Chevrolet VENTURE 2001 User manual

2001 Chevrolet Venture
Owner's Manual
Litho in U.S.A.
Part Number 10423824 A First Edition © Copyright General Motors Corporation 2000 All Rights Reserved i

Table of Contents
Windows
Keys and Door Locks
Remote Keyless Entry System (Option)
Automatic Transaxle
Parking Brake
Tilt Wheel
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
Windshield Wipers
Cruise Control (Option)
Exterior and Interior Lamps
Mirrors
Storage Compartments
Convenience Net (Option)
Accessory Power Outlets
OnStar® System (If Equipped)
HomeLink® Transmitter (Option)
Instrument Panel, Warning Lights and Gages
Driver Information Center (Option)
Rear Parking Assist (Option)
Seats and Seat Controls
Safety Belts Air Bag Systems Restraint Systems for Children
Section
1
Section
2
Seats and Restraint Systems
Features and Controls
ii

Table of Contents (cont'd)
Defensive Driving
Drunken Driving
Control of a Vehicle
Braking
Steering
Driving Tips for Various Road Conditions
Recreational Vehicle Towing
Loading Your Vehicle
Towing a Trailer
Heating and Air Conditioning
Setting the Radio Clock Radio/Cassette Player/CD Player Radio Theft-Deterrent Feature
Hazard Warning Flashers
Jump Starting
Towing Your Vehicle
Engine Overheating
Changing a Flat Tire
If You're Stuck
Problems on the Road
Section
3
Section
4
Section
5
Your Driving and the Road
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
iii

Table of Contents (cont'd)
Maintenance Schedule
Service and Appearance Care
Section
7
Section
6
Scheduled Maintenance
Owner Checks and Services
Periodic Maintenance Inspections
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
Maintenance Records
Fuel
Checking Fluids and Lubricants
GM Oil Life System™
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
Passenger Compartment Air Filter
Brakes
Bulb Replacement
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
Tires and Wheels
Appearance Care
Electrical System/Fuses and Circuit Breakers
Capacities and Specifications
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
iv

Table of Contents (cont'd)
Customer Assistance Information
In the Index you will find an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual.
You can use it to quickly find something you want to read.
Section
8
Customer Satisfaction Procedures
Customer Assistance Offices
Roadside Assistance and Courtesy Transportation
Warranty Information
Reporting Safety Defects on page 8-10
Service Publications
Index
Section
9
Please refer to the last page of this manual for your Service Station Guide
v

vi
GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem,
CHEVROLET, the CHEVROLET Emblem and the
name VENTURE 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.
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:
Helm, Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207

vii
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.
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.
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.”

viii
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.

ix
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
vehicleisdriven:
CHILD
RESTRAINT
TOP STRAP
ANCHOR
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
FUEL
Vehicle Symbols
These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle. Also see “Warning Lights and Gages” in the Index.

Service Station Guide
For
a More
Detailed Look at
What's Under the Hood
See Section 6
Battery
See Section 6
Windshield Washer
Fluid
See Section 6
Tire Pressure
See Section 6
Spare Tire Pressure
See Section 5
Hood Release
See Section 6
Cooling System
See Section 5
Secondary
Hood Release
See Section 6
Oil Viscosity
Engine Oil
See Section 6
Engine Oil Dipstick
See Section 6
Fuel
Use unleaded only.
See Section 6
for octane ratings.

1- 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
1-6 Rear Seats
1-27 Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone
1-31 Here Are Questions Many People Ask
About Safety Belts -- and the Answers
1-32 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly
1-32 Driver Position
1-41 Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy
1-42 Right Front Passenger Position
1-43 Air Bag Systems
1-50 Safety Belt Pretensioners
1-50 Rear Seat Passengers
1-55 Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for
Children and Small Adults
1-57 Center Passenger Position (Bench Seat)
1-59 Center Passenger Position (Bucket Seat)
1-60 Children
1-64 Built-in Child Restraint (Option)
1-75 Restraint Systems for Children
1-97 Older Children
1-100 Safety Belt Extender
1-100 Checking Your Restraint Systems
1-101 Replacing Restraint System Parts After
a Crash

1-2
Seats and Seat Controls
This section tells you about the seats -- how to
adjust them, take them out, put them back in, fold
and unfold them.
Driver’s 2-Way Manual Seat
Use the lever located on the
front left side of the seat to
adjust the seat forward or
rearward. Pull up the lever
to unlock the seat. Slide the
seat to where you want it
and release the lever.
To make sure the seat is locked into place, try to move
the seat back and forth with your body.
Driver’s 4-Way Manual Seat (If Equipped)
Use the lever located on the
front left side of the seat to
adjust the seat forward or
rearward. Pull up the lever
to unlock the seat. Slide the
seat to where you want it
and release the lever.
To make sure the seat is locked into place, try to move
the seat back and forth with your body.

1-3
To raise the seat, pull up
on the lever located on the
front right side of the seat.
To lower the seat, push the
lever down. Adjust the seat
and release the lever.
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.
Manual Front Passenger Seats
To move the seat, pull up
the lever located on the
front of the seat to unlock it.
Slide the seat to where you want it and release the lever.
To make sure the seat is locked into place, try to move
the seat back and forth with your body.

1-4
6-Way Power Seat (Option)
The six-way power seat
controls are located on
the outboard side of the
driver’s seat.
D Move the front of the control in the direction of the
arrows to adjust the front portion of the cushion up
or down.
D Move the rear of the control in the direction of the
arrows to adjust the rear portion of the cushion up
or down.
D Lift up or push down on both outer arrows at the
same time to move the entire seat up or down.
D To move the whole seat forward or rearward, slide
the control in the direction of the center arrows.
Reclining Front Seatbacks
All front seats recline.
To adjust the seatback, pull up on the lever located on
the outboard sides of both the driver’s and the front
passenger’s seats. It is easier to recline the seat if you
lean forward, taking your weight off the seatback.

1-5
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.

1-6
Head Restraints
Head restraints are fixed on some models and adjustable
on others. Slide an adjustable head restraint up or down
so that the top of the restraint is closest to the top of
your ears. This position reduces the chance of a neck
injury in a crash.
Rear Seats
Seat Controls
The rear seats in your vehicle have levers and straps
used to adjust, remove and reinstall the seats. By using
the levers and straps, in the correct order, you can easily
remove the seats from your vehicle.
Floor Seat Pin Diagram

1-7
When you put the seats back in the vehicle, be sure
to follow the label on the back of the seat for proper
location. Follow the previous diagram when the text in
this manual tells you what sets of floor cups to use for
each seat.
Second Row Safety Belt Stowage
If your vehicle has a split bench seat in the second row,
use the clip on the safety belt to secure the belt after it is
disconnected from the mini-buckle. When removing the
second row split bench seat, secure the loose end of the
safety belt in this clip. This will keep the safety belt
from dangling and possibly striking something.
Do not have the second row outside safety belt stored if
someone is sitting in the second row outside position.
Flip and Fold Feature
The rear seats in your vehicle, except the captain’s chairs,
can be folded forward. Use this feature for exiting and
entering third row seats.
1. If the seats have the adjustable head restraints,
push them fully down.
2. Fold the seatback flat on the seat, by either pulling
on the nylon strap on the rear of the seat or lifting
up on the lever located on the front of the seatback.
If the seat adjusts forward, slide it all the way back.
3. Release the rear set of hooks from the floor pins by
pulling the nylon strap located at the base of the seat;
hang on to the strap as the seat folds forward.
To return the seat(s) to their normal position,
do the following:
1. Push the seat back and firmly push the rear hooks
onto the rear floor pins by pushing down on the rear
of the seat.
2. Try to raise the seat to check that it is locked down.
3. Lift the seatback recliner lever or pull the nylon strap
on the back of the seat and raise the seatback until it
locks upright.
4. Push and pull on the seatback to check that it
is locked.

1-8
Split Bench Seats
If you have the split bench seat (50/50 or 40/60), the
seatbacks can be folded down individually and the
sections can be removed individually. The 40/60 sections
can also be adjusted forward or rearward individually.
The second row (40/60) split bench may be equipped
with a built-in child restraint. See “Built-In Child
Restraint” in the Index.
Folding or Reclining the Seatbacks
The seatbacks on each section of the split bench seat
can be either folded down or reclined. The following
explains how to use either the nylon strap or the lever
to fold or recline the seatbacks.
To fold down the seatback,
pull this nylon strap on the
rear of the seat, while
pulling the seatback down
until it locks into place.
To raise a seatback, pull the nylon strap while raising the
seatback until it locks upright.
To fold down the seatback,
lift up on this lever located
on the front of the seatback.
Use the lever to raise or lower the seatback to the
desired position.
When raising a seatback to an upright position, push and
pull on the seatback to check that it is locked upright.