warning light CHEVROLET EXPRESS CARGO VAN 2005 1.G User Guide

Check Gages Warning Light
This light will come on briey when you are starting the
engine.
If the light comes on and stays on while you are driving,
check your coolant temperature and engine oil
pressure gages to see if they are in the warning zones.
Fuel Gage
The fuel gage, when the ignition is on, tells you about
how much fuel you have left in your tank.
The gage will rst indicate empty before you are out of
fuel, and you should get more fuel as soon as possible. United States
Canada
United StatesCanada
3-40

And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly
with the surface of the road, whether it is pavement or
gravel; the condition of the road, whether it is wet, dry, or
icy; tire tread; the condition of your brakes; the weight of
the vehicle; and the amount of brake force applied.
Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive in
spurts — heavy acceleration followed by heavy
braking — rather than keeping pace with traffic. This is a
mistake. Your brakes may not have time to cool between
hard stops. Your brakes will wear out much faster if you
do a lot of heavy braking. If you keep pace with the traffic
and allow realistic following distances, you will eliminate a
lot of unnecessary braking. That means better braking
and longer brake life.
If your engine ever stops while you are driving, brake
normally but do not pump your brakes. If you do,
the pedal may get harder to push down. If your engine
stops, you will still have some power brake assist.
But you will use it when you brake. Once the power
assist is used up, it may take longer to stop and
the brake pedal will be harder to push.Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes. ABS is an advanced
electronic braking system that will help prevent a
braking skid.
When you start your engine and begin to drive away,
your anti-lock brake system will check itself. You
may hear a momentary motor or clicking noise while
this test is going on. This is normal.
If there is a problem with
the anti-lock brake system,
this warning light will
stay on. SeeAnti-Lock
Brake System Warning
Light on page 3-32.
4-6

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 4-21.
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.
Freeway Driving
Mile for mile, freeways — also called thruways, parkways,
expressways, turnpikes, or superhighways — are the
safest of all roads. But they have their own special rules.
The most important advice on freeway driving is: Keep
up with traffic and keep to the right. Drive at the
same speed most of the other drivers are driving.
Too-fast or too-slow driving breaks a smooth traffic ow.
Treat the left lane on a freeway as a passing lane.
4-21

Winter Driving
Here 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 5-53.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.
Driving on Snow or Ice
Most of the time, those places where your tires meet
the road probably have good traction.
However, if there is snow or ice between your tires and
the road, you can have a very slippery situation. You
will have a lot less traction, or grip, and will need to be
very careful.
4-26

How to Reset the Engine Oil Life
System
The Engine 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 3-37.
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

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 ve 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 5-25.
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.
What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean, drinkable water and
one-half DEX-COOL®coolant which will not damage
aluminum parts. If you use this coolant mixture, you do
not need to add anything else.
{CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling
system can be dangerous. Plain water, or
some other liquid such as alcohol, can boil
before the proper coolant mixture will. Your
vehicle’s coolant warning system is set for the
proper coolant mixture. With plain water or the
wrong mixture, your engine could get too hot
but you would not get the overheat warning.
Your engine could catch re and you or others
could be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and the proper coolant.
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.
5-37

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.
5-66

A
Accessory Power Outlets.................................3-16
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle.......................................................1-72
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-6
Add-On Electrical Equipment............................5-95
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-18
Air Conditioning..............................................3-18
Airbag
Off Light.....................................................3-28
Readiness Light..........................................3-27
Airbag Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM)...... 7-9
Airbag System................................................1-61
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle...................................................1-72
Airbag Off Switch........................................1-68
How Does an Airbag Restrain?......................1-67
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle..........1-71
What Makes an Airbag Inate?......................1-66
What Will You See After an Airbag Inates?....1-67
When Should an Airbag Inate?....................1-65
Where Are the Airbags?...............................1-64
All-Wheel Drive...............................................5-43
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) System.........................2-26
AM-FM Radio.................................................3-42
Antenna, Fixed Mast.......................................3-73
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)........................... 4-6
Anti-Lock Brake, System Warning Light..............3-32
Appearance Care............................................5-86Aluminum Wheels........................................5-92
Care of Safety Belts....................................5-89
Chemical Paint Spotting...............................5-93
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses....................5-90
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle................5-87
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-88
Finish Care.................................................5-90
Finish Damage............................................5-93
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces.................................................5-89
Sheet Metal Damage...................................5-92
Tires..........................................................5-92
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-93
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials................5-93
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-90
Weatherstrips..............................................5-89
Windshield and Wiper Blades........................5-91
Ashtrays........................................................3-17
Audio System(s).............................................3-41
AM-FM Radio.............................................3-42
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player................3-71
Care of Your CD Player...............................3-73
Care of Your CDs........................................3-72
Chime Level Adjustment...............................3-73
Fixed Mast Antenna.....................................3-73
Radio with Cassette and CD.........................3-49
Radio with CD............................................3-45
Radio with Six-Disc CD................................3-59
Setting the Time for Radios with Radio
Data Systems (RDS)................................3-42
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Audio System(s) (cont.)
Setting the Time for Radios without Radio
Data Systems (RDS)................................3-42
Theft-Deterrent Feature................................3-70
Understanding Radio Reception.....................3-71
Automatic Transmission
Fluid..........................................................5-19
Operation...................................................2-24
B
Battery..........................................................5-38
Run-Down Protection...................................3-16
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.........................4-22
Brake
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)........................ 4-6
Emergencies................................................ 4-8
Parking......................................................2-26
System Warning Light..................................3-31
Brakes..........................................................5-34
Braking........................................................... 4-5
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 4-8
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-20
Bulb Replacement...........................................5-47
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)........5-50
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker and
Parking Lamps.........................................5-49
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-47Bulb Replacement (cont.)
Headlamps.................................................5-47
Replacement Bulbs......................................5-51
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Back-up Lamps........................................5-50
Buying New Tires...........................................5-65
C
California Fuel.................................................. 5-5
Canadian Owners................................................ ii
Capacities and Specications..........................5-100
Carbon Monoxide...........................2-29, 4-26, 4-38
Care of
Safety Belts................................................5-89
Your Cassette Tape Player............................3-71
Your CD Player...........................................3-73
Your CDs ...................................................3-72
Cargo Door Relocking....................................... 2-9
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)...........5-50
Center Passenger Position, Safety Belts.....1-23, 1-24
Chains, Tire...................................................5-69
Charging System Light....................................3-30
Check
Engine Light...............................................3-34
Gages Warning Light...................................3-40
Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-10
Chemical Paint Spotting...................................5-93
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