Chevrolet 2005 Express Van User manual

Seats and Restraint Systems ........................... 1-1
Front Seats ............................................... 1-3
Rear Seats ............................................... 1-6
Safety Belts ............................................. 1-10
Child Restraints ....................................... 1-31
Airbag System ......................................... 1-59
Restraint System Check ............................ 1-70
Features and Controls ..................................... 2-1
Keys ........................................................ 2-2
Doors and Locks ....................................... 2-7
Windows ................................................. 2-15
Theft-Deterrent Systems ............................ 2-18
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle ........... 2-18
Mirrors .................................................... 2-29
OnStar
®
System ...................................... 2-31
Storage Areas ......................................... 2-32
Instrument Panel ............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview .......................... 3-4
Climate Controls ...................................... 3-18
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators ........ 3-22
Audio System(s) ....................................... 3-39
Driving Your Vehicle ....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle ........ 4-2
Towing ................................................... 4-34
Service and Appearance Care .......................... 5-1
Service ..................................................... 5-3
Fuel ......................................................... 5-5
Checking Things Under the Hood ............... 5-10
All-Wheel Drive ........................................ 5-43
Rear Axle ............................................... 5-44
Front Axle ............................................... 5-44
Noise Control System ............................... 5-45
Bulb Replacement .................................... 5-46
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement ......... 5-51
Tires ...................................................... 5-52
Appearance Care ..................................... 5-82
Vehicle Identification ................................. 5-91
Electrical System ...................................... 5-92
Capacities and Specifications ..................... 5-97
Maintenance Schedule ..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule ................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance and Information .............. 7-1
Customer Assistance and Information ........... 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects ........................... 7-10
Index .................................................................1
2005 Chevrolet Express Owner Manual M

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 latest information at the time it
was printed. We reserve the right to make changes
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.
Keep this manual in the vehicle, so it will be there if it is
needed while you are on the road. If the vehicle is
sold, leave this manual in the vehicle
Canadian Owners
A French language copy of this manual can be obtained
from your dealer or from:
Helm, Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
How to Use This Manual
Many people read the owner manual from beginning to
end when they first receive their new vehicle. If this
is done, it can help you learn about the features
and controls for the vehicle. Pictures and words work
together in the owner manual to explain things.
Index
A good place to quickly locate information about the
vehicle is the Index in the back of the manual. It is an
alphabetical list of what is in the manual and the
page number where it can be found.
Litho in U.S.A.
Part No. 05EXPRESS A First Edition
©
2004 General Motors Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
ii

Safety Warnings and Symbols
There are a number of safety cautions in this book. We
use a box and the word CAUTION to tell 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 do not,
you or others could be hurt.
You will also find a circle
with a slash through it in
this book. This safety
symbol means “Do Not,”
“Do Not do this” or “Do Not
let this happen.”
iii

Vehicle Damage Warnings
Also, in this manual you will find these notices:
Notice: These mean there is something that could
damage your vehicle.
A notice tells about something that can damage the
vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be covered
by your vehicle’s warranty, and it could be costly. But
the notice will tell 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.
There are also warning labels on the vehicle. They use
the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.
Vehicle Symbols
The vehicle has components and labels that use
symbols instead of text. Symbols are shown along with
the text describing the operation or information
relating to a specific component, control, message,
gage, or indicator.
If you need help figuring out a specific name of a
component, gage, or indicator, reference the
following topics:
•Seats and Restraint Systems in Section 1
•Features and Controls in Section 2
•Instrument Panel Overview in Section 3
•Climate Controls in Section 3
•Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators in Section 3
•Audio System(s) in Section 3
•Engine Compartment Overview in Section 5
iv

These are some examples of symbols that may be found on the vehicle:
v

✍NOTES
vi

Front Seats ......................................................1-3
Manual Seats ................................................1-3
Power Seat ...................................................1-4
Reclining Seatbacks ........................................1-4
Rear Seats .......................................................1-6
Rear Seat Operation .......................................1-6
Safety Belts ...................................................1-10
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone ................1-10
Questions and Answers About Safety Belts ......1-14
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly .................1-15
Driver Position ..............................................1-15
Shoulder Belt Height Adjustment .....................1-22
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy ..................1-23
Right Front Passenger Position .......................1-23
Center Passenger Position (2nd Row) ..............1-23
Center Passenger Position (3rd, 4th
and 5th Row) ............................................1-24
Rear Seat Passengers ..................................1-25
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children
and Small Adults .......................................1-28
Safety Belt Pretensioners ...............................1-30
Safety Belt Extender .....................................1-30
Child Restraints .............................................1-31
Older Children ..............................................1-31
Infants and Young Children ............................1-33
Child Restraint Systems .................................1-39
Where to Put the Restraint .............................1-42
Top Strap ....................................................1-46
Top Strap Anchor Location .............................1-47
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System) ...........................1-49
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for
the LATCH System ....................................1-51
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear
Outside Seat Position ................................1-51
Securing a Child Restraint in a Center
Seat Position (2nd Row) .............................1-53
Securing a Child Restraint in a Center
Seat Position (3rd, 4th and 5th Row) ...........1-54
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right
Front Seat Position ....................................1-55
Airbag System ...............................................1-59
Where Are the Airbags? ................................1-62
When Should an Airbag Inflate? .....................1-63
Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems
1-1

What Makes an Airbag Inflate? .......................1-64
How Does an Airbag Restrain? .......................1-65
What Will You See After an Airbag Inflates? .....1-65
Airbag Off Switch ..........................................1-66
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle ...........1-69
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle ....................................................1-70
Restraint System Check ..................................1-70
Checking Your Restraint Systems ...................1-70
Replacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash ............................................1-71
Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems
1-2

Front Seats
Manual Seats {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 do not want to. Adjust the driver’s
seat only when the vehicle is not moving.
Lift the bar located under the front of the seat to unlock
it. Slide the seat to where you want it and release
the bar. Try to move the seat with your body to be sure
the seat is locked into place.
1-3

Power Seat
If your vehicle has front power seat(s), you can adjust
them with these controls located at the front center
of the seat cushion.
To raise or lower the seat, move the center knob up or
down. To move the seat forward or rearward, move
the center knob toward the right or left.
To raise or lower the front of the seat cushion, move the
right lever up or down. To raise or lower the rear of
the seat cushion, move the left lever up or down.
Reclining Seatbacks
To adjust the seatback, lift the front of the lever located
on the inboard side 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.
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 not do their
job when you are reclined like this.
The shoulder belt can not do its job because it
will not 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 not 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.
1-5

Rear Seats
Rear Seat Operation
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.
2. Locate the pins. There are two pins located on the
inboard sides of the rear seats. If the vehicle has
floor mats, the pins will be located under a flap that
has been cut into the mat.
•The driver’s side pin has a gray cap with a black
“L” marked on it:
1-6

•The passenger’s side pin has a black cap with a
white “R” marked on it:
3. Pull the pin handle up to disengage the pin from
the retaining clip, then pull the pin out.
4. Repeat this procedure for the pin on the other
seat base.
5. Pull the seat rearward about 2 inches (5 cm) and
then lift the seat from the floor rails.
6. Remove the seat from the vehicle.
7. For the first row rear
seat, stow the safety
belt latch by attaching
the clip on the safety
belt latch to the trim just
inside the side door. For
the remaining rear
seats, stow the safety
belt latch plate on the
clip at the window trim.
1-7

Replacing the Rear Seats
{CAUTION:
A seat that is not 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 improperly routed, not
properly attached, or twisted will not provide
the protection needed in a crash. The person
wearing the belt could be seriously injured.
After raising the rear seatback, always check
to be sure that the safety belts are properly
routed and attached, and are not twisted.
1. 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.
2. To install the locking pins at the rear of the seat
base, locate the hole in the rail for the pin. It is
found on the inboard side of the seat. If the vehicle
has floor mats, pull the flap that has been cut
into the mat.
3. Insert the locking pin into the seat base and push
the seat to line up with the pin with the base. The
pin with the black cap marked “R” must be installed
on the passenger’s side and the pin with the gray
cap marked “L” on the driver’s side.
1-8

4. Push the pin with the black cap marked “R” down
until it is in the retaining clip. 5. Push the pin with the gray cap marked “L” down until it is in the retaining clip.
6. If the vehicle has a floor mat, put the flap back to
its original position.
7. Repeat this procedure for the other seat base.
8. 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.
9. Check that all locking pins are locked into place
before operating the vehicle.
1-9

Safety Belts
Safety Belts: They Are 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.
{CAUTION:
Do not let anyone ride where he or she can not
wear a safety belt properly. If you are in a
crash and you are 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.
{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.
1-10

Your vehicle has a light
that comes on as a
reminder to buckle up. See
Safety Belt Reminder
Light on page 3-25.
In most states and in all Canadian provinces, the law
says to wear safety belts. Here is why: They work.
You never know if you will be in a crash. If you do have
a crash, you do not 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 would not
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!
Why Safety Belts Work
When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as
it goes.
Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it is just a seat
on wheels.
1-11

Put someone on it. Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle. The rider
does not stop.
1-12

The person keeps going until stopped by something. In
a real vehicle, it could be the windshield... or the instrument panel...
1-13

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 is why
safety belts make such good sense.
Questions and Answers About
Safety Belts
Q: Will I be trapped in the vehicle after an accident
if I am wearing a safety belt?
A: You could be — whether you are wearing a safety
belt or not. But you can unbuckle a safety belt,
even if you are upside down. And your chance of
being conscious during and after an accident,
so you can unbuckle and get out, is much greater if
you are belted.
Q: If my vehicle has airbags, why should I have to
wear safety belts?
A: Airbags are in many vehicles today and will be in
most of them in the future. But they are
supplemental systems only; so they work with
safety belts — not instead of them. Every airbag
system ever offered for sale has required the use of
safety belts. Even if you are in a vehicle that has
airbags, you still have to buckle up to get the most
protection. That is true not only in frontal collisions,
but especially in side and other collisions.
1-14