manual transmission CHEVROLET ASTRO CARGO VAN 1995 2.G Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Battery Replacement
Under norlnal use, the batteries in your key chain transmitter should last
about two years.
You can
tell the batteries are weak if the transmitter won’t work at the
normal range in any location. If you have to get close to your vehicle before
the transmitter works,
it’s probably time to change the batteries.
Your transmitter housing snaps apart for ease
in battery replacement. To
open the housing:
1. Insert a dime between two halves of the transmitter housing near the
key ring
hole.
2. Remove the bottom by twisting the dime.
3. Remove and replace the batteries with two Duracell @-type batteries
(DL2016 or equivalent), positive side down.
4. Align and snap together the back and top transmitter housings.
Theft
Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities. Although your
vehicle has
a number of theft deterrent features, we know that nothing we
put on
it can make it impossible to steal. However, there are ways you can
help.
Key in fhe lgnition
If you walk away from your vehicle with the keys inside, it’s an easy target
for joy riders or professional thieves
- so don’t do it.
When you park your vehicle and open the driver’s door, you’ll hear a chime
reminding
you to remove your key from the ignition and take it with you.
Always
do this. Your steering wheel will be locked, and so will your
ignition and transmission. And remember to lock the doors.
2-12

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Ignition Switch
2
Use your ignition key to start your vehicle. The ignition key lets you turn
the ignition switch to five different positions.
1. OFF
2. RUN
3. START
4. ACC
5. LOCK 5
ACC (Accessory) - ACC lets you use things like the radio and the
windshield wipers when the engine is
off. To get into ACC, push in the key
and turn it toward you. Your steering wheel will remain locked, just
as it
was before you inserted
the key.
NOTICE:
Don’t operate accessories in the ACC position for long perio\
ds
of time. Prolonged operation of accessories in the ACC position
could drain your battery and prevent you from starting your
vehicle.
LOCK
- This position locks your ignition, steering wheel and
transmission. It’s
a theft deterrent feature. You will only be able to remove
your key when the ignition is turned
to LOCK.
OFF - This position lets you turn off the engine but still turn the steering
wheel. Use
OFF if you must have your vehicle in motion while the engine is
off (for example, if your vehicle is being pushed).
RUN - This is the position for driving.
START - This starts your engine.
2- 14

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine NOTICE:
If your key seems stuck in LOCK and you can’t turn it, be sure
it is
all the way in. If it is, then turn the steering wheel left and
right while you turn the key hard. But turn the key only with
your hand. Using
a tool to force it could break the key or the
ignition switch.
If none of this works, then your vehicle needs
service.
Starting Your Engine
Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N). Your engine won’t
start
in any other position - that’s a safety feature. To restart when you’re
already moving, use
NEUTRAL (N) only.
NOTICE:
Don’t try to shift to PARK (P) if your vehicle is moving. If you
do, you could damage the transmission. Shift to PARK
(P) only
when your vehicle is stopped.
1. Without pushing the accelerator pedal, turn your ignition key to
START. When the engine starts, let go of the key. The idle speed will
go down
as your engine gets warm.
NOTICE:
Holding your key in START for longer than 15 seconds at a time
will cause your battery
to be drained much sooner. And the
excessive heat can damage your starter motor.
2. If it doesn’t start right away, hold your key in START. If it doesn’t start
in ten seconds, push the accelerator pedal about one-quarter of the way
down
for five more seconds, or until it starts.
2-15

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged in? The answer
depends
on the weather, the kind of oil you have, and some other things.
Instead
of trying to list everything here, we ask that you contact your GM
dealer in the area where you’ll be parking your vehicle. The dealer can give
you the best advice for that particular area.
Automatic Transmission
There are several
different positions for
your shift lever.
0 PARK (P) -This locks your rear wheels. It’s the best position to use
when you start your engine because your vehicle can’t move easily.
A CAUTION:
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the shift lever is not I
fully in PARK (P) with the parking brake firmly set. Your
vehicle can roll.
Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine is running unless you
have to.
If you have left the engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly.
You or others could be injured. To be sure your vehicle
won’t move, even when you’re on fairly level ground, always set
your parking brake and move the shift lever to PARK
(P). I
See “Shifting Into PARK (P)” in the Index. If you’re pulling a
trailer,
see “Towing a Trailer” in the Index.
2- 18

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Ensure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) range before starting the engine.
Your vehicle has a brake-transmission shift interlock. You have
to fully
apply your regular brakes before you can shift from PARK
(P) when the
ignition key is in the RUN position. If you cannot
shift out of PARK (P),
ease pressure
on the shift lever - push the shift lever all the way into
PARK
(P) as you maintain brake application. Then move the shift lever into
the gear you wish. See “Shifting Out of PARK (P)” in this section.
REVERSE (R) - Use this gear to back up.
NOTICE:
Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle is moving forward
could damage your transmission. Shift to REVERSE
(R) only
after your vehicle is stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow, ice or sand
without damaging your transmission, see “If You’re Stuck: In Sand,
Mud, Ice or
Snow’’ in the Index.
NEUTRAL (N) - In this position, your engine doesn’t connect with
the wheels.
To restart when you’re already moving, use NEUTRAL (N)
only. Also, use NEUTRAL
(N) when your vehicle is being towed.
A CAUTION:
Shifting out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) while your engine is
“racing” (running at high speed) is dangerous. Unless your foot
is firmly on the brake pedal, your vehicle could move very
rapidly. You could lose control and hit people or objects. Don’t
shift out
of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) while your engine is
racing.
NOTICE:
Damage to your transmission caused by shifting out of PARK
(P) or NEUTRAL (N) with the engine racing isn’t covered by
your warranty.
2- 19

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 0
0
0
0
OVERDRIVE (0)
This position is for normal driving. If you need more power for
passing, and you’re:
- Going less than about 35 mph (56 km/h), push your accelerator
- Going about 35 mph (56 km/h) or more, push the accelerator pedal
pedal
about halfway down.
all the way down.
You’ll shift down to the next gear and have
more power.
OVERDRIVE
(0) should not be used when towing a trailer, carrying a
heavy load, or driving on steep hills. Select DRIVE (D) when operating
the vehicle under any of these conditions.
DRIVE (D) - This is like OVERDRIVE (@), but you never go into
OVERDRIVE
(0). You should use DRIVE (D) when towing a trailer,
carrying
a heavy load or driving on steep hills.
SECOND GEAR (2) - This position gives you more power but lower
fuel economy. You can use SECOND GEAR
(2) on hills. It can help
control your speed as you go down steep
mountain roads, but then you
would also want to use your brakes off and on.
If
you manually select SECOND GEAR (2), the transmission will drive
in second gear. You may use this feature for reducing torque to the rear
wheels when you are trying to start your vehicle from
a stop on
slippery road surfaces.
FIRST GEAR (1) - This position gives you even more power (but
lower fuel economy) than SECOND GEAR
(2). You can use it on very
steep hills, or
in deep snow or mud. If the selector lever is put in FIRST
GEAR
(I), the transmission won’t shift into FIRST GEAR (1) until the
vehicle is going slowly enough.
NOTICE:
If your rear wheels can’t rotate, don’t try to drive. This \
might
happen if you were stuck in very deep sand or mud or were u\
p
against a solid object. You could damage your transmission
or
transfer case or both.
Also, if you stop when going uphill, don’t hold your vehicle ther\
e
with only the accelerator pedal. This could overheat and damage\

the transmission.
Use your brakes or shift into PARK (P) to hold
your vehicle in position on a hill.
2-20

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine Running
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine running, be sure your
vehicle
is in PARK (P) and your parking brake is firmly set before you leave
it. After you’ve moved the shift lever into the
PARK (P) position, hold the
regular brake pedal down. Then, see if you can move the shift lever away
from
PARK (P) without first pulling it toward you. If you can, it means that
the shift lever wasn’t fully locked into
PARK (P).
Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and you don’t shift your transmission into PARK
(P) properly, the weight of the vehicle may put too much force on the
parking pawl in the transmission. You may find it difficult to pull the shift
lever out of
PARK (P). This is called “torque lock.” To prevent torque lock,
set the parking brake and then shift into
PARK (P) properly before you
leave the driver’s seat.
To find out how, see “Shifting Into PARK (P)” in the
Index.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out
of PARK (P) before
you release the parking brake.
If “torque lock” does occur, you may need to have another vehicle push
yours a little uphill
to take some of the pressure from the transmission, so
you can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P).
2-23

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Shifting Out of PARK (P)
Your vehicle has a brake-transmission shift interlock. You have to fully
apply your regular brake before you can shift from PARK (P) when the
ignition is in the RUN position.
See “Automatic Transmission” in the Index,
If you cannot shift out
of PARK (P), ease pressure on the shift lever - push
the shift lever all the way into PARK (P) as you maintain brake application.
Then move the shift lever into the gear you want.
If you ever hold the brake pedal down but still can’t shift out of PARK (P),
try this:
1. Turn the key to OFF.
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.
3. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the vehicle and then shift to the drive gear you want.
5. Have the vehicle fixed as soon as you can.
Parking Over Things That Burn
2-24

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.
4- 18

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 0 0
0
0
Know how to go uphill. You may want to shift down to a lower gear.
The lower gears help cool your engine and transmission, and you can
climb the hill better.
Stay in your own lane when driving
on two-lane roads in hills or
mountains. Don’t swing wide or cut across the center
of the road. Drive
at speeds that let you stay in your own lane.
As you go over the top of a hill, be alert. There could be something in
your lane, like a stalled car or an accident.
You may
see highway signs on mountains that warn of special
problems. Examples are long grades, passing
or no-passing zones, a
falling rocks area, or winding roads. Be alert to these and take
appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Here are some tips for winter driving:
0 Have your vehicle in good shape for winter. Be sure your engine
coolant mix is correct.
0 You may want to put winter emergency supplies in your vehicle.
4-19