Chevrolet 1996 Express Van User manual

I

Supplement to the 1996 Express and Savana uwner’sManual
This supplement includes thelatest inforrnation at the time of printing. We reserve the right to make changes in the
product aferthat timewithoutfirther notice.For vehicles
first sold in Canada,substitute the name
“GeneralMotors
of Canada”forGeneral Motors wherever it appears in this manual.
@Copyright 1996 General Motors Corporation. All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A. GENERAL MOTORS and the
names EXPRESS and SAVANA are registered trademarks of General Motors Corporation.
PART NUMBER
15029395

c’
This information replaces the “Removing the Rear Seat ’’
and “Replacing the RearSeat” portion located in
Section 1 in your owner’s manual.
Removing the Rear Seat
2. Lift the carpedmat flap atthe inboard side of the seat
base in the rear.
1. Disconnect the quick release latch plates for the lap
shoulder belts
on the bench seat to be removed. To do
this, press the tip of a key into the release hole of the
safety belt buckle while pulling up
on the safety belt.
2

3. Locate the red handle on the inboard side of the seat
base, rotate thered handle up.
4. Once thered handle is rotated up, pull the handle to
remove the locking pin.
5. Stow the locking pin on the rear of the seat base in
the hole that is provided.
6. Repeat this procedure for the other seatbase.
7. Remove the seat from the vehicle.
8. Install the trim covers to the floor rails.
3

The 1996 Chevrolet Express Owner’s Manual
SeatsandRestraint Systems ............................................................. 1-1
This section tells you how to use your seats and safety belts properly. It also explains the “SIR’ system.
FeaturesandControls .................................................................. 2-1
This section explains how to start and operate your vehicle.
This section tells
you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort controls and how to operate your
audio system.
Here you’ll find helpful information and tips about
the road and how to drive under different conditions.
This section
tells you what to do if you have a problem while driving, such as a flat tire or overheated
engine, etc.
Here the manual
tells you how to keep your vehicle running properly and looking good.
This section tells
you when to perform vehicle maintenance and what fluids and lubricants to use.
This section
tells you how to contact Chevrolet for assistance and how to get service and owner
publications.
It also gives you information on “Reporting Safety Defects” on page 8-8.
Here’s an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual. You can use it to quickly find
something you want to read.
ComfortControlsandAudio Systems ..................................................... 3-1
YourDrivingandtheRoad .............................................................. 4-1
ProblemsontheRoad .................................................................. 5-1
ServiceandAppearanceCare ............................................................ 6-1
Maintenanceschedule .................................................................. 7-1
CustomerAssistanceInformation ........................................................ 8-1
Index ................................................................................ 9-1
i

u
CHEVROLET
GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem,
CHEVROLET,
the CHEVROLET Emblem and the
name EXPRESS are registered trademarks of General
Motors Corporation.
This manual includes the latestinformation at thetime
it
was printed. We reserve the right to make changes in the
product after that time without further notice. For
vehicles first sold in Canada, substitute the name
“General Motors
of Canada Limited” for Chevrolet
Division whenever
it appears in this manual.
Please keep this manual
in your vehicle, so it will be
there if
you ever need it when you’re on the road. If you
sell the vehicle, please leave thismanual in
it so the new
owner canuse it.
Litho
in U.S.A.
C9614
B First Edition
WE SUPPORT
VOLUNTARY TECHNICIAN
CERTIFICATION THROUGH
AUTOMOTIVE
National Institutefor
SERVICE
EXCELLENCE
We support voluntary
technician certification.
For Canadian Owners Who Prefer a
French Language Manual:
Aux propriktaires canadiens: Vous pouvez vous
procurer un exemplaire deceguide en franGais chez
votre concessionaire ou au:
DGN Marketing ServicesLtd.
1500Bonhill Rd.
Mississauga, Ontario L5T IC7
@CopyrightGeneral Motors Corporation
1996
All Rights Reserved
ii

How to Use this Manual
Many people Wd their owner’s manual from beginning
to end when they first receivetheir new vehicle.
If you
dothis, itwill help you learn about
the features and
controls for yourvehicle. In this manual,
you’ll find
that pictures and words work together to explain
things quickly.
Index
A good place to look for what you need is the Index
in the back of the manual. It’s an alphabetical list of
all that’s in the manual, and
the page number where
you’ll find it.
Safety Warnings and Symbols
You will find a number of safety cautions in this book.
We use a box and the word
CAUTION to tell you
about things that could hurt you if you were to ignore
the warning.
In the caution area,we
tell you what the hazard is. Then
we tell you what to do to help avoid or reduce the
hazard. Please read these cautions.If you don’t, you
or
others couldbe hurt.
iii

You will also find a circle
with a slash through
it in
this
book. This safety
symbol means “Don’t,”
“Don’t dothis,”
or “Don’t
let this happen.’’
Vehicle Damage Warnings
Also, in this book you will find thesenotices:
1 NOTICE:
These mean there is something that could
damage your vehicle.
In the notice area, we tell you about somethingthat can
damage your vehicle. Many times, this damage would
not be covered by your warranty, and it could be costly.
But the notice
will tell you what to do to help avoid
the damage.
When you read other manuals,
you might see
CAUTION and NOTICE warnings in different colors or
in different words.
You’ll also seewarning labels
on your vehicle. They use
the same words, CAUTION or
NOTICE.
iv

Vehicle Symbols
These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle.
For example,
these symbols
are used
on an
original battery:
POSSIBLE A
CAUTION
INJURY
PROTECT
EYES BY
SHIELDING
CAUSTIC
ACID COULD
BATTERY
CAUSE
BURNS
SPARK OR ,\I/,
COULD
FLAME
EXPLODE
BATTERY
These symbols
are important
for
you and
your passengers
whenever your
vehicle
is
driven:
DOOR LOCK
UNLOCK
FASTEN
SEAT
BELTS
These symbols
have todo with
your lights:
SIGNALS e e
TURN
RUNNING -0
DAYTIME
LAMPS -*
FOG LAMPS # 0
These symbols
are on some of
your controls:
WINDSHIELD
DEFROSTER
VENTILATING
FAN
These symbols
are used on
warning and
indicator lights:
COOLANT -
TEMP -
CHARGING
BATTERY
SYSTEM
BRAKE (0)
COOLANT
a
ENGINEOIL e,
PRESSURE
ANTI-LOCK (@)
BRAKES
Here are some
other symbols
you may see:
FUSE
t
LIGHTER -
HORN )tr
SPEAKER
b
FUEL m
V

Model Reference
This manual covers these models:
vi
Passenger Van
Cargo Van
1
Cab and Chassis

Section 1 SeatsandRestraintSystems
Here you'll find information aboutthe seats in your
vehicle and how to use your safety beltsproperly. You
can also learn about some thingsyou should
nut do with
air bags and safety belts.
Seats and Seat Controls
This part tells you about the seats -- how to adjust them,
take them out and
put them back in. It also tellsyou
about reclining front seatbacks.
Manual Front Seats
1-1

The bucket seats can be adjusted forward orrearward
with the lever at the front
of the seat.
To adjust the seat, pull the lever up to release the seat
bottom and slide the seat where
you want it. Then
release the lever and try to move the seat with your
body, to make sure the seat is locked into place.
’
A CAUTION:
You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to
adjust a manual driver’s seat while the vehicle is
moving. The sudden movement could startle and
confuse
you, or make you push a pedal when you
don’t want to. Adjust the driver’s seat only when
the vehicle
is not moving.
Power Seat (Option)
I
I
If your vehicle has a power seat on the driver or
passenger’s side,you
can adjust it with this switch at the
front center cushion
of the seat.
1-2

You can use these switches tomove the seat where you
want it. To raise the seat, move the center knob up. To
lower the.seat, move the center knob down. To move the
seat forward, move the center knob toward the right.
To
move the seat rearward, move the center knob toward
the left.
You can raise and lower the front and rear of the seat. To
raise the front of the seat, move the right lever up. To
lower it, move the right lever down. To raise the rear of
the seat, move the left lever up. To lower it, move the
left lever down.
Reclining Seatbacks
To adjust the seatback, lift the front of this lever which
is located
at the inner edge of the. seat cushion.
Move the
seatback with your body and release the lever
to lock the seatback where yo11 want it. Ixan forward
and pull up on the front of' the lever and the seatback
will
go to an upright position.
1-3

But don’t have a seatback reclined if your vehicle
is moving.
A CAUTION:
Sitting in a reclined position whenyour vehicle is
in motion can be dangerous. Even if you buckle
up, your safety beltscan’t do theirjob when
you’re reclined like this.
The shoulder belt can’tdo its jobbecause it
won’t beagainst your body. Instead, it will bein
frontof you. In a crash
you could go into it,
receiving neckorother injuries.
The lapbelt can’t
do itsjob either. In a crash the
belt could go up over your abdomen. The belt
forces
would be there, not at your pelvic bones.
This could cause seriousinternal injuries.
For proper protection when the vehicle is in
motion, have the seatback upright. Then sitwell
back in the seatand wear your safety belt properly.
1-4

Head Restraints
Head restraints are fixed OB some models and adjustable
on others. Slide
an adjustable head restraint up or down
so that the topof the restraintis closest to the top of
your ears. This position reduces the chance of a neck
injury ina crash.
Rear Seats
' A CAUTION:
rn I
A seat that isn't locked intoplace properly can
move around in acollisionor sudden stop. People
in the vehiclecouldbe injured. Be sure tolock
,
the seat intoplace properlywhen installing it.
I A CAUTION:
A safety belt that is twisted or not properly
attached won't provide the protectionneeded in
1 a crash.The person wearing the beltcould be
i seriouslyinjured. Afterinstalling the seat, always
i
check to be sure that thesafety belts arenot
' twisted and are'properly attached.
--
~~
i
1-5
..

Removing the Rear Seat
I. Disconnect the quick release latch plates for the lap
shoulder belts on the bench seat to be removed. To
do this, press the tip of a key into the release hole of
the safety belt end release buckle while pulling
up on
the safety belt.
2. At the floor, remove the plastic trim covers in front
of and behind the seat supports.
3. Lift up on the latch lever located at the front of
each seat support. The latch lever
will stay in the
up position.
4. Roll the scat toward the open slots in both rails. Lift
the seat up and out of both rails.
5. Removethe seat from the vehicle.
6. Install long trim covers to the front portion of the
floor rails.

Replacing the Rear Seat
1. Position the seat into the open slots in both rails.
Make surethat
the latch levers at the front of the seat
are in the up position.
2. Roll the seat to the set location and lock into place. '
3. Lower the latch lever by lifting up on the release
located at the mid-position of eachseat support.
Check that both sides
of the seat are locked securely
by trying to
move the seat forward and backward. A
click shouldbe heard whenthe seat is locked in place.
4. At the floor, replace the plastic trim covers in front
of and behind the seat supports.
5. Connect the quick release latch plates for the lap
shoulderbelts by inserting the latch plates into the
buckles attached at the outboard positions of the
bench seat.
1-7

Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone
This part of the manual tells you how to use safety belts
properly. It also tells
you some things you should not do
with safety belts.
And it explains the Supplemental Inflatable Restraint
(SIR),
or air bag system.
I
,/1\ CAUTION:
Don’t let anyone ride where he or shecan’t wear
a safetybelt properly. If youarein a crash and
you’re not wearing a safety belt, your injuries
can be
much worse. You can hit thingsinside the
vehicleorbe ejected from it. You can be seriously
injured or killed. In the same crash,
you might
not be if you arebuckled
up. Always fastenyour
safetybelt, and checkthatyour passengers’belts
arefastened properly
too.
’
Your vehicle has a light that
comes
on as a reminder to
buckle up. (See “Safety
Belt Reminder Light”
in
the Index.)
In most states and Canadian provinces, the law says to
wear safety belts. Here’s why:
They work.
You never know if you’ll be in a crash. If you do have a
crash,
you don’t know if it will be a bad one.
A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be so
serious that even buckled up a person wouldn’t survive.
But mostcrashes are in between.
In many of them,
people who buckle up can survive and sometimes walk
away.Without belts they could have been badly hurt
or killed.
After more than
25 years of safety belts in vehicles,
the facts are clear.
In most crashes buckling up does
matter
... a lot!
1-8