Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-9967827) - 2017 - crc - 5/6/16
Driving and Operating 181
Warning (Continued)
It is dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully
in P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly set. The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the
engine is running. If you have left
the engine running, the vehicle
can move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure the
vehicle will not move, even when
you are on fairly level ground,
always set the parking brake and
move the shift lever to P (Park).
SeeShifting Into Park0180.
If you are towing a trailer, see
Driving Characteristics and
To w i n g T i p s0202.
If you have to leave the vehicle withthe engine running, be sure thevehicle is in P (Park) and theparking brake is firmly set. After theshift lever is moved into P (Park),hold the regular brake pedal down.Then, see if you can move the shiftlever away from P (Park) without
first pulling it toward you. If you can,it means that the shift lever was notfully locked into P (Park).
Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and youdo not shift the transmission intoP(Park) properly, the weight of thevehicle can put too much force onthe parking pawl in thetransmission. It might be difficult topull the shift lever out of P (Park).This is called torque lock. Toprevent torque lock, set the parkingbrake and then shift into P (Park)properly before you leave the driverseat. To find out how, seeShiftingInto Park0180.
When you are ready to drive, movethe shift lever out of P (Park) beforereleasing the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you mightneed to have another vehicle pushyours a little uphill to take some ofthe pressure from the parking pawlin the transmission. Then youshould be able to pull the shift leverout of P (Park).
Shifting out of Park
The vehicle has an automatictransmission shift lock controlsystem. You have to fully apply thebrakes before you can shift fromP(Park) when the ignition is in ON/RUN or ACC/ACCESSORY. SeeAutomatic Transmission0183.
The shift lock control system isdesigned to:
.Prevent the ignition key frombeing removed unless the shiftlever is in P (Park).
.Prevent movement of the shiftlever out of P (Park), unless theignition is in ON/RUN or ACC/ACCESSORY and the regularbrake pedal is applied.
The shift lock control system isalways functional except in the caseof a dead battery or low voltage(less than 9 V) battery.
If the vehicle has an unchargedbattery or a battery with low voltage,try charging or jump starting thebattery. SeeJump Starting - NorthAmerica0282.
Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-9967827) - 2017 - crc - 5/6/16
182 Driving and Operating
To s h i f t o u t o f P ( P a r k ) :
1. Apply the brake pedal.
2. Turn the ignition to ACC/ACCESSORY or ON/RUN.
3. Move the shift lever to thedesired position.
If you still are unable to shift out ofP(Park):
1. Ease the pressure on the shiftlever.
2. While holding down the brakepedal, push the shift lever allthe way into P (Park).
3. Move the shift lever to thedesired position.
If you are still having a problemshifting, have the vehicle serviced.
Parking over Things
That Burn
{Warning
Things that can burn could touch
hot exhaust parts under the
vehicle and ignite. Do not park
over papers, leaves, dry grass,
or other things that can burn.
Engine Exhaust
{Warning
Engine exhaust contains carbon
monoxide (CO), which cannot be
seen or smelled. Exposure to CO
can cause unconsciousness and
even death.
Exhaust may enter the vehicle if:
.The vehicle idles in areaswith poor ventilation(parking garages, tunnels,deep snow that may blockunderbody airflow or tailpipes).
.The exhaust smells orsounds strange or different.
.The exhaust system leaksdue to corrosion or damage.
.The vehicle exhaust systemhas been modified,damaged, or improperlyrepaired.
(Continued)
Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-9967827) - 2017 - crc - 5/6/16
Driving and Operating 183
Warning (Continued)
.There are holes or openingsin the vehicle body fromdamage or aftermarketmodifications that are notcompletely sealed.
If unusual fumes are detected or
if it is suspected that exhaust is
coming into the vehicle:
.Drive it only with thewindows completely down.
.Have the vehicle repairedimmediately.
Never park the vehicle with the
engine running in an enclosed
area such as a garage or a
building that has no fresh air
ventilation.
Running the Vehicle
While Parked
It is better not to park with theengine running.
If the vehicle is left with the enginerunning, follow the proper steps tobe sure the vehicle will not move.SeeShifting Into Park0180andEngine Exhaust0182.
If parking on a hill and pulling atrailer, seeDriving Characteristicsand Towing Tips0202.
Automatic
Transmission
Ashiftpositionindicatorisintheinstrument cluster.
There are several different positionsfor the shift lever.
See“Range Selection Mode”underManual Mode0186.
P:This position locks the rearwheels. It is the best position to usewhen starting the engine becausethe vehicle cannot move easily.When parked on a hill, especiallywhen the vehicle has a heavy load,you might notice an increase in theeffort to shift out of P (Park). See“To r q u e L o c k”underShifting IntoPark0180.
Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-9967827) - 2017 - crc - 5/6/16
184 Driving and Operating
{Warning
It is dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully
in P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly set. The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the
engine is running. If you have left
the engine running, the vehicle
can move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure the
vehicle will not move, even when
you are on fairly level ground,
always set the parking brake and
move the shift lever to P (Park).
SeeShifting Into Park0180and
Driving Characteristics and
To w i n g T i p s0202.
R:Use this gear to back up.
Caution
Shifting to R (Reverse) while the
vehicle is moving forward could
damage the transmission. The
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Shift to
R(Reverse) only after the vehicle
is stopped.
To r o c k t h e v e h i c l e b a c k a n d f o r t h t oget out of snow, ice, or sand withoutdamaging the transmission, seeIfthe Vehicle Is Stuck0171.
N:In this position, the engine doesnot connect with the wheels.To r e s t a r t w h e n y o u a r e a l r e a d ymoving, use N (Neutral) only. Also,use N (Neutral) when the vehicle isbeing towed.
{Warning
Shifting into a drive gear while the
engine is running at high speed is
dangerous. Unless your foot is
firmly on the brake pedal, the
vehicle could move very rapidly.
Yo u c o u l d l o s e c o n t r o l a n d h i t
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
people or objects. Do not shift
into a drive gear while the engine
is running at high speed.
Caution
Shifting out of P (Park) or
N(Neutral) with the engine
running at high speed may
damage the transmission. The
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Be sure the
engine is not running at high
speed when shifting the vehicle.
D:This position is for normaldriving. It provides the best fueleconomy. If you need more powerfor passing, and you are:
.Going less than about 55 km/h(35 mph), push the acceleratorpedal about halfway down.
.Going about 55 km/h (35 mph) ormore, push the accelerator allthe way down.
Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-9967827) - 2017 - crc - 5/6/16
Driving and Operating 185
By doing this, the vehicle shiftsdown to the next gear and hasmore power.
D(Drive) can be used when towingatrailer,carryingaheavyload,or driving on steep hills. You mightwant to shift the transmission to alower gear selection if thetransmission shifts too often.
Downshifting the transmission inslippery road conditions could resultin skidding. See“Skidding”underLoss of Control0167.
The vehicle has a shift stabilizationfeature that adjusts the transmissionshifting to the current drivingconditions in order to reduce rapidupshifts and downshifts. This shiftstabilization feature is designed todetermine, before making anupshift, if the engine is able tomaintain vehicle speed by analyzingthings such as vehicle speed,throttle position, and vehicle load.If the shift stabilization featuredetermines that a current vehiclespeed cannot be maintained, thetransmission does not upshift andinstead holds the current gear.
In some cases, this could appear tobe a delayed shift, however thetransmission is operating normally.
The transmission uses adaptiveshift controls. Adaptive shift controlscontinually compare key shiftparameters to pre-programmedideal shifts stored in thetransmission’scomputer.Thetransmission constantly makesadjustments to improve vehicleperformance according to how thevehicle is being used, such as withaheavyloadorwhenthetemperature changes. During thisadaptive shift control process,shifting might feel different as thetransmission determines the bestsettings.
The shift quality of a new vehiclemay not be ideal because theadaptive shift control process maynot have determined the bestsettings for a particular shift orcondition. Shift quality will improvewith continued driving.
When temperatures are very cold,the transmission's gear shiftingcould be delayed, providing more
stable shifts until the engine warmsup. Shifts could be more noticeablewith a cold transmission. Thisdifference in shifting is normal.
M:This position lets drivers selectthe range of gears appropriate forcurrent driving conditions. If thevehicle has this feature, see“RangeSelection Mode”underManualMode0186.
3:This position is also used fornormal driving. It reduces vehiclespeed more than D (Drive) withoutusing the brakes. You might choose3(Third) instead of D(Drive) whendriving on hilly, winding roads; whentowing a trailer, so there is lessshifting between gears; and whengoing down a steep hill. See“RangeSelection Mode”underManualMode0186.
2:This position reduces vehiclespeed even more than 3 (Third)without using the brakes. You canuse 2 (Second) on hills. It can helpcontrol vehicle speed as you godown steep mountain roads, butthen you would also want to use the
Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-9967827) - 2017 - crc - 5/6/16
186 Driving and Operating
brakes off and on. See“RangeSelection Mode”underManualMode0186.
If you manually select 2 (Second) inan automatic transmission, thetransmission will start insecond gear. You can use thisfeature for reducing the speed of therear wheels when trying to start thevehicle from a stop on slippery roadsurfaces.
1:This position reduces vehiclespeed without using the brakes.Yo u c a n u s e i t f o r m a j o r / s e v e r edowngrades where the vehiclewould otherwise accelerate due tosteepness of grade. When you shiftto 1 (First) it provides the lowestgear appropriate to current roadspeed and continues to downshiftas the vehicle slows, eventuallydownshifting to 1 (First) gear. Thetransmission can be held in 1 (First)gear using Range Selection Modeor the shift lever. See“RangeSelection Mode”underManualMode0186.
Caution
Spinning the tires or holding the
vehicle in one place on a hill
using only the accelerator pedal
may damage the transmission.
The repair will not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. If you are
stuck, do not spin the tires. When
stopping on a hill, use the brakes
to hold the vehicle in place.
Normal Mode Grade Braking
This mode is enabled when thevehicle is started, but is not enabledin Range Selection Mode. It assistsin maintaining desired vehiclespeeds when driving on downhillgrades by using the engine andtransmission to slow the vehicle.The first time the system activatesfor each ignition key cycle, a DICmessage will be displayed. SeeTr a n s m i s s i o n M e s s a g e s011 8.
To d i s a b l e o r e n a b l e N o r m a l M o d eGrade Braking within the currentignition key cycle, press and holdthe Tow/Haul button for
three seconds. A DIC messagedisplays. SeeTr a n s m i s s i o nMessages011 8.
For other forms of grade braking,seeTo w / H a u l M o d e0187andCruise Control0192.
Manual Mode
Range Selection Mode
If equipped, Range Selection Modehelps control the vehicle'stransmission and vehicle speedwhile driving downhill or towing atrailer by letting you select a desiredrange of gears.
To u s e t h i s f e a t u r e :
1. Move the shift lever toM(ManualMode).
Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-9967827) - 2017 - crc - 5/6/16
188 Driving and Operating
Tow/Haul Mode Grade Braking
To w / H a u l M o d e G r a d e B r a k i n g i sonly enabled while the Tow/HaulMode is selected and the vehicle isnot in the Range Selection Mode.See“To w / H a u l M o d e”listedpreviously andManual Mode0186.To w / H a u l M o d e G r a d e B r a k i n gassists in maintaining desiredvehicle speeds when driving ondownhill grades by using the engineand transmission to slow thevehicle.
To d i s a b l e o r e n a b l e To w / H a u l M o d eGrade Braking within the currentignition key cycle, press and holdthe Tow/Haul button forthree seconds. A DIC message willbe displayed. SeeTr a n s m i s s i o nMessages011 8.
SeeTo w i n g E q u i p m e n t0210.
For other forms of grade braking,seeAutomatic Transmission0183andCruise Control0192.
Brakes
Antilock Brake
System (ABS)
This vehicle has an Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS), an advancedelectronic braking system that helpsprevent a braking skid.
When the vehicle begins to driveaway, ABS checks itself.Amomentarymotororclickingnoisemay be heard while this test is goingon, and it may even be noticed thatthe brake pedal moves a little. Thisis normal.
If there is a problem with ABS, thiswarning light stays on. SeeAntilockBrake System (ABS) WarningLight0104.
If driving safely on a wet road and itbecomes necessary to slam on thebrakes and continue braking toavoid a sudden obstacle, acomputer senses the wheels areslowing down. If one of the wheelsis about to stop rolling, the computerwill separately work the brakes ateach wheel.
ABS can change the brake pressureto each wheel, as required, fasterthan any driver could. This can helpyou steer around the obstacle whilebraking hard.
As the brakes are applied, thecomputer keeps receiving updateson wheel speed and controlsbraking pressure accordingly.
Remember: ABS does not changethe time needed to get a foot up tothe brake pedal or always decreasestopping distance. If you get tooclose to the vehicle in front of you,there will not be enough time toapply the brakes if that vehiclesuddenly slows or stops. Alwaysleave enough room up ahead tostop, even with ABS.
Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-9967827) - 2017 - crc - 5/6/16
Driving and Operating 191
appropriate messages will bedisplayed in the DIC. SeeRideControl System Messages011 6.
To t u r n S t a b i l i T r a k a n d T C S b a c k
on, pressgagain. StabiliTrak will
automatically turn back on when thevehicle speed exceeds 40 km/h(25 mph).
When the StabiliTrak system hasbeen turned off, system noises maystill be heard as a result of thebrake-traction control coming on.
It is recommended to leave thesystem on for normal drivingconditions, but it may be necessaryto turn the system off if the vehicleis stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow,and you want to“rock”the vehicle toattempt to free it. SeeIf the VehicleIs Stuck0171.
StabiliTrak System Operation
The StabiliTrak system is normallyon, except when the system isinitializing or has been disabled withthe StabiliTrak button. TheStabiliTrak system will automaticallyactivate to assist the driver inmaintaining vehicle directional
control in most driving conditions.When activated, the StabiliTraksystem may reduce engine power tothe wheels and apply braking toindividual wheels as necessary toassist the driver with vehicledirectional control. If cruise controlis being used when StabiliTrakactivates, the cruise controlautomatically disengages. Thecruise control can be re-engagedwhen road conditions allow. SeeCruise Control0192.
The StabiliTrak system may alsoturn off automatically if it determinesthat a problem exists with thesystem. If the problem does notclear itself after restarting thevehicle, see your dealer for service.
Traction Control Operation
TCS is part of the StabiliTraksystem. TCS limits wheel spin byreducing engine power to thewheels and by applying brakes toeach individual wheel as necessary.
If the brake-traction control systemactivates constantly or if the brakeshave heated up due to high speedbraking, the brake-traction control
will be automatically disabled. Thesystem will come back on after thebrakes have cooled. This can takeup to two minutes or longerdepending on brake usage.
TCS may activate on dry or roughroads or under conditions such asheavy acceleration while turning orabrupt upshifts/downshifts of thetransmission. When this reduction inacceleration occurs, it may benoticed, or a noise or vibration maybe heard. This is normal.
Adding non-dealer accessories canaffect the vehicle's performance.SeeAccessories andModifications0216.
Locking Rear Axle
Vehicles with a locking rear axle cangive more traction on snow, mud,ice, sand, or gravel. It works like astandard axle most of the time, butwhen traction is low, this feature willallow the rear wheel with the mosttraction to move the vehicle.