
Chevrolet City Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
11683523) - 2018 - CRC - 7/10/17
94 Instruments and Controls
When the ignition is on, the brake
system warning light also comes on
when the parking brake is set. See
Parking Brake0156. The light stays
on if the parking brake does not fully
release. If it stays on after the
parking brake is fully released, it
means the vehicle has a brake
problem.
If the light comes on while driving,
pull off the road and stop carefully.
The pedal might be harder to push,
or the pedal might go closer to the
floor. It could take longer to stop.
If the light is still on, check the brake
fluid level and have the vehicle
towed for service. See Towing the
Vehicle 0231.
{Warning
The brake system might not be
working properly if the brake
system warning light is on.
Driving with the brake system
warning light on can lead to a
crash. If the light is still on after
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
the vehicle has been pulled off
the road and carefully stopped,
have the vehicle towed for
service.
Antilock Brake System
(ABS) Warning Light
MetricEnglish
For vehicles with the Antilock Brake
System (ABS), this light comes on
briefly when the engine is started.
If it does not, have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer. If the
system is working normally the
indicator light then goes off.
If the ABS light stays on, turn the
ignition off. If the light comes on
while driving, stop as soon as it is safely possible and turn the ignition
off. Then start the engine again to
reset the system. If the ABS light
stays on, or comes on again while
driving, the vehicle needs service.
If the regular brake system warning
light is not on, the vehicle still has
brakes, but not antilock brakes.
If the regular brake system warning
light is also on, the vehicle does not
have antilock brakes and there is a
problem with the regular brakes.
See
Brake System Warning Light
0 93.
Overdrive Off Light
This light comes on when the
overdrive is turned off.
See Continuously Variable
Transmission (CVT) 0150.

Chevrolet City Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
11683523) - 2018 - CRC - 7/10/17
Driving and Operating 133
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 137
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 138
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 140
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 144
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Parking over ThingsThat Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149 Running the Vehicle While
Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Automatic Transmission
Continuously VariableTransmission (CVT) . . . . . . . . . 150
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . 157
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Driver Assistance Systems
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . 163
Parking Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Fuel
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
California FuelRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 171
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 Filling a Portable Fuel
Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Trailer Towing
General TowingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On ElectricalEquipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174

Chevrolet City Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
11683523) - 2018 - CRC - 7/10/17
Driving and Operating 135
.Focus on the task of driving.
Drunk Driving
Death and injury associated with
drinking and driving is a global
tragedy.
{Warning
Drinking and then driving is very
dangerous. Your reflexes,
perceptions, attentiveness, and
judgment can be affected by even
a small amount of alcohol. You
can have a serious —or even
fatal —collision if you drive after
drinking.
Do not drink and drive or ride with
a driver who has been drinking.
Ride home in a cab; or if you are
with a group, designate a driver
who will not drink.
Control of a Vehicle
Braking, steering, and accelerating
are important factors in helping to
control a vehicle while driving.
Braking
Braking action involves perception
time and reaction time. Deciding to
push the brake pedal is perception
time. Actually doing it is
reaction time.
Average driver reaction time is
about three-quarters of a second. In
that time, a vehicle moving at
100 km/h (60 mph) travels 20 m
(66 ft), which could be a lot of
distance in an emergency.
Helpful braking tips to keep in mind
include:
. Keep enough distance between
you and the vehicle in front
of you.
. Avoid needless heavy braking.
. Keep pace with traffic.
Vacuum Assisted Brakes
The brake booster aids braking by
using engine vacuum. If the engine
stops, you can stop the vehicle by
pressing the brake pedal. However,
greater foot pressure on the brake pedal will be required to stop the
vehicle, and stopping distance will
be longer.
{Warning
If the engine is not running or is
turned off while driving, the power
assist for the brakes will not work.
Braking will be harder.
Steering
Electric Power Steering
The vehicle has electric power
steering. It does not have power
steering fluid. Regular maintenance
is not required.
If power steering assist is lost due
to a system malfunction, the vehicle
can be steered, but may require
increased effort.
If the steering assist is used for an
extended period of time while the
vehicle is not moving, power assist
may be reduced.

Chevrolet City Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
11683523) - 2018 - CRC - 7/10/17
Driving and Operating 137
Defensive drivers avoid most skids
by taking reasonable care suited to
existing conditions, and by not
overdriving those conditions. But
skids are always possible.
If the vehicle starts to slide, follow
these suggestions:
.Ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and steer the
way you want the vehicle to go.
The vehicle may straighten out.
Be ready for a second skid if it
occurs.
. Slow down and adjust your
driving according to weather
conditions. Stopping distance
can be longer and vehicle
control can be affected when
traction is reduced by water,
snow, ice, gravel, or other
material on the road. Learn to
recognize warning clues —such
as enough water, ice, or packed
snow on the road to make a
mirrored surface —and slow
down when you have any doubt. .
Try to avoid sudden steering,
acceleration, or braking,
including reducing vehicle speed
by shifting to a lower gear. Any
sudden changes could cause
the tires to slide.
Remember: Antilock brakes help
avoid only the braking skid.
Driving on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can reduce
vehicle traction and affect your
ability to stop and accelerate.
Always drive slower in these types
of driving conditions and avoid
driving through large puddles and
deep-standing or flowing water.
{Warning
Wet brakes can cause crashes.
They might not work as well in a
quick stop and could cause
pulling to one side. You could
lose control of the vehicle. (Continued)
Warning (Continued)
After driving through a large
puddle of water or a car/vehicle
wash, lightly apply the brake
pedal until the brakes work
normally.
Flowing or rushing water creates
strong forces. Driving through
flowing water could cause the
vehicle to be carried away. If this
happens, you and other vehicle
occupants could drown. Do not
ignore police warnings and be
very cautious about trying to drive
through flowing water.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. Water
can build up under the vehicle's
tires so they actually ride on the
water. This can happen if the road is
wet enough and you are going fast
enough. When the vehicle is
hydroplaning, it has little or no
contact with the road.

Chevrolet City Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
11683523) - 2018 - CRC - 7/10/17
138 Driving and Operating
There is no hard and fast rule about
hydroplaning. The best advice is to
slow down when the road is wet.
Other Rainy Weather Tips
Besides slowing down, other wet
weather driving tips include:
.Allow extra following distance.
. Pass with caution.
. Keep windshield wiping
equipment in good shape.
. Keep the windshield washer fluid
reservoir filled.
. Have good tires with proper
tread depth. See Tires0200.
. Turn off cruise control.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or through
mountains is different than driving
on flat or rolling terrain. Tips 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 assist. Always
have the engine running and the
vehicle in gear. .
Drive at speeds that keep the
vehicle in its own lane. Do not
swing wide or cross the
center line.
. Be alert on top of hills;
something could be in your lane
(e.g., stalled car, accident).
. Pay attention to special road
signs (e.g., falling rocks area,
winding roads, long grades,
passing or no-passing zones)
and take appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Snow or ice between the tires and
the road creates less traction or
grip, so drive carefully. Wet ice can
occur at about 0 °C (32 °F) when
freezing rain begins to fall. Avoid
driving on wet ice or in freezing rain
until roads can be treated.
For Slippery Road Driving:
.Accelerate gently. Accelerating
too quickly causes the wheels to
spin and makes the surface
under the tires slick.

Chevrolet City Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
11683523) - 2018 - CRC - 7/10/17
Driving and Operating 139
.Turn on Traction Control. See
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0158.
. The Antilock Brake System
(ABS) improves vehicle stability
during hard stops, but the
brakes should be applied sooner
than when on dry pavement.
See Antilock Brake System
(ABS) 0155.
. Allow greater following distance
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.Blizzard Conditions
Stop the vehicle in a safe place and
signal for help. Stay with the vehicle
unless there is help nearby.
If possible, use Roadside
Assistance. See Roadside
Assistance Program 0267. 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.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
If the vehicle is stuck in snow:
. Clear snow from the base of
the vehicle, especially any
blocking the exhaust pipe.
. Open a window about 5 cm
(2 in) on the vehicle side
that is away from the wind,
to bring in fresh air.
. Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
. Adjust the climate control
system to circulate the air
inside the vehicle and set
the fan speed to the highest
setting. See “Climate
Control Systems.”
For more information about CO,
see Engine Exhaust 0149.

Chevrolet City Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
11683523) - 2018 - CRC - 7/10/17
Driving and Operating 155
Brakes
Antilock Brake
System (ABS)
This vehicle has an Antilock Brake
System (ABS), an advanced
electronic braking system that helps
prevent a braking skid. The ABS
operates at speeds above 5–
10 km/h (3–6 mph). The speed
varies according to road conditions.
{Warning
.The ABS is a sophisticated
device, but it cannot prevent
accidents resulting from
careless or dangerous
driving techniques. It can
help maintain vehicle control
during braking on slippery
surfaces. Remember that
stopping distances on
slippery surfaces will be
longer than on normal
surfaces even with ABS.
Stopping distances may
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
also be longer on rough,
gravel or snow covered
roads, or if you are using
tire chains. Always maintain
a safe distance from the
vehicle in front of you.
Ultimately, the driver is
responsible for safety.
. Tire type and condition may
also affect braking
effectiveness.
. When replacing tires, install
the specified size of tires on
all four wheels.
. When installing a spare tire,
make sure that it is the
proper size and type as
specified on the Tire and
Loading Information label.
. For additional information,
refer to “Wheels and Tires”
in the “Vehicle Care” section
of this manual. 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.
MetricEnglish
If there is a problem with ABS, this
warning light stays on. See Antilock
Brake System (ABS) Warning Light
0 94.
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 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.

Chevrolet City Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
11683523) - 2018 - CRC - 7/10/17
156 Driving and Operating
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
suddenly slows or stops. Always
leave enough room up ahead to
stop, even with ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold
the brake pedal down firmly and let
ABS work. You may hear the ABS
pump or motor operating and feel
the brake pedal pulsate. This is
normal.
Braking in Emergencies
ABS allows you to steer and brake
at the same time. In many
emergencies, steering can help
more than even the very best
braking.
Brake Force Distribution
During braking while driving through
turns, the system optimizes the
distribution of force to each of the
four wheels depending on the radius
of the turn.
Parking Brake
To apply the parking brake, pull up
on the parking brake handle. It is
not necessary to press the release
button in while applying the parking
brake. If the ignition is in the ON/
RUN position, the brake system
warning light will come on. See
Brake System Warning Light093.
{Warning
.
Be sure the parking brake is
fully released before driving.
Failure to do so can cause
brake failure and lead to an
accident.
. Do not release the parking
brake from outside the
vehicle.
. Do not use the shift lever in
place of the parking brake.
When parking, be sure the
parking brake is fully
engaged.
. To help avoid risk of injury
or death, do not leave
children, people who require
(Continued)