CHEVROLET ASTRO 2003 Owners Manual

If there seems to be no leak, start the engine again. How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
The engine cooling fan speed should increase when idle
speed is doubled by pushing the accelerator pedal
Recovery Tank
down. If it doesn’t, your vehicle needs service. Turn off If you haven’t found a problem yet, but the coolant level
the engine. isn’t at the
ADD mark, add a 50/50 mixture of clean
Nofice: Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant isn’t covered by your warranty.
Notice: When adding coolant, it is important that
you use only
DEX-COOL@ (silicate-free) coolant.
If coolant other than DEX-COOL@’ is added to the
system, premature engine, heater core or radiator
corrosion may result.
In addition, the engine coolant
will require change sooner
- at 30,000 miles
(50 000 km) or 24 months, whichever occurs first.
Damage caused by the use of coolant other than
DEX-COOL@ is not covered by your new vehicle
warranty.
drinkable wafer, and DEX-COOL@ engine coolant at
the coolant recovery tank. See
Engine Coolant on
page 5-28 for more information.
Adding only p.,,n water to your coG...rg
system can be dangerous. Plain water, or
some other
liquid such as alcohol, can boil
before the proper coolant mixture will. Your
vehicle’s coolant warning system
is set for the
proper coolant mixture. With plain water or the
wrong mixture, your engine could get too hot but you wouldn’t get the overheat warning.
Your engine could catch fire and you or others
could be burned. Use a
50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX COOL@ coolant.
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Notice: In cold weather, water can freeze and crack
the engine, radiator, heater core and other parts.
Use the recommended coolant and the proper
coolant mixture.
You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol and
it will burn if the engine parts are hot
enough. Don't spill coolant on a hot engine.
When the coolant in the coolant recovery tank
is at the
ADD mark, start your vehicle.
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If the overheat warning continues, there’s one more
thing you can try.
You can add the proper coolant
mixture directly to the radiator, but be sure the cooling
system is cool before you do it.
1
Steam and scalding liquids from a hot cooling
system can blow out and burn you badly. They
are under pressure, and
if you turn the radiator
pressure cap
- even a little - they can come
out at high speed. Never turn the cap when
the
cooling system, including the radiator pressure
cap, is hot. Wait for the cooling system and
radiator pressure cap to cool if you ever have
to
turn the pressure cap.
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How to Add Coolant to the Radiator
You can remove the
radiator pressure cap
when the cooling system,
including the radiator
pressure cap and
upper radiator hose,
is no longer hot.
1. Turn the pressure cap slowly counterclockwise until
it first stops. (Don't press down while turning the
pressure cap.)
2. Then keep turning the pressure cap, but now
push down as you
turn it. Remove
the pressure cap.
If you hear a hiss, wait for that
to stop. A hiss
means there is still some pressure left.
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3. Fill the radiator with the proper DEX-COOL@
coolant mixture, up to the base of the filler
neck. See
Engine Coolant on page 5-28 for more
information about the proper coolant mixture.
4. Then fill the coolant recovery tank to the ADD mark.
5. Put the cap back on the coolant recovery tank,
but leave the pressure cap
off.
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6. Start the engine and let it run until you can feel the
upper radiator hose getting hot. Watch out for the
engine cooling fan.
7. By this time, the coolant level inside the radiator
filler neck may be lower.
If the level is lower, add
more of the proper
DEX-COOL@ coolant mixture
through the filler neck until the level reaches
the base of the filler neck.
Then replace the pressure cap. At any time during
this procedure
if coolant begins to flow out of
the filler neck, reinstall the pressure cap. Be sure
the arrow on the pressure cap lines up.
Engine Fan Noise
This vehicle has a clutched engine cooling fan. When
the clutch is engaged, the fan spins faster to provide
more air to cool the engine. In most everyday driving
conditions, the clutch is not fully engaged. This improves
fuel economy and reduces fan noise. Under heavy
vehicle loading, trailer towing and/or high outside
temperatures, the fan speed increases when the clutch
engages.
So you may hear an increase in fan noise.
This is normal and should not be mistaken as the
transmission slipping or making extra shifts. It is merely
the cooling system functioning properly. The fan will
slow down when additional cooling is not required and
the clutch disengages.
You may also hear this fan noise when you start the
engine. It will go away as the fan clutch disengages.
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Power Steering Fluid
When to Check Power Steering Fluid
It is not necessary to regularly check power steering fluid
unless you suspect there is a leak in the system or
you hear an unusual noise. A fluid loss in this system
could indicate a problem. Have the system inspected
and repaired. See
Engine Compartment Overview
on page
5-14 for reservoir location.
How to Check Power Steering Fluid
Turn the key off, let the engine compartment cool down,
wipe the cap and the top of the reservoir clean, then
unscrew the cap and wipe the dipstick with a clean rag.
Replace the cap and completely tighten
it. Then remove
the cap again and
look at the fluid level on the dipstick.
The level should be at the
FULL COLD mark. If
necessary, add only enough fluid to bring the level up to
the mark.
What to Use
To determine what kind of fluid to use, see Part D:
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-32.
Always use the proper fluid. Failure to use the proper
fluid can cause leaks and damage hoses and seals.
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Windshield Washer Fluid
What to Use
When you need windshield washer fluid, be sure to read
the manufacturer’s instructions before use. If you will
be operating your vehicle in an area where the
temperature may fall below freezing, use a fluid that
has sufficient protection against freezing.
Adding Washer Fluid
Open the cap with the
washer symbol on it.
Add washer fluid until the
tank is full.
Notice:
When using concentrated washer fluid, follow
the manufacturer’s instructions for adding water.
Don’t mix water with ready-to-use washer fluid.
Water can cause the solution to freeze and
damage your washer fluid tank and other parts
of the washer system.
Also, water doesn’t
clean as well as washer fluid.
0 Fill your washer fluid tank only three-quarters
full when
it’s very cold. This allows for
expansion
if freezing occurs, which could
damage the tank if
it is completely full.
Don’t use engine coolant (antifreeze) in your
windshield washer.
It can damage your
washer system and paint.
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Brakes
Brake Fluid
DOT3
. . . . . . . ..... . . . . . . . . ... .
. . . . . . . .
. ... . . . .
..
. . . . . . . . . . . , . , . . .
There are only two reasons why the brake fluid level
in the reservoir might go down. The first
is that the brake
fluid goes down to an acceptable level during normal
brake lining wear. When new linings are put in, the fluid
level goes back up. The other reason
is that fluid is
leaking out of the brake system.
If it is, you should have
your brake system fixed, since a leak means that
sooner or later your brakes won’t work well, or won’t
work at all.
So, it isn’t a good idea to “top off your brake fluid.
Adding brake fluid won’t correct a leak.
If you add fluid
when your linings are worn, then you’ll have too much
fluid when you get new brake linings. You should add
(or remove) brake fluid, as necessary, only when work is
done on the brake hydraulic system.
Your brake master cylinder reservoir is filled with DOT-3
brake fluid. See
Engine Compadment Overview on
page 5-14 for the location of the reservoir.
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It I DU have toc ..Iuc.. >rake fluid, it can spill on
the engine. The fluid will burn if the engine is
hot enough. You or others could be burned,
and your vehicle could be damaged. Add brake
fluid only when work
is done on the brake
hydraulic system. See “Checking Brake Fluid”
in this section.
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine
when to check your brake fluid. See
Part C: Periodic
Maintenance Inspections
on page 6-30.
Checking Brake Fluid
MIN / \
You can check the brake fluid without taking off the cap.
Just look at the brake fluid reservoir. The fluid level
should be above
MIN. If it isn’t, have your brake system
checked to see
if there is a leak.
After work is done on the brake hydraulic system,
make sure the level is above the
MIN but not over the
MAX mark.
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