light CHEVROLET ASTRO 2003 Owner's Manual

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.
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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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Dome Lamps
The dome lamps will come on when you open a door,
except with the liftgate glass (if equipped).
You can also turn the dome lamps on by turning the
thumbwheel, located next to the exterior lamp control,
all the way up. In this position, the dome lamps will
remain on whether a door is opened or closed.
You can use the
DOME OVERRIDE button, located
near the exterior lamp control, to set the dome lamps
to come on automatically when a door is opened,
or to remain
off. To turn the lamps off, press the button
into the
in position, the dome lamps will remain off
when a door is open. To return the lamps to automatic
operation, press the button again and return it to the
out position. With the button in this position, the dome
lamps will come on when you open a door.
Battery Run-Down Protection
This feature shuts off the dome, courtesy, vanity, reading
and glove box lights
if they are left on for more than
20 minutes when the ignition is off. This will keep your
battery from running down.
If the battery run-down protection shuts off the interior
lamps, it may be necessary to do one of the following to
return to normal operation:
Shut off all lamps and close all doors, or
turn the ignition key to RUN.
Accessory Power Outlets
If your vehicle has this feature, you can plug accessory
electrical equipment into an accessory power outlet.
Just pull on the outlet cover to remove it and follow the
proper installation instructions that are included with
any electrical equipment that you install.
The accessory power outlet is located on the
passenger’s side of the front storage compartment.
These circuits are protected by a fuse and have
maximum current levels.
Certain power accessory plugs may not be compatible
to the power accessory outlet and could result in
blown vehicle or adapter fuses.
If you experience a
problem, see your dealer for additional information on
the power accessory plugs.
Notice: When using an accessory power outlet,
maximum electrical load must not exceed
25 amps.
Always turn
off any electrical equipment when
not in use. Leaving electrical equipment on for
extended periods will drain your battery.
Notice: Power outlets are designed for accessory
plugs only.
Do not hang any type of accessory
or accessory bracket from the plug. Improper use of
the power outlet can cause damage not covered
by your warran-ly.
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Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter
Your vehicle may have a cigarette lighter which is
located on the left side
of the engine cover console.
To use the lighter, press it in ail the way and let go.
When it’s done heating, it will pop back out by itself.
Notice: Don’t hold a cigarette lighter in with
your hand while
it is heating. If you do, it won’t
be able to back away from the heating element when
it’s ready. That can make
it overheat, damaging
the lighter and the heating element.
Notice: When using the cigarette lighter as an
accessory power outlet, maximum electrical load must not exceed 20 amps. Always turn
off any
electrical equipment when not
in use. Leaving
electrical equipment on for extended periods will
drain your battery. The
front ashtray
is located above the passenger’s side
front cupholder. To remove the front ashtray, open it
and gently pull it slightly past its stop.
To remove the ashtray on the sliding door, open it,
then press down
on the inside tab and pull it out.
You may have another ashtray on the driver’s sidewall.
Press the right side to turn the ashtray around for use.
To remove the ashtray, open it and gently pull it off
the hinge.
Notice: Don’t put papers or other flammable
items into your ashtrays. Hot cigarettes or other
smoking materials could ignite them, causing
a damaging fire.
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Warning Lights, Gages and
Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages that
may be on your vehicle. The pictures will help you
locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that something is
wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause
an expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to
your warning lights and gages could also save you
or others from injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or
is a
problem with one of your vehicle’s functions.
As you
will see in the details on the next few pages, some
warning lights come on briefly when you start the engine
just to let you know they’re working.
If you are familiar
with this section, you should not be alarmed when
this happens. Gages
can indicate when there may be or is a problem
with one of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages
and warning lights work together to let you know when
there’s a problem with your vehicle.
When one
of the warning lights comes on and stays on
when you are driving, or when one of the gages shows
there may be a problem, check the section that tells you
what to do about it. Please follow this manual’s advice.
Waiting to do repairs can be costly
- and even
dangerous.
So please get to know your warning lights
and gages. They’re a big help.
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Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to RUN or START, a tone will
come on for several seconds to remind people to fasten
their safety belts, unless the driver’s safety belt is
already buckled.
The safety belt light will
also come on and stay on
for several seconds,
then it will flash for
several more.
If the driver’s belt is already buckled, neither the tone
nor the light will come
on.
Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows AIR BAG or the air bag symbol.
The system checks the air bag’s electrical system
for malfunctions. The light tells you
if there is an
electrical problem. The system check includes the
air bag sensor, the air bag modules, the wiring and
the crash sensing and diagnostic module. For more
information on the air bag system, see
Air Bag System
on page 1-62.
AIR
BAG
United States Canada
This light will
come on when you start your vehicle, and
it will flash for a few seconds. Then the light should
go out. This means the system is ready.
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If the air bag readiness light stays on after you start the
vehicle or comes on when
you are driving, your air
bag system may not work properly. Have your vehicle
s iced right away.
Charging System
If the air bag readiness light stays on after you
start your vehicle,
it means the air bag system
may not be working properly. The air bags in
your vehicle may not inflate
in a crash, or they
could even inflate without a crash. To help avoid
injury to yourself or others, have your vehicle
serviced right away if the air bag readiness light
stays on after you start your vehicle.
The air bag readiness light should flash for a few
seconds when you turn the ignition key to
RUN.
If the light doesn’t come on then, have it fixed so
it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
Light
This light should come on
briefly when you turn on
the ignition, before starting the engine, as a check
to show you it is working.
After the engine starts, the light should go out.
if it stays
on or comes on while you are driving, you may have
a problem with your charging system. It could indicate a
problem with the generator drive belt, or some other
charging system problem. Have it checked right away.
Driving while this light is on could drain your battery.
If you must drive a short distance with this light
on,
it helps to turn off all your accessories, such as
the radio and air conditioner.
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Voltmeter Gage
When your engine is not
running, but the ignition is
on (in the RUN position),
the gage shows your
battery’s state of charge
in
DC volts.
When the engine is running, the gage shows the
condition of the charging system. Readings between
the low and high warning zones indicate the normal
operating range.
Readings in the low warning zone may occur when a
large number of electrical accessories are operating in
the vehicle and the engine is left at an idle for an
extended period. This condition
is normal since the
charging system
is not able to provide full power at engine
idle.
As engine speeds are increased, this
condition should correct itself as higher engine speeds
allow the charging system to create maximum power.
You can only drive for a short time with the readings
in either warning zone.
If you must drive, turn off
all unnecessary accessories.
Readings in either warning zone indicate a possible
problem in the electrical system. Have the vehicle
serviced as soon as possible.
Brake System Warning Light
When the ignition is on, the brake system warning
light will come on when you set your parking brake.
The light will stay on
if your parking brake doesn’t
release fully.
If it stays on after your parking brake is
fully released, it means you have a brake problem.
Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided into
two parts.
If one part isn’t working, the other part can
still work and stop you. For good braking, though,
you need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there could be a brake
problem. Have your brake system inspected right away.
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BRAKE
This light should come on
briefly when you turn
the ignition key to
RUN.
If it doesn’t come on then,
have it fixed
so it will
be ready to warn you
if there’s a problem.
If the light comes on while you are driving, pull
off the
road and stop carefully. You may notice that the pedal
is harder to push. Or, the pedal may
go closer to the
floor. It may take longer to stop. If the light is still
on, have the vehicle towed for service. See
Towing
Your Vehicle on page 4-29.
I
You- -)rake system may not be working
properly
if the brake system warning light is
on. Driving with the brake system warning light
on can lead to an accident. If the light is still
on after you’ve pulled off the road and stopped
carefully, have the vehicle towed for service.
Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning light
With the anti-lock brake
system, this light will come
on when you start your
engine and may stay on
for several seconds.
That’s normal.
If the light stays on, or comes on when you’re driving,
your vehicle needs service. If the regular brake
system warning light isn’t on, you still have brakes,
but you don’t have anti-lock brakes. If the regular
brake system warning light is also on, you don’t have
anti-lock brakes and there’s a problem with your regular
brakes. See “Brake System Warning Light” earlier in
this section.
The anti-lock brake system warning light should come
on briefly when you turn the ignition key to
RUN.
If the light doesn’t come on then, have it fixed so
it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
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