tow CHEVROLET EXPRESS 1999 Owner's Guide

3-6
For warmer air, turn the knob toward the red area, and
for cooler air, turn the knob toward the blue area.
To regulate the location of the airflow, adjust the center
knob on the control panel. Turn the knob
counterclockwise for upper vent airflow or clockwise
for headliner vent air flow. Generally, the upper vents
are used for air conditioning and the floor vents for
heating. The knob can be set to any blend setting.
To adjust the airflow speed, turn the fan knob on the left
side of the control panel to the desired fan speed.
To activate the rear control, turn the fan knob on the
front control to REAR CNTL.
Rear Passenger Control
The rear control works just like the front control. It will
allow second seat passengers to adjust the controls if the
front control is switched to the rear position.

3-7
Air Conditioning
Before using your vehicle's air conditioning, open the
windows to clear the vehicle of hot air. This reduces the
time it takes for your vehicle to cool down. Then keep
your windows closed for the air conditioner to work at
its best.
You can use MAX A/C with the temperature knob in the
blue area when it's really hot outside and you need to
cool the inside air quickly. MAX A/C lets in only a little
air from the outside.
If you first use MAX A/C, you can then use A/C with
the temperature knob in the blue area, as soon as the
vehicle has cooled down, so outside air will be going
through your vehicle.
If your vehicle has rear air conditioning, setting it on
LO may enhance front A/C performance by allowing
trapped refrigerant in rear lines to circulate.
When the air conditioning, defrost or blend is on, you
may notice a slight increase or decrease in engine speed,
due to compressor operation. This is normal because the
system is designed to cycle the compressor on and off to
keep the desired temperature.
Heating
On cold days, use the floor setting with the temperature
knob in the red area. Outside air will be brought in
through the floor outlets. The heater works best if you
keep your windows closed while using it.
If you use the optional engine coolant heater before
starting your engine, your heating system will produce
warmer air faster to heat the passenger compartment in
cold weather. See ªEngine Coolant Heaterº in the Index.
Defrosting
Use defrost to remove fog or ice from the windshield
quickly in extremely cold conditions. The temperature
knob should be in the red area and the fan knob toward
high. The air conditioning compressor may operate in
this setting to dehumidify the air.

3-13
To adjust the treble, Press and release AUDIO until TRE
appears on the display. Then press and hold the up arrow
to increase treble. T and a positive number will appear
on the display. Press and hold the down arrow to
decrease treble. T and a negative number will appear on
the display. T and a zero will appear on the display when
the treble level is adjusted to the middle position.
Release the up or down arrow when you find the treble
level you want or when the maximum or minimum level
is reached. If a station is weak or noisy, you may want to
decrease the treble.
To adjust bass or treble to the middle position, select
BAS or TRE. Then press and hold AUDIO for more
than two seconds until you hear a beep. B and a zero or
T and a zero will appear on the display. To adjust both
tone controls and both speaker controls to the middle
position, end out of audio mode by pressing the AUDIO
button until the display goes blank. Then press and hold
AUDIO for more than two seconds until you hear a
beep. CEN will appear on the display.Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)
AUDIO: To adjust the balance between the right and
left speakers, press and release AUDIO until BAL
appears on the display. Then press and hold the up arrow
to move the sound to the right speakers or the down
arrow to move the sound to the left speakers. R and a
number will appear on the display when the sound is
balanced toward the right speakers. L and a number
will appear on the display when the sound is balanced
toward the left speakers. L and a zero will appear on
the display when the sound is balanced between the
speakers. Release the up or down arrow when you find
the speaker balance you want or when the maximum or
minimum level is reached.
To adjust the fade between the front and rear speakers,
press and release AUDIO until FAD appears on the
display. Then press and hold the up arrow to move the
sound to the front speakers or the down arrow to move
the sound to the rear speakers. F and a number will
appear on the display when the sound is balanced
toward the front speakers. R and a number will appear
on the display when the sound is balanced toward the
rear speakers. F and a zero will appear on the display
when the sound is balanced between the speakers.
Release the up or down arrow when you find the speaker
balance you want or when the maximum or minimum
level is reached.

3-16
To adjust the treble, press and release AUDIO until TRE
appears on the display. Then press and hold the up arrow
to increase treble. T and a positive number will appear
on the display. Press and hold the down arrow to
decrease treble. T and a negative number will appear on
the display. T and a zero will appear on the display when
the treble level is adjusted to the middle position.
Release the up or down arrow when you find the treble
level you want or when the maximum or minimum level
is reached. If a station is weak or noisy, you may want to
decrease the treble.
To adjust bass or treble to the middle position, select
BAS or TRE. Then press and hold AUDIO for more
than two seconds until you hear a beep. B and a zero or
T and a zero will appear on the display. To adjust both
tone controls and both speaker controls to the middle
position, end out of audio mode by pressing the AUDIO
button until the display goes blank. Then press and hold
AUDIO for more than two seconds until you hear a
beep. CEN will appear on the display.Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)
AUDIO: To adjust the balance between the right and
left speakers, press and release AUDIO until BAL
appears on the display. Then press and hold the up arrow
to move the sound to the right speakers or the down
arrow to move the sound to the left speakers. R and a
number will appear on the display when the sound is
balanced toward the right speakers. L and a number
will appear on the display when the sound is balanced
toward the left speakers. L and a zero will appear on
the display when the sound is balanced between the
speakers. Release the up or down arrow when you find
the speaker balance you want or when the maximum or
minimum level is reached.
To adjust the fade between the front and rear speakers,
press and release AUDIO until FAD appears on the
display. Then press and hold the up arrow to move the
sound to the front speakers or the down arrow to move
the sound to the rear speakers. F and a number will
appear on the display when the sound is balanced
toward the front speakers. R and a number will appear
on the display when the sound is balanced toward the
rear speakers. F and a zero will appear on the display
when the sound is balanced between the speakers.
Release the up or down arrow when you find the speaker
balance you want or when the maximum or minimum
level is reached.

3-22
Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)
AUDIO: To adjust the balance between the right and
left speakers, press and release AUDIO until BAL
appears on the display. Then press and hold the up arrow
to move the sound to the right speakers or the down
arrow to move the sound to the left speakers. R and a
number will appear on the display when the sound is
balanced toward the right speakers. L and a number
will appear on the display when the sound is balanced
toward the left speakers. L and a zero will appear on
the display when the sound is balanced between the
speakers. Release the up or down arrow when you find
the speaker balance you want or when the maximum or
minimum level is reached.
To adjust the fade between the front and rear speakers,
press and release AUDIO until FAD appears on the
display. Then press and hold the up arrow to move the
sound to the front speakers or the down arrow to move
the sound to the rear speakers. F and a number will
appear on the display when the sound is balanced
toward the front speakers. R and a number will appear
on the display when the sound is balanced toward the
rear speakers. F and a zero will appear on the display
when the sound is balanced between the speakers.
Release the up or down arrow when you find the speaker
balance you want or when the maximum or minimum
level is reached.To adjust balance or fade to the middle position, select
BAL or FAD. Then press and hold AUDIO for more
than two seconds until you hear a beep. L and a zero or
F and a zero will appear on the display. To adjust both
tone controls and both speaker controls to the middle
position, end out of audio mode by pressing the AUDIO
button until the display goes blank. Then press and hold
AUDIO for more than two seconds until you hear a
beep. CEN will appear on the display.
Radio Messages
CAL (Calibrated): Your audio system has been
calibrated for your vehicle from the factory. If CAL
appears on the display it means that your radio has not
been configured properly for your vehicle and must be
returned to the dealership for service.
LOC (Locked): This message is displayed when the
Theftlock

system has locked up. Your vehicle must be
returned to the dealership for service.
Playing a Compact Disc
Insert a disc partway into the slot, label side up. The player
will pull it in. The disc should begin playing. The display
will show CD. If you want to insert a compact disc with
the ignition off, first press RCL or the eject button.
If an error appears on the display, see ªCompact Disc
Messagesº later in this section.

4-
4-1
Section 4 Your Driving and the Road
Here you'll find information about driving on different kinds of roads and in varying weather conditions.
We've also included many other useful tips on driving.
4
-2 Defensive Driving
4
-3 Drunken Driving
4
-6 Control of a Vehicle
4
-6 Braking
4
-9 Steering
4
-11 Off-Road Recovery
4
-12 Passing
4
-13 Loss of Control
4
-14 Driving at Night
4
-16 Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads4
-19 City Driving
4
-20 Freeway Driving
4
-21 Before Leaving on a Long Trip
4
-22 Highway Hypnosis
4
-22 Hill and Mountain Roads
4
-24 Winter Driving
4
-27 Recreational Vehicle Towing
4
-28 Loading Your Vehicle
4
-30 Towing a Trailer

4-27
CAUTION:
Snow can trap exhaust gases under your vehicle.
This can cause deadly CO (carbon monoxide) gas
to get inside. CO could overcome you and kill
you. You can't see it or smell it, so you might not
know it is in your vehicle. Clear away snow from
around the base of your vehicle, especially any
that is blocking your exhaust pipe. And check
around again from time to time to be sure snow
doesn't collect there.
Open a window just a little on the side of the
vehicle that's away from the wind. This will help
keep CO out.
Run your engine only as long as you must. This saves
fuel. When you run the engine, make it go a little faster
than just idle. That is, push the accelerator slightly. This
uses less fuel for the heat that you get and it keeps the
battery (or batteries) charged. You will need a
well
-charged battery (or batteries) to restart the vehicle,
and possibly for signaling later on with your headlamps.
Let the heater run for a while.If you have a diesel engine, you may have to run it at a
higher speed to get enough heat. Then, shut the engine
off and close the window almost all the way to preserve
the heat. Start the engine again and repeat this only
when you feel really uncomfortable from the cold. But
do it as little as possible. Preserve the fuel as long as you
can. To help keep warm, you can get out of the vehicle
and do some fairly vigorous exercises every half hour or
so until help comes.
Recreational Vehicle Towing
Recreational vehicle towing means towing your vehicle
behind another vehicle
-- such as behind a motorhome.
The two most common types of recreational vehicle towing
are known as ªdinghy towingº (towing your vehicle with all
four wheels on the ground) and ªdolly towingº (towing your
vehicle with two wheels on the ground and two wheels up
on a device known as a ªdollyº).
Your vehicle was not designed to be towed with any of
its wheels on the ground. If your vehicle must be towed,
see ªTowing Your Vehicleº in the Index.
NOTICE:
Towing your vehicle with all four wheels on the
ground will damage the drivetrain components.

4-30 Trailering Package
If your vehicle is equipped with the trailering package,
there is also a load rating which includes the weight of
the vehicle and the trailer it tows. This rating is called
the Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR).
When you weigh your trailer, be sure to include the
weight of everything you put in it. And, remember to
figure the weight of the people inside the vehicle as part
of your load.
Your dealer can help you determine your GCWR.
Add-On Equipment
When you carry removable items, you may need to put a
limit on how many people you carry inside your vehicle.
Be sure to weigh your vehicle before you buy and install
the new equipment.
Towing a Trailer
CAUTION:
If you don't use the correct equipment and drive
properly, you can lose control when you pull a
trailer. For example, if the trailer is too heavy, the
brakes may not work well
-- or even at all. You
and your passengers could be seriously injured.
Pull a trailer only if you have followed all the
steps in this section. Ask your dealer for advice
and information about towing a trailer with
your vehicle.

4-31
NOTICE:
Pulling a trailer improperly can damage your
vehicle and result in costly repairs not covered by
your warranty. To pull a trailer correctly, follow
the advice in this part, and see your dealer for
important information about towing a trailer
with your vehicle. Additional rear axle
maintenance is required for a vehicle used to tow
a trailer. See ªScheduled Maintenance Servicesº
in the Index.
To identify what the vehicle trailering capacity is for
your vehicle, you should read the information in
ªWeight of the Trailerº that appears later in this section.
If yours was built with trailering options, as many are,
it's ready for heavier trailers. But trailering is different
than just driving your vehicle by itself. Trailering means
changes in handling, durability and fuel economy.
Successful, safe trailering takes correct equipment, and
it has to be used properly.
That's the reason for this part. In it are many
time
-tested, important trailering tips and safety rules.
Many of these are important for your safety and that of
your passengers. So please read this section carefully
before you pull a trailer.

4-32 If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer
If you do, here are some important points:

There are many different laws, including speed limit
restrictions, having to do with trailering. Make sure
your rig will be legal, not only where you live but
also where you'll be driving. A good source for this
information can be state or provincial police.

Consider using a sway control if your trailer will
weigh 4,000 lbs. (1 800 kg) or less. You should
always use a sway control if your trailer will weigh
more than 4,000 lbs. (1 800 kg). You can ask a hitch
dealer about sway controls.

Don't tow a trailer at all during the first 500 miles
(800 km) your new vehicle is driven. Your engine,
axle or other parts could be damaged.

Then, during the first 500 miles (800 km) that you
tow a trailer, don't drive over 50 mph (80 km/h) and
don't make starts at full throttle. This helps your
engine and other parts of your vehicle wear in at the
heavier loads.
You can tow in DRIVE (D). You may want to
shift the transmission to THIRD (3) or, if necessary,
a lower gear selection if the transmission shifts
too often (e.g., under heavy loads and/or
hilly conditions).
Three important considerations have to do with weight:

the weight of the trailer,

the weight of the trailer tongue

and the weight on your vehicle's tires.
Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
It depends on how you plan to use your rig.
For example, speed, altitude, road grades, outside
temperature and how much your vehicle is used to pull a
trailer are all important. And, it can also depend on any
special equipment that you have on your vehicle.
The following chart shows how much your trailer can
weigh, based upon vehicle model and options.