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2003 Chevrolet Astro Owner's Manual - Page 182

2003 Chevrolet Astro Manual

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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're driving, brake normally but don't 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 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. ANTI LOCK I I I I States United Canada If there's a problem with the anti-lock brake system, this warning light will stay on. See Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light on page 3-29. 4-7

Section	Page
Table of Contents	2
Seats and Restraint Systems	8
Front Seats	9
Manual Seats	9
Power Seat	10
Manual Lumbar	10
Reclining Seatbacks	11
Head Restraints	12
Seatback Latches	13
Rear Seats	14
Rear Seat Operation	14
Bench Seat	18
Bucket Seats	19
Safety Belts	20
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone	20
Questions and Answers About Safety Belts	24
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly	25
Driver Position	25
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy	33
Right Front Passenger Position	34
Center Passenger Position	34
Rear Seat Passengers	36
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children and Small Adults	39
Safety Belt Extender	41
Child Restraints	42
Older Children	42
Infants and Young Children	45
Child Restraint Systems	51
Where to Put the Restraint	54
Top Strap	55
Top Strap Anchor Location	57
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for Children (LATCH System)	59
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the LATCH System	61
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Outside Seat Position	61
Securing a Child Restraint in a Center Seat Position	64
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position	66
Air Bag System	69
Where Are the Air Bags?	71
When Should an Air Bag Inflate?	73
What Makes an Air Bag Inflate?	74
How Does an Air Bag Restrain?	74
What Will You See After an Air Bag Inflates?	75
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle	76
Adding Equipment to Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle	77
Restraint System Check	78
Checking Your Restraint Systems	78
Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash	78
Features and Controls	80
Keys	81
Remote Keyless Entry System	83
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation	84
Doors and Locks	86
Door Locks	86
Front Doors	87
Power Door Locks	87
Programmable Automatic Door Locks	88
Leaving Your Vehicle	89
Sliding Side Door	89
Rear Doors	92
Windows	95
Manual Windows	95
Power Windows	96
Sun Visors	96
Theft-Deterrent Systems	97
Passlock	97
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle	98
New Vehicle Break-In	98
Ignition Positions	98
Starting Your Engine	100
Engine Coolant Heater	101
Automatic Transmission Operation	102
All-Wheel Drive	105
Parking Brake	105
Shifting Into Park (P)	106
Shifting Out of Park (P)	108
Parking Over Things That Burn	109
Engine Exhaust	109
Running Your Engine While You Are Parked	110
Mirrors	111
Manual Rearview Mirror	111
Outside Manual Mirrors	111
Outside Power Mirrors	111
Outside Convex Mirror	112
HomeLink Transmitter	113
Programming the HomeLink Transmitter	114
Storage Areas	117
Overhead Console	118
Luggage Carrier	123
Convenience Net	124
Instrument Panel	126
Instrument Panel Overview	127
Hazard Warning Flashers	129
Other Warning Devices	130
Horn	130
Tilt Wheel	130
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever	131
Exterior Lamps	137
Interior Lamps	140
Accessory Power Outlets	141
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter	142
Climate Controls	143
Climate Control System	143
Rear Heating System	144
Rear Air Conditioning System	145
Rear Climate Control System	146
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators	148
Instrument Panel Cluster	149
Speedometer and Odometer	150
Safety Belt Reminder Light	151
Air Bag Readiness Light	151
Charging System Light	152
Voltmeter Gage	153
Brake System Warning Light	153
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light	154
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage	155
Malfunction Indicator Lamp	155
Oil Pressure Gage	159
Security Light	160
Service All-Wheel Drive Light	160
Tow/Haul Mode Light	161
Check Gages Warning Light	161
Fuel Gage	161
Low Fuel Warning Light	162
Audio System(s)	163
Setting the Time for Radios with the Set Button	163
Setting the Time for Radios with HR and MN Buttons	163
AM-FM Radio	164
Radio with CD	166
Rear Seat Audio (RSA) . .	171
Theft-Deterrent Feature	172
Understanding Radio Reception	175
Care of Your CDs	175
Care of Your CD Player	175
Fixed Mast Antenna	175
Driving Your Vehicle	176
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle	177
Defensive Driving	177
Drunken Driving	178
Control of a Vehicle	181
Braking	181
Steering	184
Off-Road Recovery	186
Passing	187
Loss of Control	188
Driving at Night	189
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads	191
City Driving	194
Freeway Driving	195
Before Leaving on a Long Trip	196
Highway Hypnosis	197
Hill and Mountain Roads	197
Winter Driving	199
If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow	203
Towing	204
Towing Your Vehicle	204
Recreational Vehicle Towing	204
Loading Your Vehicle	204
Towing a Trailer	206
Service and Appearance Care	218
Service	220
Doing Your Own Service Work	220
Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your Vehicle	221
Fuel	222
Gasoline Octane	222
Gasoline Specifications	222
California Fuel	223
Additives	223
Fuels in Foreign Countries	224
Filling Your Tank	225
Filling a Portable Fuel Container	227
Checking Things Under the Hood	228
Hood Release	228
Engine Compartment Overview	231
Engine Oil	232
Engine Cover	237
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter	241
Automatic Transmission Fluid	242
Engine Coolant	245
Radiator Pressure Cap	247
Engine Overheating	248
Cooling System	250
Engine Fan Noise	256
Power Steering Fluid	257
Windshield Washer Fluid	258
Brakes	259
Battery	263
Jump Starting	264
All-Wheel Drive	269
Rear Axle	270
Front Axle	271
Bulb Replacement	272
Halogen Bulbs	272
Headlamps	272
Front Turn Signal Lamps	276
Taillamps	277
Replacement Bulbs	278
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement	279
Tires	280
Inflation - Tire Pressure	281
Tire Inspection and Rotation	281
When It Is Time for New Tires	283
Buying New Tires	283
Uniform Tire Quality Grading	284
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance	286
Wheel Replacement	286
Tire Chains	287
If a Tire Goes Flat	287
Changing a Flat Tire	288
Compact Spare Tire	299
Appearance Care	300
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle	300
Care of Safety Belts	303
Weatherstrips	303
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle	303
Sheet Metal Damage	305
Finish Damage	305
Underbody Maintenance	306
Chemical Paint Spotting	306
GM Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials	306
Vehicle Identification	308
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)	308
Service Parts Identification Label	308
Electrical System	309
Add-on Electrical Equipment	309
Headlamp Wiring	309
Windshield Wiper Fuses	309
Power Windows and Other Power Options	309
Fuses and Circuit Breakers	310
Capacities and Specifications	316
Capacities and Specifications	316
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts	318
Maintenance Schedule	320
Maintenance Schedule	321
Introduction	321
Your Vehicle and the Environment	321
Maintenance Requirements	321
How This Section is Organized	322
Part A: Scheduled Maintenance Services	323
Using Your Maintenance Schedule	323
Selecting the Right Schedule	324
Short Trip/City Scheduled Maintenance	326
Long Trip/Highway Scheduled Maintenance	337
Part B: Owner Checks and Services	345
At Each Fuel Fill	345
At Least Once a Month	345
At Least Twice a Year	345
At Least Once a Year	346
Part C: Periodic Maintenance inspections	349
Steering. Suspension and Front Drive Axle Boot and Seal Inspection	349
Exhaust System Inspection	349
Fuel System Inspection	349
Engine Cooling System Inspection	349
Throttle System Inspection	350
Transfer Case and Front Axle (All-Wheel Drive) Inspection	350
Brake System Inspection	350
Part D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants	351
Part E: Maintenance Record	353
Customer Assistance Information	356
Customer Assistance Information	357
Customer Satisfaction Procedure	357
Online Owner Center	359
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone (TTY) Users	359
Customer Assistance Offices	359
GM Mobility Program for Persons with Disabilities	360
Roadside Assistance Program	361
Courtesy Transportation	363
Reporting Safety Defects to the United States Government	366
Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian Government	366
Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors	366
Service Publications Ordering Information	366

Match case Limit results 1 per page

Avoid

needless

heavy

braking.

Some people drive

in spurts

heavy

acceleration followed by heavy

braking

rather

than keeping pace with traffic. This is

mistake.

Your brakes may

not have time to cool

between

hard

stops.

Your brakes will wear

out much

faster

you

a lot of heavy

braking.

you keep pace

with

the

traffic and allow realistic following distances,

you

will

eliminate

lot of unnecessary braking.

That

means

better

braking and longer brake life.

your engine

ever

stops

while

you’re

driving, brake

normally

but

don’t

pump your brakes.

you do,

the pedal

may

get

harder

to push down.

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,

may take longer to stop and

the brake pedal will

harder to push.

Anti-lock Brake System

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

going on. This is normal.

ANTI

LOCK

United

States

Canada

If there’s a problem with the anti-lock brake system, this

warning light will stay on. See

Anti-Lock Brake System

Warning

Light

on page

3-29.

4-7