Chevrolet 1999 Express Van User manual

yellowblue
i
The 1999 Chevrolet Express Owner’s Manual
1-1 Seats and Restraint Systems
This section tells you how to use your seats and safety belts properly. It also explains the air bag system.
2-1 Features and Controls
This section explains how to start and operate your vehicle.
3-1 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
This section tells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort controls and how to operate your audio system.
4-1 Your Driving and the Road
Here you’ll find helpful information and tips about the road and how to drive under different conditions.
5-1 Problems on the Road
This section tells you what to do if you have a problem while driving, such as a flat tire or overheated engine, etc.
6-1 Service and Appearance Care
Here the manual tells you how to keep your vehicle running properly and looking good.
7-1 Maintenance Schedule
This section tells you when to perform vehicle maintenance and what fluids and lubricants to use.
8-1 Customer Assistance Information
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 8-10.
9-1 Index
Here’s an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual. You can use it to quickly find
something you want to read.

yellowblue
ii
GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem,
CHEVROLET, the CHEVROLET Emblem and the
name CHEVY EXPRESS are registered trademarks of
General Motors Corporation.
This manual includes the latest information at the time 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
Motor 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 this manual in it so the new
owner can use it.
We support voluntary
technician certification.
For Canadian Owners Who Prefer a
French Language Manual:
Aux propriétaires canadiens: Vous pouvez vous
procurer un exemplaire de ce guide en français chez
votre concessionaire ou au:
DGN Marketing Services Ltd.
1577 Meyerside Dr.
Mississauga, Ontario L5T 1B9
Litho in U.S.A.
E
Copyright General Motors Corporation 1998
C9914 B First Edition All Rights Reserved

yellowblue
iii
How to Use this Manual
Many people read their owner’s manual from beginning
to end when they first receive their new vehicle. If you
do this, it will help you learn about the features and
controls for your vehicle. 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
back of the manual. It’s an alphabetical list of what’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.
CAUTION:
These mean there is something that could hurt
you or other people.
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 could be hurt.

yellowblue
iv
You will also find a circle
with a slash through it in
this book. This safety
symbol means “Don’t,”
“Don’t do this” or “Don’t
let this happen.”
Vehicle Damage Warnings
Also, in this book you will find these notices:
NOTICE:
These mean there is something that could
damage your vehicle.
In the notice area, we tell you about something that 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 see warning labels on your vehicle. They use
the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.

yellowblue
v
For example,
these symbols
are used on an
original battery:
CAUTION
POSSIBLE
INJURY
PROTECT
EYES BY
SHIELDING
CAUSTIC
BATTERY
ACID COULD
CAUSE
BURNS
AVOID
SPARKS OR
FLAMES
SPARK OR
FLAME
COULD
EXPLODE
BATTERY
These symbols
are important
for you and
your passengers
whenever your
vehicle is
driven:
DOOR LOCK
UNLOCK
FASTEN
SEAT
BELTS
POWER
WINDOW
AIR BAG
These symbols
have to do with
your lamps:
MASTER
LIGHTING
SWITCH
TURN
SIGNALS
PARKING
LAMPS
HAZARD
WARNING
FLASHER
DAYTIME
RUNNING
LAMPS
FOG LAMPS
These symbols
are on some of
your controls:
WINDSHIELD
WIPER
WINDSHIELD
WASHER
WINDSHIELD
DEFROSTER
REAR
WINDOW
DEFOGGER
VENTILATING
FAN
These symbols
are used on
warning and
indicator lights:
ENGINE
COOLANT
TEMP
BATTERY
CHARGING
SYSTEM
BRAKE
COOLANT
ENGINE OIL
PRESSURE
ANTI-LOCK
BRAKES
Here are some
other symbols
you may see:
FUSE
LIGHTER
HORN
SPEAKER
FUEL
Vehicle Symbols
These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle.

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

1-
yellowblue
1-1
Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems
Here you’ll find information about the seats in your vehicle and how to use your safety belts properly. You can also
learn about some things you should not do with air bags and safety belts.
1-2 Seats and Seat Controls
1-10 Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone
1-15 Here Are Questions Many People Ask About
Safety Belts -- and the Answers
1-16 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly
1-16 Driver Position
1-24 Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy
1-25 Right Front Passenger Position
1-25 Air Bag System
1-33 Rear Seat Passengers
1-36 Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children
and Small Adults
1-38 Center Passenger Position
1-40 Children
1-45 Child Restraints
1-59 Larger Children
1-62 Safety Belt Extender
1-62 Checking Your Restraint Systems
1-62 Replacing Restraint System Parts After
a Crash

yellowblue
1-2
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 tells you
about reclining front seatbacks.
Manual Front Seats
The bucket seats can be adjusted forward or rearward
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 to 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.
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.

yellowblue
1-3
Power Seat (Option)
If your vehicle has a power seat on the driver’s or
passenger’s side, you can adjust it with these switches at
the front center cushion of the seat.
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 you want it. Lean forward
and pull up on the front of the lever and the seatback
will go to an upright position.

yellowblue
1-4
But don’t have a seatback reclined if your vehicle
is moving.
CAUTION:
Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle is
in motion can be dangerous. Even if you buckle
up, your safety belts can’t do their job when
you’re reclined like this.
The shoulder belt can’t do its job because it
won’t be against your body. Instead, it will be in
front of you. In a crash you could go into it,
receiving neck or other injuries.
The lap belt can’t do its job 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 serious internal injuries.
For proper protection when the vehicle is in
motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit well
back in the seat and wear your safety belt properly.

yellowblue
1-5
Rear Seats
Getting Into the Rear Seats
To make it easier for passengers to get into the rear
seats, use the fastener strips on the headliner and safety
belt latch. These will keep the safety belts out of the way
while people get into the rear seats.
Removing the Rear Seat
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.

yellowblue
1-6
2. Lift the carpet/mat flap at the inboard side of the seat
base in the rear. 3. Locate the red handle on the inboard side of the seat base and rotate it up.
4. Once the red handle is rotated up, pull the handle to
remove the locking pin.

yellowblue
1-7
5. Stow the locking pin on the rear of the seat base in
the hole that is provided.
6. Repeat this procedure for the pin on the other
seat base.
7. Pull the seat rearward about 2 inches (5 cm) and then
lift the seat from the floor rails.
8. Remove the seat from the vehicle.
9. Install the trim covers to the floor rails. These are
supplied in a cardboard box at delivery.
10. For the first rear seat, stow the safety belt latch by
attaching the fastener strip on the safety belt latch
to the trim just inside the side door. There is also a
fastener strip provided for stowing the safety belt
latch for a four-passenger bench seat, if equipped.

yellowblue
1-8
For the remaining rear seats, stow the safety belt
latch plate on the clip at the window trim.
Replacing the Rear Seat
CAUTION:
A seat that isn’t locked into place properly can
move around in a collision or sudden stop. People
in the vehicle could be injured. Be sure to lock
the seat into place properly when installing it.
CAUTION:
A safety belt that is twisted or not properly
attached won’t provide the protection needed in a
crash. The person wearing the belt could be
seriously injured. After installing the seat, always
check to be sure that the safety belts are not
twisted and are properly attached.

yellowblue
1-9
1. Remove the trim covers from the floor rails and store
for future use.
2. Position the seat into the open slots in both rails.
Push the seat forward in the rail, hooking both seat
bases onto the pins inside of the rails.
3. To install the locking pin at the rear of the seat base,
pull the carpet/mat flap back on the inboard side to
locate the hole in the rail for the pin.
4. Remove the pin from its stowed position on the seat
base while holding the carpet/mat flap back.
5. Insert the red-handled locking pin into the seat
base, lifting the seat slightly to line up the pin with
the base.

yellowblue
1-10
6. Rotate the red handle down until it is in the
retaining clip.
7. Replace the carpet/mat flap to its original position.
8. Repeat this procedure for the other seat base.
9. Connect the quick-release latch plates for the
lap-shoulder belts by inserting the latch plates into
the buckles attached at the outboard positions of the
bench seat. Do not twist the belt.
10. Check that both locking pins are locked into place
before operating the vehicle.
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 air bag system.
CAUTION:
Don’t let anyone ride where he or she can’t wear
a safety belt properly. If you are in a crash and
you’re not wearing a safety belt, your injuries
can be much worse. You can hit things inside the
vehicle or be ejected from it. You can be seriously
injured or killed. In the same crash, you might
not be if you are buckled up. Always fasten your
safety belt, and check that your passengers’ belts
are fastened properly too.

yellowblue
1-11
CAUTION:
It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area,
inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision,
people riding in these areas are more likely to be
seriously injured or killed. Do not allow people to
ride in any area of your vehicle that is not
equipped with seats and safety belts. Be sure
everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and using a
safety belt properly.
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 most crashes 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 30 years of safety belts in vehicles,
the facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up does
matter ... a lot!

yellowblue
1-12
Why Safety Belts Work
When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as
it goes.
Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it’s just a seat
on wheels.
Put someone on it.

yellowblue
1-13
Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle. The rider
doesn’t stop. The person keeps going until stopped by something.
In a real vehicle, it could be the windshield ...

yellowblue
1-14
or the instrument panel ... or the safety belts!
With safety belts, you slow down as the vehicle does.
You get more time to stop. You stop over more distance,
and your strongest bones take the forces. That’s why
safety belts make such good sense.