warning CHEVROLET ASTRO CARGO VAN 1995 2.G User Guide

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine You will see this light flash for a few seconds when you turn your ignition
to
RUN or START. Then the light should go out. This means the system is
ready.
If the air bag readiness light doesn’t come on when you start your vehicle,
or stays on, or comes
on when you are driving, your air bag system may not
work properly. Have your vehicle serviced right away.
Brake System Warning Light
Standard Cluster Digital Cluster
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.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine This light should come on briefly as you start the vehicle. 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’’
in the Index.)
b
A CAUTION:
Your brake 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 st\
ill on
after you’ve pulled off the road and stopped carefully, have\
the
vehicle towed for service.
The brake system warning light will also come on when you set your
parking brake, and it 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.
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
Standard Cluster Digital Cluster
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
doesn’t come on, have it fixed
so it will be ready to warn you if there is a
problem.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 part.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(SERVICE ENGINE
SOON)
The amber
Malfunction Indicator
(SERVICE
ENGINE
SOON) Lamp is
located on the
passenger side of your
standard cluster. If
you have the digital
cluster, it is
on the
driver’s side.
A computer monitors operation of your fuel, ignition and emission control
systems. This light should come on when the ignition is
on, but the engine is
not running, as a check to show you it is working.
If it does not come on at
all, have it fixed right away.
If it stays on, or it comes on while you are
driving, the computer is indicating that you have a problem. You should
take your vehicle in for service soon.
NOTICE:
If you keep driving your vehicle with this light on, after a whi\
le
the emission controls won’t work as well, your fuel economy \
won’t be as good and your engine may not run as smoothly. \
This
could lead to costly repairs not covered by your warranty.
Indicator Lights
Indicator lights go on when you use your turn signals, change from low
beam headlamps to high beams, or when you use your hazard flashers.
The
next few pages will also tell you about the indicator lights on your vehicle
and help you locate them.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Voltmeter
Standard Cluster Digital
Cluster
VOLTS
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 ignition
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.
On the digital cluster, a box around the voltmeter symbol will begin the
flash when the charging system needs service.
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.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Loss of Confrol
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.
Skidding
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 and an acceleration skid are best handled by easing your
foot
off the accelerator pedal.
If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off the accelerator pedal and
quickly steer the way you want the vehicle to go. If you start steering
quickly enough, your vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready for a
second skid if it occurs.
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice, gravel, or other
material is on the road. For safety, you’ll want to slow down and adjust your
driving to these conditions. It is important to slow down on slippery
surfaces because stopping distance will be longer and vehicle control more
limited.
While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try your best to avoid
sudden steering, acceleration, or braking (including engine braking by
shifting to a lower gear). Any sudden changes could cause the tires to slide.
You may not realize the surface is slippery until your vehicle is skidding.
Learn to recognize warning clues
- such as enough water, ice or packed
snow on the road to make a “mirrored surface”
- and slow down when you
have any doubt.
Remember: Any anti-lock brake system (ABS) helps avoid only the braking
skid.
4-11

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Some Other Rainy Weather Tips
Turn on your low-beam headlamps - not just your parking lamps -
0 Besides slowing down, allow some extra following distance. And be
to help make you more visible to others.
especially careful when you pass another vehicle. Allow yourself more
clear room ahead, and be prepared to have your view restricted by road
spray.
Have good tires with proper tread depth. (See “Tires” in the Index.)
City Driving
a
One of the biggest problems with city streets is the amount of traffic on
them. You’ll want to watch out for what the other drivers are doing and pay
attention
to traffic signals.
Here are ways to increase your safety
in city driving:
0 Know the best way to get to where you are going. Get a city map and
plan your trip into an unknown part
of the city just as you would for a
cross-country trip.
save time and energy. (See the next part, “Freeway Driving.”)
Treat a green light as a warning signal. A traffic light is there because
the corner is busy enough to need
it. When a light turns green, and just
before
you start to move, check both ways for vehicles that have not
cleared the intersection or may be running
the red light.
Try to use the freeways that rim and crisscross most large cities. You’ll
4-15

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Include an ice scraper, a small brush or broom, a supply of windshield
washer fluid, a rag, some winter outer clothing, a small shovel, a flashlight,
a red cloth, and a couple of reflective warning triangles. And, if you will be
driving under severe conditions, include a small bag of sand, a piece of old
carpet or
a couple of burlap bags to help provide traction. Be sure you
properly secure these items in your vehicle.
Driving on Snow or Ice
Most of the time, those places where your tires meet the road probably have
good traction.
However, if there is snow or ice between your tires and the road, you can
have a very slippery situation. You’ll have a lot less traction or “grip” and
will need to be
very careful.
r tr“r“‘ ................... ..-......--.-
-- ..
I-.! .................. I
ii ,,-~ . .........._I........-.X i
What’s the worst time for this? “Wet ice.” Very cold snow or ice can be
slick and hard to drive
on. But wet ice can be even more trouble because it
may offer the least traction of all. You can get “wet ice” when it’s about
freezing
(32°F; 0°C) and freezing rain begins to fall. Try to avoid driving
on wet
ice until salt and sand crews can get there.
Whatever the condition
- smooth ice, packed, blowing or loose snow -
drive with caution.
Accelerate gently. Try not to break the fragile traction. If you accelerate too
fast, the drive wheels will spin and polish the surface under the tires even
more.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you start down a long or steep
downgrade. If
you don’t shift down, you might have to use your brakes so
much that they would get hot and no longer work well.
On a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce your speed to around
45 mph
(70 km/h) to reduce the possibility of engine and transmission overheating.
When towing at high altitude
on steep uphill grades, consider the following:
Engine coolant will boil at
a lower temperature than at normal altitudes. If
you turn your engine off immediately after towing at high altitude on steep
uphill grades, your vehicle may show signs similar to engine overheating.
To avoid this, let the engine run while parked (preferably on level ground)
with the automatic transmission
in PARK (P) for a few minutes before
turning the engine off. If you do get the overheat warning, see “Engine
Overheating”
in the Index.
Parking on Hills
You really should not park your vehicle, with a trailer attached, on a hill. If
something goes wrong, your rig could start to move. People can be injured,
and both your vehicle and the trailer can be damaged.
But if
you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here’s how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into PARK (P) yet. Turn your
wheels into the curb when facing downhill and away from the curb
when facing uphill.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the regular brakes until the
chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes, Then apply your parking brake, and shift to
5. Release the regular brakes.
PARK (P).
When You Are Ready to Leave After Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down while you:
Start your engine;
Shift into a gear; and
0 Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Problems on the Road
Here you’ll find what to do about some problems that can occur on the road.
Hazard Warning Flashers
Your hazard warning flashers let you warn others. They also let police know
you have a problem. Your front and rear turn signal lamps will flash on and
off.
5-1

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine But they won’t flash if you’re braking. Press the button
in to
make your front and
rear turn signal lights
flash
on and off. Your
hazard warning
flashers work no
matter what position
your key
is in, and
even
if the key isn’t
in.
To turn off the
flashers, pull out on
the collar.
When the hazard warning flashers are on, your turn signals
won’t work.
Other Warning Devices
If you carry reflective triangles, you can set one up at the side of the road
about
300 feet (100 m) behind your vehicle.
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