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1998 Chevrolet Astro Owner's Manual - Page 213

1998 Chevrolet Astro Manual

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If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer NOTICE: Pulling a trailer improperly can damage your vehicle and result in costly repairs not covered by your warranty. To pull a trailer correctly, follow the advice in this part, and see your dealer for important information about towing a trailer with your vehicle. Every vehicle is ready for sometrailer towing. If yours was built with trailering options, as many are, it's ready for heavier trailers. But trailering is different than just driving your vehicle by itself. Trailering means changes in handling, durability and fuel economy. Successful, safe trailering takes correct equipment, and it has to be used properly. That's the reason for this part. In it are many time-tested, important trailering tips and safety rules. Many of these are important for your safety and that of your passengers. So please read this section carefully before you pull a trailer. If you do, here are some important points: a There are many different laws, including speed limit restrictions, having to do with trailering. Make sure your rig will belegal, not only where you live but also where you'll be driving. A good source for this information can be state or provincial police. a Consider using a sway control if your trailer will weigh 2,000 lbs. (900 kg) or less. You should always use a sway control if your trailer will weigh more than 2,000 lbs. (900 kg). You can ask a hitch dealer about sway controls. a Don't tow a trailer at all during the first 500 miles (800 km) your new vehicle is driven. Your engine, axle or other parts could be damaged. a Then, during the first 500 miles (800 km) that you tow a trailer, don't drive over 50 mph (80 kmh) and don't make starts at full throttle. This helps your engine and other parts of your vehicle wear in at the heavier loads. a You should use DRIVE (D) (or, as you need to, a lower gear) when towing a trailer. Operating your vehicle in DRIVE (D) when towing a trailer will minimize heat buildup and extend the life of your transmission. 4-29

Section	Page
Table of Contents	9
Seats and Restraint Systems	15
Seats and Seat Controls	16
Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone	26
Here Are Questions Questions Many People Ask About Safety Belts -- and the Answers	31
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly	32
Driver Position	32
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy	39
Right Front Passenger Position	40
Air Bag System	40
Rear Seat Passengers	46
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children and Small Adults	49
Center Passenger Position (Bench Seat)	52
Children	53
Built-in Child Restraint (Option)	53
Child Restraints	66
Larger Children	79
Safety Belt Extender	82
Checking Your Restraint Systems	82
Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash	82
Features and Controls	85
Keys	86
Front Door	88
Rear Doors	88
Door Locks	90
Keyless Entry System (Option)	91
Sliding Door	94
Hatch	97
Theft	98
Passlock	98
New Vehicle “Break-In”	99
Ignition Positions	100
Starting Your Engine	101
Engine Coolant Heater (If Equipped)	102
Automatic Transmission Operation	103
Parking Brake	106
Shifting Into PARK (P)	107
Shifting Out of PARK (P)	110
Parking Over Things That Burn	110
Engine Exhaust	111
Running Your Engine While You’re Parked	111
Locking Rear Axle (Option)	112
All-Wheel Drive (Option)	112
Windows	113
Horn	114
Tilt Wheel (If Equipped)	114
Turn Signal/ Multifunction Lever	115
Exterior Lamps	121
Interior Lamps	122
Mirrors	124
Storage Compartments	125
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter	132
Sun Visors	133
Accessory Power Outlets	134
Universal Transmitter (Option)	134
Instrument Panel	138
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators	141
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems	153
Comfort Controls	154
Heating/Air Conditioning System	154
Heating System	155
Rear Heating System (Option)	156
Rear Air Conditioning System (Option)	157
Air Conditioning	157
Heating	158
Defrosting	158
Ventilation System	158
Rear Window Defogger (Option)	160
Audio Systems	161
Setting the Clock for Systems without Automatic Tone Control	161
Setting the Clock for Systems with Automatic Tone Control	161
AM-FM Stereo	161
AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player (If Equipped)	163
AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape and Automatic Tone Control (If Equipped)	165
Rear Seat Audio (If Equipped)	170
AM-FM Stereo with Compact Disc Player and Automatic Tone Control (If Equipped)	171
Remote Compact Disc Player (If Equipped)	176
Theft-Deterrent Feature (If Equipped)	178
Understanding Radio Reception	180
Tips About Your Audio System	180
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player	181
Care of Your Compact Discs	182
Care of Your Compact Disc Player	182
Fixed Mast Antenna	182
Your Driving and the Road	185
Defensive Driving	186
Drunken Driving	186
Control of a Vehicle	189
Braking	190
Steering	192
Off-Road Recovery	194
Passing	194
Loss of Control	195
Driving at Night	197
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads	199
City Driving	201
Freeway Driving	202
Before Leaving on a Long Trip	203
Highway Hypnosis	204
Hill and Mountain Roads	205
Winter Driving	206
Loading Your Vehicle	210
Towing a Trailer	212
Problems on the Road	223
Hazard Warning Flashers	224
Other Warning Devices	225
Jump Starting	225
Towing Your Vehicle	229
Engine Overheating	235
Cooling System	235
Engine Fan Noise	244
If a Tire Goes Flat	244
Changing a Flat Tire	245
Compact Spare Tire	258
If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow	259
Service and Appearance Care	263
Service	264
Fuel	265
Filling Your Tank	267
Filling a Portable Fuel Container	269
Checking Things Under the Hood	269
Engine Oil	272
Engine Cover	277
Air Cleaner	281
Automatic Transmission Fluid	282
All-Wheel Drive	285
Rear Axle	287
Engine Coolant	287
Radiator Pressure Cap	290
Thermostat	291
Power Steering Fluid	291
Windshield Washer Fluid	292
Brakes	293
Battery	297
Bulb Replacement	298
Halogen Bulbs	298
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement	304
Tires	304
Appearance Care	313
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle	313
Cleaning the Built-in Child Restraint	315
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle	317
Cleaning Tires	318
Finish Damage	319
Underbody Maintenance	319
Appearance Care Materials Chart	320
Vehicle Identification Number (Vin)	321
Service Parts Identification Label	321
Electrical System	322
Capacities and Specifications	329
Air Conditioning Refrigerants	330
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts	331
Maintenance Schedule	335
Introduction	336
Part A: Scheduled Maintenance Services	338
Short Trip/City Definition	339
Short Trip/City Intervals	339
Long Trip/Highway Definition	340
Long Trip/Highway Intervals	341
Short Trip/City Maintenance Schedule	342
Long Trip/Highway Maintenance Schedule	363
Part B: Owner Checks and Services	375
Part C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections	379
Part D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants	381
Part E: Maintenance Record	383
Customer Assistance Information	385
Customer Satisfaction Procedure	386
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone (TTY) Users	388
Chevrolet Roadside Assistance Program	389
Canadian Roadside Assistance	391
Courtesy Transportation	392
GM Participation in an Alternative Dispute Resolution Program	393
Warranty Information	394
REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS TO THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT	394
REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS TO THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT	395
REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS TO GENERAL MOTORS	395
Ordering Service and Owner Publications in Canada	395

Match case Limit results 1 per page

NOTICE:

Pulling

trailer

improperly

can

damage

your

vehicle

and

result

costly

repairs

not

covered

your

warranty.

pull

trailer

correctly,

the

advice

this

part,

and

see

your

dealer

for

important

information

about

towing

trailer

with

your

vehicle.

Every vehicle is

ready for

some trailer towing. If yours

was

built

with

trailering options, as many are, it’s

ready

for heavier trailers. But

trailering is different than just

driving your vehicle by itself. Trailering means changes

in handling, durability and fuel economy. Successful,

safe trailering takes correct equipment, and it has

used

properly.

That’s

the reason for this part. In it are many

time-tested, important trailering

tips and safety

rules.

Many

these are important for your safety

and

that

your

passengers.

please read this section carefully

before

you

pull

trailer.

You

Decide To Pull

Trailer

you do, here are some important points:

There are many

different

laws,

including speed limit

restrictions,

having

do with

trailering.

Make

sure

your

rig

will

be legal, not

only

where

you

live but

also where

you’ll

be driving.

good

source for this

information can be state or provincial

police.

Consider using

sway control if your

trailer

will

weigh

2,000

lbs.

(900

kg) or less. You should

always

use a sway control if your trailer will

weigh

than

2,000

lbs.

(900

kg). You can ask

hitch dealer

about sway controls.

Don’t

tow

trailer

all during the first

500

miles

(800

km) your

new

vehicle

driven.

Your engine,

axle or other parts could be damaged.

Then, during the

first

500

miles

(800

km) that

you

tow

trailer,

don’t drive over

mph

(80

kmh) and

don’t make starts

at full throttle. This helps

your

engine and other parts of

your

vehicle

wear

the

heavier

loads.

You should

use DRIVE (D)

(or, as

you

need

to,

lower gear) when towing a trailer. Operating your

vehicle

in DRIVE

(D)

when

towing a trailer will

minimize

heat

buildup

and extend the life of

your transmission.

4-29