2023 CHEVROLET EXPRESS trailer

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16547501) - 2023 - CRC - 6/10/22
Driving and Operating 137
If parking on a hill and pulling a trailer, see
Driving Characteristics and Towing Tips
0155.
Automatic Transmission
A shift position indicator is in the
instrument cluster.
There are several different positions for the
shift lever.
See “Range Selection Mode” underManual
Mode 0139.
P : This position locks the rear wheels. It is
the best position to use when starting the
engine because the vehicle cannot move
easily. When parked on a hill, especially
when the vehicle has a heavy load, you
might notice an increase in the effort to
shift out of P (Park). See “Torque Lock”
under Shifting Into Park 0135.
{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). See Shifting
Into Park 0135 and Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips 0155.
R : Use this gear to back up.
Caution
Shifting to R (Reverse) while the vehicle is
moving forward could damage the
transmission. The repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty. Shift to
R (Reverse) only after the vehicle is
stopped. To rock the vehicle back and forth to get
out of snow, ice, or sand without damaging
the transmission, see
If the Vehicle Is Stuck
0 126.
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)

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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138 Driving and Operating
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 0123.
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 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 0139.
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

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16547501) - 2023 - CRC - 6/10/22
Driving and Operating 139
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 0139.
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 0140 and Cruise Control 0143.
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. When M (Manual Mode) is selected, the
transmission will downshift and a number
displays in the Driver Information
Center (DIC) next to the M indicating the
current gear.
This number is the highest gear that can be
used. However, the vehicle can automatically
shift to lower gears as it adjusts to driving
conditions. This means that all gears below
that number are available. When 5 (Fifth) is
selected, 1 (First) through 5 (Fifth) gears are
automatically shifted by the vehicle, but
6 (Sixth) cannot be used until the +/−
button on the shift lever is used to change
to the gear.
Grade Braking is not available when Range
Selection Mode is active. See
Tow/Haul
Mode 0140.
While using Range Selection Mode, cruise
control and the Tow/Haul Mode can
be used.
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
(Continued)

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 141
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the brake
pedal down firmly. Hearing or feeling ABS
operate is normal.
Braking in Emergencies
ABS allows steering and braking at the same
time. In many emergencies, steering can
help even more than braking.
Parking Brake
To set the parking brake:1. Hold the regular brake pedal down.
2. Firmly push the parking brake pedal down. 3. The brake system warning light will
come on, if the ignition is on. See Brake
System Warning Light 078.
If you are towing a trailer and parking on a
hill, see Driving Characteristics and Towing
Tips 0155.
To release the parking brake: 1. Hold the regular brake pedal down.
2. Pull the handle with the parking brake symbol located just above the parking
brake pedal.
3. The brake system warning light will turn off, if the ignition is on.
Caution
Driving with the parking brake on can
overheat the brake system and cause
premature wear or damage to brake
system parts. Make sure that the parking
brake is fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.
Driving with the parking brake applied will
cause a warning chime to sound and a
Driver Information Center (DIC) message
may display. Release the parking brake or
stop the vehicle.
Brake Assist
Brake Assist detects rapid brake pedal
applications due to emergency braking
situations and provides additional braking to
activate the Antilock Brake System (ABS) if
the brake pedal is not pushed hard enough
to activate ABS normally. Minor noise, brake
pedal pulsation, and/or pedal movement
during this time may occur. Continue to
apply the brake pedal as the driving
situation dictates. Brake Assist disengages
when the brake pedal is released.
Hill Start Assist (HSA)
{Warning
Do not rely on the HSA feature. HSA does
not replace the need to pay attention
and drive safely. You may not hear or
feel alerts or warnings provided by this
system. Failure to use proper care when
driving may result in injury, death,
or vehicle damage. See Defensive Driving
0 121.
When the vehicle is stopped on a grade, Hill
Start Assist (HSA) temporarily prevents the
vehicle from rolling in an unintended
direction during the transition from brake

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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142 Driving and Operating
pedal release to accelerator pedal apply. The
brakes release when the accelerator pedal is
applied or automatically release after a few
seconds. The brakes may also release under
other conditions. Do not rely on HSA to hold
the vehicle.
HSA is available when the vehicle is facing
uphill in a forward gear, or when facing
downhill in R (Reverse). The vehicle must
come to a complete stop on a grade for HSA
to activate.
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control
System Operation
The vehicle has a Traction Control System
(TCS) and StabiliTrak/Electronic Stability
Control (ESC), an electronic stability control
system. These systems help limit wheel spin
and assist the driver in maintaining control,
especially on slippery road conditions.
TCS activates if it senses any of the drive
wheels are spinning or beginning to lose
traction. When this happens, TCS applies the
brakes to the spinning wheels and reduces
engine power to limit wheel spin.StabiliTrak/ESC activates when the vehicle
senses a difference between the intended
path and the direction the vehicle is actually
traveling. StabiliTrak/ESC selectively applies
braking pressure to any one of the vehicle
wheel brakes to assist the driver in keeping
the vehicle on the intended path. Trailer
Sway Control (TSC) is also on automatically
when the vehicle is started. See
Trailer Sway
Control (TSC) 0170.
If cruise control is being used and traction
control or StabiliTrak/ESC begins to limit
wheel spin, cruise control will disengage.
Cruise control may be turned back on when
road conditions allow.
Both systems come on automatically when
the vehicle is started and begins to move.
The systems may be heard or felt while
they are operating or while performing
diagnostic checks. This is normal and does
not mean there is a problem with the
vehicle.
It is recommended to leave both systems on
for normal driving conditions, but it may be
necessary to turn TCS off if the vehicle gets
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow. See If the
Vehicle Is Stuck 0126 and “Turning the
Systems Off and On” later in this section.
The indicator light for both systems is in the
instrument cluster. This light will:
.Flash when TCS is limiting wheel spin.
.Flash when StabiliTrak/ESC is activated.
.Turn on and stay on when either system
is not working.
If either system fails to turn on or to
activate, a message displays in the Driver
Information Center (DIC), and
dcomes on
and stays on to indicate that the system is
inactive and is not assisting the driver in
maintaining control. The vehicle is safe to
drive, but driving should be adjusted
accordingly.
If
dcomes on and stays on:
1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Turn the engine off and wait 15 seconds.
3. Start the engine.

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 143
Drive the vehicle. Ifdcomes on and stays
on, the vehicle may need more time to
diagnose the problem. If the condition
persists, see your dealer.
Turning the Systems Off and On
Caution
Do not repeatedly brake or accelerate
heavily when TCS is off. The vehicle
driveline could be damaged.
To turn off only TCS, press and release
g.
The appropriate message will display in the
DIC. To turn TCS on again, press and
release
g. If TCS is limiting wheel spin when
gis
pressed, the system will not turn off until
the wheels stop spinning.
To turn off both TCS and StabiliTrak/ESC,
press and hold
guntil the StabiliTrak/ESC
OFF light
gcomes on and stays on in the
instrument cluster, then release. The
appropriate message will display in the DIC.
To turn TCS and StabiliTrak/ESC on again,
press and release
g. The StabiliTrak/ESC OFF
light
gin the instrument cluster turns off.
StabiliTrak/ESC will automatically turn back
on if the vehicle exceeds 32 km/h (20 mph).
TCS will remain off until
gis pressed or the
ignition is cycled off then on.
The vehicle has a Trailer Sway Control (TSC)
feature and a Hill Start Assist (HSA) feature.
See Trailer Sway Control (TSC) 0170 or
Hill Start Assist (HSA) 0141.
Adding accessories can affect the vehicle
performance. See Accessories and
Modifications 0173.
Locking Rear Axle
Vehicles with a locking rear axle can give
more traction on snow, mud, ice, sand,
or gravel. It works like a standard axle most of the time, but when traction is low, this
feature will allow the rear wheel with the
most traction to move the vehicle.
Cruise Control
{
Warning
Cruise control can be dangerous where
you cannot drive safely at a steady
speed. Do not use cruise control on
winding roads or in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous on
slippery roads. On such roads, fast
changes in tire traction can cause
excessive wheel slip, and you could lose
control. Do not use cruise control on
slippery roads.
If equipped with cruise control, a speed of
about 40 km/h (25 mph) or more can be
maintained without keeping your foot on
the accelerator. Cruise control does not work
at speeds below about 40 km/h (25 mph).
If the Traction Control System (TCS) or
StabiliTrak/Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
system begins to limit wheel spin while
using cruise control, the cruise control

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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148 Driving and Operating
An obstacle detection is indicated by beeps.
The time between beeps gets shorter as the
vehicle approaches the obstacle. Repeated
beeps are heard when the distance is less
than 30 cm (12 in).
To be detected, objects must be at least
25 cm (10 in) off the ground and below rear
door level. Objects must also be within 2.5 m
(8 ft) from the rear bumper. This distance
may be less during warmer or humid
weather.
Turning the System On and Off
The system can be disabled through the
Driver Information Center (DIC). See“Park
Assist” underDriver Information Center (DIC)
0 82.
RPA defaults to the on setting each time the
vehicle is started.
Turn RPA off when towing a trailer.
When the System Does Not Seem to
Work Properly
The following messages may be displayed
on the DIC:
SERVICE PARK ASSIST : If this message
occurs, take the vehicle to your dealer for
repair. PARK ASSIST OFF :
This message occurs if
the driver disables the system or if the
vehicle is driven above 8 km/h (5 mph) in
R (Reverse).
PARK ASST BLOCKED SEE OWNERS
MANUAL : This message can occur under the
following conditions:
.The sensors are not clean. Keep the rear
bumper free of mud, dirt, snow, ice, slush,
and frost. The message may not clear
until frost or ice has melted all around
and inside the sensor.
.A trailer is attached to the vehicle, or a
bicycle or an object hanging out of the
rear door during the current or last drive
cycle. RPA will return to normal operation
after it is determined the object is
removed. This could take a few drive
cycles.
.A tow bar is attached to the vehicle.
Other conditions may affect system
performance, such as vibrations from a
jackhammer or the compression of air
brakes on a very large truck.
Forward Collision Alert (FCA)
System
If equipped, the FCA system may help to
avoid or reduce the harm caused by
front-end crashes. When approaching a
vehicle ahead too quickly, FCA provides a
red flashing alert on the windshield and
rapidly beeps. FCA also lights an amber
visual alert if following another vehicle
much too closely.
FCA detects vehicles within a distance of
approximately 60 m (197 ft) and operates at
speeds above 40 km/h (25 mph).
{Warning
FCA is a warning system and does not
apply the brakes. When approaching a
slower-moving or stopped vehicle ahead
too rapidly, or when following a vehicle
too closely, FCA may not provide a
warning with enough time to help avoid
a crash. It also may not provide any
warning at all. FCA does not warn of
pedestrians, animals, signs, guardrails,
bridges, construction barrels, or other (Continued)

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 151
lane change, check the SBZA display, check
mirrors, glance over your shoulder, and use
the turn signals.
Left Side MirrorDisplayRight Side Mirror Display
When the vehicle is started, both outside
mirror SBZA displays will briefly come on to
indicate the system is operating. When the
vehicle is in a forward gear, the left or right
side mirror display will light up if a moving
vehicle is detected in that blind zone. If the
turn signal is activated in the same direction
as a detected vehicle, this display will flash
as an extra warning not to change lanes.
SBZA can be disabled through the Driver
Information Center (DIC). See Driver
Information Center (DIC) 082. If SBZA is
disabled by the driver, the SBZA mirror
displays will not light up.
When the System Does Not Seem to
Work Properly
SBZA displays may not come on when
passing a vehicle quickly, or for a stopped
vehicle. SBZA may alert to objects attached
to the vehicle, such as a bicycle, or object
extending out to either side of the vehicle.
This is normal system operation; the vehicle
does not need service.
SBZA may not always alert the driver to
vehicles in the side blind zone, especially in
wet conditions. The system does not need
to be serviced. The system may light up due
to guardrails, signs, trees, shrubs, and other
non-moving objects. This is normal system
operation; the vehicle does not need service.
SBZA may not operate when the SBZA
sensors in the left or right corners of the
rear bumper are covered with mud, dirt,
snow, ice, or slush, or in heavy rainstorms.
For cleaning instructions, see "Washing the
Vehicle" under Exterior Care0233. If the DIC
displays the system unavailable message
after cleaning both sides of the vehicle
toward the rear corners of the vehicle, see
your dealer. If the SBZA displays do not light up when
vehicles are in the blind zone and the
system is clean, the system may need
service. Take the vehicle to your dealer.
When SBZA is disabled for any reason other
than the driver turning it off, the Side Blind
Zone Alert On option will not be available
on the personalization menu.
Driving with a Trailer
Use caution while changing lanes when
towing a trailer.
Radio Frequency Information
See
Radio Frequency Statement 0260.
Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
If equipped, LDW may help avoid crashes
due to unintentional lane departures. LDW
uses a camera sensor to detect the lane
markings at speeds of 56 km/h (35 mph) or
greater. It may provide an alert if the
vehicle is crossing a lane without using a
turn signal in that direction. LDW light will
not alert if the turn signal is active in the
direction of lane departure, or if LDW
detects that you are accelerating, braking or
actively steering.