ignition CHEVROLET EXPRESS 1997 1.G User Guide

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Locking Rear Axle
If you have this feature, your locking rear axle can
give you additional traction on snow, mud, ice, sand
or
gravel. It works like a standard axle most of the time,
but when one of the rear wheels has
no traction and the
other does, the locking feature will allow the wheel with
traction to move the vehicle.
Parking Brake
To set the parking brake, hold the regular brake pedal
down with your right foot. Push down
the parking brake
pedal with your left
foot.
If the ignition is on, the brake system warning light will
come on.
To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down. Pull the handle, located
just above the
parking brake pedal, marked BRAKE RELEASE to
release the parking brake.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If the ignition is on when the parking brake is released,
the brake system warning light will go off.
NOTICE:
Driving with the parking brake on can
cause your rear brakes
to overheat. You may
have to replace them, and you could also damage
other parts of your vehicle. Always check to be
sure your parking brake is fully released before
you drive.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on any hill,
see “Towing a Trailer’’
in the Index. That section shows
what
to do first to keep the trailer from moving.
Shifting Into PARK (P)
I
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
If you have left the engine running, the vehicle
can move suddenly. You or others could be
injured.
To be sure your vehicle won’t move, even
when you’re on fairly level ground, use the steps
that follow. If you’re pulling
a trailer, see
“Towing a Trailer” in
the Index.
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
set the parking brake.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) position like this:
I- a
0 Pull the lever toward you.
0 Move the lever up as far as it will go.
3. Move the ignition key to LOCK.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave your vehicle with the ignition key in your
hand, your vehicle is in
PARK (P).

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Shifting Out of PARK (P)
Your vehicle has a brake-transmission shift interlock
system. You have to fully apply your regular brakes
before you can shift from PARK
(P) when the ignition
is in RUN.
See “Automatic Transmission” in the Index.
If you cannot shift out of PARK
(P), ease pressure on
the shift lever and push the shift lever all the way up
into PARK (P) as
you maintain brake application.
Then, move the shift lever into the gear
you want.
If you ever hold the brake pedal down but still can’t
shift out
of PARK (P), try this:
1. Turn the key to OFF.
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.
3. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the vehicle and then shift to the drive gear
you want.
5. Have the brake-transmission shift interlock system
fixed as soon as
you can.
Parking Over Things That Burn
a CAUTIO, i: I
.
Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust
parts under your vehicle and ignite. Don’t park
over papers, leaves, dry grass or other things that
can burn.
2-27

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine The driver’s door has a switch for the passenger
windows as well. Your power windows will work when
the ignition has been turned to the
RUN position.
Push the rear of the switch with the power window
symbol on
it to lower the window.
Swing-Out Windows
Push the front of the switch with the power window
symbol on
it to raise the window.
The driver’s window switch
also has an express-down
feature that allows the window to lower without holding
the switch. Press and hold the side of the window switch
marked AUTO for one second to activate the
express-down mode. The express-down mode can be
cancelled at any time
by pressing the opposite side of
the switch. To open the window partway, lightly tap the
switch until the window is at the desired position.
Side Swing-Out Window
To open your side door swing-out windows, pull up on
the latch at the edge
of the window and swing the
window out and push down the latch into the locked
open position.
2-30

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load and the steepness of the hills.
When going up steep hills,
you may have to step on
the accelerator pedal
to maintain your speed. If the
steepness of the hill causes the vehicle speed to drop
more than
15 mph (9.4 kmh) below the set speed, your
cruise control will automatically disengage. When
going
downhill, you may have to brake or shift to a lower gear
to keep your speed down.
Of course, applying the brake
takes
you out of cruise control. Many drivers find this to
be too much trouble and don’t use cruise control
on
steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
There are two ways to turn off the cruise control:
Step lightly on the brake pedal; or
0 Move the cruise switch to OFF.
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition,
your cruise control set speed memory is erased.
Exterior Lamps
Your parking/headlamp switch is on the driver’s side of
your instrument panel.
Your instrument panel dimmer wheel now has
two
detent positions.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When the wheel is turned to full brilliance, and then into
the first detent position, the radio display and PRNDL
display will go to the day mode (full intensity).
This is
known as “parade” mode. The rest
of the I/P
illumination will stay
in the maximum dimming state
(full brilliance dimming). Turning the wheel up one
more detent will activate the interior dome light circuit
(with slightly higher effort).
The dome lights cannot be turned
on by depressing the
dome light switch button, located below the parWhead
lamp switch knob. This switch is a dome lamp off
switch and will only interrupt inputs from the door jamb
switches, inhibiting interior light operation when
depressed. It will not inhibit the light function from
the
I/P dimmer switch.
The delayed entry will allow
you to enter or exit your
vehicle with the lights staying on for about
20 seconds
after the door
is closed or ignition is cycled.
Rotate
the switch knob clockwise to the parking lamp
symbol
to turn on:
0 Parking Lamps
0 Sidemarker Lamps
Taillamps
0 License Plate Lamps
0 Instrument Panel Lights
Ashtray Lamp
0 Glove Box Lamp
Rotate
the switch knob clockwise again to the master
lighting symbol to turn
on all the lamps listed above as
well as the headlamps.
Rotate the switch counterclockwise to OFF to
turn off
your lamps and lights.
Rotate the thumb wheel
next to the switch knob up to
adjust instrument panel lights. Rotate the thumb wheel
up to
the first notch to return the radio display and
gearshift indicator Vacuum Fluorescence
(VF) display
to full intensity when the headlamps or parking lamps
are
on.
Rotate the thumb wheel up to the second notch to
activate the interior dome lamps.
You can switch your headlamps from high to low beam
by pulling on the turn signalhigh beam lever.
A circuit breaker protects your headlamps. If you have
an electrical overload, your headlamps will flicker
on
and off. Have your headlamp wiring checked right away
if this happens.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Headlamps On Reminder
A tone will sound when your headlamps are turned on
and your ignition is in OFF, LOCK or ACCESSORY.
If
you need to use your headlamps when the ignition
switch is in
OFF, LOCK or ACCESSORY, the tone
can be turned off by turning the thumb wheel next
to
the parking lamp/headlamp switch all the way down.
Daytime Running Lamps (If Equipped)
Daytime Running Lamps (Dm) can make it easier for
others
to see the front of your vehicle during the day.
DRL can be helpful
in many different driving conditions,
but they can be especially helpful in the short periods
after dawn and before sunset.
The DRL system will make your headlamps come on at
a reduced brightness when:
The ignition is on,
The headlamp switch is off, and
0 The parking brake is released.
If your vehicle was first sold, when new,
in Canada,
your headlamps will come on at reduced brightness.
If your vehicle was first sold, when new, in the United
States, your vehicle may be equipped with DRL.
If your
vehicle has DRL, you
will see the the DRL indicator light
on your instrument panel and your low-beam
headlamps will come on at reduced brightness.
When the DRL are on, only your headlamps will be on.
The taillamps, sidemarker and other lamps won’t be
on.
Your instrument panel won’t be lit up either.
When it begins to get dark, your
DRL indicator light is a
reminder to
turn your headlamp switch on. The other lamps
that come on
with your headlamps will also come on.
When
you turn off the headlamp switch, the regular
lamps will go
off, and your headlamps will change to
the reduced brightness of DRL.
To idle your vehicle with the engine on and the DRL off,
set the parking brake. The DRL will stay off until you
release
the parking brake.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
Dome Lamps
The dome lamps will come on when you open the doors.
You can also turn the dome lamps on by rotating the
thumb wheel, located next to the headlamp knob, all
the way up
to the second notch. In this position, the
dome lamps will remain
on whether the doors are
opened or closed.
2-40

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows
AIR BAG. The system checks the
air bag’s electrical system for malfunctions. The light
tells you
if there is an electrical problem. The system
check includes the air bag sensor,
the air bag modules,
the wiring and the crash sensing and diagnostic module.
For more information on the air bag system, see “Air
Bag” in the Index.
AIR
BAG
This light will come on
when
you start your engine,
and it will
flash for a few
seconds. Then
the light
should go out. This means
the system is ready.
If the air bag readiness light stays on after
you start the
engine or comes on when you are driving, your air bag
system may not work properly. Have your vehicle
serviced right away. The air
bag readiness light should flash for a few
seconds when you turn the ignition key to
RUN. If the
light doesn’t come on then, have it fixed
so it will be
ready to warn
you if there is a problem.
Charging System Light
This light should come on
briefly when
you turn on the
ignition, before starting the
engine, as a check to show
you it is working.
After the engine starts,
the light should go out. If it stays
on or comes on while you are driving, you may have a
problem with your charging system. It could indicate a
problem with
the alternator drive belt, or some other
charging system problem. Have
it checked right away.
Driving while this light
is on could drain your battery.
If
you must drive a short distance with this light on, it
helps to turn off all your accessories, such as the radio
and air conditioner.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Brake System Warning Light
Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided into
two parts. If one part isn’t working, the other part can
still work and stop
you. For good braking, though, you
need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes
on, there could be a brake
problem. Have your brake system inspected right away.
BRAKE
United States
This light should come on
briefly when you turn the
ignition key to
RUN. If it
doesn’t come on then,
have it fixed
so it will be
ready to warn you
if
there’s a problem.
Canada
If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off the
road and stop carefully. You
may notice that the pedal is
harder to push. Or, the pedal may go closer to the floor.
It may take longer to stop. If the light is still on, have the
vehicle towed for service.
(See “Towing Your Vehicle”
in the Index.)