wheel CHEVROLET ASTRO 2003 Owner's Manual

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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Defogging and Defrosting
Turn the right knob to select the defog or defrost mode.
+3 (Blend): With this setting, the outside air comes
out
of both the floor and defroster outlets. Adjust the
temperature knob for warmer or cooler air. The air
conditioning compressor may operate in this setting to
dehumidfy the air.
9 (Defrost): This setting operates the defroster.
Most of the air comes out near the windshield, with
some going to the floor outlets and front side windows.
The air conditioning compressor may operate in this
setting to dehumidify the air.
The bi-level setting is useful for cold weather with a
large number of passengers or very humid conditions to
help keep the windshield clear. Use defrost to remove
fog or ice from the windshield quickly in extremely
cold conditions. The temperature knob should be in the
red area and the fan control toward high.
Rear Heating System
Your vehicle may have an optional rear heating system
that allows you to adjust the amount of air flowing
into the rear
of the vehicle, from the front-seating area.
This feature works with the main climate-control
system in your vehicle.
The thumbwheel for this system is located to the right
of the audio system.
Turn the thumbwheel up or down to increase or
decrease the amount of heated air sent to the
rear-seating area.
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Rear Air Conditioning System
Your vehicle may have an optional rear air-conditioning
system that allows you to adjust the fan speed in the
rear-seating area, from the front-seating area.
This feature works with the main climate-control system
in your vehicle.
The thumbwheel for this system is located to the right
of the rear-heating system.
Turn the thumbwheel up or down to increase or
decrease the amount of cooled air sent to the
rear-seating area.
Directing the Airflow
To direct the airflow to the rear-seating area, use the
right knob located
on the main climate-control panel.
Generally the upper outlets are used for air conditioning
and the floor outlets are used for heating.
Selecting the Fan Speed
Rear Heat and Rear A/C
8f? (Fan): Move either thumbwheel on either climate
control panel up or down
to HIGH, MED (Medium)
or
LOW to increase or decrease the fan speed in the
rear-seating area. Move the thumbwheel to
OFF to turn
off the fan.
Setting the Temperature
To increase or decrease the temperature for the entire
vehicle use the center knob located on the main
climate-control panel.
The air-conditioning system on the main climate-control
panel must be turned on to direct cooled air to the
rear of the vehicle. If it is not on, then the temperature
in the rear of the vehicle will remain at cabin
temperature.
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Outlet Adjustment Operation Tips
1. Clear away any ice, snow or leaves from the
air inlets at the base of the windshield that
may block the flow of air into your vehicle.
2. Use of non-GM approved hood deflectors may
adversely affect the performance of the system.
3. Keep the path under the front seats clear of
objects to help circulate the air inside of your
vehicle more effectively.
Move the thumbwheel in the center of the outlets up or
down to change the direction
of airflow.
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Security Light Service All-Wheel
This light will come on
briefly when you turn the
ignition key to
START.
SERVICE
AWD
Drive Light
This light should come on
briefly when you turn on
the ignition, as a check to
show you it is working.
The light will stay on until the engine starts.
If the light The SERVICE AWD light
comes on to indicate that
flashes, the Passlock@ System has entered a tamper there
may be a problem with the drive system and
mode. If the vehicle fails to start, see
Passlock@ service is required. Malfunctions can be indicated by the
on page 2- 18. system before any problem is apparent, which may
If the light comes on continuously while driving and also designed to assist your service technician in
stays on, there may be a problem with the Passlock@ correctly diagnosing a malfunction.
System. Your vehicle will not be protected by Passlock@,
and you should see your
GM dealer. prevent serious
damage to the vehicle. This system is
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Let’s say the road is wet and you’re driving safely.
Suddenly, an animal jumps out in front of you.
You slam on the brakes and continue braking.
Here’s what happens with
ABS:
A computer senses that wheels are slowing down.
If one of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the computer
will separately work the brakes at each front wheel
and at both rear wheels. The anti-lock system can
change the brake pressure
faster than any driver could. The computer is
programmed to make the most of available tire and
road conditions. This can help you steer around
the obstacle while braking hard. As you brake, your computer keeps receiving updates
on wheel speed and controls braking pressure
accordingly.
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Remember: Anti-lock doesn’t change the time you need
to get your foot up to the brake pedal or always
decrease stopping distance. If you get too close to the
vehicle in front of you, you won’t have time to apply
your brakes
if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops.
Always leave enough room up ahead to stop, even
though you have anti-lock brakes.
Using Anti-Lock
Don’t pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal down
firmly and let anti-lock work for you. You may feel
the brakes vibrate, or you may notice some noise, but
this is normal.
Braking in Emergencies
With anti-lock, you can steer and brake at the same
time. In many emergencies, steering can help you more
than even the very best braking.
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist because the engine
stops or the system is not functioning, you can steer but
it will take much more effort.
Steering Tips
Driving on Curves
It’s important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents mentioned on
the news happen on curves. Here’s why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is subject
to the same laws of physics when driving on curves.
The traction of the tires against the road surface makes
it possible for the vehicle to change its path when
you turn the front wheels. If there’s no traction, inertia
will keep the vehicle going in the same direction.
If you’ve ever tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice,
you’ll understand this.
The traction you can get in a curve depends on the
condition of your tires and the road surface, the angle at
which the curve is banked, and your speed. While you’re
in a curve, speed is the one factor you can control.
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Suppose you’re steering through a sharp curve. Then you
suddenly accelerate. Both control systems
- steering
and acceleration
- have to do their work where the tires
meet the road. Adding the sudden acceleration can
demand too much of those places. You can lose control.
What should you do
if this ever happens? Ease up on
the accelerator pedal, steer the vehicle the way
you want it to go, and slow down.
Speed limit signs near curves warn that you should
adjust your speed. Of course, the posted speeds
are based on good weather and road conditions.
Under less favorable conditions you’ll want to go slower.
If you need to reduce your speed as you approach a
curve, do it before you enter the curve, while your front
wheels are straight ahead.
Try to adjust your speed
so you can “drive” through the
curve. Maintain a reasonable, steady speed. Wait to
accelerate until you are out of the curve, and then
accelerate gently into the straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
There are times when steering can be more effective
than braking. For example, you come over a hill and find
a truck stopped in your lane, or a car suddenly pulls
out from nowhere, or a child darts out from between
parked cars and stops right in front of you. You can
avoid these problems by braking
- if you can stop
in time. But sometimes you can’t; there isn’t room.
That’s the time for evasive action
- steering around
the problem.
Your vehicle can perform very well in emergencies like
these. First apply your brakes.
See
Braking on page 4-6. It is better to remove as much
speed as you can from a possible collision. Then steer
around the problem, to the left or right depending on the
space available.
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An emergency like this requires close attention and a
quick decision. If you are holding the steering wheel at
the recommended
9 and 3 o’clock positions, you
can turn it a full
180 degrees very quickly without
removing either hand. But you have
to act fast, steer
quickly, and just as quickly straighten the wheel
once you have avoided the object.
The fact that such emergency situations are always
possible is a good reason to practice defensive driving
at all times and wear safety belts properly.
Off -Road Recovery
You may find that your right wheels have dropped off the
edge of a road onto the shoulder while you’re driving.
If the level of the shoulder is only slightly below the
pavement, recovery should be fairly easy. Ease
off the
accelerator and then,
if there is nothing in the way,
steer
so that your vehicle straddles the edge of
the pavement. You can turn the steering wheel up to
one-quarter turn until the right front tire contacts the
pavement edge. Then turn your steering wheel to
go straight down the roadway.
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Check your mirrors, glance over your shoulder, and
start your left lane change signal before moving out
of the right lane to pass. When you are far enough
ahead of the passed vehicle to see its front in your
inside mirror, activate your right lane change signal
and move back into the right lane. (Remember that
your right outside mirror is convex. The vehicle you
just passed may seem to be farther away from you
than it really is.)
Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time OD
two-lane roads. Reconsider before passing the
next vehicle.
Don’t overtake a slowly moving vehicle too rapidly.
Even though the brake lamps are not flashing, it may
be slowing down or starting to turn.
If you’re being passed, make it easy for the following
driver to get ahead of you. Perhaps you can ease a
little to the right.
Loss of Control
Let’s review what driving experts say about what happens
when the three control systems (brakes, steering and
acceleration) don’t have enough friction where the tires
meet the road to do what the driver has asked.
In any emergency, don’t give up. Keep trying to steer
and constantly seek an escape route or area of
less danger.
In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasonable
care suited to existing conditions, and by not “overdriving”
those conditions. But skids are always possible.
The three types of skids correspond to your vehicle’s
three control systems. In the braking skid, your wheels
aren’t rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, too much
speed or steering in a curve causes tires to slip and lose
cornering force. And in the acceleration skid, too much
throttle causes the driving wheels to spin.
A cornering skid is best handled by easing your foot off
the accelerator pedal.
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