weight CHEVROLET ASTRO 1996 Owners Manual

Leaving Your Vehicle With the
E.noiqe Rmnnjnq
r
can be ( lgerous to we your vt cle wi
the engine running. Your vehicle could move
suddenly if the shift lever
is not fully in PARK (P)
with the parking brake firmly set. And, if you
leave the vehicle with the engine running, it could
overheat and even catch fire. You or others could
be injured. Don’t leave your vehicle with the
engine running unless you have
to.
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your vehicle is in PARK (P) and your
parking brake is firmly set before you leave it. After
you’ve moved the shift lever into the PARK (P)
position, hold the regular brake pedal down. Then, see
if you can move
the shift lever away from PARK (P)
without first pulling it toward
you. If you can, it means
that the shift lever wasn’t fully locked into PARK (P).
Torque Lock I
If you are parking on a hill and you don’t shift your
transmission
into PARK (P) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put
too much force on the parking pawl in
the transmission. You may find it difficult to pull the
shift lever out of PARK (P). This is called “torque lock.”
To prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and then
shift into PARK (P) properly before you leave the
driver’s seat.
To find out how, see “Shifting Into
PARK (P)” in the Index.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out
of
PARK (P) before you release the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur,
you may need to have another
vehicle push yours a little uphill
to take some of the
pressure from the transmission, so you can pull the shift
lever out
of PARK (P).
2-24

Luggage Carrier (Option)
If you have a luggage carrier, you can load things on top
of your vehicle.
The luggage carrier has slats, side rails and crossrails
attached to the roof to secure cargo. The moveable tie
downs, attached to the side rails, should be used to
secure loads to the luggage carrier.
Be sure the cargo
is properly loaded. Follow these guidelines:
a
a
a
Carrying small, heavy loads on the roof is
not recommended.
Tie the load to the moveable tie down,
(two per each
side of the side rails). Use the crossrails only to keep
the load from sliding.
If you need to carry long items, tie the load
to the
moveable tie downs provided in the side rails. Also
tie the load to the bumpers.
Do not tie the load so
tightly that the crossrails or side rails are damaged.
NOTICE:
Loading cargo that weighs more than 200 lbs.
(91 kg) on the luggage carrier may damage your
vehicle. When you carry large things, never let
them hang over the rear or the sides
of your
vehicle. Load your cargo
so that it rests on the
slats and does not scratch or damage the vehicle.
Put the cargo against the side rails and fasten it
securely to the luggage carrier. Put the main
weight
as far forward as you can.
Don’t exceed the maximum vehicle capacity when
loading your vehicle. For more information on vehicle
capacity and loading, see “Loading Your Vehicle” in
the Index.
To prevent damage or loss of cargo as you’re driving,
check now and then to make sure the luggage carrier and
cargo are still securely fastened.
2-47

Drunken Driving
Death and injury associated with drinking and driving
is a national tragedy. It’s the number one contributor
to
the highway death toll, claiming thousands of victims
every year.
Alcohol affects four things that anyone needs to drive
a vehicle:
Judgment
0 Muscular Coordination
Vision
0 Attentiveness.
Police records show that almost half of all motor
vehicle-related deaths involve alcohol. In most cases,
these deaths are the result of someone who was drinking
and driving. In recent years, some
18,000 annual motor
vehicle-related deaths have been associated with the use
of alcohol, with more than 300,000 people injured.
Many adults
-- by some estimates, nearly half the
adult population
-- choose never to drink alcohol, so
they never drive after drinking. For persons under 2 1,
it’s against the law in every
U.S. state to drink alcohol.
There are good medical, psychological and
developmental reasons for
these laws. The
obvious way
to solve this highway safety problem
is for people never
to drink alcohol and then drive.
But what if people do? How much is
“too much” if the
driver plans to drive?
It’s a lot less than many might
think. Although it depends
on each person and situation,
here is some general information on the problem.
The Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of someone
who
is drinking depends upon four things:
The amount of alcohol consumed
0 The drinker’s body weight
The amount of food that is consumed before and
during drinking
The length of time it has taken the drinker to
consume the alcohol.
According
to the American Medical Association, a
180-lb. (82 kg) person who drinks three 12-ounce
(355 ml) bottles of beer in an hour will end up with a
BAC
of about 0.06 percent. The person would reach the
same BAC by drinking three 4-ounce (120 ml) glasses
of wine or three mixed drinks if each had 1- 1/2 ounces
(45 ml) of a liquor like whiskey, gin or vodka.
4-2

It’s the amount of alcohol that counts. For example, if
the same person drank three double martinis
(3 ounces
or
90 ml of liquor each) within an hour, the person’s
BAC would be close to 0.12 percent. A person who
consumes food just before or during drinking will have
a somewhat lower BAC level.
There is a gender difference, too. Women generally have
a lower relative percentage of body water than men. Since
alcohol is carried in body water, this means that
a
woman generally will reach a higher BAC level than a
man of her same body weight when each has the same
number
of drinks.
The law in
many U.S. states sets the legal limit at a BAC
of 0.10 percent. In a growing number of U.S. states, and
throughout Canada, the limit is
0.08 percent. In some
other countries, it’s even lower. The BAC limit for all
commercial drivers in the United States is
0.04 percent.
The
BAC will be over 0.10 percent after three to six
drinks (in one hour). Of course, as we’ve seen, it
depends
on how much alcohol is in the drinks, and how
quickly the person drinks them.
But the ability to drive is affected well below a BAC
of 0.10 percent. Research shows that the driving skills
of many people are impaired at a BAC approaching
0.05 percent, and that the effects are worse at night. All
drivers are impaired at BAC levels above
0.05 percent.
Statistics show that the chance
of being in a collision
increases sharply for drivers who have a BAC
of
0.05 percent or above. A driver with a BAC level of
0.06 percent has doubled his or her chance of having
a collision. At
a BAC level of 0.10 percent, the chance
of this driver having a collision is 12 times greater; at a
level
of 0.15 percent, the chance is 25 times greater!
4-3

Loading Your Vehicle
7
_I r7 , 1 u-- SEE OWNER'S MANUAL FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 1 U
The CertificatiodTire label is found on the rear edge
of the driver's door. The label shows the size of your
original tires and
the inflation pressures needed to obtain
the gross weight capacity
of your vehicle.
This
is called the GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating). The GVWR includes
the weight of the vehicle,
all occupants,
fuel, cargo and tongue weight, if pulling
a trailer. The Certificationmire
label also tells you the maximum
weights for the front and rear axles, called the Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). To find out the actual
loads
on your front and rear axles, you need to go to a
weigh station and weigh your vehicle. Your dealer can
help
you with this. Be sure to spread out your load
equally
on both sides of the centerline.
Never exceed
the GVWR for your vehicle, or GAWR
for either
the front or rear axle.
And, if you do have a heavy load,
you should spread
it out.
I
A CAUTION: I
I---
Do not load your vehicle any Ldvier than
the
GVWR, or either the maximum front or
rear
GAWR. If you do, parts on your vehicle
can break, or it can change the way your
vehicle handles. These could cause you to lose
control.
Also, overloading can shorten the life
of your vehicle.
4-26

Using heavier suspension components to get added
durability might not change your weight ratings. Ask
your dealer
to help you load your vehicle the right way.
I NOTICE:
Your warranty does not cover parts or
components that fail because of overloading,
If you put things inside your vehicle
-- like suitcases,
tools, packages, or anything else
-- they will go as fast
as
the vehicle goes. If you have to stop or turn quickly,
or if there is a crash, they’ll keep going. Things
you put inside your vehicle
and injure people in a sudden stop
or turn, or in
a crash.
0
0
0
0
0
Put things in the cargo area of your vehicle,
Try to spread the weight evenly.
Never stack heavier things, like suitcases, inside the vehicle
so that some of them are
above the tops of the seats.
Don’t leave an unsecured child restraint in
your vehicle,
When you carry something inside the
vehicle, secure it whenever you can.
Don’t leave
a seat folded down unless you
need to.
4-27

Payload
The Payload Capacity is shown on the Certificationflire
label. This is the maximum load capacity that your
vehicle can carry. Be sure
to include the weight of the
people inside as part of your load.
If you added any
accessories or equipment after your vehicle
left the
factory, remember to subtract the weight of
these things
from
the payload. Your dealer can help you with this.
Trailering Package
If your vehicle comes with the Trailering Package, there
is also a load rating which includes the weight of the
vehicle and
the trailer it tows. This rating is called the
Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR).
When
you weigh your trailer, be sure to include the weight
of everything you put in it. And, remember to figure the
weight
of the people inside as part of your load.
Your dealer can help
you determine your GCWR.
Add-on Equipment
When you carry removable items, you may need to put a
limit
on how many people you carry inside your vehicle.
Be sure to weigh your vehicle before you buy and install
the new equipment.
A 34

If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer
If you do, here are some important points:
0
0
0
0
0
There are many different laws, including speed limit
restrictions, having
to do with trailering. Make sure
your rig will be legal,
not only where you live but
also where
you’ll be driving. A good source for this
information can be state or provincial police.
Consider using a sway control
if your trailer will
weigh 2,000 lbs.
(900 kg) or less. You should always
use a sway control if your trailer will weigh more
than 2,000 lbs.
(900 kg). You can ask a hitch dealer
about sway controls.
Don’t tow a trailer
at all during the first 500 miles
(800 km) your new vehicle is driven. Your engine,
axle or other parts could be damaged.
Then, during the first
500 miles (800 km) that you
tow a trailer, don’t drive over
50 mph (80 km/h) and
don’t make starts at
full throttle. This helps your
engine and other parts of your vehicle wear in at
the
heavier loads.
You should
use DRIVE (D) (or, as you need to,
a lower gear) when towing
a trailer. Operating your
vehicle in DRIVE
(D) when towing a trailer will
minimize heat buildup and extend the
life of
your transmission. Three
important considerations have to do with weight:
the weight
of the trailer,
the weight
of the trailer tongue
and the weight
on your vehicle’s tires.
Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
It depends on how you plan to use your rig. For
example, speed, altitude, road grades, outside
temperature and how much your vehicle is used to pull a
trailer are all important. And, it can also depend
on any
special equipment
that you have on your vehicle.
The following chart shows how much your trailer can
weigh, based upon your vehicle model and options.
Vehicle
Two-Wheel Drive
All-Wheel Drive
Axle Ratio Max. Trailer Wt.
3.23
3.42
3.73
3.42
3.73 4,500 lbs. (1 8 16 kg)
5,000 lbs. (2 270 kg)
5,500 lbs. (2 497 kg)
4,500 lbs.
(1 8 16 kg)
5,000 lbs. (2 270 kg)
4-30

Maximum trailer weight is calculated assuming the
driver and one passenger are in the tow vehicle and it
has all the required trailering equipment. The weight of
additional optional equipment, passengers and cargo in
the tow vehicle must be subtracted from the maximum
trailer weight.
You
can ask your dealer for our trailering information or
advice, or
you can write us at the address listed in your
Warranty and Owner Assistance Information Booklet.
In Canada, write to:
General Motors
of Canada Limited
Customer Assistance Center
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario LlH
8P7
Weight of the Trailer Tongue
The tongue load (A) of any trailer is an important
weight to measure because it affects the total or gross
weight
of your vehicle. The Gross Vehicle Weight
(GVW) includes the curb weight of the vehicle, any
cargo
you may carry in it, and the people who will be
riding in the vehicle. And if
you will tow a trailer, you
must add the tongue load to the GVW because your
vehicle will be carrying that weight, too. See “Loading
Your Vehicle” in the Index for more information about
your vehicle’s maximum load capacity.
A B
If you’re using a weight-carrying hitch, the trailer
tongue (A) should weigh 10 percent of the total loaded
trailer weight (B). If you’re using a weight-distributing
hitch,
the trailer tongue (A) should weigh 12 percent of
the total loaded trailer weight (B).
After you’ve loaded your trailer, weigh the trailer and
then the tongue, separately,
to see if the weights are
proper. If they aren’t, you may be able to get them right
simply by moving some items around in
the trailer.
4-31

Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s Tires
Be sure your vehicle’s tires are inflated to the limit for
cold tires. You’ll find these numbers
on the Certification
label at the rear edge
of the driver’s door or see “Tire
Loading” in the Index. Then be sure
you don’t go over
the
GVW limit for your vehicle, including the weight of
the trailer tongue.
Hitches
It’s important to have the correct hitch equipment.
Crosswinds, large trucks going by and rough roads are
a few reasons why you’ll need the right hitch. Here are
some rules to follow:
If you’ll be pulling a trailer that, when loaded, will
weigh more than
2,000 lbs. (900 kg), be sure to use
a properly mounted, weight-distributing hitch and
sway control
of the proper size. This equipment is
very important for proper vehicle loading and good
handling when you’re driving.
Will you have to make any holes in the body of your
vehicle
when you install a trailer hitch? If you do,
then be sure to seal the holes later when you remove
the hitch. If you don’t seal them, deadly carbon
monoxide (CO) from your exhaust can get into your
vehicle (see “Carbon Monoxide”
in the Index). Dirt
and water can, too.
Safety Chains
You should always attach chains between your vehicle
and your trailer. Cross the safety chains under the tongue
of the trailer so that the tongue will not drop to the road
if
it becomes separated from the hitch. Instructions
about safety chains may be provided by the hitch
manufacturer or by the trailer manufacturer. Follow the
manufacturer’s recommendation for attaching safety
chains and do
not attach them to the bumper. Always
leave just enough slack
so you can turn with your rig.
And, never allow safety chains to drag on the ground.
4-32