank was half full, but it actually
took a little more or less than
half the tank's capacity to fill
the tank.
.The gauge moves a little while
turning a corner or speeding up.
.The gauge does not go back to
empty when the ignition is
turned off.
If the vehicle has a diesel engine,
see the Duramax diesel supplement
for more information.
Page 128 of 430
Black plate (16,1)Chevrolet Express Owner Manual - 2012
5-16 Instruments and Controls
Engine Coolant
Temperature Gauge
Metric
English
This gauge shows the engine
coolant temperature.
It also provides an indicator of how
hard the vehicle is working. During a
majority of the operation, the gauge
wil read 100°C (210°F) or less. If the
vehicle is pulling a load or going up
hills, it is normal for the temperature
to fluctuate and approach the 122°C
(250°F) mark. If the gauge reaches
the 125°C (260°F) mark, it indicates
that the cooling system is working
beyond its capacity. See
Engine Overheating on
page 10‑22.
Voltmeter Gauge
When the engine is not running, but
the ignition is on, this gauge shows
the battery's state of charge in
DC volts.
When the engine is running, the
gauge shows the condition of the
charging system. Readings between
the low and high warning zones
indicate the normal operating range.