brake light CHEVROLET ASTRO 2000 User Guide

4-7
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 Brakes (ABS)
Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes (ABS). 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.
United States Canada
If there's a problem with the anti
-lock brake system, this
warning light will stay on. See ªAnti
-Lock Brake
System Warning Lightº in the Index.

4-17
Driving too fast through large water puddles or even
going through some car washes can cause problems, too.
The water may affect your brakes. Try to avoid puddles.
But if you can't, try to slow down before you hit them.
CAUTION:
Wet brakes can cause accidents. They won't work
as well in a quick stop and may cause pulling to
one side. You could lose control of the vehicle.
After driving through a large puddle of water or
a car wash, apply your brake pedal lightly until
your brakes work normally.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. So much water can build up
under your tires that they can actually ride on the water.
This can happen if the road is wet enough and you're
going fast enough. When your vehicle is hydroplaning,
it has little or no contact with the road.
Hydroplaning doesn't happen often. But it can if your
tires do not have much tread or if the pressure in one or
more is low. It can happen if a lot of water is standing on
the road. If you can see reflections from trees, telephone
poles or other vehicles, and raindrops ªdimpleº the
water's surface, there could be hydroplaning.

5-4
2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables
can reach, but be sure the vehicles aren't touching
each other. If they are, it could cause a ground
connection you don't want. You wouldn't be able to
start your vehicle, and the bad grounding could
damage the electrical systems.
To avoid the possibility of the vehicles rolling, set
the parking brake firmly on both vehicles involved in
the jump start procedure. Put an automatic
transmission in PARK (P).
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug
unnecessary accessories plugged into the cigarette
lighter or accessory power outlets. Turn off all lamps
that aren't needed as well as radios. This will avoid
sparks and help save both batteries. In addition, it
could save your radio!
NOTICE:
If you leave your radio on, it could be badly
damaged. The repairs wouldn't be covered by
your warranty.
4. Open the hoods and locate the batteries. Find
the positive (+) and negative (
-) terminals on
each battery.
CAUTION:
Using a match near a battery can cause battery
gas to explode. People have been hurt doing this,
and some have been blinded. Use a flashlight if
you need more light.
Be sure the battery has enough water. You don't
need to add water to the ACDelco
battery
installed in every new GM vehicle. But if a
battery has filler caps, be sure the right amount
of fluid is there. If it is low, add water to take care
of that first. If you don't, explosive gas could
be present.
Battery fluid contains acid that can burn you.
Don't get it on you. If you accidentally get it in
your eyes or on your skin, flush the place with
water and get medical help immediately.

6-34
NOTICE:

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 ªAppearance Careº 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 go or
be heard all the time your vehicle is moving (except when
you are pushing on the brake pedal firmly).
CAUTION:
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.
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 something is wrong with
your brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are necessary to help
prevent brake pulsation. When tires are rotated, inspect
brake pads for wear and evenly torque wheel nuts in the
proper sequence to GM specifications.

6-63
Fuse/Circuit
BreakerUsage
4 DRL Relay, Instrument
Panel Cluster
5 Rear Defogger
6 Cruise Module, TBC Module,
Instrument Panel Cluster,
Cruise Control Switch,
Electrochromic Mirror
7 Power Outlets, DLC,
Subwoofer Amplifier
8 Crank Circuit Fuse, Park/Neutral
Switch, Starter Enable Relay
9 License Plate Lamp, Taillamps,
Parking Lamps, Ashtray Lamp,
Panel Lights, Trailer Taillamps,
Front and Rear Sidemarker
Lamps, Door Switch Illumination,
Headlamp Switch Illumination,
Rear Seat Audio Illumination,
TBC Module
10 Air Bag System
11 Not UsedFuse/Circuit
BreakerUsage
12 L, M1, M2 Blower Motor, Rear
A/C Relay Coil, Front Cont.
Temp. Door Motor, HI Blower
Relay, Defogger Timer Coil
13 Cigarette Lighter, Door Lock
Switches, Dutch Door
Release Module
14 Cluster Illum, HVAC Controls,
Chime Module, Radio
Illumination, Rear Heat Switch
Illumination, Rear Wiper/Washer
Switch Illumination, Rear Liftgate
Switch Illumination, Remote
Cassette Illumination, O/H
Console, TBC Illumination
15 TBC Module, Headlamp Relay
16 Front Turn Signals, Rear Turn
Signals, Trailer Turn Signals,
Back
-Up Lamps, BTSI Solenoid
17 Front Wipers, Front Washer Pump
18 VCM
-Ign 3, VCM-Brake, Cruise
Stepper Motor Signal,
ATC Module

6-66
Fuse/Circuit
Breaker Usage
ECM
-B Fuel Pump Relay and Motor,
VCM, Oil Pressure
Switch/Sender
HORN Horn Relay and Horn
A/C COMP A/C Enable Relay
and Compressor
RR HTR/AC Rear Heater and A/C
ATC Active Transfer Case
FRT HVAC Front Heater and A/C
ENG
-I Oxygen Sensors, Camshaft
Position Sensor, Mass Air Flow
Sensor, Evaporative Emission
Canister Vent Solenoid
IGN
-E A/C Enable Relay Coil
ECM
-I Fuel Injectors 1-6, Crankshaft
Position Sensor, VCM, Coil
Driver Module (EST),
Ignition CoilFuse/Circuit
Breaker Usage
RH HDLMP Right Headlamp
LH Headlamp Left Headlamp
DIODE
-A/C Coil A/C
LIGHTING Courtesy Fuse, Pwr. Adj.
Mirrors Fuse, TBC
-Battery Fuse
BATT Power ACCY CB, Stop/Hazard
Fuse, Auxiliary Power Fuse,
Cigarette Lighter Fuse,
Radio Battery Fuse
IGN A Starter Relay, Ignition Switch
IGN B Ignition Switch
ABS Electronic Brake
Control Module
RAP Radio Accy, Power Windows
HTD MIR/RR
DEFOGRear Window Defogger,
HVAC Control Head
*A fuse puller is included in the underhood electrical
center. You will also find spare fuses.