Black plate (37,1)Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6014662) - 2014 - crc - 8/26/13
Instruments and Controls 5-37
STARTING DISABLED
SERVICE THROTTLE
This message displays if the starting
of the engine is disabled due to the
electronic throttle control system.
Have the vehicle serviced by your
dealer immediately.
This message only appears while
the ignition is in ON/RUN, and will
not disappear until the problem is
resolved.
This message cannot be
acknowledged.
Tire Messages
CHECK TIRE PRESSURE or
TIRE LOW ADD AIR TO TIRE
If the vehicle has the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS), this
message displays when the
pressure in one or more of the tires
is low. The low tire pressure warning
light will also come on. SeeTire
Pressure Light on page 5-23. This
message will also indicate which tire
needs to be checked. You can receive more than one tire pressure
message at a time. To read the
other messages that may have been
sent at the same time, press the set/
reset button. If a tire pressure
message appears on the DIC, stop
as soon as you can. Have the tire
pressures checked and set to those
shown on the Tire Loading
Information label. See
Tires on
page 10-46, Vehicle Load Limits on
page 9-10, and Tire Pressure on
page 10-55. The DIC also shows
the tire pressure values. See Driver
Information Center (DIC) on
page 5-25.
SERVICE TIRE MONITOR
SYSTEM
If the vehicle has the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS), this
message displays if a part on the
system is not working properly. The
tire pressure light also flashes and
then remains on during the same
ignition cycle. See Tire Pressure
Light on page 5-23. Several
conditions may cause this message to appear. See
Tire Pressure
Monitor Operation on page 10-57 for
more information. If the warning
comes on and stays on, there may
be a problem with the TPMS. See
your dealer.
TIRE LEARNING ACTIVE
If the vehicle has the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS), this
message displays when the system
is re-learning the tire positions on
the vehicle. See Driver Information
Center (DIC) on page 5-25 for more
information. The tire positions must
be re-learned after rotating the tires
or after replacing a tire or sensor.
See Tire Inspection on page 10-61,
Tire Rotation on page 10-61, Tire
Pressure Monitor Operation on
page 10-57, and Tire Pressure on
page 10-55 for more information.
Black plate (7,1)Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6014662) - 2014 - crc - 8/26/13
Driving and Operating 9-7
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or through
mountains is different than driving
on flat or rolling terrain. Tips for
driving in these conditions include:
.Keep the vehicle serviced and in
good shape.
.Check all fluid levels and brakes,
tires, cooling system, and
transmission.
.Shift to a lower gear when going
down steep or long hills.
{Warning
Using the brakes to slow the
vehicle on a long downhill slope
can cause brake overheating, can
reduce brake performance, and
could result in a loss of braking.
Shift the transmission to a lower
gear to let the engine assist the
brakes on a steep downhill slope.
{Warning
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral)
or with the ignition off is
dangerous. This can cause
overheating of the brakes and
loss of steering. Always have the
engine running and the vehicle
in gear.
.Stay in your own lane. Do not
swing wide or cut across the
center of the road. Drive at
speeds that let you stay in your
own lane.
.Be alert on top of hills;
something could be in your lane
(stalled car, accident).
.Pay attention to special road
signs (falling rocks area, winding
roads, long grades, passing or
no-passing zones) and take
appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Drive carefully when there is snow
or ice between the tires and the
road, creating less traction or grip.
Wet ice can occur at about 0°C (32°
F) when freezing rain begins to fall,
resulting in even less traction. Avoid
driving on wet ice or in freezing rain
until roads can be treated with salt
or sand.
Drive with caution, whatever the
condition. Accelerate gently so
traction is not lost. Accelerating too
quickly causes the wheels to spin
and makes the surface under the
tires slick, so there is even less
traction.
Try not to break the fragile traction.
If you accelerate too fast, the drive
wheels will spin and polish the
surface under the tires even more.
Black plate (8,1)Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6014662) - 2014 - crc - 8/26/13
9-8 Driving and Operating
TheAntilock Brake System (ABS)
on page 9-31 improves vehicle
stability during hard stops on a
slippery roads, but apply the brakes
sooner than when on dry pavement.
Allow greater following distance on
any slippery road and watch for
slippery spots. Icy patches can
occur on otherwise clear roads in
shaded areas. The surface of a
curve or an overpass can remain icy
when the surrounding roads are
clear. Avoid sudden steering
maneuvers and braking while
on ice.
Turn off cruise control, if equipped,
on slippery surfaces.Blizzard Conditions
Being stuck in snow can be a
serious situation. Stay with the
vehicle unless there is help nearby.
If possible, use the Roadside
Assistance Program on page 13-5.
To get help and keep everyone in
the vehicle safe:
.Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
.Tie a red cloth to an outside
mirror.
{Warning
Snow can trap engine exhaust
under the vehicle. This may
cause exhaust gases to get
inside. Engine exhaust contains
carbon monoxide (CO) which
cannot be seen or smelled. It can
cause unconsciousness and even
death.
If the vehicle is stuck in the snow:
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Clear away snow from around
the base of your vehicle,
especially any that is blocking
the exhaust pipe and/or the
fuel operated heater exhaust
system, if equipped. If the
vehicle has a diesel engine
and a fuel operated heater,
see“Fuel Operated Heater
(FOH)” in the diesel engine
supplement.
.Check again from time to
time to be sure snow does
not collect there.
.Open a window about 5 cm
(2 in) on the side of the
vehicle that is away from the
wind to bring in fresh air.
.Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
(Continued)
Black plate (31,1)Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6014662) - 2014 - crc - 8/26/13
Driving and Operating 9-31
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive
If the vehicle has this feature,
engine power is sent to all four
wheels when extra traction is
needed. This is like four-wheel
drive, but there is no separate lever
or switch to engage or disengage
the front axle. It is fully automatic,
and adjusts itself as needed for road
conditions.
Brakes
Antilock Brake
System (ABS)
This vehicle has ABS, an advanced
electronic braking system that helps
prevent a braking skid.
When the vehicle begins to drive
away, ABS checks itself.
A momentary motor or clicking noise
might be heard while this test is
going on, and it might even be
noticed that the brake pedal moves
a little. This is normal.
If there is a problem with ABS, this
warning light stays on. SeeAntilock
Brake System (ABS) Warning Light
on page 5-22. If driving safely on a wet road and it
becomes necessary to slam on the
brakes and continue braking to
avoid a sudden obstacle, a
computer senses that the wheels
are slowing down. If one of the
wheels is about to stop rolling, the
computer will separately work the
brakes at each wheel.
ABS can change the brake pressure
to each wheel, as required, faster
than any driver could. This can help
you steer around the obstacle while
braking hard.
As the brakes are applied, the
computer keeps receiving updates
on wheel speed and controls
braking pressure accordingly.
Remember: ABS does not change
the time needed to get a foot up to
the brake pedal or always decrease
stopping distance. If you get too
close to the vehicle in front of you,
there will not be enough time to
apply the brakes if that vehicle
Black plate (42,1)Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6014662) - 2014 - crc - 8/26/13
9-42 Driving and Operating
.The back of the vehicle is in an
accident. The position and
mounting angle of the camera
can change or the camera can
be affected. Be sure to have the
camera and its position and
mounting angle checked at your
dealer.
The RVC system display in the
rearview mirror may turn off or not
appear as expected due to one of
the following conditions. If this
occurs, the left indicator light on the
mirror will flash.
.A slow flash may indicate a loss
of video signal, or no video
signal present during the reverse
cycle.
.A fast flash may indicate that the
display has been on for the
maximum allowable time during
a reverse cycle, or the display
has reached an Over
Temperature limit. The fast flash conditions are
used to protect the video device
from high temperature
conditions. Once conditions
return to normal, the device will
reset and the indicator will stop
flashing.
During any of these fault conditions,
the display will be blank and the
indicator will flash while the vehicle
is in R (Reverse) or until the
conditions return to normal.
Fuel
For diesel engine vehicles, see
“Fuel for Diesel Engines” in the
Duramax diesel supplement.
For gasoline engine vehicles, use of
the recommended fuel is an
important part of the proper
maintenance of this vehicle. When
driving in the U.S., to help keep the
engine clean and maintain optimum
vehicle performance, we
recommend using TOP TIER
Detergent Gasolines.
See www.toptiergas.com for a list of
TOP TIER Detergent Gasolines.
Black plate (44,1)Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6014662) - 2014 - crc - 8/26/13
9-44 Driving and Operating
Gasoline Specifications
At a minimum, gasoline should meet
ASTM specification D 4814. Some
gasolines contain an
octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT). We recommend
against the use of gasolines
containing MMT. See“Prohibited
Fuels" in Recommended Fuel on
page 9-43.
California Fuel
Requirements
If the vehicle is certified to meet
California Emissions Standards, it is
designed to operate on fuels that
meet California specifications. See
the underhood emission control
label. If this fuel is not available in
states adopting California Emissions
Standards, the vehicle will operate
satisfactorily on fuels meeting
federal specifications, but emission
control system performance might
be affected. The malfunction
indicator lamp could turn on and the vehicle may not pass a smog-check
test. See
Malfunction Indicator
Lamp on page 5-19. If this occurs,
return to your authorized dealer for
diagnosis. If it is determined that the
condition is caused by the type of
fuel used, repairs may not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Fuels in Foreign
Countries
If planning to drive in countries
outside the U.S. or Canada, the
proper fuel might be hard to find.
Check regional auto club or fuel
retail brand websites for availability
in the country where driving. Never
use leaded gasoline, fuel containing
methanol, or any other fuel not
recommended. Costly repairs
caused by use of improper fuel
would not be covered by the vehicle
warranty.
Fuel Additives
To keep fuel systems clean, TOP
TIER Detergent Gasoline is
recommended. See Fuel on
page 9-42.
If TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline is
not available, one bottle of Fuel
System Treatment PLUS, part
number 88861013, added to the fuel
tank at every engine oil change, can
help. Fuel System Treatment PLUS
is the only gasoline additive
recommended by General Motors.
It is available at your dealer.
Do not use additives with E85 or
FlexFuel.
E85 or FlexFuel
Vehicles with a yellow fuel cap can
use either unleaded gasoline or fuel
containing up to 85% ethanol (E85).
All other vehicles should use only
the unleaded gasoline as described
in Fuel on page 9-42.
Black plate (51,1)Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6014662) - 2014 - crc - 8/26/13
Driving and Operating 9-51
Maintenance when Trailer
Towing
The vehicle needs service more
often when pulling a trailer. See
Maintenance Schedule on
page 11-3. Things that are
especially important in trailer
operation are automatic
transmission fluid, engine oil, axle
lubricant, belts, cooling system, and
brake system. It is a good idea to
inspect these before and during
the trip.
Check periodically to see that all
hitch nuts and bolts are tight.
Trailer Towing
If the vehicle has a diesel engine,
see the Duramax diesel
supplement.
{Warning
The driver can lose control when
pulling a trailer if the correct
equipment is not used or the
vehicle is not driven properly. For
example, if the trailer is too
heavy, the brakes may not work
well—or even at all. The driver
and passengers could be
seriously injured. The vehicle may
also be damaged; the resulting
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Pull a trailer
only if all the steps in this section
have been followed. Ask your
dealer for advice and information
about towing a trailer with the
vehicle.
{Caution
Pulling a trailer improperly can
damage the vehicle and result in
costly repairs not covered by the
vehicle warranty. To pull a trailer
correctly, follow the advice in this
section and see your dealer for
important information about
towing a trailer with the vehicle.
To identify the trailering capacity of
the vehicle, read the information in
“Weight of the Trailer” following.
Trailering is different than just
driving the vehicle by itself.
Trailering means changes in
handling, acceleration, braking,
durability, and fuel economy.
Successful, safe trailering takes
correct equipment, and it has to be
used properly.
The following information has many
time-tested, important trailering tips
and safety rules. Many of these are
important for your safety and that of
Black plate (59,1)Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6014662) - 2014 - crc - 8/26/13
Driving and Operating 9-59
Tow/Haul is designed to be most
effective when the vehicle and
trailer combined weight is at least
75 percent of the vehicle Gross
Combined Weight Rating (GCWR).
See“Weight of the Trailer” inTrailer
Towing on page 9-51. Tow/Haul is
most useful under the following
driving conditions:
.When pulling a heavy trailer or a
large or heavy load through
rolling terrain.
.When pulling a heavy trailer or a
large or heavy load in
stop-and-go traffic.
.When pulling a heavy trailer or a
large or heavy load in busy
parking lots where improved low
speed control of the vehicle is
desired. Operating the vehicle in Tow/Haul
Mode when lightly loaded or with no
trailer at all will not cause damage.
However, there is no benefit to the
selection of Tow/Haul when the
vehicle is unloaded. Such a
selection when unloaded may result
in unpleasant engine and
transmission driving characteristics
and reduced fuel economy. Tow/
Haul is recommended only when
pulling a heavy trailer or a large or
heavy load.
Conversions and
Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical
Equipment
{Caution
Some electrical equipment can
damage the vehicle or cause
components to not work and
would not be covered by the
warranty. Always check with your
dealer before adding electrical
equipment.
Add-on equipment can drain the
vehicle's 12-volt battery, even if the
vehicle is not operating.
The vehicle has an airbag system.
Before attempting to add anything
electrical to the vehicle, see
Servicing the Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle on page 3-30 andAdding
Equipment to the Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle on page 3-30.