cooling CHEVROLET ASTRO CARGO VAN 1995 2.G Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Then here are some tips:
Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated, with a comfortably cool
Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead and to the sides. Check
If you get sleepy, pull off the road into a rest, service, or parking area
interior.
your mirrors
and your instruments frequently.
and take a nap, get some exercise, or both. For safety, treat drowsiness
on the highway as an emergency.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or mountains is different from driving in flat or
rolling terrain.
If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you’re planning to visit there,
here are some tips that can make your trips safer and more enjoyable.
Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid levels and also the
brakes, tires, cooling system and transmission. These parts can work
hard on mountain roads.
0 Know how to go down hills. The most important thing to know is this:
let your engine
do some of the slowing down. Shift to a lower gear
when you go down
a steep or long hill.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re pulling a trailer. See
the Maintenance Schedule for more
on this. Things that are especially
important in trailer operation are automatic transmission fluid (don’t
overfill), engine oil, axle lubricant, belt, cooling system, and brake
adjustment. Each of these is covered in this manual, and the Index will help
you find them quickly. If you’re trailering, it’s a good idea to review these
sections before you start your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts are tight.
Trailer Lighting Systems Wiring
See “Trailer Wiring Harness” in the Index.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When you decide it’s safe to lift the hood, here’s what you’ll see:
A. Coolant recovery tank
B. Radiator pressure cap
C. Engine fan
If the coolant inside the coolant recovery tank is boiling, don’t do anything
else until it cools down.
The coolant level should be at
ADD. If it isn’t, you may have a leak in the
radiator hoses, heater hoses, radiator, water pump
or somewhere else in the
cooling system.
NOTICE:
Engine damage from running your engine without coolant isn’t \
covered by your warranty.
If there seems to be no leak, start the engine again. See if the fan speed
increases when idle speed is doubled
by pushing the accelerator pedal down.
If it doesn’t, your vehicle needs service. Turn off the engine.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine How to Add Coolant to the Coolant Recovery Tank
If you haven’t found a problem yet, but the coolant level isn’t at ADD , add
a
50/50 mixture of clean water (preferably distilled) and a proper antifreeze
at the coolant recovery tank. (See “Engine Coolant” in the Index
for more
information about the proper coolant mix.)
NOTICE:
In cold weather, water can freeze and crack the engine, radiat\
or,
heater core and other parts. Use the recommended coolant.
I I
When the coolant in the coolant recovery tank is at ADD , start your
vehicle.
If
the overheat warning continues, there’s one more thing you can try. You
can add the proper coolant
mix directly to the radiator, but be sure the
cooling system is
cool before you do it.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine How to Add Coolant to the Radiator
1. You can remove the radiator pressure cap when the cooling system,
including the radiator pressure cap and upper radiator hose, is
no longer
hot. Turn the pressure cap slowly
to the left until it first stops. (Don’t
press down while turning the pressure cap.)
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 mix through the
filler neck until the level reaches the base
of the filler neck.
8. 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 arrows on the pressure cap line
up like this.
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 every day
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 sh
It is merely the cooling system functioning properly. The fan will slow
down when additional cooling is not required and the clutch disengage .ifts.
S.
You may
also hear this fan noise when you start the engine. It will go away
as the fan clutch disengages.
If a Tire Goes Flat
It’s unusual for a tire to “blow out” while you’re driving, especially if you
maintain your tires properly.
If air goes out of a tire, it’s much more likely to
leak out slowly. But if you should ever have a “blowout,” here are a few tips
about what
to expect and what to do:
If
a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a drag that pulls the vehicle
toward that side. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal and grip the
steering wheel firmly. Steer
to maintain lane position, then gently brake to a
stop well out of the traffic lane.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine What to Use
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what kind of lubricant to
use. See “Recommended Fluids and Lubricants”
in the Index.
Engine Coolant
The following explains your cooling system and how to add coolant when it
is low. If you have a problem with engine overheating, see “Engine
Overheating”
in the Index.
The proper coolant
for your vehicle will:
0 Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37°C).
0 Give boiling protection up to 262 OF ( 1 28 O C).
0 Protect against rust and corrosion.
0 Help keep the proper engine temperature.
0 Let the warning lights and gages work as they should.
What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean wafer (preferably distilled) and one-half
antifreeze that meets
“GM Specification 6038-M,” which won’t damage
aluminum parts. You can also use a recycled coolant conforming to “GM
Specification 6038-M. Use
GM Coolant Supplement (Sealer) with a
complete coolant flush and refill.
If you use this mixture, you don’t need to
add anything else.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine NOTICE:
If you use an improper coolant mix, your engine could overheat
and be badly damaged. The repair cost wouldn’t be covered by
your warranty.
Too much water in the mix can freeze and crack
the engine, radiator, heater core and other parts.
Some conditions, such as air trapped in the cooling system, can affect the
coolant level in the radiator. Check the coolant level when the engine is cold
and follow the steps under “Adding Coolant” for the proper way to add
coolant.
If you have to add coolant more than four times a year, have your dealer
check your cooling system.
NOTICE:
If YOU use the proper coolant, you don’t have to add extra
inhibitors or additives which claim to improve the system. These
can be harmful.
Adding Coolant
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Air Conditioning
Every now and then have your dealership check your air conditioning
system
to be sure it has not lost any cooling ability. If you think the system
is not working properly, have your dealership check it out as soon as
possible.
The air conditioning will not work when the temperature
is below 40°F
(4°C).
Lock Cylinders
To be sure your locks operate properly, they must be lubricated.
Refer
to the Maintenance Schedule to determine how often to lubricate them
and what type
of lubricant to use.
You should not use penetrating oils because they could wash out the factory
installed lubricant and cause the lock to bind. De-icers which contain
alcohol could also wash away the lubricant,
so be sure to lubricate the lock
after using a de-icer of this type.
Exhaust System
To help prevent damage to your exhaust system, do not continue to drive
your vehicle if you notice:
0 Engine misfiring
Loss of performance
Exhaust system components hanging lower than normal.
Loud exhaust system noises.
Other unusual operating conditions
Have your engine and exhaust system serviced regularly.
Three-way Catalytic Converter
Your vehicle’s three-way catalytic converter is designed to reduce the
pollutants in your vehicle’s exhaust. Use only unleaded fuel in your vehicle.
If you use leaded fuel, you could damage your three-way catalytic converter
and other engine components.
Engine Control Module System
This system has an oxygen (02) sensor that helps keep your engine’s
air-fuel mixture at a proper level. Use only unleaded fuel in your vehicle. If
you
use leaded fuel, you could damage your oxygen (02) sensor and affect
your vehicle’s emissions.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If you need to replace any of your wheels, wheel bolts, or wheel nuts,
replace them
only with new GM original equipment parts. This way, you
will
be sure to have the right wheel, wheel bolts, and wheel nuts for your
GM model.
A CAUTION:
Using the wrong replacement wheels, wheel bolts, or wheel nuts
on your vehicle can be dangerous. It could affect the braking
and handling
of your vehicle, make your tires lose air and make
you lose control. You could have a collision in which you or
others could be injured. Always use the correct wheel, wheel
bolts, and wheel nuts for replacement.
I NOTICE:
The wrong wheel can also cause problems with bearing life,
brake cooling, speedometer/odometer calibration, headlamp
aim, bumper height, vehicle ground clearance, and tire or tire
chain clearance to the body and chassis.
Used Replacement Wheels
A CAUTION:
Putting a used wheel on your vehicle is dangerous. You can’t
know how
it’s been used or how many miles it’s been driven. It
could fail suddenly and cause an accident. If you have to replace
a wheel use a new GM original equipment wheel.
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