warning light CHEVROLET EXPRESS CARGO VAN 2004 1.G User Guide

Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. So much water can build up
under your tires that they can actually ride on the
water. This can happen if the road is wet enough and
you are going fast enough. When your vehicle is
hydroplaning, it has little or no contact with the road.
Hydroplaning does not happen often. But it can if your
tires do not have much tread or if the pressure in
one or more is low. It can happen if a lot of water is
standing on the road. If you can see reections
from trees, telephone poles or other vehicles, and
raindrops “dimple” the water’s surface, there could be
hydroplaning.
Hydroplaning usually happens at higher speeds. There
just is not a hard and fast rule about hydroplaning.
The best advice is to slow down when it is raining.
Driving Through Deep Standing Water
Notice:If you drive too quickly through deep
puddles or standing water, water can come in
through your engine’s air intake and badly damage
your engine. Never drive through water that is
slightly lower than the underbody of your vehicle.
If you can not avoid deep puddles or standing water,
drive through them very slowly.
Driving Through Flowing Water
{CAUTION:
Flowing or rushing water creates strong forces.
If you try to drive through owing water, as you
might at a low water crossing, your vehicle can
be carried away. As little as six inches of
owing water can carry away a smaller vehicle.
If this happens, you and other vehicle
occupants could drown. Do not ignore police
warning signs, and otherwise be very cautious
about trying to drive through owing water.
Some Other Rainy Weather Tips
Besides slowing down, allow some extra following
distance. And be especially careful when you
pass another vehicle. Allow yourself more clear
room ahead, and be prepared to have your
view restricted by road spray.
Have good tires with proper tread depth. SeeTires
on page 5-58.
4-20

City Driving
One of the biggest problems with city streets is the
amount of traffic on them. You will want to watch out for
what the other drivers are doing and pay attention to
traffic signals.Here are ways to increase your safety in city driving:
Know the best way to get to where you are
going. Get a city map and plan your trip into
an unknown part of the city just as you would for a
cross-country trip.
Try to use the freeways that rim and crisscross
most large cities. You will save time and energy.
SeeFreeway Driving on page 4-22.
Treat a green light as a warning signal. A traffic
light is there because the corner is busy enough
to need it. When a light turns green, and just before
you start to move, check both ways for vehicles
that have not cleared the intersection or may
be running the red light.
4-21

Winter DrivingHere are some tips for winter driving:
Have your vehicle in good shape for winter.
You may want to put winter emergency supplies in
your vehicle.
Also seeTires on page 5-58.
Include an ice scraper, a small brush or broom, a
supply of windshield washer uid, a rag, some winter
outer clothing, a small shovel, a ashlight, a red
cloth and reective warning triangles. And, if you will be
driving under severe conditions, include a small bag
of sand, a piece of old carpet or a couple of burlap bags
to help provide traction. Be sure you properly secure
these items in your vehicle.
4-27

How to Reset the Change Engine Oil Light
The GM Oil Life System calculates when to change
your engine oil and lter based on vehicle use. Anytime
your oil is changed, reset the system so it can
calculate when the next oil change is required. If a
situation occurs where you change your oil prior to a
Change Engine Oil light being turned on, reset the
system.
To reset the Change Engine Oil light, do the following:
1. Turn the ignition key to RUN with the
engine off.
2. Fully press and release the accelerator pedal slowly
three times within ve seconds.
3. If the Change Engine Oil light ashes for ve
seconds, the system is reset.
4. Turn the key to LOCK.
If the Change Engine Oil light comes back on when you
start your vehicle, the engine oil life system has not
reset. Repeat the procedure. If it still does not reset, see
your dealer for service.
SeeChange Engine Oil Light on page 3-38.
What to Do with Used Oil
Used engine oil contains certain elements that may be
unhealthy for your skin and could even cause cancer.
Do not let used oil stay on your skin for very long. Clean
your skin and nails with soap and water, or a good
hand cleaner. Wash or properly dispose of clothing or
rags containing used engine oil. See the manufacturer’s
warnings about the use and disposal of oil products.
Used oil can be a threat to the environment. If you
change your own oil, be sure to drain all the oil from the
lter before disposal. Never dispose of oil by putting it
in the trash, pouring it on the ground, into sewers, or into
streams or bodies of water. Instead, recycle it by
taking it to a place that collects used oil. If you have a
problem properly disposing of your used oil, ask
your dealer, a service station or a local recycling center
for help.
5-17

How to Add Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of transmission uid to use. SeeRecommended
Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-12.
Using a funnel, add uid down the transmission dipstick
tube only after checking the transmission uid while it
is hot. (A cold check is used only as a reference.) If the
uid level is low, add only enough of the proper uid
to bring the level up to the HOT area for a hot check.
It doesn’t take much uid, generally less than one pint
(0.5 L).Don’t overll.
Notice:We recommend you use only uid labeled
DEXRON
®-III, because uid with that label is
made especially for your automatic transmission.
Damage caused by uid other than DEXRON
®-III is
not covered by your new vehicle warranty.
After adding uid, recheck the uid level as
described under “How to Check.”
When the correct uid level is obtained, push the
dipstick back in all the way; then ip the handle
down to lock the dipstick in place.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is lled with
DEX-COOL®engine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain in your vehicle for 5 years or 150,000 miles
(240 000 km), whichever occurs rst, if you add
only DEX-COOL
®extended life coolant.
The following explains your cooling system and how to
add coolant when it is low. If you have a problem
with engine overheating, seeEngine Overheating on
page 5-26.
A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL
®coolant will:
Give freezing protection down to−34°F (−37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work as they
should.
Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOL
®may
cause premature engine, heater core or radiator
corrosion. In addition, the engine coolant may
require changing sooner, at 30,000 miles (50 000 km)
or 24 months, whichever occurs rst. Any repairs
would not be covered by your warranty. Always use
DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant in your vehicle.
5-22

Brake Wear
Your vehicle has four-wheel disc brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that make a
high-pitched warning sound when the brake pads are
worn and new pads are needed. The sound may come
and go or be heard all the time your vehicle is moving,
except when you are pushing on the brake pedal rmly.
{CAUTION:
The brake wear warning sound means that
soon your brakes will not work well. That
could lead to an accident. When you hear the
brake wear warning sound, have your vehicle
serviced.
Notice:Continuing to drive with worn-out brake
pads could result in costly brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake
squeal when the brakes are rst applied or lightly applied.
This does not mean something is wrong with your brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are necessary to help
prevent brake pulsation. When tires are rotated, inspect
brake pads for wear and evenly tighten wheel nuts in
the proper sequence to GM torque specications.Brake linings should always be replaced as complete
axle sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal does not return to
normal height, or if there is a rapid increase in
pedal travel. This could be a sign of brake trouble.
Brake Adjustment
Every time you make a brake stop, your disc brakes
adjust for wear.
Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a vehicle is complex. Its many
parts have to be of top quality and work well together if
the vehicle is to have really good braking. Your
vehicle was designed and tested with top-quality GM
brake parts. When you replace parts of your braking
system — for example, when your brake linings
wear down and you need new ones put in — be sure
you get new approved GM replacement parts. If you do
not, your brakes may no longer work properly. For
example, if someone puts in brake linings that are wrong
for your vehicle, the balance between your front and
rear brakes can change — for the worse. The braking
performance you have come to expect can change
in many other ways if someone puts in the wrong
replacement brake parts.
5-41

Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable on the
tire sidewall between tread shoulder and maximum
section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
The following information relates to the system
developed by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, which grades tires by
treadwear, traction and temperature performance. (This
applies only to vehicles sold in the United States.)
The grades are molded on the sidewalls of most
passenger car tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading
system does not apply to deep tread, winter-type
snow tires, space-saver or temporary use spare tires,
tires with nominal rim diameters of 10 to 12 inches
(25 to 30 cm), or to some limited-production tires.
While the tires available on General Motors passenger
cars and light trucks may vary with respect to these
grades, they must also conform to federal safety
requirements and additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC) standards.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on
the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specied government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and
a half (1.5) times as well on the government course as
a tire graded 100. The relative performance of tires
depends upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart signicantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits, service practices and
differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction – AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A,
B, and C. Those grades represent the tire’s ability
to stop on wet pavement as measured under controlled
conditions on specied government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor
traction performance. Warning: The traction grade
assigned to this tire is based on straight-ahead braking
traction tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction characteristics.
5-71

A
Accessory Power Outlets.................................3-18
Adding Equipment to Your Air Bag-Equipped
Vehicle.......................................................1-81
Adding Washer Fluid.......................................5-38
Additional Program Information........................... 7-9
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-6
Add-On Electrical Equipment...........................5-101
Add-On Equipment..........................................4-38
Adjusting the Speakers
(Balance/Fade)....................3-45, 3-47, 3-53, 3-63
Air Bag
Off Light.....................................................3-28
Readiness Light..........................................3-27
Air Bag System..............................................1-70
Adding Equipment to Your Air Bag-Equipped
Vehicle...................................................1-81
Air Bag Off Switch.......................................1-77
How Does an Air Bag Restrain?....................1-75
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle.........1-80
What Makes an Air Bag Inate?....................1-75
What Will You See After an Air Bag Inates?......1-76
When Should an Air Bag Inate?...................1-74
Where Are the Air Bags?..............................1-72
Air Bag Systems.............................................1-75
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-18
Airbag Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM)....7-10
All-Wheel Drive...............................................5-48
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) System.........................2-26AM ...............................................................3-73
AM-FM Radio.................................................3-43
Antenna, Fixed Mast.......................................3-75
Anti-lock Brake System..................................... 4-7
Anti-Lock Brake, System Warning Light..............3-32
Appearance Care............................................5-92
Care of Safety Belts....................................5-95
Chemical Paint Spotting...............................5-98
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle................5-92
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle..............5-95
Finish Damage............................................5-98
Sheet Metal Damage...................................5-98
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-98
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials................5-99
Weatherstrips..............................................5-95
Ashtrays........................................................3-18
Audio System(s).............................................3-42
AM-FM Radio.............................................3-43
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player................3-73
Care of Your CD Player...............................3-75
Care of Your CDs........................................3-74
Chime Level Adjustment...............................3-75
Fixed Mast Antenna.....................................3-75
Radio with Cassette and CD.........................3-50
Radio with CD............................................3-46
Radio with Six-Disc CD................................3-61
Setting the Time for Radios with Radio Data
Systems (RDS)........................................3-43
Setting the Time for Radios without Radio
Data Systems (RDS)................................3-43
1

Audio System(s) (cont.)
Theft-Deterrent Feature................................3-72
Understanding Radio Reception.....................3-73
Automatic Transmission
Fluid..........................................................5-19
Operation...................................................2-24
B
Backing Up....................................................4-48
Battery..........................................................5-42
Battery Replacement......................................... 2-6
Battery Run-Down Protection............................3-17
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.........................4-23
Brake
Parking......................................................2-26
System Warning Light..................................3-31
Brake Adjustment............................................5-41
Brake Fluid....................................................5-39
Brake Pedal Travel.........................................5-41
Brake Wear...................................................5-41
Brakes..........................................................5-39
Braking........................................................... 4-6
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 4-8
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-20
Bulb Replacement...........................................5-52
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker and Parking
Lamps....................................................5-54
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-52Bulb Replacement (cont.)
Headlamps.................................................5-52
Replacement Bulbs......................................5-56
Taillamps....................................................5-54
Buying New Tires...........................................5-70
C
California Fuel.................................................. 5-6
Canada – Customer Assistance.......................... 7-5
Canadian Owners................................................ ii
Canadian Roadside Assistance........................... 7-8
Capacities and Specications..........................5-106
Carbon Monoxide...........................2-30, 4-27, 4-38
Care of
Safety Belts................................................5-95
Your Cassette Tape Player............................3-73
Your CD Player...........................................3-75
Your CDs ...................................................3-74
Cargo Door Relocking....................................... 2-8
Cargo Van.....................................................1-51
Cargo Vans and Cab and Chassis Models with
an Air Bag Off Switch..................................1-49
Cargo Vans and Cab and Chassis Models
without an Air Bag Off Switch........................1-48
Cargo Vans with a Passenger Air Bag and an
Air Bag Off Switch, Passenger Vans and Cab
and Chassis Models....................................1-37
2

Cargo Vans with a Passenger Air Bag and
without an Air Bag Off Switch........................1-40
Cassette Tape Messages.................................3-58
CD Adapter Kits.............................................3-58
CD Messages................................3-50, 3-61, 3-72
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp.........................3-16
Center Passenger Position, Safety Belts.....1-24, 1-25
Chains, Tire...................................................5-74
Charging System Light....................................3-30
Check
Engine Light...............................................3-34
Gages Warning Light...................................3-41
Check Engine Light.........................................3-34
Checking Brake Fluid......................................5-40
Checking Coolant............................................5-24
Checking Engine Oil........................................5-13
Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-10
Chemical Paint Spotting...................................5-98
Child Restraints
Child Restraint Systems...............................1-43
Infants and Young Children...........................1-36
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System)..........................1-53
Older Children.............................................1-34
Securing a Child Restraint Designed
for the LATCH System......................1-55, 1-56
Securing a Child Restraint in a Center
Seat Position...................................1-61, 1-62
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear
Outside Seat Position...............................1-58Child Restraints (cont.)
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right
Front Seat Position...................................1-65
Top Strap...................................................1-50
Top Strap Anchor Location............................1-51
Where to Put the Restraint...........................1-46
Chime Level Adjustment..................................3-75
Cigarette Lighter.............................................3-18
Cleaning
Inside of Your Vehicle..................................5-92
Outside of Your Vehicle................................5-95
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-98
Weatherstrips..............................................5-95
Cleaning Aluminum Wheels..............................5-97
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses.......................5-96
Cleaning Fabric/Carpet....................................5-92
Cleaning Glass Surfaces..................................5-94
Cleaning Interior Plastic Components.................5-94
Cleaning Leather............................................5-94
Cleaning the Top of the Instrument Panel...........5-94
Cleaning the Windshield and Wiper Blades.........5-97
Cleaning Tires................................................5-97
Cleaning Vinyl................................................5-94
Climate Control System...................................3-19
Outlet Adjustment........................................3-21
Rear Air Conditioning and Heating System......3-22
Rear Heating System...................................3-22
Control of a Vehicle.......................................... 4-5
3