check transmission fluid CHEVROLET EXPRESS 1996 1.G Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 0 Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid
levels and also the brakes, tires, cooling system and
transmission. These parts can work hard
on
mountain roads.
Know how to go down hills. The most important
thing to know is this: let your engine do some
of the
slowing down. Shift to a lower gear when you go
down a steep or long hill.
A CAUTION:
If you don’t shift down, your brakes could get so
hot that they wouldn’t work well. You would then
have poor braking or even none going down
a hill.
You could crash. Shift down to let your engine
assist your brakes on
a steep downhill slope.
rA CAUTIO :
Coasting downhill in NEUTRAL (N) or with the
ignition
off is dangerous. Your brakes will have to
do all the work
of slowing down. They could get so
hot that they wouldn’t work well. You would then
have poor braking or even none going
down a hill.
You could crash. Always have your engine running
and your vehicle in gear when you go downhill.
0
0
0
0
Know how to go uphill. You may want to shift down
to a lower gear. The lower gears help cool your engine
and transmission, and you can climb the
hill better.
Stay
in your own lane when driving on two-lane
roads
in hills or mountains. Don’t swing wide or
cut across the center of the road. Drive at speeds
that let you stay
in your own lane.
As you go over the top of a hill, be alert. There could be
something
in your lane, like a stalled car or an accident.
You may see highway signs
on mountains that warn of
special problems. Examples are long grades, passing or
no-passing zones,
a falling rocks area or winding
roads. Be alert to these and take appropriate action.
4-22

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a
Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:
Start your engine;
Shift into a gear; and
Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Main ~ mr ~ ce When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re
pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for more
on this. Things that are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transmission fluid (don’t
overfill), engine oil, axle lubricant, belt, cooling system
and brake adjustment. Each
of these is covered in this
manual, and the Index will help you find them quickly.
If you’re trailering, it’s a good idea
to review these
sections before
you start your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
Trailer Wiring Harness
The eight-wire harness, if you have one, is stored under
your vehicle along the rear frame crossmember. It is
wrapped and bound with a plastic strap. The harness has
a 30-amp battery feed and no connector, and
you should
have a qualified electrical service person wire your
harness for
you. Attach the harness to the trailer, then
tape or strap
it to your vehicle’s frame rail. Be sure you
leave it loose enough so the wiring doesn’t bend or
break, but not
so loose that it drags on the ground.
Store the harness in its original place. Wrap the harness
together and tie it neatly
so it won’t be damaged.
The five-wire harness, if you have one, is stored inside
the vehicle at
the passenger side rear corner, behind the
jack. This should be wired by a qualified electrical
service person.
It must be routed out of your vehicle
between the rear door and the floor, with enough of the
harness left on both sides
so that the trailer or the body
won’t pull
it.
Store the harness in its original place. Wrap the harness
together and tie it neatly
so it won’t be damaged.
4-37

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Automatic Transmission Fluid
When to Check and Change
A good time to check your automatic transmission fluid
level is when the engine oil is changed.
Change both the fluid and filter 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:
0 In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
0 In hilly or mountainous terrain.
regularly reaches
90°F (32°C) or
higher.
0 When doing frequent trailer towing.
0 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, the
fluid and filter do
not require changing.
See “Scheduled Maintenance Services” in the Index.
How to Check
.Because this operation can be a little difficult, you
may choose to have this done at your GM dealer
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 fluid can damage your
transmission. Too much can mean that some of
the
fluid could come out and fall on hot engine
parts or exhaust system parts, starting a fire. Be
sure to get an accurate reading if you check your
transmission
fluid.
6-16
-

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the
transmission fluid level if you have been driving:
0 When outside temperatures are above 90°F (32°C).
At high speed for quite a while.
0 In heavy traffic -- especially in hot weather.
0 While pulling a trailer.
To get the right reading, the fluid should be at normal
operating temperature, which is
180°F to 200°F
(82°C to 93°C).
Checking Transmission Fluid Hot
Get the vehicle warmed up by driving about 15 miles
(24 km) when outside temperatures are above 50°F
(10°C). If it's colder than 50°F (lO"C), drive the
vehicle in
DRIVE (D) until the engine temperature
gage moves and then remains steady for
10 minutes.
Then follow the hot check procedures.
Checking Transmission Fluid Cold
A cold check is made after the vehicle has been sitting
for eight hours or more with the engine
off and is
used only as
a reference. Let the engine run at idle for
five minutes if outside temperatures are
50°F (10°C) or
more. If it's colder than
50°F ( 10°C), you may have to
idle the engine longer. Should the fluid level be low
during a cold check, you
must perform a hot check
before adding fluid. This will give you
a more accurate
reading of the fluid level.
Checking the Fluid Hot or Cold
Park your vehicle on a level place. Keep the
engine running.
With the parking brake applied, place the shift lever
0 With your foot on the brake pedal, move the shift
in PARK (P).
lever through each gear range, pausing for about
three seconds
in each range. Then, position the shift
lever in
PARK (P).
Let the engine run at idle for three minutes or more.
- 6-17

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine How to Add Fluid Rear Axle
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind
of transmission fluid to use. See “Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants” in the Index.
Add fluid only after checking the transmission fluid
HOT. (A COLD check is used only as a reference.) If
the fluid level is low, add only enough
of the proper
fluid to bring the
level up to the HOT area for a hot
check.
It doesn’t take much fluid, generally less than a
pint (0.5 L). Don ’t overjX. We recommend you use only
fluid labeled DEXRON@-111, because fluid with that
label is made especially for your automatic transmission.
Damage caused by fluid other than DEXRON-I11 is not
covered by your new vehicle warranty.
After adding fluid, recheck the fluid level as
described under
“How to Check.”
When to Check and Change Lubricant
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine how
often to check
the lubricant and when to change it. See
“Scheduled Maintenance Services” in
the Index.
How to Check Lubricant
If the level is below the
bottom
of the filler plug
hole, you’ll need to add
some lubricant. Add
enough lubricant
to raise
the level to the bottom of
the filler plug hole.
0 When the correct fluid level is obtained, push the
dipstick back
in all the way; then flip the handle
down to lock the dipstick in place.
What to Use
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind
of lubricant to use. See “Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants” in the Index.
6-19

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I Short TripKity Maintenance Schedule -- Gasoline Engines I
48,000 Miles (80 000 km)
Change engine oil and filter (or every
3 months, whichever occurs first).
0 Lubricate chassis components; see
An Emission Control Service.
footnote ## (or every 3 months, whichever
occurs first).
as needed.
**
0 Check axle fluid level and add fluid
I I I 1
DATE SERVICED BY: ACTUAL MILEAGE
50,000 Miles (83 000 km)
0 Change automatic transmission fluid and
filter if
the vehicle’s GVWR is over
8600 lbs. 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 OF
(32 O C) or higher.
- In hilly or mountainous terrain.
- When doing frequent trailer towing.
- Uses such as found in taxi, police or
delivery service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, the fluid andfilter do not require changing.
DATE SERVICED BY: ACTUAL MILEAGE
7-17

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine At Least Once a Month
Tire Inflation Check
Make sure tires are inflated to the correct pressures. See
“Tires” in the Index for further details.
Cassette Deck Service
Clean cassette deck. Cleaning should be done every
50 hours of tape play. See “Audio Systems” in the
Index for further details.
At Least Twice a Year
Restraint System Check
Make sure the safety belt reminder light and all your
belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors and anchorages are
working properly. Look for any other loose or damaged
safety belt system parts. If you see anything that might
keep
a safety belt system from doing its job, have it
repaired. Have any torn or frayed safety belts replaced.
Also look for any opened or broken air bag covers,
and
have them repaired or replaced. (The air bag system
does not need regular maintenance.)
Automatic Transmission Check
Check the transmission fluid level; add if needed. See
“Automatic Transmission”
in the Index. A fluid loss
may indicate
a problem. Check the system and repair
if needed.
At Least Once a Year
Key Lock Cylinders Service
Lubricate the key lock cylinders with the lubricant
specified in Part
D.
Body Lubrication Service
Lubricate all hood hinges, hood prop rod pivot, fuel
filler door, rear compartment hinges, latches, locks and
any moving seat hardware. Door hinges are lubricated
for the life
of your vehicle; no additional lubrication is
required. Part
D tells you what to use. More frequent
lubrication may be required when exposed
to a
corrosive environment.
7-44

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Section 9 Index
Adjustable Mast Antenna ........................ 3-29
AirBag
....................................... 1-21
Adding Equipment
............................ 1-28
How Does it Restrain .......................... 1-26
How it Works ................................ 1-24
Location
.................................... 1-24
Readiness Light
......................... 1.23. 2.47
Servicing
................................... 1-27
What Makes
it Inflate .......................... 1-25
What Will You See After it Inflates ............... 1-26
When Should
it Inflate ......................... 1-25
Aircleaner
.................................... 6-15
Air Conditioning Refrigerants
..................... 6-68
Air Control. Climate Control System
................. 3-3
Alignment and Balance. Tire ...................... 6-48
Aluminum Wheels. Cleaning
...................... 6-57
Antenna. Adjustable Mast
........................ 3-29
Antenna. Power
................................ 3-29
Antifreeze
..................................... 6-20
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
................ 2-49. 4-6
Brakes
...................................... 4-5
Appearancecare
............................... 6-50
Air Conditioning ................................ 3-7 Appearance
Care Materials
....................... 6-59
Arbitration Program .............................. 8-7
Audio Systems
.................................. 3-9
Transmission Transmission Check
........................... 7-44
Transmission Fluid
............................ 6-16
Transmission Operation
........................ 2-17
Transmission Park Mechanism Check
............. 7-46
Axle. Locking Rear
............................. 2-20
Axle.Rear
.................................... 6-19
Ashtrays
...................................... 2-42
Shifting ..................................... 2-17
Battery
...................................... 6-30
Jump Starting ................................. 5-2
Replacement. Remote Keyless Entry
............... 2-6
Warnings
................................ 5-2.5-3
BBB Auto Line
................................. 8-7
Before Leaving on
a Long Trip .................... 4-20
Better Business Bureau Mediation
................... 8-7
9-1

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Brake Adjustment
................................
Fluid .......................................
Master Cylinder ..............................
Parking .....................................
PedalTravel .................................
Replacing System Parts ........................
System Warning Light .........................
Trailer ......................................
Transmission Shift Interlock Check ...............
Wear .......................................
Brakes, Anti-Lock ..............................
Braking .......................................
Braking in Emergencies ..........................
Break-In, New Vehicle ..........................
Brightness Control ..............................
BTSICheck ...................................
Bulb Replacement ..............................
Canadian Roadside Assistance ...................
Capacities and Specifications ......................
Carbon Monoxide .................... 2-25.4-25,
Cassette Deck Service
...........................
Cassette Tape Player ....................... 3- 1 1.
Cassette Tape Player Care ........................
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp ...................
Center Passenger Position ........................
Center Rear Passenger Position ....................
Certification Label ..............................
Certificationnire Label ..........................
Chains. Safety .................................
6-29
6-27
6-27 2-20
6-29
6-30 2-48
4-33
7-45
6-28
. 4-6
. 4-5
. 4-8
2-13
2-36
7-45
6-3
1
. 8-6
6-65
4-34 7-44
3-13
3-28
2-56 1-33
1-33
4-26
4-26
4-33 Chains. Tire
................................... 6-50
Changing
a Flat Tire ............................. 5-20
Checking Your Restraint Systems
.................. 1-48
Chemical Paint Spotting .......................... 6-58
Child Restraints
................................ 1-37
Securing
in a Rear Outside Seat Position ........... 1-39
Securing in the Center Front Seat Position ......... 1-41
Securing
in the Center Rear Seat Position .......... 1-41
Securing
in the Center Seat Position .............. 1-41
Securing
in the Passenger Seat Position ........... 1-42
Securing
in the Right Front Seat Position .......... 1-42
TopStrap
................................... 1-38
Where to Put
........................... 1-37. 1-38
Cigarette Lighter ............................... 2-42
Circuit Breakers and Fuses
....................... 6-62
Cleaner. Air
................................... 6-15
Cleaning Aluminum Wheels
.......................... 6-57
Fabric
...................................... 6-51
Glass
....................................... 6-54
Inside
of Your GM ............................ 6-51
Instrument Panel
............................. 6-54
Leather
..................................... 6-53
Outside
of Your GM ........................... 6-55
Special Problems
............................. 6-52
Stains
...................................... 6-52
Tires
....................................... 6-57
Vinyl
....................................... 6-53
Wheels
..................................... 6-57
Windshield and Wiper Blades
................... 6-55
Climate Control. Standard
....................... 3-1
9-2

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Engine ........................................ 6-8
Coolant
..................................... 6-20
Coolant Level Check
.......................... 7-43
Coolant Temperature Gage
..................... 2-54
Cooling System
.............................. 6-66
Exhaust
..................................... 2-24
Identification
........................... 6-60. 6-65
OilLevelCheck
.............................. 7-43
Overheating
................................. 5- 10
Running While Parked ......................... 2-25
StartingYour
................................ 2-14
Engineoil
.................................... 6-11
Additives ................................... 6-13
Checking
................................... 6-11
Pressure Gage
................................ 2-52
Used
....................................... 6-14
Whentochange
.............................. 6-14
Ethanol
........................................ 6-3
Exhaust, Engine
................................ 2-24
Fabric Cleaning
............................... 6-5 I
Fan Control, Climate Control System ................ 3-2
FillingYourTank
................................ 6-4
Filter, Air
..................................... 6-15
Finish Care
.................................... 6-56
Finish Damage ................................. 6-57
First Gear, Automatic Transmission
................ 2- I9
Flashers, Hazard Warning ......................... 5-1
Flat Tire. Changing
............................. 5-20
Fluid Capacities
................................ 6-65
Fluids and Lubricants
............................ 7-49
Foreign Countries, Fuel
........................... 6-4
Adding ..................................... 6-11
French Language Manual 11
Front Parkingflurn Signal Lamp Bulb Replacement .... 6-34
Front Storage Area
.............................. 2-41
FrontTowing
................................... 5-8
Fuel .......................................... 6-2
Canada
...................................... 6-3
Filling Your Tank
.............................. 6-4
Gage
....................................... 2-53
In Foreign Countries ........................... 6-4
Tank Capacity
............................... 6-67
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
....................... 6-62
Gages
.. ...........................
Engine Coolant Temperature .................... 2-54
Engine Oil Pressure
........................... 2-52
Fuel
....................................... 2-53
Speedometer
................................. 2-45
Voltmeter
................................... 2-55
Gear Positions. Automatic Transmission
............. 2-17
Gross Axle Weight Rating
........................ 4-27
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
...................... 4-26
Guide en Franpis
11
GAWR ....................................... 4-27
.. .................................
GVWR ....................................... 4-26
Halogen
Bulbs ................................ 6-31
Hazard Warning Flashers .......................... 5-1
Head Restraints
................................. 1-5
Headlamps
.................................... 2-35
Bulb Replacement
............................ 6-31
HighLow Beam Changer ...................... 2-30
OnReminder
................................ 2-36
Wiring
..................................... 6-61
9-4