key CHEVROLET ASTRO 1996 Owners Manual

Removing the Rear Seats
To remove the rear seats, do the following:
7-7 I TO DETACH
1 BELT FOR 1
I SEAT REMOVAL
I
I! + iI
1 ANDIUSH 11
1 . INSERT KEY
INTO HOLE
I I I
1. If you are removing the
center seat, remove the
right lap-shoulder belt.
To do this, press the tip
of a
key into the release
hole
of the safety belt
attachment while pulling
up on the safety belt.
2. If you have a safety belt
guide on your seat, pull
the safety belt all the way
out through
the guide.
3. Pull up on the seatback latch on the right rear of the
front seat. Push the seatback down until it locks in
place (non-touring bench seats only).
1-8

Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing and
diagnostic module, which records information about
the
air bag system. The module records information
about the readiness of the system, when the sensors are
activated and driver’s safety belt usage at deployment.
system. Improper service can mean that your air bag
system won’t work properly. See your dealer for service.
0 Let only qualified technicians work on your air bag
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle
Air bags affect how your vehicle should be serviced.
There are parts
of the air bag system in several places
around your vehicle. You don’t want the system to
inflate while someone is working on your vehicle. Your
GM dealer and the service manual have information
about servicing your vehicle and the air bag system.
To
purchase a service manual, see “Service and Owner
Publications”
in the Index.
NOTICE:
If you damage the cover for the driver’s or the
right front passenger’s air bag, they may not
work properly. You may have to replace the air
bag module in the steering wheel or both the air
bag module and the instrument panel
for the
right front passenger’s air bag.
Do not open or
break the air bag covers.
.
For up to 10 minutes after the ignition key is
turned off and the battery is disconnected, an air
bag can still inflate during improper service. You
can be injured
if you are close to an air bag when
it inflates. Avoid wires wrapped with yellow tape
or yellow connectors. They are probably part of
the air bag system. Be sure to follow proper
service procedures, and make sure the person
performing work for you is qualified to do
so.
The air bag system does not need regular maintenance.
1-29

The best way to protect the fetus is to protect the
mQther. When a safety belt is worn properly, it’s more
likely that the fetus won’t be
hurt in a crash. For
pregnant women, as for anyone, the key to making
safety belts effective is wearing them properly.
Right Front Passenger Position
The right front passenger’s safety belt works the same
way as the driver’s safety belt. See “Driver Position”
earlier in this section.
When the lap belt
is pulled out all the way, it will lock.
If
it does, let it go back all the way and start again.
Rear Seat Passengers
Rear Seat Outside Passenger Positions
Lap-Shoulder Belt’
1 I It’s important for rear seat .passengers to buckle These positions have lap-shoulder belts. Here’s‘how to
; Accident statistics show that unbeited people in the rear wear one properly,
i seat are hurt more often in crashes than those who are
wearing safety. belts.
Rear passengers who aren’t safety belted can be thrown
out
of the vehicle in a crash. And they can strike others
in the vehicle who are wearing safety belts.
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1. .I :, ..
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1-31 /

Section 2 Features and Controls
Here you can learn about the many standard and
optional features on your vehicle, and information on
starting, shifting and braking. Also explained are
the
instrument panel and the warning systems that tell you if
everything is working properly -- and what to do if you
have a problem.
Keys
Leaving young children in a vehicle with the
ignition key
is dangerous for many reasons.
A child or others could be badly injured or
even killed.
They could operate power windows or other
controls or even make the vehicle move. Don't
leave the keys in a vehicle with young children.
2-1

This vehicle has one
double-sided key for the
ignition and door locks. It
will fit with either side up.
You will have a separate
single-sided key
to
secure the locking front
storage compartment. When
a new vehicle is delivered, the dealer provides the
owner
with a pair of identical keys and a bar-coded tag.
The bar-coded tag has a code on
it that tells your dealer
or a qualified locksmith how to make extra keys. Keep
this tag
in a safe place. If you lose your keys, you'll be
able to have new ones made easily using this tag.
NOTICE:
Your vehicle has a number of new features that
can help prevent theft. But you can have a lot
of trouble getting into your vehicle if you ever
lock your keys inside. You may even have to
damage your vehicle to get in.
So be sure you
have extra keys.
2-2

Door Locks
A. CAUTION:
Unlocked doors can be dangerous.
Passengers
-- especially children -- can easily
open the doors and fall out. When a door is
locked, the inside handle won't open
it.
Outsiders can easily enter through an unlocked
door when you slow down or stop your vehicle.
This may not be
so obvious: You increase the
chance
of being thrown out of the vehicle in a
crash if the doors aren't locked. Wear safety belts
properly, lock your doors, and you will be far
better off whenever you drive your vehicle.
I'here are several ways to lock and unlock your vehicle.
To unlock your door from the outside, use your key.
To lock the front doors and
sliding side door from the
inside, slide the lock levers
down.
To unlock the front
doors and the sliding side
door from the inside, slide
the lock levers up.
Rear doors cannot be manually locked from the inside.
To unlock the rear hatch and Dutch doors from the
inside, press the REAR HATCH button located
to the
right
of the shift lever.
2-5

Power Door Locks
’r x ’?
If your vehicle has power
door locks, press the power
door lock switch to lock or
unlock all the doors at once. Every vehicle
with power door locks
has a pulse lock
system.
A pulse lock system works like this:
If the sliding door is open and you press the power door
lock switch, the sliding door will
not lock immediately.
After you close the door,
the system comes on and, in
about five seconds, locks the sliding door.
All models have overriding door locks. When a door is
locked,
the door handle will not work the latch. This
will help stop a door from being accidentally opened.
However, power door locks do not affect the operation
of
the hatch.
Leaving Your Vehicle
The power door lock switch will not lock or unlock the
rear hatch and Dutch doors. You must use
the REAR
HATCH button. See “Rear Hatch and Dutch Doors
Release” in this section.
If you are leaving the vehicle, take your keys, open your
door and set the locks from inside. Then get out and
close the door.
2-6

Keyless Entry System
If your vehicle has this option, you can lock and unlock
your doors or unlock your
trunk from up to 30 feet (9 m)
away using the key chain transmitter supplied
with
your vehicle.
Your Keyless Entry System operates on a radio
frequency subject to Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) Rules.
This device complies with
Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation
is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and
(2) This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired operation.
Should interference to this system occur, try this:
Check to determine if battery replacement is
necessary. See the instructions on battery replacement.
Check the distance. You may be too far from your
vehicle. This product has a maximum range.
Check the location. Other vehicles or objects may be
blocking the signal.
See your GM dealer or a qualified technician
for service.
Changes or modifications to this system by other than
an
authorized service facility could void authorization to
use this equipment.
Operation
When you press UNLOCK, the driver’s door will
unlock automatically. If you press UNLOCK again
within five seconds, all doors will unlock.
All doors will
lock when
DOOR is pressed. The interior lamps will
come on whenever you lock or unlock the doors. See
“Keyless Illumination’’
in the Index. Pressing REAR
twice within
3 1/2 seconds, will unlock the hatch or rear
cargo doors.
2-7

Matching Transmitter(s) To Your Vehicle
Each key chain transmitter is coded to prevent another
transmitter from unlocking your vehicle. If
a transmitter is
lost or stolen, a replacement can be purchased through
your dealer. Remember to bring
any remaining transmitters
with you when
you go to your dealer. When the dealer
matches the replacement transmitter to your vehicle, any
remaining transmitters must also be matched. Once the new transmitter is coded, the lost transmitter will
not
unlock your vehicle. Each vehicle can have only two
transmitters matched to
it.
See your dealer to match transmitters to another vehicle.
Battery Replacement
Under normal use, the batteries in your key chain
transmitter should last about two years.
You can tell the batteries are weak if the transmitter
won’t work at the normal range
in any location. If you
have
to get close to your vehicle before the transmitter
works, it’s probably time
to change the batteries.
Your transmitter housing snaps apart for ease
in
battery replacement.
To open the housing:
1. Insert a dime be een two halves of the transmitter
housing near
the Key ring hole.
2. Remove the bottom by twisting the dime.
3. Remove and replace the batteries with two Duracell @
batteries (DL2016 or equivalent), positive (+) side down.
4. Align and snap together the back and top
transmitter housings.
2-8

Hatch
A CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to drive with the rear
swing-out windows, rear hatch or rear doors
open because carbon monoxide (CO) gas can
come into your vehicle. You can’t see or smell
CO. It can cause unconsciousness and even death.
If you must drive with the rear swing-out
windows, rear hatch or rear doors open or
if
electrical wiring or other cable connections must
pass through the seal between the body and the
rear swing-out windows, rear hatch or rear doors:
Make sure all windows are shut.
’hrn the fan on your heating or cooling
system to its highest speed with the setting
on anything but MAX A/C. That will force
outside air into your vehicle. See “Comfort
Controls” in the Index.
instrument panel, open them all the way.
If you have air outlets on or under the
See “Engine Exhaust” in the Index.
Rear Hatch and Dutch Doors Release
(Option)
If you have this option, your vehicle must be in either
PARK (P) or NEUTRAL
(N) to release the hatch and
unlock the Dutch doors. If your battery
is dead, the
hatch and Dutch doors will not open,
even from the
outside with a key.
To release the hatch and
unlock the doors from the
inside of the vehicle, press
the REAR HATCH button
on the instrument panel.
It
is located on the right side of the steering column. The
hatch will release with or without the key
in the ignition.
Then, pull up on
the hatch handle and open the doors.
2-11