parking brake CHEVROLET EXPRESS 2012 Owners Manual

Black plate (3,1)Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707481) - 2015 - CRC - 4/30/14
In Brief 1-3
1.Air Vents on page 8-7.
2. Driver Information Center (DIC) Buttons. See Driver Information
Center (DIC) on page 5-24.
3. Turn Signal Lever. See Turn and
Lane-Change Signals on
page 6-3.
Windshield Wiper/Washer on
page 5-3.
4. Horn on page 5-3.
5. Hazard Warning Flashers on
page 6-3.
6. Instrument Cluster on page 5-10.
7. Shift Lever. See Starting the
Engine on page 9-16.
Manual Mode on page 9-26 (If
Equipped).
8. Climate Control Systems on
page 8-1.
9. Infotainment on page 7-1.
10. Exterior Lamp Controls on
page 6-1. 11.
Instrument Panel Illumination
Control on page 6-4.
Dome Lamp Override. See
Dome Lamps on page 6-5.
12. Data Link Connector (DLC) (Out of View). See Malfunction
Indicator Lamp on page 5-17.
13. Parking Brake on page 9-29.
14. Cruise Control on page 9-32 (If
Equipped).
Fast Idle System on page 9-17
(If Equipped).
15. Hood Release. See Hood on
page 10-4.
16. Steering Wheel Adjustment on
page 5-2 (If Equipped).
17. Steering Wheel Controls on
page 5-2 (If Equipped).
18. Tow/Haul Mode Button (If Equipped). See Tow/Haul
Mode on page 9-27.
19. Power Outlets on page 5-7. 20.
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control on page 9-29
(If Equipped).
21. Passenger Airbag On-Off Switch (If Equipped). See
Airbag On-Off Switch on
page 3-23.
22. Rear Heating System on
page 8-4 (If Equipped).
23. Power Outlet 110 Volt Alternating Current. See Power
Outlets on page 5-7.
24. USB Port (If Equipped). See Auxiliary Devices on
page 7-16.

Black plate (20,1)Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707481) - 2015 - CRC - 4/30/14
5-20 Instruments and Controls
When the ignition is on, the brake
system warning light also comes on
when the parking brake is set. See
Parking Brake on page 9-29for
more information. The light stays on
if the parking brake does not fully
release. If it stays on after the
parking brake is fully released, it
means the vehicle has a brake
problem.
If the light comes on while driving,
pull off the road and stop carefully.
The pedal might be harder to push,
or the pedal might go closer to the
floor. It could take longer to stop.
If the light is still on, have the
vehicle towed for service. See
Towing the Vehicle on page 10-78.
{Warning
The brake system might not be
working properly if the brake
system warning light is on.
Driving with the brake system
warning light on can lead to a
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
crash. If the light is still on after
the vehicle has been pulled off
the road and carefully stopped,
have the vehicle towed for
service.
Antilock Brake System
(ABS) Warning Light
For vehicles with the Antilock
Brake System (ABS), this light
comes on briefly when the engine is
started. If it does not, have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer. If the
system is working normally the
indicator light then goes off.
If the ABS light stays on, turn the
ignition off. If the light comes on
while driving, stop as soon as it is
safely possible and turn the ignition
off. Then start the engine again to
reset the system. If the ABS light
stays on, or comes on again while
driving, the vehicle needs service.
If the regular brake system warning
light is not on, the vehicle still has
brakes, but not antilock brakes.
If the regular brake system warning
light is also on, the vehicle does not
have antilock brakes and there is a
problem with the regular brakes.
See
Brake System Warning Light on
page 5-19.

Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707481) - 2015 - CRC - 4/30/14
Driving and Operating 9-1
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . 9-6
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-7
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . . 9-8
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 9-9
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . 9-14
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-14
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . 9-16
Fast Idle System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-17
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-18
Retained AccessoryPower (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-19 Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-19
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . 9-20
Parking over Things
That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-21
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-21
Running the Vehicle WhileParked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-22
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . 9-22
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-26
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-27
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-28
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-29
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-29
Locking Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . 9-31
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-32
Driver Assistance Systems
Parking Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-35
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-36
Fuel
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-39
California FuelRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-40
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 9-40
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-40
E85 or FlexFuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-41
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-42
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-43
Trailer Towing
General TowingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-44
Driving Characteristics and Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-44
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-47
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . 9-51
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-54

Black plate (15,1)Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707481) - 2015 - CRC - 4/30/14
Driving and Operating 9-15
This position locks the ignition and
transmission.
Do not turn the engine off when the
vehicle is moving. This will cause a
loss of power assist in the brake
and steering systems and disable
the airbags.
If the vehicle must be shut off in an
emergency:
1. Brake using a firm and steadypressure. Do not pump the
brakes repeatedly. This may
deplete power assist, requiring
increased brake pedal force.
2. Shift the vehicle to N (Neutral). This can be done while the
vehicle is moving. After shifting
to N (Neutral), firmly apply the
brakes and steer the vehicle to a
safe location.
3. Come to a complete stop, shift to P (Park), and turn the ignition
to LOCK/OFF. On vehicles with
an automatic transmission, the shift lever must be in P (Park) to
turn the ignition switch to the
LOCK/OFF position.
4. Set the parking brake. See Parking Brake on page 9-29.
{Warning
Turning off the vehicle while
moving may cause loss of power
assist in the brake and steering
systems and disable the airbags.
While driving, only shut the
vehicle off in an emergency.
If the vehicle cannot be pulled over,
and must be shut off while driving,
turn the ignition to ACC/
ACCESSORY.
{Caution
Using a tool to force the key to
turn in the ignition could cause
damage to the switch or break the (Continued)
Caution (Continued)
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.
2 (ACC/ACCESSORY): This is the
position in which you can operate
things like the radio and the
windshield wipers when the engine
is off.
3 (ON/RUN): This position can be
used to operate the electrical
accessories and to display some
instrument cluster warning and
indicator lights. This position can
also be used for service and
diagnostics, and to verify the proper
operation of the malfunction
indicator lamp as may be required
for emission inspection purposes.
The switch stays in this position
when the engine is running.

Black plate (17,1)Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707481) - 2015 - CRC - 4/30/14
Driving and Operating 9-17
(DIC), the Computer-Controlled
Cranking System is disabled to
prevent possible vehicle
component damage. When this
happens, hold the ignition switch
in the START position to
continue engine cranking.
{Caution
Cranking the engine for long
periods of time, by returning the
ignition 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 −18°C or
0°F), 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.
Fast Idle System
If equipped, this feature is available
only with cruise control. The manual
fast idle switch is operated using the
cruise control buttons on the left
side of the steering wheel.
This system can be used to
increase engine idle speed
whenever the following conditions
are met:
.The parking 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 System,
press and release the cruise
control on/off button and ensure
that the switch indicator light
is lit.
.Press and release the cruise
control SET- button. Engine
speed will be held at
approximately 1200 rpm.
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 cruise control
cancel button.
.Releasing the parking brake.
.Moving the transmission shift
lever out of P (Park) or
N (Neutral).

Black plate (19,1)Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707481) - 2015 - CRC - 4/30/14
Driving and Operating 9-19
Warning (Continued)
overheat and cause a fire,
property damage, electric
shock, and injury.
.Do not operate the vehicle
with the heater cord
permanently attached to the
vehicle. Possible heater cord
and thermostat damage could
occur.
.While in use, do not let the
heater cord touch vehicle
parts or sharp edges. Never
close the hood on the
heater cord.
.Before starting the vehicle,
unplug the cord, reattach the
cover to the plug, and
securely fasten the cord.
Keep the cord away from any
moving parts.4. Before starting the engine, be
sure to unplug and store the
cord as it was before to keep it
away from moving engine parts
and prevent damage.
The length of time the heater should
remain plugged in depends on
several factors. Ask a dealer in the
area where you will be parking the
vehicle for the best advice on this.
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 and power
windows will continue to work
10 minutes or until the driver door is
opened.
Shifting Into Park
1. Hold the brake pedal down, then set the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever into the P (Park) position by pulling the
shift lever toward you and
moving it up as far as it will go.
3. Turn the ignition key to LOCK/OFF.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can leave the vehicle
with the ignition key in your
hand, the vehicle is in P (Park).
Leaving the Vehicle with the
Engine Running
{Warning
It can be dangerous to leave the
vehicle with the engine running.
It could overheat and catch fire.
(Continued)

Black plate (20,1)Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707481) - 2015 - CRC - 4/30/14
9-20 Driving and Operating
Warning (Continued)
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. 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 9-19. If you are towing a
trailer, see Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips on page 9-44.
If you have to leave the vehicle with
the engine running, be sure the
vehicle is in P (Park) and the
parking brake is firmly set. After the
shift lever is moved into P (Park),
hold the regular brake pedal down. Then, see if you can move the shift
lever away from P (Park) without
first pulling it toward you. If you can,
it means that the shift lever was not
fully locked into P (Park).
Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and you
do not shift the transmission into
P (Park) properly, the weight of the
vehicle can put too much force on
the parking pawl in the
transmission. It might be difficult to
pull the shift lever out of P (Park).
This is called torque lock. To
prevent torque lock, set the parking
brake and then shift into P (Park)
properly before you leave the driver
seat. To find out how, see
Shifting
Into Park on page 9-19.
When you are ready to drive, move
the shift lever out of P (Park) before
releasing the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you might
need to have another vehicle push
yours a little uphill to take some of
the pressure from the parking pawl in the transmission. Then you
should be able to pull the shift lever
out of P (Park).
Shifting out of Park
The vehicle has an automatic
transmission shift lock control
system. You have to fully apply the
brakes before you can shift from
P (Park) when the ignition is in ON/
RUN or ACC/ACCESSORY. See
Automatic Transmission on
page 9-22.
The shift lock control system is
designed to do the following:
.Prevent the ignition key from
being removed unless the shift
lever is in P (Park).
.Prevent movement of the shift
lever out of P (Park), unless the
ignition is in ON/RUN or ACC/
ACCESSORY and the regular
brake pedal is applied.

Black plate (21,1)Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707481) - 2015 - CRC - 4/30/14
Driving and Operating 9-21
The shift lock control system is
always functional except in the case
of a dead battery or low voltage
(less than 9 V) battery.
If the vehicle has an uncharged
battery or a battery with low voltage,
try charging or jump starting the
battery. SeeJump Starting on
page 10-74 for more information.
To shift out of P (Park) use the
following:
1. Apply the brake pedal.
2. Turn the ignition to ACC/ ACCESSORY or ON/RUN.
3. Move the shift lever to the desired position.
If you still are unable to shift out of
P (Park):
1. Ease the pressure on the shift lever. 2. While holding down the brake
pedal, push the shift lever all the
way into P (Park).
3. Move the shift lever to the desired position.
If you are still having a problem
shifting, have the vehicle serviced.
Parking over Things
That Burn
{Warning
Things that can burn could touch
hot exhaust parts under the
vehicle and ignite. Do not park
over papers, leaves, dry grass,
or other things that can burn.
Engine Exhaust
{Warning
Engine exhaust contains carbon
monoxide (CO) which cannot be
seen or smelled. Exposure to CO
can cause unconsciousness and
even death.
Exhaust may enter the vehicle if:
.The vehicle idles in areas
with poor ventilation (parking
garages, tunnels, deep snow
that may block underbody
airflow or tail pipes).
.The exhaust smells or
sounds strange or different.
.The exhaust system leaks
due to corrosion or damage.
.The vehicle exhaust system
has been modified, damaged,
or improperly repaired. (Continued)

Black plate (23,1)Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707481) - 2015 - CRC - 4/30/14
Driving and Operating 9-23
{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. 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 9-19 andDriving
Characteristics and Towing Tips
on page 9-44.
R (Reverse): Use this gear to
back up.
{Caution
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, see If
the Vehicle Is Stuck on page 9-8.
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.
{Caution
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.

Black plate (29,1)Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707481) - 2015 - CRC - 4/30/14
Driving and Operating 9-29
Parking Brake
To set the parking brake, hold the
regular brake pedal, then push
down the parking brake pedal.
If the ignition is on, the brake
system warning light will come on.
To release the parking brake, hold
the regular brake pedal down. Pull
the handle, located just above the
parking brake pedal, with the
parking brake symbol, to release the
parking brake.If the ignition is on when the parking
brake is released, the brake system
warning light will go off.
{Caution
Driving with the parking brake on
can overheat the brake system
and cause premature wear or
damage to brake system parts.
Make sure that the parking brake
is fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.
If you are towing a trailer and are
parking on a hill, see Driving
Characteristics and Towing Tips on
page 9-44.
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/
Electronic Stability
Control
The vehicle may have a vehicle
stability enhancement system called
StabiliTrak. It is an advanced
computer controlled system that
assists the driver with directional
control of the vehicle in difficult
driving conditions.
StabiliTrak activates when the
computer senses a discrepancy
between the intended path and the
direction the vehicle is actually
traveling. StabiliTrak selectively
applies braking pressure at any one
of the vehicle's brakes to assist the
driver with keeping the vehicle on
the intended path.
When the vehicle is started and
begins to move, the system
performs several diagnostic checks
to ensure there are no problems.
The system may be heard or felt