transmission CHEVROLET EXPRESS 2010 Owner's Manual

Automatic Transmission Operation
(Six Speed Automatic Transmission)............3-27
Automatic Transmission Operation
(Four Speed Automatic Transmission)..........3-32
Tow/Haul Mode ............................................3-34
Parking Brake..............................................3-36
Shifting Into Park..........................................3-37
Shifting Out of Park......................................3-38
Parking Over Things That Burn.......................3-39
Engine Exhaust............................................3-40
Running the Vehicle While Parked..................3-41Mirrors...........................................................3-42
Manual Rearview Mirror.................................3-42
Outside Manual Mirrors..................................3-42
Outside Towing Mirrors..................................3-42
Outside Power Mirrors...................................3-43
Outside Convex Mirror...................................3-43
Outside Heated Mirrors..................................3-44
Storage Areas................................................3-44
Section 3 Features and Controls
3-2

Automatic Door Lock
The doors will automatically lock when the shift lever is
moved out of P (Park). The automatic door locking
feature cannot be disabled.
Automatic Door Unlock
The doors will automatically unlock when the shift lever
is moved into P (Park).
The automatic unlock feature can be disabled or
programmed in different ways if the vehicle has an
automatic transmission. For more information on
programming, seeDIC Vehicle Customization on
page 4-52.
Rear Door Security Locks
Security locks are located on the front portion of the
60/40 side swing-out door or the side sliding door.For the 60/40 side
swing-out door, move the
button to the right for
the driver side door or to
the left for the passenger
side door to engage
the security feature.
Move the button to the left for the driver side door or to
the right for the passenger side door to return the
door locks to normal operation.60/40 Swing-Out Side
Door — Driver Side
shown, Passenger Side
similar
3-11

Starting and Operating Your
Vehicle
New Vehicle Break-In
Notice:The vehicle does not need an elaborate
break-in. But it will perform better in the long run if
you follow these guidelines:
Keep your speed at 55 mph (88 km/h) or less for
the rst 500 miles (805 km).
Do not drive at any one constant speed, fast or
slow, for the rst 500 miles (805 km). Do not
make full-throttle starts. Avoid downshifting to
brake or slow the vehicle.
Avoid making hard stops for the rst 200 miles
(322 km) or so. During this time the new brake
linings are not yet broken in. Hard stops
with new linings can mean premature wear and
earlier replacement. Follow this breaking-in
guideline every time you get new brake linings.
Do not tow a trailer during break-in. SeeTowing
a Trailer on page 5-30for the trailer towing
capabilities of the vehicle and more information.
Following break-in, engine speed and load can
be gradually increased.
Ignition Positions
The ignition switch has
four different positions.
To shift out of P (Park), the ignition must be in ON/RUN
and the regular brake pedal applied.
A (LOCK/OFF):This position locks the ignition and
transmission. You will only be able to remove the key
when the ignition is turned to LOCK/OFF.
Notice:Using a tool to force the key to turn in the
ignition could cause damage to the switch or
break the key. Use the correct key, make sure it
is all the way in, and turn it only with your hand.
If the key cannot be turned by hand, see your
dealer/retailer.
3-22

B (ACC/ACCESSORY):This is the position in which
you can operate things like the radio and the windshield
wipers when the engine is off.
C (ON/RUN):This position can be used to operate the
electrical accessories and to display some instrument
panel cluster warning and indicator lights. The
switch stays in this position when the engine is running.
If you leave the key in the ACC/ACCESSORY or
ON/RUN position with the engine off, the battery could
be drained. You may not be able to start the vehicle
if the battery is allowed to drain for an extended period
of time.
D (START):This is the position that starts the engine.
When the engine starts, release the key. The ignition
switch returns to ON/RUN for driving.
A warning tone will sound when the driver door is
opened, the ignition is in ACC/ACCESSORY or
LOCK/OFF and the key is in the ignition.Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
These vehicle accessories can be used for up to
10 minutes after the engine is turned off:
•Audio System
•Power Windows (if equipped)
These features will work when the ignition key is in
ON/RUN or ACC/ACCESSORY. Once the key is turned
from ON/RUN to LOCK/OFF, power to the radio will
continue to work 10 minutes or until the driver door is
opened. The power windows will continue to work for up
to 10 minutes or until any door is opened.
Starting the Engine
If the vehicle has the DURAMAX®Diesel engine, see
the DURAMAX®Diesel manual for more information.
To place the transmission in the proper gear:
Move the shift lever to P (Park) or N (Neutral). The
engine will not start in any other position. To restart the
engine when the vehicle is already moving, use
N (Neutral) only.
3-23

Starting Procedure
1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn the
ignition key to START. When the engine starts,
let go of the key. The idle speed will go down as
your engine gets warm. Do not race the engine
immediately after starting it. Operate the engine and
transmission gently to allow the oil to warm up
and lubricate all moving parts.
The vehicle has a Computer-Controlled Cranking
System. This feature assists in starting the
engine and protects components. If the ignition key
is turned to the START position, and then
released when the engine begins cranking, the
engine will continue cranking for a few seconds or
until the vehicle starts. If the engine does not
start and the key is held in START for many
seconds, cranking will be stopped after 15 seconds
to prevent cranking motor damage. To prevent
gear damage, this system also prevents cranking if
the engine is already running. Engine cranking
can be stopped by turning the ignition switch to the
ACC/ACCESSORY or LOCK/OFF position.
Notice:Cranking the engine for long periods of
time, by returning the key to the START position
immediately after cranking has ended, can overheat
and damage the cranking motor, and drain the
battery. Wait at least 15 seconds between each try,
to let the cranking motor cool down.2. If the engine does not start after 5-10 seconds,
especially in very cold weather (below 0°F or
−18°C), it could be flooded with too much gasoline.
Try pushing the accelerator pedal all the way to
the floor and holding it there as you hold the key in
START for up to 15 seconds. Wait at least
15 seconds between each try, to allow the cranking
motor to cool down. When the engine starts, let
go of the key and accelerator. If the vehicle starts
briefly but then stops again, do the same thing. This
clears the extra gasoline from the engine. Do not
race the engine immediately after starting it.
Operate the engine and transmission gently until
the oil warms up and lubricates all moving parts.
Notice:The engine is designed to work with the
electronics in the vehicle. If you add electrical parts
or accessories, you could change the way the
engine operates. Before adding electrical equipment,
check with your dealer/retailer. If you do not, the
engine might not perform properly. Any resulting
damage would not be covered by the vehicle
warranty.
3-24

Fast Idle System
Fast Idle System with Switch
If the vehicle has this feature it is available only with
cruise control. The manual fast idle switch is operated
using the cruise control buttons located on the left
hand side of the steering wheel.
This system can be used to increase engine idle speed
whenever the following conditions are met:
•The park brake is set.
•The brake pedal is not pressed.
•The vehicle must not be moving and the accelerator
must not be pressed.
To control the fast idle:
•To Enable the Fast idle, press and release the
Cruise Control On/Off button and ensure that
the LED is lit.
•For the preset Fast Idle, press and release the
cruise set switch. This will set the preset fast
idle speed.
•For the variable fast idle, press and hold the
accelerator at the desired RPM, then press
and release the cruise control cruise set switch to
set the desired idle speed.When the fast idle is active the Driver Information
Center (DIC) will display “FAST IDLE ON.”
One of the following actions will turn off the fast idle:
•Pressing the brake.
•Selecting the Cancel button.
•Releasing the Parking Brake.
•The transmission shifter is moved out of P (Park) or
N (Neutral).
•Selecting the cruise control on/off button when it
was previously on.
Engine Coolant Heater
If the vehicle has the DURAMAX Diesel engine, see the
DURAMAX Diesel manual for more information.
The engine coolant heater can provide easier starting
and better fuel economy during engine warm-up in cold
weather conditions at or below 0°F (−18°C). Vehicles
with an engine coolant heater should be plugged
in at least four hours before starting. An internal
thermostat in the plug-end of the cord may exist which
will prevent engine coolant heater operation at
temperatures above 0°F (−18°C).
3-25

Automatic Transmission Operation
(Six Speed Automatic Transmission)
Vehicles with a six speed automatic transmission
have a shift position indicator within the instrument panel
cluster.
There are several different positions for the shift lever.
See “Range Selection Mode” later in this section.
P (Park):This position locks the rear wheels. It is the
best position to use when starting the engine because
the vehicle cannot move easily. When parked on a
hill, especially when the vehicle has a heavy load, you
might notice an increase in the effort to shift out of
P (Park). See Torque Lock (Automatic Transmission)
underShifting Into Park on page 3-37for more
information.
{WARNING:
It is dangerous to get out of the vehicle if the shift
lever is not fully in P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly set. The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured. To be sure the
vehicle will not move, even when you are on fairly
level ground, always set the parking brake and
move the shift lever to P (Park). SeeShifting Into
Park on page 3-37. If you are pulling a trailer, see
Towing a Trailer on page 5-30.
R (Reverse):Use this gear to back up.
Notice:Shifting to R (Reverse) while the vehicle is
moving forward could damage the transmission. The
repairs would not be covered by the vehicle warranty.
Shift to R (Reverse) only after the vehicle is stopped.
To rock the vehicle back and forth to get out of snow, ice,
or sand without damaging the transmission, seeIf Your
Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow on
page 5-18.
3-27

N (Neutral):In this position, the engine does not
connect with the wheels. To restart when you are
already moving, use N (Neutral) only. Also, use
N (Neutral) when the vehicle is being towed.
{WARNING:
Shifting into a drive gear while the engine is
running at high speed is dangerous. Unless your
foot is firmly on the brake pedal, the vehicle could
move very rapidly. You could lose control and hit
people or objects. Do not shift into a drive gear
while the engine is running at high speed.
Notice:Shifting out of P (Park) or N (Neutral) with
the engine running at high speed may damage
the transmission. The repairs would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty. Be sure the engine is
not running at high speed when shifting the vehicle.D (Drive):This position is for normal driving. It provides
the best fuel economy. If you need more power for
passing, and you are:
•Going less than about 35 mph (55 km/h), push the
accelerator pedal about halfway down.
•Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push the
accelerator all the way down.
By doing this, the vehicle shifts down to the next
gear and has more power.
D (Drive) can be used when towing a trailer, carrying a
heavy load or driving on steep hills. You might want
to shift the transmission to a lower gear selection if the
transmission shifts too often.
Downshifting the transmission in slippery road conditions
could result in skidding. See Skidding underLoss of
Control on page 5-10.
3-28

The vehicle has a shift stabilization feature that adjusts
the transmission shifting to the current driving
conditions in order to reduce rapid upshifts and
downshifts. This shift stabilization feature is designed to
determine, before making an upshift, if the engine is
able to maintain vehicle speed by analyzing things such
as vehicle speed, throttle position, and vehicle load.
If the shift stabilization feature determines that a current
vehicle speed cannot be maintained, the transmission
does not upshift and instead holds the current gear.
In some cases, this could appear to be a delayed shift,
however the transmission is operating normally.
The transmission uses adaptive shift controls. Adaptive
shift controls continually compares key shift parameters
to pre-programmed ideal shifts stored in the
transmissions computer. The transmission constantly
makes adjustments to improve vehicle performance
according to how the vehicle is being used, such as with
a heavy load or when temperature changes. During this
adaptive shift control process, shifting might feel different
as the transmission determines the best settings.
The shift quality of a new vehicle may not be ideal
because the Adaptive Shift Control process may not
have determined the best settings for a particular shift or
condition. Shift quality will improve with continued
driving.When temperatures are very cold, the transmission’s
gear shifting could be delayed providing more stable
shifts until the engine warms up. Shifts could be more
noticeable with a cold transmission. This difference
in shifting is normal.
M (Manual Mode):This position lets drivers select
the range of gears appropriate for current driving
conditions. If the vehicle has this feature, see Range
Select Mode later in this section.
3 (Third):This position is also used for normal driving.
It reduces vehicle speed more than D (Drive) without
using the brakes. You might choose 3 (Third) instead of
D (Drive) when driving on hilly, winding roads, when
towing a trailer, so there is less shifting between gears
and when going down a steep hill. See Range Select
Mode later in this section.
2 (Second):This position reduces vehicle speed even
more than 3 (Third) without using the brakes. You
can use 2 (Second) on hills. It can help control vehicle
speed as you go down steep mountain roads, but
then you would also want to use the brakes off and on.
See Range Select Mode later in this section.
If you manually select 2 (Second) in an automatic
transmission, the transmission will start in second gear.
You can use this feature for reducing the speed of
the rear wheels when you are trying to start the vehicle
from a stop on slippery road surfaces.
3-29

1 (First):This position reduces vehicle speed without
using the brakes. You can use it for major/severe
downgrades where the vehicle would otherwise
accelerate due to steepness of grade. When you shift to
1 (First) it provides the lowest gear appropriate to
current road speed and continues to downshift as the
vehicle slows, eventually downshifting to 1 (First)
gear. The transmission can be held in 1 (First) gear
using Range Select Mode or the shift lever. See Range
Select Mode later in this section.
Notice:Spinning the tires or holding the vehicle in
one place on a hill using only the accelerator
pedal may damage the transmission. The repair will
not be covered by the vehicle warranty. If you
are stuck, do not spin the tires. When stopping on a
hill, use the brakes to hold the vehicle in place.Range Selection Mode
The vehicle may have a Range Selection Mode. The
Range Selection Mode helps control the vehicle’s
transmission and vehicle speed while driving down hill
or towing a trailer by letting you select a desired range of
gears.
3-30