ESP CHEVROLET ASTRO PASSENGER 1993 1.G Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Seats and Safety Belts
AM115008
or the safety belts!
With safety belts, you slow down as the vehicle does. You get more time to
stop. You stop over more distance, and your strongest bones take the\
forces.
That’s why safety belts make such good sense.
Here Are Questions Many People Ask About Safety
Belts-and the Answers
Q: Won’t I be trapped in the vehicle after an accident if I’m wearing a
safety belt?
A: You could be-whether you’re wearing a safety belt or not. But you can
easily unbuckle a safety belt, even
if you’re upside down. And your chance of
being conscious during and after an accident,
so you can unbuckle and get
out, is
much greater if you are belted.
Q: Why don’t they just put in air bags so people won’t have to wear
safety belts?
A: “Air bags,” or Supplemental Inflatable Restraint systems, are in some
vehicles today and will be in more of them in the future. But they are
supplemental systems only-so they work
with safety belts, not instead of
them. Every “air bag” system ever offered for sale has r\
equired the use of
safety belts. Even
if you’re in a vehicle that has “air bags,’’ you still have to
buckle up to get the most protection. That’s true not only in frontal collisions,
but especially in side and other collisions.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Features dik Controls
Door Locks
I
Unlocked doors can be dangerous.
Passengers-especially children-can easily open the doors and
-fall '
out. When a door is locked, the inside handle won't open it,
Outsiders can easily enter through an unlocked door when you slow
down
or stop your vehicle.
This may
not be so obvious: You increase the chance of being
thrown
out of the vehicle in a crash if the doors aren't locked. Wear
safety belts properly, lock your doors, and you will be far better off
whenever you drive your vehicle.
. .. -. . -. * i .. .. .- . 8. .. . -
'here are several ways
to lock and unlock your vehicle:
PO441
From the outside: Use your door key.
From the inside:
To lock front doors and sliding side door, slide the lock
levers down.
Rear doors cannot be manually locked from the inside.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Features & Contds
Every vehicle with power door locks has a pulse lock system. \
A pulse lock
system works like this:
If the sliding door is open and you push the power door lock sw\
itch, the
sliding door will not lock immediately. After you close the do\
or, the system
comes on and, in about five seconds, locks the sliding door.
All models have overriding door locks. When a door is locked, the \
door
handle will not work the latch. This will help stop a door from being
accidentally opened. However, power door locks do not affect th\
e operation of
the hatch.
Leaving Your Vehicle
If you are leaving the vehicle, take your keys, open your door and set t\
he
locks from inside. Then get out and close the door.
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 the ignition: 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 i\
t with you.
Always do this. Your steering wheel will be locked, and
so will your ignition
and transmission. And remember
to lock the doors.
Parking at Night: Park in a lighted spot, close all windows and lock your
vehicle. Remember to keep your valuables out of sight. Put the\
m in a storage
area,
or take them with you.
Parking Lots: If you park in a lot where someone will be watching your
vehicle,
it’s best to lock it up and take your keys. But what if you have to
leave your ignition key? What
if you have to leave something valuable in your
vehicle?
Put your valuables in a storage area out of sight.
Lock all doors except the driver’s.
Then take the door key with you.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Operation of Lights
Although your vehicle's lighting system (headlights, parking lig\
hts, fog lamps,
side marker lights and tail lights) meet all applicable Federal lighting
requirements, certain states and provinces may apply their own \
lighting
regulations that may require special attention before you operate these lights.
For example, some jurisdictions may require that you operate yo\
ur lower
beam lights with fog lamps at all times, or that headlights be turned on
whenever you must use your windshield wipers. In addition, most jurisdictions
prohibit driving solely with parking lights, especially at dawn or dusk.
It is
recommended that you check with your own state or provincial h\
ighway
authority for applicable lighting regulations.
Headlight High-Low Beam
I
PO433
To change the headlights from low beam to high or high to low, pull the turn
signal lever all the way toward you. Then release
it. When the high beams
are on, a blue light on the instrument panel also will be on\
.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Comfort Confmls & Audio Systems
NOTICE
Before you add any sound equipment
CB radio, mobile telephone or two-wa)
you want.
If you can, it’s very important to do
equipment may interfere with the operation of
Delco@ radio or other systems, and even damagt
I. And,
vehicle’s systems may interfere with the. ‘operQtion
of sound t
has been added improp( I
2, before adding sound equipment, LI teck LVILI~ your dealer ancj u
1 tu check Federal rules covering mobile radio and telephone unit-
FM Stereo
FM stereo will give you the best sound. But FM signals will reac\
h only about
10 to 40 miles (16 to 65 km). Tall buildings or hills can interfere with FM
signals, causing the sound to come and go.
AM
The range for most AM stations is greater than for FM, especi\
ally at night.
The longer range, however, can cause stations to interfere with\
each other.
AM can pick up noise from things like storms and power lines. Try reducing
the treble to reduce this noise
if you ever get it.
AM Stereo
This means the Delco@ system can receive C-QUAM@ stereo broadca\
sts.
Many AM stations around the country use
C-QUAM@ to produce stereo,
though some do not.
(C-QUAM@ is a re istered trademark of Motorola, Inc.)
If your Delco@ system can get C-QUAM’, 8 your “STEREO” light will come on
when you’re receiving it.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine person’s BAC would be close to 0.12 percent. A person who consumes food
just before or during drinking will have a slightly lower BAC level.
The law in most
US. states sets the legal limit at a BAC of 0.10 percent. In
Canada the limit is 0.08 percent, and in some other countries it’s lower than
that. The BAG will
be over 0.10 percent after three to six drinks (in one
hour). Of course,
as we’ve seen, it depends on how much alcohol is in the
drinks, and how quickly the person drinks them.
But it’s very important to keep in mind that the ability to drive is affected well
below a BAC of
0.10 percent. Research shows that the driving skills of many
people are impaired at
a BAC approaching 0.05 percent, and that the effects
are worse at night. All drivers are impaired at BAC levels above
0.05 percent.
Statistics show that the chance of being in an accident increases sharply for
drivers who have
a BAC of 0.05 percent or above. A driver with a BAC level
of
0.06 percent (three beers in one hour for a 180-pound or 82 kg person)
has doubled his or her chance of having an accident.
At a BAC level of
0.10 percent, the chance of that driver having an accident is six times
greater; at a level of
0.15 percent, the chances are twenty-five times greater!
And, the body takes about an hour to rid itself of the alcohol in one drink.
No amount of coffee or number of cold showers will speed that up.
“I’ll be careful” isn’t the right answer. What if there’s an emergency, a need
to take sudden action, as when a child darts into the street?
A person with a
higher BAC might not be able to react quickly enough
to avoid the collision.
There’s something else about drinking and driving that many \
people don’t know. Medical research shows that alcohol in a person’s system can\
make
crash injuries worse. That’s especially true for brain, spina\
l cord and heart
injuries. That means that
if anyone who has been drinking-driver or
passenger-is in a crash, the chance of being killed or permanently disabled
is higher than
if that person had not been drinking. And we’ve already seen
that the chance of a crash itself is higher for drinking drivers.
CAUTION
Drinking and then driving is very dangerous. Your reflexes,
[ perceptions, and judgment will be affected by even a small amo\
unt
of alcohol. You could have a serious-or even fatal-accident
if you
drive after drinking. Please don’t drink and drive or ride with a driver
who has been drinking. Ride home in a cab; or
if you’re with a
group, designate a driver who will not drink.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Passing
The driver of a vehicle about to pass another on a two-lane highway waits
for just the right moment, accelerates, moves around the vehicle ahead, then
goes back into the right lane again.
A simple maneuver?
Not necessarily! Passing another vehicle on a two-lane highway is a
potentially dangerous move, since the passing vehicle occupies the same lane
as oncoming traffic for several seconds.
A miscalculation, an error in
judgment, or a brief surrender
to frustration or anger can suddenly put the
passing driver face to face with the worst of all traffic accidents-the head-on
collision.
So here are some tips for passing:
“Drive ahead.” Look down the road, to the sides, and
to crossroads for
situations that might affect your passing patterns. If you have\
any doubt
whatsoever about making a successful pass, wait for a better t\
ime.
Watch for traffic signs, pavement markings, and lines.
If you can see a
sign up ahead that might indicate a turn or an intersection, delay your
pass. A broken center line usually indicates it’s all right
to pass
(providing the road ahead is clear). Never cross a solid line on your side
of the lane or a double solid line, even if the road seems empty of
approaching traffic.
If you suspect that the driver of the vehicle you want to pass isn’t aware
of your presence, tap the horn a couple of times before passing.
Do not get too close to the vehicle you want to pass while you’re
awaiting an opportunity. For one thing, following too closely r\
educes your
area of vision, especially
if you’re following a larger vehicle. Also, you
won’t have adequate space
if the vehicle ahead suddenly slows or stops.
Keep back a reasonable distance.
When
it looks like a chance to pass is coming up, start to accelerate
but stay in the right lane and don’t get too close. Time your move
so
you will be increasing speed as the time comes to move into \
the other
lane.
If the way is clear to pass, you will have a “running start” that
more than makes up for the distance you would lose by dropping back.
And
if something happens to cause you to cancel your pass, you need
only
slow down and drop back again and wait for another opportunity.
If other cars are lined up to pass a slow vehicle, wait your turn. But
take care that someone isn’t trying to pass you as you pull
out to pass
the
slow vehicle. Remember to glance over your shoulder and check the
blind spot.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Your Driving and the Road
0
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 c\
onvex. The
vehicle you just passed may seem
to be further away from you than it
really
is.)
Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time on two-lane roads.
Reconsider before passing the next vehicle.
Don’t overtake a slowly moving vehicle
too rapidly. Even though the
brake lights 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 whe\
n the three
control systems (brakes, steering and acceleration) don’t ha\
ve 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 possib\
le.
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 (as when you turn
a corner on a wet, snow- or ice-covered road), ease your foo\
t
off the
accelerator pedal
as soon as you feel the vehicle start to slide. Quickly steer
the way you want the vehicle
to go. If you start steering quickly enough, your
vehicle will straighten out.
As it does, straighten the front wheels.
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
4-22

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Your Driving and the Road
Since you can’t see as well, you may need to slow down an\
d keep more space between you and other vehicles. It’s hard to tel\
l how fast
the vehicle ahead is going just by looking at its taillights. \
Slow down, especially on higher speed roads. Your headlights can light
up only
so much road ahead.
In remote areas, watch for animals.
If you’re tired, pull off the road in a safe place and rest.
Night Vision
No one can see as well at night as in the daytime. But as we \
get older
these differences increase.
A 50-year-old driver may require at least twice as
much light to see the same thing at night as a 20-year-old.
What you
do in the daytime can also affect your night vision. For example, if
you spend the day in bright sunshine you are wise to wear su\
nglasses. Your
eyes will have less trouble adjusting to night.
But
if you’re driving, don’t wear sunglasses at night. They may \
cut down on
glare from headlights, but they also make a lot of things inv\
isible that should remain visible-such as parked cars, obstacles, pedestrians,
or even trains
blocking railway crossings. You may want to put on your sunglasses after you
have pulled into a brightly-lighted service
or refreshment area. Eyes shielded
from that glare may adjust more quickly to darkness back on t\
he road. But be sure to remove your sunglasses before you leave the service area.
You can be temporarily blinded by approaching lights. It can take a second
or
two, or even several seconds, for your eyes to readjust to the dark. When
you are faced with severe glare (as from a driver who doesn’\
t lower the high beams,
or a vehicle with misaimed headlights), slow down a little. Avoid\

staring directly into the approaching lights.
If there is a line of opposing
traffic, make occasional glances over the line
of headlights to make certain
that one of the vehicles isn’t starting to move into your \
lane. Once you are past the bright lights, give your eyes time to readjust before resuming speed.
High Beams
If the vehicle approaching you has its high beams on, signal by \
flicking yours
to high and then back to low beam. This is the usual signal \
to lower the
headlight beams.
If the other driver still doesn’t lower the beams, resist the
temptation to put your high beams on. This only makes
two half-blinded
drivers.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Your Driving and #he Road
Driving in the Rain
1 I
I
Rain and wet roads can mean driving trouble. On a wet road y\
ou can’t stop,
accelerate or turn as well because your tire-to-road traction isn’t as good as
on
dry roads. And, if your tires don’t have much tread left, you’ll get even
less traction.
It’s always wise to go slower and be cautious
if rain starts to fall while you
are driving. The sutface may get wet suddenly when your reflexes a\
re tuned
for driving on dry pavement.
The heavier the rain, the harder
it is to see. Even if your windshield wiper
blades are in good shape, a heavy rain can make
it harder to see road signs
and traffic signals, pavement markings, the edge of the road, and even
people walking. Road spray can often be worse for vision than \
rain,
especially
if it comes from a dirty road.
So it is wise to keep your wiping equipment in good shape and keep your
windshield washer tank filled. Replace your windshield wiper inserts when \
they
show signs
of streaking or missing areas on the windshield, or when strips of
rubber start
to separate from the inserts.
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