service CHEVROLET ASTRO 1996 Owners Manual

REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS TO
THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT
If you live in Canada, and you believe that your vehicle
has
a safety defect, you should immediately notify
Transport Canada,
in addition to notifying General
Motors
of Canada Limited. You may write to:
Transport Canada
Box 8880
Ottawa, Ontario K1 G 352
REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS
TO GENERAL MOTORS
In addition to notifying NHTSA (or Transport Canada)
in a situation like this, we certainly hope you’ll notify
us. Please call us
at 1-800-222- 1020 or write:
Chevrolet
Motor Division
Chevrolet Customer Assistance Center
P.O. Box 7047
Troy, Michigan 48007-7047
In Canada, please call us at 1-800-263-3777 (English)
or 1-800-263-7854 (French). Or, write:
General Motors
of Canada Limited
Customer Assistance Center 1908 Colonel
Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario L
1 H 8P7
Service and Owner Publications
Service manuals, service bulletins, owner’s manuals and
other service literature are available for purchase for all
current and many past model General Motors vehicles.
Toll-free telephone numbers for ordering information:
United States
. . . . . . . 1-800-551-4123
Canada
. . . . . . 1-800-668-5539
8-9

Service Manuals
Service ,manuals contain diagnostic and repair
information for all chassis and body systems. They
may be useful for owners who wish to get a greater
understanding of their vehicle. They are also useful for
owners with the appropriate skill level or training who
wish to perform “do-it-yourself’ service. These are
authentic General Motors service manuals meant for
professional, qualified technicians.
Service Bulletins
Service bulletins covering various subjects are regularly
sent to all General Motors dealerships. GM monitors
product performance in the field. When service methods
are found which promote better service on
GM vehicles,
bulletins are created to help the technician perform
better service. Service bulletins may involve any number
of vehicles. Some will describe inexpensive
service; others will describe expensive service. Some
will advise of new or unexpected conditions, and others
may help avoid future costly repairs. Service bulletins
are meant for qualified technicians. In some cases
bulletins refer to service manuals, specialized tools,
equipment and safety procedures necessary
to service
the vehicle. Since these bulletins are issued throughout
the model year and beyond, an index is required and
published quarterly to help identify specific bulletins.
Subscriptions are available. You can order an index at
the toll-free numbers listed previously, or ask
a GM
dealer to see an index or individual bulletin.
Owner Publications
Owner’s manuals, warranty folders and various owner
assistance booklets provide owners with general
operation and maintenance information.
8-10

Brakes. Anti-Lock ............................... 4-6
Braking
........................................ 4-5
Braking
in Emergencies ........................... 4-8
Break-In. New Vehicle
.......................... 2- 13
BTSICheck ................................... 7-43
Bulb Replacement
.............................. 6-36
Canadian Roadside Assistance
.................... 8-6
Capacities and Specifications
...................... 6-67
Carbon Monoxide
............... 2.26.4.25.4.32. 4.33
Cassette Deck Service
........................... 7-41
Cassette Tape Player
.................. 3- 10. 3. 12. 3.20
Cassette Tape Player Care
........................ 3-27
Center Passenger Position
........................ 1-34
Chains. Safety
................................. 4-32
Chains. Tire
................................... 6-49
Changing a Flat Tire
............................. 5-23
Charging System Light
.......................... 2-55
Check Gages Light
.............................. 2-63
Check Oil Light
................................ 2-61
Checking
Your Restraint Systems .................. 1-52
Chemical Paint Spotting
.......................... 6-57
Child Restraints
................................ 1-4 I
Securing in a Rear Outside Seat Position ........... 1-43
Securing
in the Center Seat Position .............. 1-45
Securing
in the Right Front Seat Position .......... 1-46
TopStrap
................................... 1-42
Where to Put
........................... 1-4 I. 1-42
Cigarette Lighter
............................... 2-48
Circuit Breakers and Fuses
....................... 6-61
Cleaner. Air ................................... 6-19 Cleaning
Aluminum Wheels ............................ 6-55
Fabric
...................................... 6-50
Glass
....................................... 6-53
Inside
of Your Vehicle ......................... 6-50
Instrument Panel
............................. 6-53
Leather
..................................... 6-52
Outside
of Your Vehicle ........................ 6-54
Special Problems
............................. 6-51
Stains
...................................... 6-51
Tires
....................................... 6-56
Vinyl ....................................... 6-52
Wheels
..................................... 6-55
Windshield and Wiper Blades
................... 6-53
Clock. Setting the
................................ 3-8
Comfort Controls
................................ 3-1
Compact Disc Care
............................. 3-28
Compact Disc Player
............................ 3-16
Compact Spare Tire
............................. 5-36
Control of a Vehicle .............................. 4-5
ConvenienceNet
............................... 2-46
Convex Outside Mirror
.......................... 2-39
Coolant
....................................... 6-25
Heater. Engine
............................... 2-16
RecoveryTank
............................... 5-15
Courtesy Lamps
................................ 2-37
Courtesy Transportation
........................... 8-6
Cruise Control
................................. 2-32
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone Users
......... 8-3
Customer
Assistance Information ................... 8-1
Customer Satisfaction Procedure .................... 8-1
Cooling System
................................ 5-15
9-2

Instrumentpanel ............................... 2-50
Brightness Control
.................... i ....... 2-35
Cleaning
.................................... 6-53
Cluster
..................................... 2-52
FuseBlock
.................................. 6-61
Interior Lamps
................................. 2-37 Charging System
........................... 2-55
Check Gages
................................ 2-63
Check Oil
................................... 2-61
Daytime Running Lamps Indicator
............... 2-62
Safety Belt Reminder
..................... 1 - 12. 2-54
Service Engine Soon
.......................... 2-58
Loading Your Vehicle
........................... 4-26 .
J
Locks
ack. Tire .................................... 5-24
Cylinders ................................... 7-42
Jump Starting ................................... 5-2
Door ........................................ 2-5
Key Lock Cylinders Service
..................... 7-42
Keyless Entry System
............................ 2-7
Keys
.......................................... 2-1
Key Lock Cylinder Service ..................... 7-42
PowerDoor
.................................. 2-6
Sliding Door Child Security
..................... 2-10
Steering Column Lock Check
................... 7-44
Lubricants and Fluids
............................ 7-47
Lubrication Service. Body
........................ 7-42
Luggagecarrier
................................ 2-47
Certificationflire
............................. 4-26 Lumbar Controls ................................ 1-2
Service Parts Identification ..................... 6-59
Tire-Loading Information
...................... 4-26
Vehicle Identification Number
................... 6-59
Lamps ........................................ 2-35
Dome
...................................... 2-37
Interior
..................................... 2-37
OnReminder
................................ 2-36
Latches. Seatback ................................ 1-5
Leaving Your Vehicle ............................. 2-6
Leaving Your Vehicle with the Engine Running
....... 2-24
Lighter
....................................... 2-48
Lights
Air Bag Readiness ....................... 1-25. 2-54
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
............ 2-57. 4-6
Brake System Warning
......................... 2-57 Maintenance.
Normal Replacement Parts
........... 6-69
Maintenance Record
............................ 7-49
Maintenance Schedule
............................ 7-1
Long Trip/Highway Definition
................... 7-5
Long TripMighway Intervals
..................... 7-5
Owner Checks and Services
..................... 7-41
Periodic Maintenance Inspections
................ 7-45
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
............. 7-47
Scheduled Maintenance Services
.................. 7-2
Short Trip/City Definition
....................... 7-4
Short Trip/City Intervals ........................ 7-4
Maintenance. Underbody ......................... 6-X
9-5

Maintenance When Trailer Towing ............... 4-36
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
...................... 2-58
ManualFrontSeat
............................... 1-1
Manual Lumbar Support .......................... 1-2
Methanol
...................................... 6-4
Mirrors
....................................... 2-38
Convex Outside
.............................. 2-39
Inside Day/Night Rearview
..................... 2-38
Outside
..................................... 2-39
Visor Vanity ................................. 2-49
MMT
......................................... 6-3
ModelReference
................................. vi
Mountain Roads ........ ................ 4-20
Net. Convenience
.............................. 2-46
Neutral
....................................... 2-19
New Vehicle Break-In
........................... 2- I3
Nightvision
................................... 4-13
Odometer
.................................... 2-53
Odometer. Trip
................................. 2-53
Off-Road Recovery
............................. 4- IO
Oil. Engine .................................... 6-11
Opener. Garage Door ............................ 2-43
Outside Mirror
................................. 2-39
Overhead Console
.............................. 2-42
Overheating Engine
............................. 5- I3
Owner Checks and Services
....................... 7-41
Owner Publications. Ordering ...................... 8-9
Paint Spotting. Chemical ........................ 6-57
Park
......................................... 2-18
Shifting Into
................................. 2-22
Shifting Out
of ............................... 2-25
AtNight
.................................... 2-13
Brake ...................................... 2-21
Brake Mechanism Check
....................... 7-44
Lots
....................................... 2-13
Over Things That Burn
......................... 2-25
With
a Trailer ................................ 4-36
Passing
....................................... 4-10
Payload
....................................... 4-28
Periodic Maintenance Inspections
.................. 7-45
Power Accessory Outlet
............................. 2-49
DoorLocks
................................... 2-5
Option Fuses
................................ 6-60
Seat ......................................... 1-3
Steering ..................................... 4-8
Steering Fluid
................................ 6-30
Windows
.................................... 2-27
Pregnancy, Use of Safety Belts
.................... 1-30
Problems on the Road
............................ 5-1
Publications, Service and Owner .................... 8-9
Parking
Radiator
..................................... 5-19
Radiator Pressure Cap ........................... 6-29
Radio Reception
................................ 3-26
Radios
........................................ 3-8
Rain. Driving In ................................ 4-14
Reading
Lamps ................................ 2-38
9-6

Rear Air Conditioning System
.................... 3-4
Axle
....................................... 6-25
Heating System
............................... 3-4
Outside Seat Position
.......................... 1-3 I
Safety Belt Comfort Guides ..................... 1-36
SeatAudio
.................................. 3-22
Seatpassengers
.............................. 1-31
Storage
..................................... 2-40
Towing
................................ 5.11. 5.12
Window Defogger
............................. 3-7
Windshield Washer
........................... 2-3 I
Rearview Mirror ................................ 2-38
Reclining Front Seatbacks
......................... 1-3
Recovery Tank, Coolant
.......................... 5- 15
Refrigerants. Air Conditioning
.................... 6-68
Regulator.
Fuel ................................. 2- 16
Removable Rear Seats ............................ 1-8
Replacement Bulbs
...................................... 6-66
Parts
....................................... 6-69
Wheel
...................................... 6-47
Replacing Safety Belts
........................... 1-52
Reporting Safety Defects
.......................... 8-8
Restraints Checking
................................... 1-52
Child ....................................... 1-41
Head
........................................ 1-5
Replacing Parts After
a Crash ................... 1-52
Systemcheck
................................ 7-42
Reverse
....................................... 2-19
Right Front Passenger Position
.................... 1-3 I
Roadside Assistance .............................. 8-4 Roadside Assistance. Canadian
......... ....... 8-6
Rocking Your Vehicle
........................... 5-37
Rotation. Tires
...................... ...... 6-44
Safety Belt Extender
............................ 1-51
Safety Belt Comfort Guides
....................... 1-36
Safety Belts
................................... 1 . 11
Adults ...................................... 1-16
Care
....................................... 6-53
Center Passenger Position
...................... 1-34
Children
.................................... 1-38
Driver Position
............................... 1-16
Extender
.................................... 1-51
How
to Wear Properly ......................... 1-16
Incorrect Usage
.................... 1.19. 1-50, 1-51
LapBelt
.................................... 1-34
Lap-Shoulder
........................... 1 . 16, 1-3 1
Questions and Answers ........................ 1 . 15
Rear Seat Outside Passenger Positions
............ 1-31
Rear Seat Passengers
.......................... 1-31
Reminder Light
......................... 1 - 12. 2-54
Replacing Atter
a Crash ........................ 1-52
Right Front Passenger Position .................. 1-31
Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster
................... 1 . 18
Smaller Children and Babies. Cargo Vans .......... 1-40
Smaller Children and Babies. Except Cargo Vans
.... 1-38
Use During Pregnancy
......................... 1-30
WhyThey Work
.............................. 1-12
Safety Defects. Reporting ......................... 8-8
Safety Warnings and Symbols
....................... 111
Scheduled Maintenance Services .................... 7-3
Larger Children
.............................. 1-49
Safety Chains
.................................. 4-32
...
9-7

Seatback Latches
.................................... 1-5
Reclining .................................... 1-3
Bench
....................................... 1-6
Bucket ...................................... 1-6
ManualFront
................................. 1-1
Manual Lumbar Support ........................ 1-2
Power
....................................... 1-3
Rear
........................................ 1-5
Removable Rear Bucket ......................... 1-8
Restraint Systems
.............................. 1 - 1
Seat Controls ................................. 1 . 1
Securing a Child Restraint ................. 1.41. 1-42
Two-WayManual
............................. 1-2
Second Gear
................................... 2-20
Service
........................................ 6-1
Bulletins. Ordering
............................. 8-9
EngineSoonLight
............................ 2-58
Manuals. Ordering
............................. 8-9
Parts Identification Label
....................... 6-59
Publications. Ordering
........................... 8-9
Work. Doing Your Own
......................... 6-2
Service and Appearance Care
...................... 6- 1
Service Publications .............................. 8-9
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle
........... 1-29
Sheet Metal Damage
............................ 6-56
Shifting
....................................... 2-18
IntoPark
.................................... 2-22
Outofpark
.................................. 2-25
Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster
..................... 1 - 18
SIR .......................................... 1-24
Skidding
....................................... 4-12
Sound Equipment. Adding
........................ 3-26
Seats
Spare Tire.
Compact
............................. 5-36
Specifications and Capacities
...................... 6-67
Speech Impaired. Customer Assistance
............... 8-3
Speedometer
................................... 2-53
Springs. Fiberglass
.............................. 6-57
Stains. Cleaning
................................ 6-51
Starter Switch Check ............................ 7-43
Starting Your Engine
............................ 2-15
Steam
........................................ 5-13
Steering
....................................... 4-8
Column Lock Check
.......................... 7-44
In Emergencies ................................ 4-9
Power
....................................... 4-8
Tips
......................................... 4-8
Wheel. Tilt
.................................. 2-29
Storage Compartments
........................... 2-40
Storage. Vehicle
................................ 6-36
Stuck:
In Sand. Mud. Ice or Snow .................. 5-37
Sunvisors
.................................... 2-49
Sunglasses Storage
.............................. 2-46
Supplemental Inflatable Restraint
.................. 1-24
Symbols. Vehicle
.................................. v
Taillamp Bulb Replacement ...................... 6-40
Tape Player Care
............................... 3-27
Theft
......................................... 2-12
Theft-Deterrent Feature
.............. ; ........... 3-23
THEFTLOCK" ................................ 3-23
Thermostat
.................................... 6-30
Third Gear
.................................... 2-20
Tilt Steering Wheel
............................. 2-29
Time. Setting
................................... 3-8
Tirechains
.................................... 6-49
9-8