steering CHEVROLET EXPRESS CARGO VAN 2008 1.G Owners Manual

Airbag System
Your vehicle has the following airbag:
•A frontal airbag for the driver.
Your vehicle may have the following airbags:
•A frontal airbag for the right front passenger.
•A roof-rail airbag for the driver (cargo van).
•A roof-rail airbag for the right front passenger
position (cargo or passenger van equipped
with a sliding door).
If you have a passenger van with a right front
passenger roof-rail airbag and a sliding door, you
will also have a separate roof-rail airbag for
the passenger seated directly behind the right front
passenger and the third row outboard passenger
position.
•A roof-rail airbag for the driver, passenger seated
directly behind the driver, and the third row
outboard passenger position (passenger van
equipped with a sliding or hinged door).
•A roof-rail airbag for the right front passenger,
passenger seated directly behind the right front
passenger, and the third row outboard passenger
position (passenger van equipped with a
hinged door).
All of the airbags in your vehicle will have the word
AIRBAG embossed in the trim or on an attached label
near the deployment opening.
For frontal airbags, the word AIRBAG will appear on the
middle part of the steering wheel for the driver and
on the instrument panel for the right front passenger.
With roof-rail airbags, the word AIRBAG will appear
along the headliner or trim.
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Where Are the Airbags?
The driver’s frontal airbag is in the middle of the
steering wheel.If your vehicle has one, the right front passenger’s airbag
is in the instrument panel on the passenger’s side.
1-60

For passenger vans with a sliding door, on the
passenger’s side of the vehicle, you will have a separate
roof-rail airbag for the passenger seated directly
behind the right front passenger and the third row
outboard passenger position.
{CAUTION:
If something is between an occupant and an
airbag, the airbag might not inate properly or
it might force the object into that person
causing severe injury or even death. The path
of an inating airbag must be kept clear. Do
not put anything between an occupant and an
airbag, and do not attach or put anything on
the steering wheel hub or on or near any other
airbag covering.
If your vehicle has roof-rail airbags, never
secure anything to the roof of your vehicle by
routing the rope or tie down through any door
or window opening. If you do, the path of an
inating roof-rail airbag will be blocked.
When Should an Airbag Inate?
Frontal airbags are designed to inflate in moderate to
severe frontal or near-frontal crashes to help reduce the
potential for severe injuries mainly to the driver’s or
right front passenger’s head and chest. However, they
are only designed to inflate if the impact exceeds a
predetermined deployment threshold. Deployment
thresholds are used to predict how severe a crash is
likely to be in time for the airbags to inflate and
help restrain the occupants.
Whether your frontal airbags will or should deploy is not
based on how fast your vehicle is traveling. It depends
largely on what you hit, the direction of the impact,
and how quickly your vehicle slows down.
Frontal airbags may inflate at different crash speeds.
For example:
•If the vehicle hits a stationary object, the airbags
could inflate at a different crash speed than if the
vehicle hits a moving object.
•If the vehicle hits an object that deforms, the
airbags could inflate at a different crash speed than
if the vehicle hits an object that does not deform.
1-62

What Makes an Airbag Inate?
In a deployment event, the sensing system sends an
electrical signal triggering a release of gas from
the inflator. Gas from the inflator fills the airbag causing
the bag to break out of the cover and deploy. The
inflator, the airbag, and related hardware are all part of
the airbag module.
Frontal airbag modules are located inside the steering
wheel and instrument panel. For vehicles with
roof-rail airbags, there are airbag modules in the ceiling
of the vehicle, near the side windows for the first,
second, and third rows (if equipped). SeeWhere Are
the Airbags? on page 1-60for more information.
How Does an Airbag Restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal collisions,
even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel or
the instrument panel. In moderate to severe side
collisions, even belted occupants can contact the inside
of the vehicle.
Airbags supplement the protection provided by safety
belts. Frontal airbags distribute the force of the
impact more evenly over the occupant’s upper body,
stopping the occupant more gradually. Roof-rail airbags
distribute the force of the impact more evenly over
the occupant’s upper body.Rollover capable roof-rail airbags are designed to help
contain the head and chest of occupants in the
outboard seating positions in the first, second, and third
rows, if equipped. The rollover capable roof-rail
airbags are designed to help reduce the risk of full or
partial ejection in rollover events, although no system
can prevent all such ejections.
But airbags would not help in many types of collisions,
primarily because the occupant’s motion is not
toward those airbags. SeeWhen Should an Airbag
Inflate? on page 1-62for more information.
Airbags should never be regarded as anything more
than a supplement to safety belts.
What Will You See After an Airbag
Inates?
After the frontal airbags inflate, they quickly deflate, so
quickly that some people may not even realize an
airbag inflated. Roof-rail airbags may still be at least
partially inflated for some time after they deploy. Some
components of the airbag module may be hot for
several minutes. For location of the airbag modules, see
What Makes an Airbag Inflate? on page 1-64.
1-64

Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Q:Is there anything I might add to or change
about the vehicle that could keep the airbags
from working properly?
A:Yes. If you add things that change your vehicle’s
frame, bumper system, height, front end or side
sheet metal, they may keep the airbag system from
working properly. Changing or moving any parts
of the front seats, safety belts, the airbag sensing
and diagnostic module, steering wheel, instrument
panel, roof-rail airbag modules, ceiling headliner
or pillar garnish trim, front sensors, or airbag wiring
can affect the operation of the airbag system.
In addition, your vehicle may have a passenger
sensing system for the right front passenger’s
position, which includes sensors that are part of the
passenger’s seat. The passenger sensing system
may not operate properly if the original seat
trim is replaced with non-GM covers, upholstery or
trim, or with GM covers, upholstery or trim
designed for a different vehicle. Any object, such as
an aftermarket seat heater or a comfort enhancing
pad or device, installed under or on top of theseat fabric, could also interfere with the operation of
the passenger sensing system. This could either
prevent proper deployment of the passenger
airbag(s) or prevent the passenger sensing system
from properly turning off the passenger airbag(s).
SeePassenger Sensing System on page 1-69.
If you have any questions about this, you should
contact Customer Assistance before you modify
your vehicle. The phone numbers and addresses for
Customer Assistance are in Step Two of the
Customer Satisfaction Procedure in this manual.
SeeCustomer Satisfaction Procedure on page 7-2.
Q:Because I have a disability, I have to get
my vehicle modied. How can I nd out whether
this will affect my airbag system?
A:If you have questions, call Customer Assistance.
The phone numbers and addresses for Customer
Assistance are in Step Two of the Customer
Satisfaction Procedure in this manual. See
Customer Satisfaction Procedure on page 7-2.
In addition, your dealer/retailer and the service manual
have information about the location of the airbag
sensors, sensing and diagnostic module and airbag
wiring.
1-74

Fuel Regulator
Your vehicle has a fuel regulator that shuts the fuel off
when the engine reaches 5,600 rpm.
Engine Coolant Heater
If your vehicle has the DURAMAX®Diesel engine, see
the DURAMAX®Diesel manual for more information.
The engine coolant heater, if available, can help in cold
weather conditions at or below 0°F (−18°C) for easier
starting and better fuel economy during engine warm-up.
Plug in the coolant heater at least four hours before
starting your vehicle. 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).
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.
The cord for the engine coolant heater is located
on the driver’s side of the engine compartment and
is attached to the hose for the power steering
reservoir.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC outlet.
{CAUTION:
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet
could cause an electrical shock. Also, the
wrong kind of extension cord could overheat
and cause a re. You could be seriously
injured. Plug the cord into a properly grounded
three-prong 110-volt AC outlet. If the cord will
not reach, use a heavy-duty three-prong
extension cord rated for at least 15 amps.
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. If you do not, it could be
damaged.
How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged
in? The answer depends on the outside temperature, the
kind of oil you have, and some other things. Instead
of trying to list everything here, we ask that you contact
your dealer/retailer in the area where you will be
parking your vehicle. The dealer/retailer can give you
the best advice for that particular area.
2-23

Tow/Haul Mode
Tow/haul is designed to assist while your vehicle is
pulling a large or heavy load or trailer. Tow/haul is most
useful while pulling such a load in rolling terrain, in
stop-and-go traffic, or when you need improved
low-speed control, such as when parking. The purpose
of the tow/haul mode is to:
•Reduce the frequency and improve the predictability
of transmission shifts,
•provide the same solid shift feel when pulling a
heavy load as when the vehicle is unloaded,
•improve control of vehicle speed while requiring
less throttle pedal activity.
Press this button located
to the right of the steering
wheel on the instrument
panel to turn tow/haul
mode on and off.While activated, the
indicator light on the
instrument panel will
be on.
Tow/haul mode will turn off automatically when the
ignition is turned off. SeeTow/Haul Mode Light
on page 3-43.
Tow/haul is most effective when the vehicle and trailer
combined weight is at least 75 percent of the vehicle’s
Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR). See “Weight
of the Trailer” later in this section.
Driving with tow/haul activated without a heavy load will
cause reduced fuel economy and unpleasant engine
and transmission driving characteristics, but will
not cause damage.
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Highbeam On Light.......................................3-43
Tow/Haul Mode Light....................................3-43
Fuel Gage...................................................3-43
Driver Information Center (DIC).......................3-44
DIC Operation and Displays...........................3-45
DIC Compass..............................................3-50
DIC Warnings and Messages.........................3-52
DIC Vehicle Customization.............................3-60Audio System(s).............................................3-66
Setting the Clock..........................................3-68
Radio(s)......................................................3-70
Using an MP3..............................................3-81
Theft-Deterrent Feature..................................3-86
Audio Steering Wheel Controls.......................3-87
Radio Reception...........................................3-88
Fixed Mast Antenna......................................3-88
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-2

The main components of the instrument panel are the following:
A. Air Outlets. SeeOutlet Adjustment on page 3-22.
B. Driver Information Center Buttons. SeeDriver
Information Center (DIC) on page 3-44.
C. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever. SeeTurn
Signal/Multifunction Lever on page 3-7.
D. Hazard Warning Flasher Button. SeeHazard
Warning Flashers on page 3-6.
E. Instrument Panel Cluster. SeeInstrument Panel
Cluster on page 3-26.
F. Shift Lever. SeeStarting the Engine on page 2-21.
G. Climate Control System. SeeClimate Control System
on page 3-19.
H. Audio System(s). SeeAudio System(s) on
page 3-66.
I. Exterior Lamp Controls. SeeExterior Lamps on
page 3-14.
J. Instrument Panel Brightness Control. SeeInstrument
Panel Brightness on page 3-16.
K. Cruise Control Buttons. SeeCruise Control on
page 3-11. Fast Idle System (If Equipped). See
DURAMAX
®Diesel Manual for more information.L. Tilt Lever. SeeTilt Wheel on page 3-6.
M. Horn. SeeHorn on page 3-6.
N. Audio Steering Wheel Controls. SeeAudio Steering
Wheel Controls on page 3-87.
O. Tow/Haul Mode Button. See “Tow/Haul Mode” under
Towing a Trailer on page 4-28.
P. Accessory Power Outlets/Cigarette Lighter. See
Accessory Power Outlet(s) on page 3-18and
Ashtray(s) and Cigarette Lighter on page 3-19.
Q. StabiliTrak
®Button (If Equipped). SeeStabiliTrak®
System on page 4-5.
R. Airbag Off Switch. SeeAirbag Off Switch on
page 1-66.
S. Storage Compartment. SeeStorage Areas on
page 2-35.
T. Passenger Airbag Status Indicator. SeePassenger
Airbag Status Indicator on page 3-31.
U. Rear Heating System (If Equipped). SeeRear
Heating System on page 3-22.
3-5

Hazard Warning Flashers
The hazard warning flashers warn others. They also let
the police and other emergency vehicles know you
have a problem.
The hazard warning
flasher button is located on
top of the steering
column.
Press the button to make the front and rear turn signal
lamps flash on and off. Press the button again to
turn the flashers off.
The hazard warning flashers work no matter what
ignition position the key is in, and even if the key is not
in the ignition.
When the hazard warning flashers are on, your vehicle’s
turn signals will not work.
Other Warning Devices
If you carry reflective triangles, you can set them up at
the side of the road about 300 feet (100 m) behind
your vehicle.
Horn
Press the horn symbol in the middle of the steering
wheel to sound the horn.
Tilt Wheel
For vehicles with a tilt steering wheel, it allows you to
lower or raise the steering wheel to give your legs more
room when entering or exiting the vehicle. Do not
adjust the steering wheel while driving.
The lever is located on the lower left side of the steering
column.
3-6