CHEVROLET ASTRO 2003 Owners Manual

Turn SignaVMultifunction Lever
The lever on the driver’s side of the steering column
includes the following:
Turn and Lane Change Signals
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
Flash-to-Pass
Windshield Wipers
Windshield Washer
Cruise Control (Option)
Turn and Lane Change Signals
The turn signal has two upward (for right) and two
downward (for left) positions. These positions allow you
to signal a turn or a lane change.
To signal a turn, move the lever all the way up or
down. When the turn is finished, the lever will return
automatically.
An arrow on the instrument
Dane1 cluster will flash in
the direction of the
turn or lane change.
To signal a lane change, just raise or lower the lever
until the arrow starts to flash. Hold it there until you
complete your lane change. The lever will return by itself
when you release it.
As you signal a turn or a lane change, if the arrows
flash faster, a signal bulb may be burned out and other
drivers won’t see your turn signal.
For information on the exterior lamps, see
Exterior
Lamps
on page 3-12.
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If a bulb is burned out, replace it to help avoid an
accident.
If the arrows don’t go on at all when you signal
a turn, check for burned-out bulbs and a blown fuse.
See
Fuses and Circuit Breakers on page 5-93.
If you have a trailer towing option with added wiring
for the trailer lamps, a different turn signal flasher
is used. With this flasher installed, the signal indicator
will flash even
if a turn signal bulb is burned out.
Check the front and rear turn signal lamps regularly
to make sure they are working.
Turn Signal On Chime
If your turn signal is left on for more than 3/4 of a mile
(1.2 km), a chime will sound at each flash of the
turn signal. To turn
off the chime, move the turn signal
lever to the center position.
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
To change the headlamps from low beam to high or
high to low, pull the multifunction lever all the way
toward you. Then release it.
When the high beams are
on, this indicator light located on the instrument
panel cluster also will
be on.
Flash-to-Pass
This feature lets you use your high-beam headlamps to
signal a driver in front of you that you want to pass.
It works even
if your headlamps are in automatic.
To use it, pull the turn signal lever toward you, but not
so far that you hear a click.
If your headlamps are in automatic or on low beam,
your high-beam headlamps will turn on. They’ll stay
on
as long as you hold the lever toward you and the
high-beam indicator located on the cluster comes on.
Release the lever to return to normal operation.
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Windshield Wipers For fewer wipes choose a setting closer to LOW.
Use this setting for light rain and snow.
- -
To operate the windshield
wipers turn the band,
located On the multifunction carefully loosen or thaw them. If your blades do become
lever’ Or worn or damaged, get new blades or blade inserts. Be
sure to clear ice and snow from the wiper blades
before using them.
If they’re frozen to the windshield,
Windshield Washer
6 (Washer Fluid): There is a paddle marked with the
windshield washer symbol at the top of the multifunction
lever. To spray washer fluid on the windshield, press
the paddle. The wipers will clear the window and
then either stop or return to vour preset speed.
MIST: Turn the band to MIST for a single wiping cycle.
Hold
it there until the windshield wipers start, then let
it go. The wipers will stop after one wipe. If you
want more wipes, hold the band on mist longer.
OFF: Turn the band to turn off the windshield wipers.
LOW (Low Speed): Turn the band to LOW for
steady wiping at low speed.
HIGH (High Speed): Turn the band to HIGH for
steady wiping at high speed.
DELAY: Turn the band to one of the five delay
settings located between OFF and
LOW, to choose
the delayed wiping cycle. The closer the band is
turned to OFF, the shorter the delay will be.
In freezing weather, don’t u- - your washer
until the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the
washer fluid can form ice on the windshield,
blocking your vision.
The wipers will clear the window and then either stop or
return to your preset speed.
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Rear Window WasherNViper For delay wiping, slide the switch up to the center
position next to the word DELAY on the rear wiper
Your vehicle may have this control. The wiper will cycle every nine seconds.
feature. The rear window
To wash the window, push in on the switch. Window
washer'wiper
is controHed washer fluid will continue to spray until the switch
by using
the switch located is released. The wiper will continue with three more
on the instrument panel, wipes and then return to the setting that was chosen
next to the audio system.
before the lever was pushed.
Move the switch to
OFF to turn off the rear window
washer.
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.
To turn the wiper on, slide the switch all the way
up to
ON.
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Cruise Control
Your vehicle may have this feature. With cruise control,
you can maintain a speed
of about 25 mph (40 km/h)
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 your brakes, the cruise control shuts
off.
Cruise con,. _. ,an be dang-. DUS where
you can’t drive safely at a steady speed.
So, don’t use your cruise control on
winding roads or in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous on
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.
I
If yvu leave your cruise control 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
cruise control.
1. Move the cruise control switch to ON.
2. Get up to the speed you want.
3. Press in the SET
button at the end of the
lever and release it.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
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Resuming a Set Speed Increasing Speed While Using Cruise
Suppose you set your cruise control at a desired speed Control
and then you apply the brake. This, of course, shuts There are two ways to go to a higher speed:
off the cruise control. But you don’t need to reset it. * Use the accelerator pedal to get to the higher
Once you’re going about
25 mph (40 km/h) or
more, you can move the
cruise control switch
from
ON to R/A
(Resume/Acclerate) briefly.
You’ll
go right back up to your chosen speed and
stay there.
If you hold the switch at
R/A, the vehicle will keep going
faster until you release the switch or apply the brake.
So unless you want to go faster, don’t hold the switch
at
R/A.
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
R/A briefly. Each time you do this, your vehicle will
go about
1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster.
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
There are two ways to reduce your speed while using
cruise control:
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 briefly. Each time you do this, you’ll go
about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower.
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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 OFF.
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition, your
cruise control set speed memory is erased.
Exterior Lamps
The exterior lamp control is located on the driver’s side
of the instrument panel.
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The exterior lamp control has three positions:
0 (Off): Turning the control to this position turns off
all lamps except the Daytime Running Lamps (DRL).
%: (Parking Lamps): Turning the control to this
position turns on the parking lamps, together with the
following:
Sidemarker Lamps
0 Taillamps
License Plate Lamps
0 Instrument Panel Lights
Ashtray Lamp
-g- (Headlamps): Turning the control to this position
turns on the headlamps, together with the previously
listed lamps and lights.
Automatic Headlamp System
When it is dark enough outside, your automatic
headlamp system will turn on your headlamps at the
normal brightness along with other lamps such as
the taillamps, sidemarker, parking lamps and the
instrument panel lights. The radio lights will also dim.
Your vehicle is equipped with a light sensor on the top
of
the instrument panel in the defroster grille. Be sure it
is not covered, or the system will be on whenever
the ignition is on.
The system may also turn on your headlamps when
driving through a parking garage, heavy overcast
weather or a tunnel. This is normal.
There
is a delay in the transition between the daytime and
nighttime operation of the Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
and the automatic headlamp systems
so that driving
under bridges or bright overhead street lights does not
affect the system. The DRL and automatic headlamp
system will only be affected when the light sensor sees a
change in lighting lasting longer than the delay.
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To idle your vehicle with the automatic headlamp
system
off, set the parking brake while the ignition is off.
Then start your vehicle. The automatic headlamp
system will stay
off until you release the parking brake.
You may be able to turn
off your automatic headlamp
system. See “Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)” later
in this section for more information.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamps when you need them.
Lamps On Reminder
A reminder tone will sound when your headlamps or
parking lamps are manually turned on and your ignition
is
in OFF, LOCK or ACCESSORY. To disable the
tone, turn the instrument panel brightness thumbwheel
all the way down. In the automatic mode, the
headlamps turn off once the ignition key is in OFF.
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
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. Fully functional daytime
running lamps are required on all vehicles first sold
in Canada.
The DRL system will make your headlamps come on
at a reduced brightness when the following conditions
are met:
The ignition is on,
the exterior lamp control is off.
the automatic transmission is not in PARK (P),
the light sensor determines it is daytime and
the parking brake is released.
When the DRL are on, only your DRL lamps will be on.
The taillamps, sidemarker and other lamps won’t be on.
Your instrument panel won’t be lit up either.
3-1 4

When it begins to get dark, the automatic headlamp
system will switch from DRL to the headlamps or the
last chosen headlamp setting that was used.
To idle your vehicle with the DRL
off, put the transmission
in PARK (P). The DRL
will stay off until you shift out
of PARK (P).
The following does not apply to vehicles first sold
in Canada.
When necessary, you may turn off the automatic
headlamp system and the Daytime Running Lamps
(DRL) feature by following the steps below:
1. Turn the ignition to RUN.
2. Press the DOME OVERRIDE button four times
within six seconds. After the fourth press of the
button, a chime will sound informing you that
the system is
off.
To return to the automatic mode, push the DOME
OVERRIDE button four times within six seconds
(the chime will sound), or turn the ignition to
off and
then to RUN again.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Brightness Control
The thumbwheel for this feature is located to the right of
the exterior lamps control.
(Instrument Panel Brightness): Turn the thumbwheel
up to brighten the lights or down to dim them.
Moving the thumbwheel up to the first position will
activate the interior dome lamps.
Exit Lighting
With exit lighting, the interior lamps will come on when
you remove the key from the ignition. The lights will not
come on
if the DOME OVERRIDE button is pressed in.
Entry Lighting
Your vehicle is equipped with an illuminated entry
feature.
When a door is opened, the dome lamps will come on
if the DOME OVERRIDE button is in the out position.
When all the doors are closed, the lamps will stay on
for a short period of time and will then go out.
If the
DOME OVERRIDE button is pressed in, the lamps will
not come on.
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