weight CHEVROLET VENTURE 2005 1.G Owners Manual

Captain Chairs
If your vehicle has captain’s chairs, the chairs and
seatbacks can be adjusted forward or rearward.
Adjusting the Captain’s Chairs
(Second Row)
The second row captain’s chairs can be adjusted
forward or rearward.
There are two adjustment levers on each seat. One is
located below the center, in front of the seat. The other is
located across the rear of the seat.
Lift up either lever to slide the seat forward or rearward.
Release the lever. Push and pull on the seat to make
sure it is locked into place.
Folding or Reclining the Seatbacks
{CAUTION:
If the seatback is not locked, it could move
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could
cause injury to the person sitting there. Always
press rearward on the seatback to be sure it
is locked.To recline the seatback, lift up on the recliner lever,
located on the outboard side of the seat. Use the recliner
lever to move the seatback to the desired position.
It is easier to raise or lower the seatback if you
lean forward, taking the weight off the seatback.
The seatbacks on the second row captain’s chairs also
fold forward to put items behind the left and right seats.
Lift up on the recliner lever and fold the seatback
forward. The seatback will lock into place when you
push it back to the upright position.
The armrests can be lowered or raised for entering or
exiting the vehicle.
1-21

{CAUTION:
Children who are up against, or very close to,
any airbag when it inates can be seriously
injured or killed. Airbags plus lap-shoulder
belts offer protection for adults and older
children, but not for young children and
infants. Neither the vehicle’s safety belt system
nor its airbag system is designed for them.
Young children and infants need the protection
that a child restraint system can provide.
Q:What are the different types of add-on child
restraints?
A:Add-on child restraints, which are purchased by the
vehicle’s owner, are available in four basic types.
Selection of a particular restraint should take
into consideration not only the child’s weight, height
and age but also whether or not the restraint will
be compatible with the motor vehicle in which it will
be used.
For most basic types of child restraints, there are
many different models available. When purchasing a
child restraint, be sure it is designed to be used
in a motor vehicle. If it is, the restraint will have a
label saying that it meets federal motor vehicle
safety standards.
The restraint manufacturer’s instructions that come
with the restraint state the weight and height
limitations for a particular child restraint. In addition,
there are many kinds of restraints available for
children with special needs.
1-52

This child restraint system conforms to all applicable
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
Use only with children who weigh between 22 and
40 pounds (10 and 18 kg) and whose height is between
33.5 and 40 inches (850 and 1 016 mm). Use only
with children whose shoulders are below the shoulder
belt slots for the harness system and who are capable of
sitting upright alone.
The child should also be at least one year old. It is
important to use a rear-facing infant restraint until the
child is at least one year old. A rear-facing restraint gives
the infant’s head, neck and body the support they
would need in a crash. SeeOlder Children on page 1-48
orInfants and Young Children on page 1-51.
A child whose weight is over 40 pounds, whose height
is over 40 inches or whose shoulders are above the
shoulder belt slots for the harness system, should
be restrained in an add-on booster seat appropriate for
the child’s size. SeeChild Restraint Systems on
page 1-54. Once the booster seat is outgrown, the child
should sit on the vehicle’s regular seat and use the
vehicle’s safety belts.
{CAUTION:
Using the vehicle’s built-in child restraint as a
booster seat for a larger child could cause
injury to the child in a sudden stop or crash.
A child whose weight is over 40 pounds, whose
height is over 40 inches or whose shoulders are
above the shoulder belt slots for the harness
system should use a restraint system that is
appropriate for their size, either an add-on
booster seat or the vehicle’s safety belt.
See “Child Restraints” or “Older Children” in
the Index.
1-68

Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and you do not shift your
vehicle into PARK (P) properly, the weight of the vehicle
may put too much force on the parking pawl in the
transmission. You may nd it difficult to pull the shift
lever out of PARK (P). This is called torque lock.
To prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and then
shift into PARK (P) properly before you leave the
driver’s seat. To nd out how, seeShifting Into Park (P)
on page 2-37.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out of
PARK (P) before you release the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to have another
vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some of the
pressure from the parking pawl in the transmission, so
you can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P).
Shifting Out of Park (P)
Your vehicle has an automatic transaxle shift lock
control system which locks the shift lever in PARK (P)
when the ignition is in the OFF position. In addition, you
must fully apply your regular brakes before you can
shift from PARK (P) when the ignition is in the
RUN position. SeeAutomatic Transaxle Operation on
page 2-33.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever and push the shift lever all the way up into
PARK (P) as you maintain brake application. Then,
move the shift lever into the gear you want.
If you ever hold the brake pedal down but still cannot
shift out of PARK (P), do the following:
1. Turn the ignition key to the OFF position.
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.
3. Shift the transaxle to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the engine and then shift to the gear
you want.
5. Have the system xed as soon as you can.
2-38

If you have the luggage carrier, you can load things on
top of your vehicle.
Notice:Loading cargo on the luggage carrier that
weighs more than 150 lbs (68 kg) or hangs over
the rear or sides of the vehicle may damage your
vehicle. Load cargo so that it rests on the slats
as far forward as possible and against the side rails,
making sure to fasten it securely.
When you carry cargo on the luggage carrier of a
proper size and weight, put it on the slats, as far forward
as you can. You can then tie it down.Don’t exceed the maximum vehicle capacity when
loading your vehicle. For more information on vehicle
capacity and loading, seeLoading Your Vehicle on
page 4-29.
To prevent damage or loss of cargo as you’re driving,
check now and then to make sure the cargo is still
securely fastened.
Rear Storage Area
Your vehicle has a storage compartment and may have
a cupholder on the driver’s side of the vehicle, next
to the third row seat(s).
2-51

Replacing the Convenience Center
1. Make sure the stowable seat is properly installed in
the vehicle. SeeStowable Seat on page 1-25for
more information. If the stowable seat is not in the
vehicle with the convenience center, the
convenience center will not be locked into the
correct position in the vehicle.
2. Make sure that the convenience center is closed.
3. Lift the convenience center up and into the rear
of the vehicle.
4. Put the tray sill, located on the back of the
convenience center, in the upright position.5. Slide the convenience center in and align it so that
the forks, located on the bottom rear of the
convenience center, slide into the seat anchors.
6. Press down on the front of the convenience center
so the center locates on the sill mounting bracket.
7. Turn the knob clockwise until it is tight.
8. Pull up on the convenience center to make sure it
is locked into place.
The tray sill can be folded down onto the stowable seat
to close the space between the two while the stowable
seat is folded down. To do this, ip the sill plate up and
over toward the stowable seat.
The cover of the convenience center can be left in its
upright position while the vehicle is moving.
The convenience center has six hooks on the inside
cover for hanging item on. The prop rods can hold-up to
49 lbs (21.8 kg) on the cover of the convenience
center while in its upright position.
The convenience center and the stowable seat both
have a maximum weight capacity of 400 lbs (181.6 kg).
Notice:Overloading your vehicle may cause
damage. Repairs would not be covered by your
warranty. Do not overload your vehicle.
2-54

Police records show that almost half of all motor
vehicle-related deaths involve alcohol. In most cases,
these deaths are the result of someone who was
drinking and driving. In recent years, more than
16,000 annual motor vehicle-related deaths have been
associated with the use of alcohol, with more than
300,000 people injured.
Many adults — by some estimates, nearly half the adult
population — choose never to drink alcohol, so they
never drive after drinking. For persons under 21,
it is against the law in every U.S. state to drink alcohol.
There are good medical, psychological and
developmental reasons for these laws.
The obvious way to eliminate the leading highway safety
problem is for people never to drink alcohol and then
drive. But what if people do? How much is “too much” if
someone plans to drive? It is a lot less than many might
think. Although it depends on each person and situation,
here is some general information on the problem.
The Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of someone
who is drinking depends upon four things:
The amount of alcohol consumed
The drinker’s body weight
The amount of food that is consumed before and
during drinking
The length of time it has taken the drinker to
consume the alcoholAccording to the American Medical Association, a 180 lb
(82 kg) person who drinks three 12 ounce (355 ml)
bottles of beer in an hour will end up with a BAC
of about 0.06 percent. The person would reach the
same BAC by drinking three 4 ounce (120 ml) glasses
of wine or three mixed drinks if each had 1-1/2 ounces
(45 ml) of liquors like whiskey, gin, or vodka.
4-3

It is the amount of alcohol that counts. For example, if
the same person drank three double martinis (3 ounces
or 90 ml of liquor each) within an hour, the person’s
BAC would be close to 0.12 percent. A person
who consumes food just before or during drinking will
have a somewhat lower BAC level.
There is a gender difference, too. Women generally
have a lower relative percentage of body water
than men. Since alcohol is carried in body water, this
means that a woman generally will reach a higher BAC
level than a man of her same body weight will when
each has the same number of drinks.
The law in most U.S. states, and throughout Canada,
sets the legal limit at 0.08 percent. In some other
countries, the limit is even lower. For example, it is
0.05 percent in both France and Germany. The
BAC limit for all commercial drivers in the United States
is 0.04 percent.
The BAC will be over 0.10 percent after three to
six drinks (in one hour). Of course, as we have seen, it
depends on how much alcohol is in the drinks, and
how quickly the person drinks them.
But the ability to drive is affected well below a BAC of
0.10 percent. Research shows that the driving skills
of many people are impaired at a BAC approaching
0.05 percent, and that the effects are worse at night. All
drivers are impaired at BAC levels above 0.05 percent.Statistics show that the chance of being in a collision
increases sharply for drivers who have a BAC of
0.05 percent or above. A driver with a BAC level of
0.06 percent has doubled his or her chance of having a
collision. At a BAC level of 0.10 percent, the chance
of this driver having a collision is 12 times greater; at a
level of 0.15 percent, the chance is 25 times greater!
The body takes about an hour to rid itself of the alcohol in
one drink. No amount of coffee or number of cold
showers will speed that up. “I will be careful” is not the
right answer. What if there is an emergency, a need to
take sudden action, as when a child darts into the street?
A person with even a moderate BAC might not be able to
react quickly enough to avoid the collision.
There is something else about drinking and driving that
many people do not know. Medical research shows that
alcohol in a person’s system can make crash injuries
worse, especially injuries to the brain, spinal cord, or
heart. This means that when anyone who has been
drinking — driver or passenger — is in a crash, that
person’s chance of being killed or permanently disabled
is higher than if the person had not been drinking.
4-4

{CAUTION:
Drinking and then driving is very dangerous.
Your reexes, perceptions, attentiveness, and
judgment can be affected by even a small
amount of alcohol. You can have a serious — or
even fatal — collision if you drive after drinking.
Please do not drink and drive or ride with a
driver who has been drinking. Ride home in a
cab; or if you are with a group, designate a
driver who will not drink.
Control of a Vehicle
You have three systems that make your vehicle go where
you want it to go. They are the brakes, the steering, and
the accelerator. All three systems have to do their work at
the places where the tires meet the road.
Sometimes, as when you are driving on snow or ice, it
is easy to ask more of those control systems than
the tires and road can provide. That means you can lose
control of your vehicle.
Braking
Braking action involves perception time and
reaction time.
First, you have to decide to push on the brake pedal.
That is perception time. Then you have to bring up your
foot and do it. That is reaction time.
Average reaction time is about three-fourths of a
second. But that is only an average. It might be less
with one driver and as long as two or three seconds or
more with another. Age, physical condition, alertness,
coordination and eyesight all play a part. So do alcohol,
drugs and frustration. But even in three-fourths of a
second, a vehicle moving at 60 mph (100 km/h) travels
66 feet (20 m). That could be a lot of distance in an
emergency, so keeping enough space between
your vehicle and others is important.
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 (wet, dry, icy); tire
tread; the condition of your brakes; the weight of
the vehicle and the amount of brake force applied.
4-5

Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out
First, turn your steering wheel left and right. That
will clear the area around your front wheels. If your
vehicle has traction control, you should turn your traction
control system off. SeeTraction Control System
(TCS) on page 4-8. Then shift back and forth between
REVERSE (R) and a forward gear, spinning the
wheels as little as possible. Release the accelerator
pedal while you shift, and press lightly on the accelerator
pedal when the transaxle is in gear. By slowly spinning
your wheels in the forward and reverse directions,
you will cause a rocking motion that may free your
vehicle. If that does not get you out after a few tries, you
may need to be towed out. If you do need to be
towed out, seeTowing Your Vehicle on page 4-34.
Loading Your Vehicle
It is very important to know how much weight your
vehicle can carry. This weight is called the vehicle
capacity weight and includes the weight of all occupants,
cargo, and all nonfactory-installed options. Two labels
on your vehicle show how much weight it may properly
carry, the Tire and Loading Information label and the
Certication/Tire label.
{CAUTION:
Do not load your vehicle any heavier than the
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), or either
the maximum front or rear Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR). If you do, parts on your
vehicle can break, and it can change the way
your vehicle handles. These could cause you
to lose control and crash. Also, overloading
can shorten the life of your vehicle.
4-29