towing CHEVROLET EXPRESS 2003 Owner's Manual

Automatic Transmission Fluid
When to Check and Change
A good time to check your automatic transmission uid
level is when the engine oil is changed.
Change both the uid and lter every 50,000 miles
(83,000 km) if the vehicle’s GVWR is over 8,600 or if
the vehicle is mainly driven under one or more of these
conditions:
In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
regularly reaches 90°F (32°C) or higher.
In hilly or mountainous terrain.
When doing frequent trailer towing.
Uses such as found in taxi, police or
delivery service.
If your vehicle’s GVWR is not over 8,600 and you do
not use your vehicle under any of these conditions,
change the uid and lter every 100,000 miles
(166 000 km).
SeeScheduled Maintenance on page 6-4.
How to Check
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you
may choose to have this done at the dealership
service department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow all the instructions
here, or you could get a false reading on the dipstick.
Notice:Too much or too little uid can damage
your transmission. Too much can mean that some
of the uid could come out and fall on hot engine
part or exhaust system parts, starting a re.
Too little uid could cause the transmission to
overheat. Be sure to get an accurate reading if you
check your transmission uid.
Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the
transmission uid level if you have been driving:
When outside temperatures are above 90°F (32°C).
At high speed for quite a while.
In heavy traffic — especially in hot weather.
While pulling a trailer.
5-19

If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
{CAUTION:
Steam from an overheated engine can burn
you badly, even if you just open the hood.
Stay away from the engine if you see or hear
steam coming from it. Just turn it off and get
everyone away from the vehicle until it cools
down. Wait until there is no sign of steam or
coolant before you open the hood.
If you keep driving when your engine is
overheated, the liquids in it can catch re.
You or others could be badly burned.
Stop your engine if it overheats, and get out
of the vehicle until the engine is cool.Notice:If your engine catches re because you
keep driving with no coolant, your vehicle can
be badly damaged. The costly repairs would not
be covered by your warranty.
If No Steam Is Coming From Your
Engine
If you get an engine overheat warning but see or hear
no steam, the problem may not be too serious.
Sometimes the engine can get a little too hot when you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
Stop after high-speed driving.
Idle for long periods in traffic.
Tow a trailer. See “Driving on Grades” under
Towing a Trailer on page 4-34.
5-25

Engine Fan Noise
Your vehicle has a clutched engine cooling fan. When
the clutch is engaged, the fan spins faster to provide
more air to cool the engine. In most everyday driving
conditions, the fan is spinning slower and the clutch is
not fully engaged. This improves fuel economy and
reduces fan noise. Under heavy vehicle loading, trailer
towing, and/or high outside temperatures, the fan
speed increases as the clutch more fully engages, so
you may hear an increase in fan noise. This is
normal and should not be mistaken as the transmission
slipping or making extra shifts. It is merely the cooling
system functioning properly. The fan will slow down
when additional cooling is not required and the clutch
partially disengages.
You may also hear this fan noise when you start the
engine. It will go away as the fan clutch partially
disengages.
Power Steering Fluid
The power steering uid
reservoir is located in the
engine compartment
on the driver’s side of the
vehicle. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on
page 5-12for reservoir
location.
When to Check Power Steering Fluid
It is not necessary to regularly check power steering uid
unless you suspect there is a leak in the system or
you hear an unusual noise. A uid loss in this system
could indicate a problem. Have the system inspected
and repaired.
How to Check Power Steering Fluid
To check the power steering uid, do the following:
1. Turn the key off and let the engine compartment
cool down.
2. Wipe the cap and the top of the reservoir clean.
5-32

(g)Vehicles with GVWR above 10,000 lbs (4 536 kg)
only: Inspect shields for damage or looseness. Adjust or
replace as required. This is a Noise Emission Control
Service. Applicable only to vehicles sold in the
United States.
(h)Change automatic transmission uid and lter if the
vehicle is mainly driven under one or more of these
conditions:
In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
regularly reaches 90°F (32°C) or higher.
In hilly or mountainous terrain.
When doing frequent trailer towing.
Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery
service.
(i)Drain, ush and rell cooling system. See Engine
Coolant on page 5-22for what to use. Inspect hoses.
Clean radiator, condenser, pressure cap and ller neck.
Pressure test the cooling system and pressure cap.(j)A uid loss in any vehicle system could indicate a
problem. Have the system inspected and repaired and
the uid level checked. Add uid if needed.
(k)Inspect system. Check all fuel and vapor lines and
hoses for proper hook-up, routing and condition.
Check that the purge valve works properly (if equipped).
Replace as needed.
(l)If you drive regularly under dusty conditions, inspect
the lter at each engine oil change.
(m)Check system for interference or binding and for
damaged or missing parts. Replace parts as needed.
Replace any components that have high effort or
excessive wear. Do not lubricate accelerator or cruise
control cables.
6-9

Q
Questions and Answers About Safety Belts.........1-14
R
Radiator Pressure Cap....................................5-24
Radios..........................................................3-39
AM-FM Radio.............................................3-40
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player................3-72
Care of Your CD Player...............................3-74
Care of Your CDs........................................3-74
Radio with Cassette and CD.........................3-47
Radio with CD............................................3-43
Radio with Six-Disc CD................................3-60
Setting the Time for Radios with
Radio Data Systems (RDS).......................3-40
Setting the Time for Radios without
Radio Data Systems (RDS).......................3-40
Theft-Deterrent............................................3-71
Understanding Reception..............................3-72
Reading Lamps..............................................3-16
Rear Air Conditioning and Heating System.........3-21
Rear Axle......................................................5-44
Locking........................................................ 4-7
Rear Door Security Locks.................................. 2-8Rear Doors....................................................2-13
Rear Heating System......................................3-20
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides......................1-28
Rear Seat Operation......................................... 1-6
Rear Seat Passengers, Safety Belts..................1-25
Rearview Mirrors.............................................2-29
Reclining Seatbacks.......................................... 1-4
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants.................6-13
Recreational Vehicle Towing.............................4-34
Reduced Engine Power Light............................3-37
Remote Keyless Entry System............................ 2-3
Remote Keyless Entry System, Operation............ 2-4
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the
Spare Tire..................................................5-72
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools...................5-69
Replacement Bulbs.........................................5-50
Reporting Safety Defects
Canadian Government..................................7-11
General Motors...........................................7-11
United States Government............................7-10
Restraint System Check
Checking Your Restraint Systems...................1-70
Replacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash..........................................1-71
Restraint Systems
Checking....................................................1-70
Replacing Parts...........................................1-71
9

Signals, Turn and Lane-Change.......................... 3-8
Sliding Side Door............................................2-10
Spare Tire.....................................................5-82
Installing....................................................5-72
Removing...................................................5-69
Storing.......................................................5-80
Specications, Capacities.................................5-97
Speedometer..................................................3-24
Stabilitrak
®System........................................... 4-8
Stabilitrak®Indicator Light.................................3-31
Stabilitrak®Not Ready Light..............................3-30
Starting Your Engine.......................................2-20
Steering........................................................4-10
Steering Wheel, Tilt Wheel................................. 3-6
Storage Areas................................................2-32
Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow......................4-28
Sun Visors.....................................................2-17
Swing-Out Side Door, 60/40.............................2-12
Swing-Out Windows........................................2-17
T
Taillamps.......................................................5-49
Theft-Deterrent, Radio.....................................3-71
Theft-Deterrent Systems...................................2-18
Passlock
®...................................................2-18
Tilt Wheel........................................................ 3-6Tires.............................................................5-52
Aluminum Wheels, Cleaning..........................5-88
Buying New Tires........................................5-62
Chains.......................................................5-66
Changing a Flat Tire....................................5-68
Cleaning....................................................5-88
Dual Tire Operation.....................................5-59
If a Tire Goes Flat.......................................5-67
Ination -- Tire Pressure...............................5-58
Inspection and Rotation................................5-60
Installing the Spare Tire................................5-72
Removing the Flat Tire.................................5-72
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools...............5-69
Secondary Latch System..............................5-77
Spare Tire..................................................5-82
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools............5-80
Tire Sidewall Labelling..................................5-53
Tire Terminology and Denitions....................5-56
Uniform Tire Quality Grading.........................5-63
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance.................5-64
Wheel Replacement.....................................5-65
When It Is Time for New Tires......................5-62
Top Strap......................................................1-46
Top Strap Anchor Location...............................1-47
Tow/Haul Mode Light.......................................3-38
Towing
Recreational Vehicle.....................................4-34
Towing a Trailer..........................................4-34
Your Vehicle...............................................4-34
11