service indicator CHEVROLET ASTRO 1997 2.G Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows
AIR BAG. The system checks the
air bag’s electrical system for malfunctions. The light
tells
you if there is an electrical problem. The system
check includes the air bag sensors, the air bag modules,
the wiring and the crash sensing and diagnostic module.
For more information on the air bag system, see “Air
Bag” in the Index.
AIR
BAG
This light will come on
when you start your engine,
and it will flash for a few
seconds. Then the light
should go out. This means
the system is ready.
If the air bag readiness light stays
on after you start the
engine or comes
on when you are driving, your air bag
system may not work properly. Have your vehicle
serviced right away.
The air bag readiness light should flash for a few
seconds when
you turn the ignition key to RUN. If the light doesn’t
come
on then, have it fixed so it will be
ready to warn
you if there is a problem.
Charging System Indicator Light
The charglng system light
will come on briefly when
you turn the ignition on, but
the engine is
not running, as
a check
to show you the
light is working.
Then it should go out once the engine is running. If it
stays on, or comes
on while you are driving, you may
have a problem with the electrical charging system.
It could indicate that
you have a loose accessory drive
belt, or another electrical problem. Have it checked
right away. Driving while this light
is on could drain
your battery.
If you must drive a short distance with the light on, be
certain to turn off all your accessories, such as the radio
and heatedair conditioner.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Service Engine Soon Light)
Your vehicle is equipped
with a computer which
monitors operation of the
fuel, ignition and emission SERVICE
ENGINE
SOON
This system is called OBD I1 (On-Board
Diagnostics-Second Generation) and is intended to
assure that emissions are at acceptable levels for the life
of the vehicle, helping
to produce a cleaner
environment. (In Canada, OBD
I1 is replaced by
Enhanced Diagnostics.) The SERVICE ENGINE SOON
light comes
on to indicate that there is a problem and
service is required. Malfunctions
often will be indicated
by the system before any problem is apparent. This may
prevent more serious damage to your vehicle. This
system is also designed
to assist your service technician
in correctly diagnosing any malfunction.
NOTICE:
If you keep driving your vehicle with this light
on, after a while, your emission controls may not
work as well, your fuel economy may not be
as
good and your engine may not run as smoothly.
This could lead to costly repairs that may not be
covered by your warranty.
This light should come on, as a check to show you it is
working, when the ignition is on and the engine is not
running. If the light doesn’t come on, have it repaired.
This light will also come
on during a malfunction in one
of two ways:
0
0
Light Flashing -- A misfire condition has been
detected.
A misfire increases vehicle emissions and
may damage the emission control system on your
vehicle. Dealer or qualified service center diagnosis
and service is required.
Light On Steady -- An emission control system
malfunction has been detected on your vehicle.
Dealer or qualified service center diagnosis and
service may be required.
2-65

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Care of Your Cassette Tape Player
A tape player that is not cleaned regularly can cause
reduced sound quality, ruined cassettes or a damaged
mechanism. Cassette tapes should be stored
in their
cases away from contaminants, direct sunlight and
extreme heat. If
they aren’t, they may not operate
properly or may cause failure
of the tape player.
Your tape player should be cleaned regularly after every
50 hours of use. Your radio may display CLN to indicate
that
you have used your tape player for 50 hours without
resetting the tape clean timer.
If this message appears on
the display,
your cassette tape player needs to be
cleaned.
It will still play tapes, but you should clean it as
soon
as possible to prevent damage to your tapes and
player. If
you notice a reduction in sound quality, try a
known good cassette
to see if it is the tape or the tape
player at fault. If this other cassette has no improvement
in sound quality, clean the tape player. Cleaning
may be done with a scrubbing action,
non-abrasive cleaning cassette with pads which scrub
the tape head as the hubs
of the cleaner cassette turn. It
is normal for the cassette to eject while cleaning. Insert
the cassette at least three times to ensure thorough
cleaning.
A scrubbing action cleaning cassette is
available through your
GM dealership.
You may also choose a non-scrubbing action, wet-type
cleaner which uses
a cassette with a fabric belt to clean
the tape head. This type
of cleaning cassette will not
eject and,
it may not clean as thoroughly as the
scrubbing type cleaner.
After
you clean the player, press and hold EJECT for
five seconds
to reset the CLN indicator. The radio will
display
--- to show the indicator was re: . .
Cassettes are subject to wear and the SOL.L~ quality
may degrade over time. Always make sure the cassette
tape
is in good condition before you have your tape
player serviced.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle
Things you might add to the outside of your vehicle can
affect the airflow around it. This may cause wind noise
and affect windshield washer performance. Check with
your GM dealer before adding equipment
to the outside
of your vehicle.
J
Use regular unleaded gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher.
At a minimum, it should meet specifications ASTM
D48 14
in the United States and CGSB 3.5-M93 in Canada.
Improved gasoline specifications have been developed by
the American Automobile Manufacturers Association (AAMA) for better vehicle performance and engine
protection. Gasolines meeting the AAMA specification
could provide improved driveability and emission control
system protection compared to other gasolines.
Be sure the posted octane is at least 87. If the octane
is
less than 87, you may get a heavy knocking noise when
you drive. If it’s bad enough, it can damage your engine.
If you’re using fuel rated at 87 octane or higher and you
hear heavy knocking, your engine needs service. But
don’t worry if
you hear a little pinging noise when
you’re accelerating or driving up a hill. That’s normal,
and you don’t have to buy a higher octane fuel to get rid
of pinging. It’s the heavy, constant knock that means
you have a problem.
If your vehicle is certified to meet California Emission
Standards (indicated on the underhood tune-up label),
it is designed to operate
on fuels that meet California
specifications. If such fuels are
not available in states
adopting California emissions standards, your vehicle
will operate satisfactorily on fuels meeting federal
specifications, but emission control system performance
may be affected. The malfunction indicator lamp on
your instrument panel may turn on and/or your vehicle
may fail a smog-check test. If this occurs, return to your
authorized GM dealer for diagnosis to determine the
cause
of failure. In the event it is determined that the
cause of the condition is the type of fuels used, repairs
may not be covered by your warranty.
Some gasolines that are not reformulated for low
emissions contain an octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT);
ask your service station operator whether or not his fuel
contains MMT. General Motors does
not recommend the
use of such gasolines. If fuels containing MMT are used,
spark plug
life may be reduced and your emission
control system performance may be affected.
The
malfunction indicator lamp on your instrument panel
may turn
on. If this occurs, return to your authorized
GM dealer for service.
6-3

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine go or be heard all the time your vehicle is moving (except
when
you are pushing on the brake pedal firmly). NOTICE:
0
0
Using the wrong fluid can badly damage
brake system parts. For example, just
a few
drops
of mineral-based oil, such as engine
oil, in your brake system can damage brake
system parts
so badly that they’ll have to be
replaced. Don’t let someone put in the
wrong kind of fluid.
If you spill brake fluid on your vehicle’s
painted surfaces, the paint finish can be
damaged. Be careful not to spill brake fluid
on your vehicle.
If you do, wash it off
immediately. See “Appearance Care” in
the Index.
Brake Wear
Your vehicle has front disc brakes and rear drum 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
A CAUThN:
The brake wear warning sound means that soon
your brakes won’t work well. That could lead to
an accident. When you hear the brake wear
warning sound, have your vehicle serviced.
I 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 first applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean somethim
is wrong with
your brakes.
6-34

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When It’s Time for New Tires
- One way to tell when it’s
time for new tires is to
check
the treadwear
indicators, which will
appear when your tires have
only
1/16 inch (1.6 mm) or
less of tread remaining.
The tire has a bump, bulge or split.
0 The tire has a puncture, cut or other damage that
can’t be repaired well because of the size or location
of the damage.
Buying New Tires
To find out what kind and size of tires you need, look at
the Certificationrnire label.
You need
a new tire if any of the following statements
are true:
0 You can see the indicators at three or more places
around the tire.
0 You can see cord or fabric showing through the tire’s
rubber.
The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut or snagged deep
enough to show cord or fabric. The tires installed
on your vehicle when
it was new had
a Tire Performance Criteria Specification (TPC Spec)
number on each tire’s sidewall. When
you get new tires,
get ones with that same TPC Spec number. That way
your vehicle will continue to have tires that are designed
to give proper endurance, handling,
speed rating,
traction, ride and other things during normal service on
your vehicle.
If your tires have an all-season tread
design, the TPC number will be followed by an
“MS”
(for mud and snow).
If you ever replace your tires with those not having a
TPC Spec number, make sure they are
the same size,
load range, speed rating and construction type (bias,
bias-belted or radial)
as your original tires.
6-46

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Hearing Impaired. Customer Assistance .............. 8-4
Heating
........................................ 3-6
High-Beam Headlamps
.......................... 2-32
Highway Hypnosis
.............................. 4-2 1
Hill and Mountain Roads ......................... 4-22
Hitches. Trailer
................................. 4-34
Hood Checking Things Under
......................... 6-7
Prop
....................................... 6-10
Release
...................................... 6-8
Horn
......................................... 2-31
Hydroplaning
.................................. 4-17
Ignition Positions
.............................. 2. I 5
Ignition Transmission Lock Check ................. 7-46
Inflation. Tire
.................................. 6-44
Inspections
.................................... 7-47
Brakesystem
................................ 7-48
Drive Axle
.................................. 7-48
Exhaust Systems
............................. 7-47
Radiator and Heater Hose
...................... 7-47
Steering
.................................... 7-47
Suspension
.................................. 7-47
Throttle Linkage
.............................. 7-47
InstrumentPanel
............................... 2-56
Brightness Control
............................ 2-39
Cleaning
.................................... 6-54
Cluster
..................................... 2-58
FuseBlock
.................................. 6-62
Interior Lamps
.................................. 2-39
Inside
Daymight Rearview Mirror
................. 2-41 Jack.
Tire
.................................... 5-24
Jump Starting ................................... 5-3
Keyless Entry System
........................... 2-7
Key Lock Cylinders Service
...................... 7-44
Keys
.......................................... 2-2
Labels CertificationlTire
............................. 4-28
Service Parts Identification
..................... 6-60
Tire-Loading information
...................... 4-28
Vehicle Identification Number
................... 6-60
Lamps
........................................ 2-37
Courtesy
.................................... 2-39
Dome
...................................... 2-39
Interior
..................................... 2-39
On Reminder
................................ 2-38
Latches, Seatback
................................ 1-5
Leaving Your Vehicle ............................. 2-7
Leaving Your Vehicle
with the Engine Running ....... 2-25
Lighter
....................................... 2-50
Lights
Air
Bag Readiness ....................... 1-28, 2-61
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
............ 2-64, 4-7
Brake System Warning
......................... 2-63
Charging System
............................. 2-61
CheckGages
................................ 2-68
Safety Belt Reminder
..................... 1 - 13, 2-60
Service Engine Soon
.......................... 2-65
Daytime Running Lamps Indicator
............... 2-68
9-5

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Loading Your Vehicle ........................... 4-28
Cylinders
................................... 7-44
Door
........................................ 2-6
Ignition Transmission Lock Check
............... 7-46
Key Lock Cylinder Service
..................... 7-44
PowerDoor
.................................. 2-7
Sliding Door Child Security
..................... 2- I I
Lubricants and Fluids ............................ 7-49
Lubrication Service. Body
........................ 7-44
Luggagecarrier
................................ 2-49
Lumbar Controls
................................ 1-3
Locks
Maintenance. Normal Replacement Parts
........... 6-68
Maintenance Record
............................ 7-5 1
Maintenance Schedule ............................ 7- I
Long Trip/Highway Definition ................... 7-6
Long Tripmighway Intervals ..................... 7-6
Owner Checks and Services
..................... 7-43
Periodic Maintenance Inspections
................ 7-47
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
............. 7-49
Scheduled Maintenance Services
.................. 7-4
Short TripKity Definition
....................... 7-5
Short TripKity Intervals ........................ 7-5
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
................. 4-38
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
...................... 2-65
ManualFrontSeat
............................... 1-2
Methanol
...................................... 6-3
Maintenance. Underbody
......................... 6-58
Manual Lumbar Support
.......................... 1-3 Mirrors
....................................... 2-41
Convex Outside
.............................. 2-42
Inside Day/Night Rearview
..................... 2-41
Outside
..................................... 2-41
Visorvanity
................................. 2-52
MMT
......................................... 6-3
Model Reference
................................. vi
MountainRoads ................................ 4-22
Net. Convenience
.............................. 2-49
Neutral
....................................... 2-21
New Vehicle Break-In
........................... 2-15
Nightvision
................................... 4-15
odometer
.................................... 2-59
Odometer. Trip
................................. 2-59
Off-Road Recovery
............................. 4-11
Oil. Engine
.................................... 6-11
Opener. Garage Door ............................ 2-45
Outside Mirror
................................. 2-41
Overhead Console
.............................. 2-44
Overheating Engine
............................. 5-13
Owner Checks and Services
....................... 7-43
Owner Publications. Ordering
................ 8- 1 I. 8- 12
Paint Spotting. Chemical
........................ 6-58
Park(P)
...................................... 2-19
Shifting Into ................................. 2-24
Shifting Out of
............................... 2-26