CHEVROLET ASTRO 1996 Owners Manual
Manufacturer: CHEVROLET, Model Year: 1996, Model line: ASTRO, Model: CHEVROLET ASTRO 1996Pages: 372, PDF Size: 21.51 MB
Page 91 of 372

Windshield Winers
You control the windshield
wipers by turning the band
with the wiper symbol
on it.
For a single wiping cycle,
turn the band to MIST. Hold
it there until the wipers
start, then let go. The wipers
will stop after one wipe.
If -5
Windshield Washer
you want more wipes,-hold
the band on MIST longer.
You can set the wiper speed for a long or short delay
between wipes. This can be very useful in light rain or
snow. Turn the band to choose the delay time. The
closer to
LOW, the shorter the delay.
For steady wiping at low speed, turn the band away
from you
to the LOW position. For high-speed wiping,
turn the band further, to HIGH. To stop the wipers,
move the band to the OFF position.
Be sure to clear ice and snow from the wiper blades
before using them.
If they're frozen to the windshield,
carefully loosen or thaw them.
If your blades do become
worn
or damaged, get new blades or blade inserts. At
the top of the multifunction lever, there's a paaale
marked with the windshield washer symbol and
PUSH. To
spray washer fluid on the windshield, press the paddle.
The wipers will clear the window and then either stop
or
return to your preset speed.
A CAUTION:
In freezing weather, don't use your washer until
the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the washer
fluid can form ice on the windshield, blocking
your vision.
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Rear Window Washermiper (Option) from
a switch on your
instrument panel, next to
the audio system.
To turn the wiper on, slide the switch all the way up.
For delay wiping, slide the switch even with
the word
DELAY in the center position of the rear wiper control.
The wiper will cycle every nine seconds.
To wash the window, push in on the switch. Window
washer fluid will continue
to spray until the switch is
released. The wiper will continue with three more wipes
and then return
to the setting that was chosen before the
lever was pushed.
The rear window washer uses the same fluid bottle as
the front windshield washer.
If the fluid level is low in
the washer bottle, you may not be able to wash your rear
window.
If you can wash your windshield, but not your
rear window, check
the fluid level.
Cruise Control (Option)
With cruise control, you can maintain a speed of about
25 mph (40 kmh) or more without keeping your foot
on the accelerator. This can really help on long trips.
Cruise control does not work at speeds below about
25 mph (40 km/h).
When you apply
y sakes, the *
A CAUTION:
#e con 1 sh i off.
Cruise control can be dal-,-- JUS wher - JOU
can’t drive safely at a steady speed. So,
don’t use your cruise control on winding
roads or in heavy traffic.
slippery roads. On such roads, fast changes
in tire traction can cause needless wheel
spinning, and you could lose control. Don’t
use cruise control on slippery roads.
Cruise control can be dangerous on
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Resuming a Set Speed
Setting Cruise Control
If you leave your cruise control switcn on when
you're not using cruise, you might hit a button
and
go into cruise when you don't want to.
You could be startled and even lose control.
Keep the cruise control switch
OFF until you
want to use it.
__~~ ~
1. Move the cruise control switch to ON.
2. Get up to the speed you want. Suppose
you set your cruise control at
a desired speed
and then
you apply the brake. This, of course, shuts off
the cruise control. But you don't need to reset it.
..::: . .. .
Once you're going about
25 mph (40 km/h) or more,
you
can move the cruise
control switch from
ON
to R/A for about
1 1/2 seconds.
3. Press in the SET button
at the end
of the lever
and release it. You'll
go right back up to your chosen speed and
stay there.
Remember, if you hold the switch at R/A longer than
1 1/2 seconds, the vehicle will keep going faster until
you release the switch or apply the brake. You could be
startled and even lose control.
So unless you want to
go faster, don't hold the switch at R/A.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
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Increasing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed:
Use the accelerator pedal to get to the higher speed.
Press the button at the end of the lever, then release
the button and the accelerator pedal. You’ll now
cruise at the higher speed.
Move the cruise switch from ON to R/A. Hold it
there until you get up to the speed you want, and
then release the switch.
(To increase your speed in
very small amounts, move the switch to
WA for less
than
3/4 of a second. Each time you do this, your
vehicle will go about
1 mph (1.6 kdh) faster.)
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise Contrel
There are two ways to reduce your speed while using
cruise control:
0 Press the button at the end of the lever until you
reach the lower speed you want, then release it.
0 To slow down in very small amounts, press the
button for less than
1/2 second. Each time you do
this, you’ll go 1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase .your speed. When
you take your foot off the pedal, your vehicle will slow
down to the cruise control speed you set earlier.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load
and the steepness of the hills.
When going up steep
hills, you may want to step on the
accelerator pedal
to maintain your speed. When going
downhill, you may have to brake or shift to a lower gear
to keep your speed down. Of course, applying the brake
takes you out of cruise control. Many drivers find this to
be too much trouble and don’t use cruise control on
steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
There are two ways to turn off the cruise control:
Step lightly on the brake pedal.
Move the cruise switch to 0,FE
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition.
your cruise control set speed memory
is erased.
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Page 95 of 372

1-
,
Lamps
I
I i
i
I
Turn the knob to the master lamp symbol to turn on all
the lamps listed as well as the headlamps.
Turn the
knob to OFF to turn off your lamps.
Rotate the dial next to the lamp switch down to dim
your instrument panel lights.
Rotate the dial up to brighten you instrument panel
lights. If you rotate the dial all the way until it clicks,
your interior lamps will come on.
Headlamps
You can switch your headlamps from high to low beam
by pulling the multifunction lever toward you.
A circuit breaker protects your headlamps. If you have
an electrical overload, your headlamps will flicker on
and off. Have your headlamp wiring checked right away
I Your lamp switch is on the driver's side of the if this happens.
instrument panel.
Turn the
knob to the first position to turn on:
I 0 'parking Lamps ! 0 Taillamps
I * * License Plate Lamps
0 Instrument Panel Lights
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Page 96 of 372

Headlamps On Reminder
A reminder tone will sound when your headlamps or
parking lamps
are turned on and your ignition is in the
OFF, LOCK or ACCESSORY position. To turn the tone
off, turn the switch
to the OFF position.
Daytime Running Lamps (If Equipped)
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others
to see the front of your vehicle during the day.
DRL can be helpful in many different driving
conditions, but they can be especially helpful in the
short periods after dawn and before sunset.
The DRL system will make your headlamps come
on at
a reduced brightness when:
the ignition is on,
the headlamp switch is off and
the parking brake is released.
When the DRL are on,
only your headlamps will be on.
The taillamps, sidemarker and other lamps won’t be on.
Your instrument panel won’t be
lit up either. When
it begins
to get dark, your DRL indicator light is a
reminder
to turn your headlamp switch on. The other
lamps that come on with your headlamps will also
come
on.
When you turn the headlamp switch off, the regular
lamps will go off, and your headlamps will change to
the reduced brightness of DRL.
To idle your vehicle with the DRL off, set the parking
brake. The DRL will stay off until you release the
parking brake.
As with any vehicle, you should turn
on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
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Interior Lamps
Dome Lamps
Dome Lam- --I Off Button
The dome lamps may come on when you open any of
the doors. You can also turn on the dome lamps by
turning the dimmer dial up until it clicks.
::.,,, .. -.
If the DOME LAMP OFF button is in the out position,
your interior lamps will work as usual.
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If the button is pressed in, the interior lamps will not
come on when any
of the vehicle’s doors are open,
unless your vehicle has the optional Keyless Entry
system. The button
is located next to the lamp
switch knob.
If you have the optional reading lamps, they will still
operate if the button
is pressed-in.
Reading Lamps.(Option)
You may have the optional reading lamps next to the
dome lamps. Turn the lamps on and
off by pressing the
switch next
to the lamp.
You can adjust the lamps to any desired position by
rotating the ,lamp and they will work when the ignition
is on or off. Be sure to turn the lamps off before you
leave the vehicle.
.- , , ,,
Mirrors
Inside Daymight Rearview Mirror
You can adjust the mirror for day or night driving. Press
the tab forward ‘(away from
you) for day driving. Pull
the tab back (toward
you) for night driving.
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Outside Mirrors
Adjust your outside mirrors so you can just see the side
of your vehicle.
Some mirrors are manually adjustable. The optional
electric mirrors come with a remote control adjustment
switch. Find the switch on the driver’s door. you
do not accidentally move a mirror, turn the knob to
the middle (off‘) position.
Mirrors can also be folded in
or out. Push the mirror
toward the vehicle to move it in. After pushing the
mirror out, adjustment will be maintained.
Convex Outside Mirror
Your passenger’s side mirror is convex. A convex
mirror’s surface
is curved so you can see more from the
driver’s seat.
To move a mirror, turn the knob in the middle of the
control
to L for the driver’s side mirror or to R for the
passenger’s side mirror. Then press the four-way pad to
move the mirror in
the desired direction. To make sure
A convex mirror can make things (likl- Aher
vehicles) look farther away than they really are.
If you cut too sharply into the right lane, you
could hit
a vehicle on your right. Check your
inside mirror or glance over your shoulder before
changing lanes.
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Storage Compartments
Your front storage compartment/glove box is at the
center
of the engine cover. You will have a single-sided
key
to lock and unlock it. To open the compartment,
press
the two tabs together and pull.
If you have an optional sliding tray storage compartment,
it is under the front passenger seat. To open the
compartment, move the latch in the top handle and
pull the tray forward.
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