Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Express Owner Manual - 2013 - 1stPrintReady - 6/19/12
In Brief 1-1
In Brief
Instrument Panel
Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Initial Drive Information
Initial Drive Information . . . . . . . . 1-4
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8
Airbag On-Off Switch . . . . . . . . . 1-8
Passenger Sensing System . . . 1-8
Mirror Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Interior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Exterior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . 1-12
Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-13
Vehicle Features
Radio(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14
Satellite Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
Portable Audio Devices . . . . . . 1-15
Bluetooth
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . 1-16
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Navigation System . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Rear Vision
Camera (RVC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Ultrasonic Parking Assist . . . . 1-17
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-18
Performance and Maintenance
StabiliTrak®System . . . . . . . . . 1-18
Tire Pressure Monitor . . . . . . . . 1-19
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . 1-19
Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol) . . . . . 1-19
Driving for Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-20
Roadside Assistance Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-20
OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-20
Black plate (3,1)Chevrolet Express Owner Manual - 2013 - 1stPrintReady - 6/19/12
In Brief 1-3
1.Air Vents on page 8‑7.
2. Driver Information Center (DIC) Buttons. See Driver Information
Center (DIC) on page 5‑24.
3. Turn and Lane-Change Lever. See Turn and Lane-Change
Signals on page 6‑4.
Windshield Wiper/Washer on
page 5‑3.
4. Hazard Warning Flashers on
page 6‑4 (Out of View).
5. Instrument Cluster on page 5‑9.
6. Shift Lever. See Starting the
Engine on page 9‑16.
Manual Mode on page 9‑28
(If Equipped).
7. Climate Control Systems on
page 8‑1.
8. Infotainment on page 7‑1.
9. Exterior Lamp Controls on
page 6‑1. 10.
Instrument Panel Illumination
Control on page 6‑5.
Dome Lamp Override. See
Dome Lamps on page 6‑5.
11. Cruise Control on page 9‑34
(If Equipped).
Fast Idle System (If Equipped).
See the Duramax diesel
supplement.
12. Steering Wheel Adjustment on
page 5‑2 (If Equipped).
13. Data Link Connector (DLC) (Out of View). See Malfunction
Indicator Lamp on page 5‑17.
14. Horn on page 5‑3.
15. Steering Wheel Controls on
page 5‑2 (If Equipped).
16. Tow/Haul Mode Button. See “Tow/Haul Mode” underTowing
Equipment on page 9‑54. 17.
Power Outlets on page 5‑7.
18. StabiliTrak
®System on
page 9‑32 (If Equipped).
19. Passenger Airbag On-Off Switch (If Equipped). See
Airbag On-Off Switch on
page 3‑23.
20. Front Storage on page 4‑1
(If Equipped).
21. Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator on page 5‑16
(If Equipped).
OnStar
®System Button
(If Equipped). See OnStar
Overview on page 14‑1.
22. Rear Heating System on
page 8‑4 (If Equipped).
23. USB Port (If Equipped). SeeAuxiliary Devices on
page 7‑17.
Black plate (8,1)Chevrolet Express Owner Manual - 2013 - 1stPrintReady - 6/19/12
1-8 In Brief
Safety Belts
Refer to the following sections for
important information on how to use
safety belts properly.
.Safety Belts on page 3‑8.
.How to Wear Safety Belts
Properly on page 3‑9.
.Lap-Shoulder Belt on page 3‑10.
.Lower Anchors and Tethers for
Children (LATCH System) on
page 3‑41.
Airbag On-Off Switch
If the instrument panel has one of
the switches pictured in the
following illustrations, the vehicle
has an airbag on-off switch that you
can use to manually turn on or off
the right front passenger airbag.
United States
Canada and Mexico
To operate the airbag on‐off switch,
use the vehicle key.
See Airbag On-Off Switch on
page 3‑23 for important information.
Passenger Sensing
System
The passenger sensing system,
if equipped, will turn off the right
front passenger frontal airbag under
certain conditions. The driver airbag
and roof‐rail airbags, if equipped,
are not affected by this.
Black plate (5,1)Chevrolet Express Owner Manual - 2013 - 1stPrintReady - 6/19/12
Keys, Doors, and Windows 2-5
Do not use the remote start feature
if the vehicle is low on fuel. The
vehicle may run out of fuel.
The RKE transmitter range may be
less while the vehicle is running.
There are other conditions which
can affect the performance of the
transmitter, seeRemote Keyless
Entry (RKE) System on page 2‑2 for
additional information.
/(Remote Vehicle Start): This
button will be on the RKE
transmitter if you have remote start.
To start the engine using the remote
start feature:
1. Aim the RKE transmitter at the vehicle.
2. Press and release
Qon the
transmitter. 3. Immediately press and hold
/
until the turn signal lamps flash.
If you cannot see the vehicle's
lamps, press and hold for
four seconds.
When the engine starts, the
parking lamps will turn on and
remain on while the engine is
running. The doors will be
locked. The airbag readiness
light will be on during a remote
start. It should turn off when the
ignition is turned to ON/RUN.
See
Airbag Readiness Light on
page 5‑14 for more information.
The engine will continue to run
for 10 minutes. Repeat the steps
for a 10-minute time extension.
Remote start can be extended
only once.
After entering the vehicle during a
remote start, insert and turn the key
to ON/RUN to drive the vehicle. The maximum number of remote
starts between ignition cycles with
the key is two.
If the remote start procedure is
used again before the first 10 minute
time frame has ended, the first
10 minutes will immediately expire
and the second 10 minute time
frame will start.
After the engine has been remote
started two times, the ignition switch
must be turned to ON/RUN and then
back to LOCK/OFF using the key
before the remote start procedure
can be used again.
To cancel a remote start do any of
the following:
.Aim the RKE transmitter at the
vehicle and press
/until the
parking lamps turn off.
.Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
.Turn the ignition on and then
back off.
Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Express Owner Manual - 2013 - 1stPrintReady - 6/19/12
Seats and Restraints 3-1
Seats and
Restraints
Head Restraints
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Front Seats
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Power Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . 3-3
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Rear Seats
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
Safety Belts
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8
How to Wear Safety BeltsProperly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-14
Safety Belt Extender . . . . . . . . . 3-15 Safety System Check . . . . . . . . 3-15
Safety Belt Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-15
Replacing Safety Belt System
Parts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . 3-15
Airbag System
Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-16
Where Are the Airbags? . . . . . 3-18
When Should an AirbagInflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-20
What Makes an Airbag Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-21
How Does an Airbag Restrain? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-21
What Will You See after an Airbag Inflates? . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-22
Airbag On-Off Switch . . . . . . . . 3-23
Passenger Sensing
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-26
Servicing the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-31 Adding Equipment to the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle . . . 3-31
Airbag System Check . . . . . . . . 3-32
Replacing Airbag System Parts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . 3-33Child Restraints
Older Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-33
Infants and Young
Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-35
Child Restraint Systems . . . . . 3-38
Where to Put the Restraint . . . 3-39
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH
System) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-41
Replacing LATCH System Parts After a Crash . . . . . . . . . 3-47
Securing Child Restraints (Rear Seat) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-48
Securing Child Restraints (Front Seat-Passenger
Sensing System) . . . . . . . . . . . 3-50
Securing Child Restraints (Front Seat-Airbag On/Off
Switch) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-53
Black plate (12,1)Chevrolet Express Owner Manual - 2013 - 1stPrintReady - 6/19/12
3-12 Seats and Restraints
Safety Belt Height Adjuster
The vehicle has a safety belt height
adjuster for the driver and right front
passenger positions.
Adjust the height so the shoulder
portion of the belt is on the shoulder
and not falling off of it. The belt
should be close to, but not
contacting, the neck. Improper
shoulder belt height adjustment
could reduce the effectiveness of
the safety belt in a crash. SeeHow
to Wear Safety Belts Properly on
page 3‑9.
To move it down, pull on the center
adjuster control labeled PULL. You
can move the height adjuster up just
by pushing up on the shoulder belt
guide.
After the adjuster is set to the
desired position, try to move it down
without pushing in to make sure it
has locked into position.
Safety Belt Pretensioners
If the GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating) of the vehicle is below
3 855 kg (8,500 lb) then the vehicle
has safety belt pretensioners for the
front outboard occupants. See
Vehicle Load Limits on page 9‑10 to
locate the certification label which
contains the GVWR.
Although the safety belt
pretensioners cannot be seen, they
are part of the safety belt assembly.
They can help tighten the safety
belts during the early stages of a
moderate to severe frontal, near
frontal, or rear crash if the threshold
conditions for pretensioner
activation are met. And, if the vehicle has side impact airbags,
safety belt pretensioners can help
tighten the safety belts in a side
crash or a rollover event.
Pretensioners work only once. If the
pretensioners are activated in a
crash, the pretensioners and
possibly other parts of the safety
belt system will need to be replaced.
See
Replacing Safety Belt System
Parts after a Crash on page 3‑15.Rear Safety Belt Comfort
Guides
This vehicle may have rear shoulder
belt comfort guides. If not, they are
available through your dealer.
The guides may provide added
safety belt comfort for older children
who have outgrown booster seats
and for some adults. When installed
and properly adjusted, the comfort
guide positions the shoulder belt
away from the neck and head.
Black plate (17,1)Chevrolet Express Owner Manual - 2013 - 1stPrintReady - 6/19/12
Seats and Restraints 3-17
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 3‑20.
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.
{WARNING
Airbags inflate with great force,
faster than the blink of an eye.
Anyone who is up against, or very
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 3‑33 orInfants
and Young Children on
page 3‑35.
Black plate (22,1)Chevrolet Express Owner Manual - 2013 - 1stPrintReady - 6/19/12
3-22 Seats and Restraints
airbags distribute the force of the
impact more evenly over the
occupant's upper body.
Rollover capable roof-rail airbags
are designed to help contain the
head and chest of occupants in the
outboard seating positions in the
first, second, and third rows,
if equipped. The rollover capable
roof-rail airbags are designed to
help reduce the risk of full or partial
ejection in rollover events, although
no system can prevent all such
ejections.
But airbags would not help in many
types of collisions, primarily
because the occupant's motion is
not toward those airbags. See
When Should an Airbag Inflate? on
page 3‑20for more information.
Airbags should never be regarded
as anything more than a supplement
to safety belts.What Will You See after
an Airbag Inflates?
After the frontal airbags inflate, they
quickly deflate, so quickly that some
people may not even realize an
airbag inflated. Roof-rail airbags
may still be at least partially inflated
for some time after they deploy.
Some components of the airbag
module may be hot for several
minutes. For location of the airbag
modules, see What Makes an
Airbag Inflate? on page 3‑21.
The parts of the airbag that come
into contact with you may be warm,
but not too hot to touch. There may
be some smoke and dust coming
from the vents in the deflated
airbags. Airbag inflation does not
prevent the driver from seeing out of
the windshield or being able to steer
the vehicle, nor does it prevent
people from leaving the vehicle.
{WARNING
When an airbag inflates, there
may be 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 inflates, 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.
The vehicle has a feature that may
automatically unlock the doors
(if equipped with power door locks),
turn on the interior lamps and
hazard warning flashers, and shut
off the fuel system after the airbags
inflate. You can lock the doors, and