wheel CHEVROLET EXPRESS 2003 Repair Manual

ApplicationCapacities
English Metric
Fuel Tank
Standard Tank (Passenger and Cargo)
Standard Tank (Cab and Chassis)
Optional Tank (Cab and Chassis)*
* 159 inch (4 039 mm) wheelbase or 177 inch (4 496 mm)
wheel base only31.0 gallons
33.0 gallons
57.0 gallons117.3 L
124.9 L
215.7 L
Wheel Nut Torque 140 ft lb 190Y
All capacities are approximate. When adding, be sure to ll to the approximate level, as recommended in this
manual. Recheck uid level after lling.
Engine Specications
Engine VIN Code Transmission Spark Plug Gap
VORTEC™ 4300 V6 W Automatic 0.040 inches (1.01 mm)
VORTEC™ 4800 V8 V Automatic 0.040 inches (1.01 mm)
VORTEC™ 5300 V8 T Automatic 0.040 inches (1.01 mm)
VORTEC™ 6000 V8 U Automatic 0.040 inches (1.01 mm)
5-98

Owner Checks and Services
These owner checks and services should be performed
at the intervals specied to help ensure the safety,
dependability and emission control performance of your
vehicle. Your GM Goodwrench dealer can assist you
with these checks and services.
Be sure any necessary repairs are completed at once.
Whenever any uids or lubricants are added to your
vehicle, make sure they are the proper ones, as shown
inRecommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-13.
At the First 100, 1,000 and
6,000 Miles (160, 1 600
and 10 000km)
For vehicles with dual wheels, check dual wheel nut
torque. For proper torque, seeCapacities and
Specications on page 5-97.
At Each Fuel Fill
It is important to perform these underhood checks at
each fuel ll.
Engine Oil Level Check
Check the engine oil level and add the proper oil if
necessary. SeeEngine Oil on page 5-13for further
details.
Notice:It is important to check your oil regularly
and keep it at the proper level. Failure to keep your
engine oil at the proper level can cause damage
to your engine not covered by your warranty.
Engine Coolant Level Check
Check the engine coolant level and add
DEX-COOL®coolant mixture if necessary. SeeEngine
Coolant on page 5-22for further details.
Windshield Washer Fluid Level Check
Check the windshield washer uid level in the windshield
washer tank and add the proper uid if necessary.
At Least Once a Month
Tire Ination Check
Visually inspect your tires and make sure tires are
inated to the correct pressures. Do not forget to check
your spare tire. SeeTires on page 5-52for further
details. Check to make sure the spare tire is stored
securely. Push, pull and then try to turn the spare tire. If
it moves, tighten it. SeeChanging a Flat Tire on
page 5-68.
6-10

Usage Fluid/Lubricant
Chassis
LubricationChassis Lubricant (GM Part
No. U.S. 12377985, in
Canada 88901242) or lubricant
meeting requirements of NLGI #2,
Category LB or GC-LB.
Front Wheel
BearingsWheel bearing lubricant meeting
requirements of NLGI #2, Category
GC or GC-LB (GM Part No.
U.S. 1051344, in Canada 993037).
Front and
Rear AxleSAE 75W-90 Synthetic Axle
Lubricant (GM Part No.
U.S. 12378261, in
Canada 10953455)
or equivalent meeting GM
Specication 9986115.
Transfer CaseDEXRON
®-III Automatic
Transmission Fluid. Look for
“Approved for the H-Specication”
on the label.
Usage Fluid/Lubricant
One-Piece
Propshaft Slip
Yoke Spline,
Two-Piece
Propshaft
Slip-in-Tube
SplineSpline Lubricant, Special Lubricant
(GM Part No. U.S. 12345879, in
Canada 10953511) or lubricant
meeting requirements of
GM 9985830.
Hood HingesMulti-Purpose Lubricant, Superlube
(GM Part No. U.S. 12346241, in
Canada 10953474).
Weatherstrip
ConditioningDielectric Silicone Grease
(GM Part No. U.S. 12345579, in
Canada 992887).
Weatherstrip
SqueaksSynthetic Grease with Teon,
Superlube (GM Part No.
U.S. 12371287, in
Canada 10953437).
6-14

Canada — Customer Assistance
General Motors of Canada Limited
Customer Communication Centre, 163-005
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7
1-800-263-3777 (English)
1-800-263-7854 (French)
1-800-263-3830 (For Text Telephone devices (TTYs))
Roadside Assistance: 1-800-268-6800
Overseas — Customer Assistance
Please contact the local General Motors Business Unit.
Mexico, Central America and
Caribbean Islands/Countries
(Except Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin
Islands) — Customer Assistance
General Motors de Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V.
Customer Assistance Center
Paseo de la Reforma # 2740
Col. Lomas de Bezares
C.P. 11910, Mexico, D.F.
01-800-508-0000
Long Distance: 011-52-53 29 0 800
GM Mobility Reimbursement
Program
This program, available to qualied applicants, can
reimburse you up to $1,000 toward eligible aftermarket
driver’s or passenger’s adaptive equipment you may
require for your vehicle, such as hand controls and
wheelchair/scooter lifts.
The offer is available for a limited period of time from
the date of vehicle purchase/lease. For more details, or
to determine your vehicle’s eligibility, visit
gmmobility.com or call the GM Mobility Assistance
Center at 1-800-323-9935. Text telephone (TTY) users,
call 1-800-833-9935.
GM of Canada also has a Mobility Program. Call
1-800-GM-DRIVE (463-7483) for details. TTY users
call 1-800-263-3830.
7-5

Courtesy Transportation is available only at participating
GM dealers and all program options, such as shuttle
service, may not be available at every dealer. Please
contact your GM dealer for specic information
about availability. All Courtesy Transportation
arrangements will be administered by appropriate
dealer personnel.
Canadian Vehicles:For warranty repairs during the
Complete Vehicle Coverage period of the General
Motors of Canada New Vehicle Limited Warranty,
alternative transportation may be available under the
Courtesy Transportation Program. Please consult
your dealer for details.
General Motors reserves the right to unilaterally modify,
change or discontinue Courtesy Transportation at
any time and to resolve all questions of claim eligibility
pursuant to the terms and conditions described
herein at its sole discretion.Vehicle Data Collection and Event
Data Recorders
Your vehicle, like other modern motor vehicles, has a
number of sophisticated computer systems that monitor
and control several aspects of the vehicle’s performance.
Your vehicle uses on-board vehicle computers to monitor
emission control components to optimize fuel economy,
to monitor conditions for airbag deployment and, if so
equipped, to provide anti-lock braking and to help the
driver control the vehicle in difficult driving situations.
Some information may be stored during regular
operations to facilitate repair of detected malfunctions;
other information is stored only in a crash event by
computer systems, such as those commonly called event
data recorders (EDR).
In a crash event, computer systems, such as the Airbag
Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM) in your vehicle
may record information about the condition of the vehicle
and how it was operated, such as data related to
engine speed, brake application, throttle position, vehicle
speed, safety belt usage, airbag readiness, airbag
performance, and the severity of a collision. If your
vehicle is equipped with Stabilitrak
®, steering
performance, including yaw rate, steering wheel angle,
and lateral acceleration, is also recorded. This
information has been used to improve vehicle crash
performance and may be used to improve crash
performance of future vehicles and driving safety.
7-9

A
Accessory Power Outlets.................................3-16
Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle...............................1-70
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-6
Add-On Electrical Equipment............................5-92
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-17
Air Conditioning..............................................3-18
Airbag
Off Light.....................................................3-26
Readiness Light..........................................3-25
Airbag Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM)........ 7-9
Airbag System................................................1-59
Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle............................1-70
Airbag Off Switch........................................1-66
How Does an Airbag Restrain?......................1-65
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle..........1-69
What Makes an Airbag Inate?......................1-64
What Will You See After an Airbag Inates?........1-65
When Should an Airbag Inate?....................1-63
Where Are the Airbags?...............................1-62
All-Wheel Drive...............................................5-43
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) System.........................2-24
AM-FM Radio.................................................3-40
Antenna, Fixed Mast.......................................3-74
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)........................... 4-6
Anti-Lock Brake, System Warning Light..............3-30
Appearance Care............................................5-82Aluminum Wheels........................................5-88
Care of Safety Belts....................................5-85
Chemical Paint Spotting...............................5-89
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses....................5-86
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-83
Finish Care.................................................5-86
Finish Damage............................................5-89
Glass Surfaces............................................5-85
Instrument Panel.........................................5-85
Interior Plastic Components...........................5-85
Sheet Metal Damage...................................5-89
Tires..........................................................5-88
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-89
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials................5-90
Vinyl..........................................................5-85
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-86
Weatherstrips..............................................5-86
Windshield and Wiper Blades........................5-87
Ashtrays........................................................3-17
Audio System(s).............................................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
Chime Level Adjustment...............................3-74
Fixed Mast Antenna.....................................3-74
Radio with Cassette and CD.........................3-47
Radio with CD............................................3-43
Radio with Six-Disc CD................................3-60
1

Child Restraints
Child Restraint Systems...............................1-39
Infants and Young Children...........................1-33
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System)..........................1-49
Older Children.............................................1-31
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for
the LATCH System...................................1-51
Securing a Child Restraint in a
Center Seat Position.........................1-53, 1-54
Securing a Child Restraint in a
Rear Outside Seat Position........................1-51
Securing a Child Restraint in the
Right Front Seat Position..........................1-55
Top Strap...................................................1-46
Top Strap Anchor Location............................1-47
Where to Put the Restraint...........................1-42
Chime Level Adjustment..................................3-74
Cigarette Lighter.............................................3-17
Cleaning
Aluminum Wheels........................................5-88
Exterior Lamps/Lenses.................................5-86
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-83
Finish Care.................................................5-86
Glass Surfaces............................................5-85
Instrument Panel.........................................5-85
Interior Plastic Components...........................5-85
Tires..........................................................5-88
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-89
Vinyl..........................................................5-85Cleaning (cont.)
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-86
Weatherstrips..............................................5-86
Windshield and Wiper Blades........................5-87
Climate Control System...................................3-18
Outlet Adjustment........................................3-20
Rear Air Conditioning and Heating System......3-21
Rear Heating System...................................3-20
Comfort Guides, Rear Safety Belt.....................1-28
Control of a Vehicle.......................................... 4-5
Coolant
Engine Temperature Gage............................3-31
Heater, Engine............................................2-21
Cooling System..............................................5-26
Cruise Control Lever.......................................3-10
Cruise Control Light........................................3-36
Customer Assistance Information
Courtesy Transportation.................................. 7-7
Customer Assistance for Text
Telephone (TTY) Users............................... 7-4
Customer Assistance Offices........................... 7-4
Customer Satisfaction Procedure..................... 7-2
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program............... 7-5
Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors.......7-11
Reporting Safety Defects to the
Canadian Government..............................7-11
Reporting Safety Defects to the
United States Government.........................7-10
Roadside Assistance Program......................... 7-6
Service Publications Ordering Information........7-11
3

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

Traction
Stabilitrak®System........................................ 4-8
Transmission
Fluid, Automatic...........................................5-19
Transmission Operation, Automatic....................2-22
Trip Odometer................................................3-24
Turn and Lane-Change Signals.......................... 3-8
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever........................... 3-7
U
Understanding Radio Reception........................3-72
Uniform Tire Quality Grading............................5-63
V
Vehicle
Control........................................................ 4-5
Damage Warnings........................................... iv
Symbols......................................................... iv
Vehicle Data Collection and Event Data
Recorders.................................................... 7-9
Vehicle Identication
Number (VIN).............................................5-91
Service Parts Identication Label...................5-91
Ventilation Adjustment......................................3-20
Visors...........................................................2-17
Voltmeter Gage..............................................3-28
W
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators................3-22
Warnings
Hazard Warning Flashers............................... 3-6
Other Warning Devices.................................. 3-6
Safety and Symbols......................................... iii
Vehicle Damage.............................................. iv
Wheels
Alignment and Tire Balance..........................5-64
Replacement...............................................5-65
Where to Put the Restraint...............................1-42
Windows.......................................................2-15
Manual......................................................2-15
Power........................................................2-16
Swing-Out Windows.....................................2-17
Windshield
Wiper Blades, Cleaning................................5-87
Windshield Washer.........................................3-10
Fluid..........................................................5-33
Windshield Wiper
Blade Replacement......................................5-51
Fuses........................................................5-92
Windshield Wipers......................................... 3-9
Winter Driving................................................4-24
Y
Your Vehicle and the Environment....................... 6-2
12