Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14583525) - 2021 - CRC - 12/9/20
Climate Controls 119
Climate Controls
Climate Control Systems
Climate Control Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Rear Heating System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Rear Climate Control System . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Air Vents
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Maintenance
Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Climate Control Systems
The heating, cooling, and ventilation for the vehicle can be controlled with this system.
Vehicles without Air Conditioning
1. Fan Control
2. Temperature Control
3. Air Delivery Mode Control
9: Turn the knob clockwise or
counterclockwise to increase or decrease the
fan speed.
9: Turns the system off. Temperature Control :
Turn the knob
clockwise or counterclockwise to increase or
decrease the temperature inside the vehicle.
Air Delivery Mode Control : Turn the knob
clockwise or counterclockwise to change the
current airflow mode.H: Air is directed to the instrument panel
outlets.
Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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120 Climate Controls
):Air is divided between the instrument
panel and floor outlets, with some air
directed toward the windshield.
6: Air is directed to the floor outlets with
some air directed to the windshield and side
windows.
-: This mode clears the windows of fog or
moisture. Outside air is directed to the floor
and defroster outlets. Adjust the
temperature knob for warmer or cooler air.
The air conditioning compressor might turn
on in this setting to dehumidify the air.
1: This mode clears the windshield of fog
or frost more quickly. Air is directed to the
windshield, with some to the floor outlets
and front side windows. The air conditioning
compressor might turn on in this setting to
dehumidify the air.
Do not drive the vehicle until all the
windows are clear.
Vehicles with Air Conditioning
1. Fan Control
2. Temperature Control
3. Air Delivery Mode Control
4. Rear Window Defogger (If Equipped) On hot days, open the windows to let hot
inside air escape; then close them. This
helps to reduce the time needed for the
vehicle to cool down and the system
operates more efficiently.
#:
Cools and dehumidifies the air inside
of the vehicle.
V: Cools the air inside the vehicle faster,
by recirculating the inside air.
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122 Climate Controls
Rear Climate Control System
If equipped with a rear heating and air
conditioning system, it controls the
temperature, fan speed, and air delivery for
the rear seat passengers only. The front
climate control panel is in the overhead
console between the driver and front
passenger.
Front Climate Control Panel
1. Fan Control
2. Air Delivery Mode Control
3. Temperature Control
Use this control panel to maintain a
separate temperature setting. Adjust the
direction of the airflow or adjust the fan
speed for the rear seat passenger(s). When the fan knob is in the AUX position,
the rear climate control panel can be used
to adjust the climate settings in the rear
seating area.
Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14583525) - 2021 - CRC - 12/9/20
Climate Controls 123
Rear Climate Control Panel
1. Fan Control
2. Air Delivery Mode Control
3. Temperature Control
For vehicles with a rear climate control
panel, it is located overhead behind the
driver and front passenger, centered in front
of the second row. To adjust the rear
climate control panel settings by a rear seat
passenger, the front climate control panel
fan knob must be in the AUX position. The
fan speed, air delivery mode, and
temperature can then be adjusted. AUX :
Turn the fan knob on the front
climate control panel to AUX to let rear seat
passengers use the control panel in the rear
seating area. This disables the front control
panel. To return control to the front panel,
move the fan knob out of AUX.
9: Turns the system off.
9:Turn clockwise or counterclockwise to
increase or decrease the fan speed in the
rear seating area. Temperature Control :
Turn clockwise or
counterclockwise to increase or decrease the
temperature in the rear seating area.
The air conditioning system on the main
climate control panel must be turned on to
direct cooled air to the rear of the vehicle.
If it is not on, then the temperature in the
rear of the vehicle remains at cabin
temperature.
Air Delivery Mode Control : Turn clockwise
or counterclockwise to change the direction
of the airflow in the rear seating area.
To change the current mode, select one of
the following:
H: Air is directed to the upper outlets,
with some directed to the floor outlets.
2: Air is directed to the floor outlets.
Be sure to keep the area under the front
seats clear of any objects so that the air
inside of the vehicle can circulate effectively.
For information on how to use the main
climate control system, see Climate Control
Systems 0119. For information on
ventilation, see Air Vents0124.
Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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124 Climate Controls
Air Vents
Use the outlets located near the center and
on the sides of the instrument panel to
change the direction of airflow.
Operation Tips
.Clear away any ice, snow or leaves from
the air inlets at the base of the
windshield that may block the flow of air
into the vehicle.
.Use of non-GM approved hood deflectors
may adversely affect the performance of
the system.
.Clear snow off the hood to improve
visibility and help decrease moisture
drawn into the vehicle.
.Keep the path under the front seats clear
of objects to help circulate the air inside
of the vehicle more effectively.
Maintenance
Service
All vehicles have a label underhood that
identifies the refrigerant used in the vehicle.
The refrigerant system should only be
serviced by trained and certified technicians.
The air conditioning evaporator should never
be repaired or replaced by one from a
salvage vehicle. It should only be replaced
by a new evaporator to ensure proper and
safe operation.
During service, all refrigerants should be
reclaimed with proper equipment. Venting
refrigerants directly to the atmosphere is
harmful to the environment and may also
create unsafe conditions based on
inhalation, combustion, frostbite, or other
health-based concerns.
The air conditioning system requires periodic
maintenance. SeeMaintenance Schedule
0 251.
Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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126 Driving and Operating
Driving Information
Driving for Better Fuel Economy
Driving habits can affect fuel mileage. Here
are some driving tips to get the best fuel
economy possible:
.Set the climate controls to the desired
temperature after the engine is started,
or turn them off when not required.
.Avoid fast starts and accelerate smoothly.
.Brake gradually and avoid abrupt stops.
.Avoid idling the engine for long periods
of time.
.When road and weather conditions are
appropriate, use cruise control.
.Always follow posted speed limits or
drive more slowly when conditions
require.
.Keep vehicle tires properly inflated.
.Combine several trips into a single trip.
.Replace the vehicle's tires with the same
TPC Spec number molded into the tire's
sidewall near the size.
.Follow recommended scheduled
maintenance.
Distracted Driving
Distraction comes in many forms and can
take your focus from the task of driving.
Exercise good judgment and do not let other
activities divert your attention away from
the road. Many local governments have
enacted laws regarding driver distraction.
Become familiar with the local laws in
your area.
To avoid distracted driving, keep your eyes
on the road, keep your hands on the
steering wheel, and focus your attention on
driving.
.Do not use a phone in demanding driving
situations. Use a hands-free method to
place or receive necessary phone calls.
.Watch the road. Do not read, take notes,
or look up information on phones or
other electronic devices.
.Designate a front seat passenger to
handle potential distractions.
.Become familiar with vehicle features
before driving, such as programming
favorite radio stations and adjusting
climate control and seat settings. Program
all trip information into any navigation
device prior to driving.
.Wait until the vehicle is parked to
retrieve items that have fallen to the
floor.
.Stop or park the vehicle to tend to
children.
.Keep pets in an appropriate carrier or
restraint.
.Avoid stressful conversations while
driving, whether with a passenger or on a
cell phone.
{Warning
Taking your eyes off the road too long or
too often could cause a crash resulting in
injury or death. Focus your attention on
driving.
Refer to the infotainment section for more
information on using that system and the
navigation system, if equipped, including
pairing and using a cell phone.
Defensive Driving
Defensive driving means “always expect the
unexpected.” The first step in driving
defensively is to wear the seat belt. See
Seat Belts 028.
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Driving and Operating 143
To rock the vehicle back and forth to get
out of snow, ice, or sand without damaging
the transmission, seeIf the Vehicle Is Stuck
0 131.
N : In this position, the engine does not
connect with the wheels. To restart when
you are already moving, use N (Neutral)
only. Also, use N (Neutral) when the vehicle
is being 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. You could lose control and
hit 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
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
warranty. Be sure the engine is not
running at high speed when shifting the
vehicle.
Caution
A transmission hot message may display
if the automatic transmission fluid is too
hot. Driving under this condition can
damage the vehicle. Stop and idle the
engine to cool the automatic
transmission fluid. This message clears
when the transmission fluid has cooled
sufficiently.
D : This position is for normal driving.
It provides the best fuel economy. If you
need more power for passing, and you are:
.Going less than about 55 km/h (35 mph),
push the accelerator pedal about
halfway down.
.Going about 55 km/h (35 mph) or more,
push the accelerator all the way down.
By doing this, the vehicle shifts down to
the next gear and has more power. D (Drive) can be used when towing a trailer,
carrying a heavy load, or driving on steep
hills. You might want to shift the
transmission to a lower gear selection if the
transmission shifts too often.
Downshifting the transmission in slippery
road conditions could result in skidding. See
“Skidding”
underLoss of Control 0128.
The vehicle has a shift stabilization feature
that adjusts the transmission shifting to the
current driving conditions in order to reduce
rapid upshifts and downshifts. This shift
stabilization feature is designed to
determine, before making an upshift, if the
engine is able to maintain vehicle speed by
analyzing things such as vehicle speed,
throttle position, and vehicle load. If the
shift stabilization feature determines that a
current vehicle speed cannot be maintained,
the transmission does not upshift and
instead holds the current gear. In some
cases, this could appear to be a delayed
shift, however the transmission is operating
normally.
The transmission uses adaptive shift
controls. Adaptive shift controls continually
compare key shift parameters to
pre-programmed ideal shifts stored in the
transmission’s computer. The transmission
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144 Driving and Operating
constantly makes adjustments to improve
vehicle performance according to how the
vehicle is being used, such as with a heavy
load or when the temperature changes.
During this adaptive shift control process,
shifting might feel different as the
transmission determines the best settings.
The shift quality of a new vehicle may not
be ideal because the adaptive shift control
process may not have determined the best
settings for a particular shift or condition.
Shift quality will improve with continued
driving.
When temperatures are very cold, the
transmission's gear shifting could be
delayed, providing more stable shifts until
the engine warms up. Shifts could be more
noticeable with a cold transmission. This
difference in shifting is normal.
M :This position lets drivers select the
range of gears appropriate for current
driving conditions. If the vehicle has this
feature, see “Range Selection Mode” under
Manual Mode 0144.
1 : This position reduces vehicle speed
without using the brakes. You can use it for
major/severe downgrades where the vehicle
would otherwise accelerate due to steepness
of grade. When you shift to 1 (First) it provides the lowest gear appropriate to
current road speed and continues to
downshift as the vehicle slows, eventually
downshifting to 1 (First) gear. The
transmission can be held in 1 (First) gear
using Range Selection Mode or the shift
lever. See
“Range Selection Mode” under
Manual Mode 0144.
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 the
vehicle is 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 the vehicle is
started, but is not enabled in Range
Selection Mode. It assists in maintaining
desired vehicle speeds when driving on
downhill grades by using the engine and
transmission to slow the vehicle. The first
time the system activates for each ignition
key cycle. To disable or enable Normal Mode Grade
Braking within the current ignition key cycle,
press and hold the Tow/Haul button for
three seconds.
For other forms of grade braking, see
Tow/
Haul Mode 0145 and
Cruise Control 0149.
Manual Mode
Range Selection Mode
If equipped, Range Selection Mode helps
control the vehicle's transmission and vehicle
speed while driving downhill or towing a
trailer by letting you select a desired range
of gears.
To use this feature:
1. Move the shift lever to M (Manual Mode).
2. Press the +/− buttons on the shift lever
to select the desired range of gears for
current driving conditions.