check transmission fluid CHEVROLET ASTRO PASSENGER 1993 1.G Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Hill and Mountain Roads
AM470001
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 enjoyab\
le.
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.
Know how to go down hills. The most important thing to know is this:
Let your engine
do some of the slowing down. Don't make your brakes
do it all. Shift
to a lower gear when you go down a steep or long hill.
That way, you will
slow down without excessive use of your brakes.
* If you don't shift down, your brakes could get so hot that they
L b wouldn't work well. You would then have poor braking or even none
going down a hill. You could crash. Shift down to let your engine
assist your brakes on a steep downhill slope.
4-35

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 P (Park) yet.
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
P (Park).
5. Release the regular brakes.
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
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.
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 ove\
rfill),
engine oil, axle lubricant, belt, cooling system, and brake adj\
ustment. 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.
mailer Light Wiring
See “Trailer Wiring Harness” in the Index.
4-49

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables can reach, but be
sure the vehicles aren’t touching each other.
If they are, it could cause a
ground .connection you don’t want. You wouldn’t be able
to start your
vehicle, and the bad grounding could damage the electrical syst\
ems.
1 CAUTION
I
A You could be injured if the vehicles roll. Set the parking brake firmly
b on each vehicle. Put an automatic transmission in P (Park) or a
I manual transmission in N (Neutral).
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Turn off all lights that aren’t
needed, and radios. This will avoid sparks and help save both \
batteries.
And
it could save your radio!
1’ NOTICE
Iv dar li 1. The Pairs f you leave your radio on, it could be t
Nouldn’t be covered bv vour warrallLv I
4. Open the hoods and locate the batteries. Find the positive (t) and the
negative
(-) terminals on each battery.
1 CAUTION
A Using a match near a battery can cause battery gas to explode.
People have been hurt doing this, and some have been blinded. \
Use
a flashlight
if you need more light.
You don’t need
to add water to the Delco Freedom@ battery installed
in every new
GM vehicle. But if a battery has filler caps, be sure the
right amount of fluid is there.
If it is low, add water to take care of
that first. If you don’t, explosive gas could be present.
Battery fluid contains acid that can burn you. Don’t get
it on you. If
you accidentally get it in your eyes or on your skin, flush the place
I with water and get medical help immediately.
5. Check that the jumper cables don’t have loose or missing in\
sulation. If
they do, you could get a shock. The vehicles could be damaged\
, too.
Before you connect the cables, here are some things you should\
know.
Positive
(t) will go to positive (+) and negative (-) will go to negative
(-) or a metal engine part. Don’t connect (t) to (-) or you’ll get a
short that would damage the battery and maybe other parts,
too.
5-4

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Service & Appearance Care
L
......... ..... -&-.A- -
I 5, "9
. .
Here you will find information about the care of your vehicle \
. This Section
begins with service and fuel information. and then
it shows how to check
important fluid and lubricant levels
. There is also technical information about
your vehicle. and a section devoted to its appearance care
.
Service ........................................................................\
........................................... 6-3
Fuel
........................................................................\
................................................ 6-4
Checking Things Under the Hood
....................................................................... \
6-8
Hood Release
........................................................................\
............................ 6-8
Engine
Oil ........................................................................\
.................................. 6-9
Engine Cover
........................................................................\
........................... 6-15
Air Cleaner
........................................................................\
............................... 6-19
Automatic Transmission Fluid
........................................................................\
. 6-20
Rear Axle
........................................................................\
................................. 6-23
All-Wheel Drive
........................................................................\
........................ 6-23
Transfer Case
........................................................................\
.......................... 6-23
Front Axle
........................................................................\
................................. 6-24
Engine Coolant
........................................................................\
........................ 6-26
Power Steering Fluid
........................................................................\
............... 6-30
Windshield Washer Fluid
........................................................................\
......... 6-31
Brake Master Cylinder
........................................................................\
............. 6-32
6-1

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Service & Appearance Care
h
Operating the engine with the air cleaner off can cause you or other!
to be burned. The air cleaner not only cleans the air, it stops flame
if the engine backfires. If it isn’t there, and the engine backfires, you
could be burned. Don’t drive with it off, and be careful working on
the engine with the air cleaner off.
If the air cleaner is off, a backfir
dirt can easily get into your engine,
air cleaner in place when you’re drivin $use a damaging engir
hicl
vill damage it. Na)
Automatic Transmission Nuid
When to Check and Change:
A good time to check your automatic transmission fluid level is when the
engine oil is changed. Refer to the Maintenance Schedule
to determine when
to change your fluid. See “Scheduled Maintenance Services” in the Index.
How to Check:
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you may choo\
se to have this
done at a
GM dealership Service Department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow all the instructions here, or you could
get a false reading on the dipstick.
Too much or too little fluid can damage your transmission. Too much can
mean that some of the fluid could come out and fall on hot engine part-
starting a fire. Be sure to get an accurate reading
if you check your
transmission fluid.
I
I
Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the transmission fluid level if you
have been driving:
When outside temperatures are above 90°F (32°C).
At high speed for quite a while.
In heavy traffic-especially in hot weather.
While pulling a trailer.
6-20

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine To get the right reading, the fluid should be at normal operating temperature,
which is
180°F to 200°F (82°C to 93°C).
To check transmission fluid hot: Get the vehicle warmed up by driving
about
15 miles (24 km) when outside temperatures are above 50°F (10°C). If
it's colder than 50°F (lO'C), drive the vehicle in D (Third Gear) until the
engine temperature gage moves and then remains steady for ten \
minutes.
Then follow the hot check procedures.
To check transmission fluid cold: A cold check is made after the vehicle
has been sitting for
8 hours or more with the engine off and is used only as
a reference. Let the engine run at idle for
5 minutes if outside temperatures
are
50°F (1 0°C) or more. If it's colder than 50°F (lO"C), you may have to
idle the engine longer.
A hot check must follow when fluid is added during a
cold check.
To check the fluid hot or cold:
Park your vehicle on a level place.
Place the shift lever in P (Park) with the parking brake applied.
With your foot on the brake pedal, move the shift lever throu\
gh each
gear range, pausing for about three seconds in each range. Then,
position the shift lever in
P (Park).
Let the engine run at idle for three minutes or more.
Then, without shutting off the engine, follow these steps:
K3619
6-21

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Service & Appearance Care
1. Pull out the dipstick and wipe it with a clean rag or paper towel.
2. Push it back in all the way, wait 3 seconds and then pull it back out
again.
3. Check both sides of the dipstick, and read the lower level. The fluid
level must be in the COLD area for a cold check or in the
HOT area or
cross-hatched area for a hot check.
way.
4. If the fluid level is where it should be, push the dipstick back in all the
To Add Fluid:
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what kind of transmission
fluid
to use. See “Recommended Fluids and Lubricants” in the Index.
If the fluid level is low, add only enough to bring the level up to the COLD
area
for a cold check or the HOT area for a hot check. It doesn’t take much
fluid, generally less than a pint. Don’t overfill. We recommend you use only
fluid labeled DEXRON@IIE, because fluids with that label are ma\
de especially
for your automatic transmission. Damage caused by other fluid t\
han DEXRON*IIE
is not covered by your new vehicle warranty.
After adding fluid, recheck the fluid level as described under “How to
Check”.
When the correct fiuid level is obtained, push the dipstick back in all the
way.
6-22

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 6. TRANSMISSION SERVICE
Change the transmission fluid and filter every 15,000 miles (2\
5 000 km).
If the vehicle is mainly driven under one or more of these conditions:
In heavy city traffic.
Where the outside temperature regularly reaches 90°F (32°C\
) or
In hilly or mountainous terrain.
Frequent trailer pulling.
Uses such as taxi, police, delivery or other commercial service\
.
higher.
If the vehicle is not used mainly under any
of these conditions, change
the fluid and filter every 30,000 miles
(50 000 km). See “Automatic
Transmission Fluid’’ in the Index for more information.
7. FUEL FILTER REPLACEMENT* -Replace the fuel filter at the specified
interval or sooner
if clogged.
8. SPARK PLUGS REPLACEMENT* -Replace spark plugs with the type
listed in Section
6. See “Specification Charts’’ in the Index.
9. SPARK PLUG WIRE INSPECTION* -Clean wires and inspect for burns,
cracks or other damage. Check the wire boot
fit at the distributor and at
the spark plugs. Replace wires as needed.
10.
ENGINE TIMING CHECK AND DISTRIBUTOR CHECK -Adjust timing to
underhood label specifications. Inspect the inside and outside of the
distributor cap and rotor for cracks, carbon tracking and corro\
sion. Clean
or replace as needed.
cap and lines for damage or leaks. Remove fuel cap, inspect g\
asket for
an even filler neck imprint, and any damage. Replace parts as \
needed.
12.
ENGINE ACCESSORY DRIVE BELT INSPECTION* -Inspect belt. Look
for cracks, fraying, wear, and proper tension. Adjust or replac\
e as needed.
11.
FUEL TANK, CAP AND LINES INSPECTION* -Inspect the fuel tank,
* An Emission Control Service
7-9

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Owner Checks and Services
Listed below are owner checks and services which would be made at the
time period specified to help ensure proper safety, emission performance, and
dependability of your vehicle.
Be sure any necessary repairs are completed at once. Whenever \
any fluids
or lubricants are added to your vehicle, make sure they are the \
proper ones,
as shown in this section.
At Least Once a Month
Tire inflation pressure check -Check the tires for proper inflation. If they
are low, inflate them
to the level specified on the CertificationRire label or in
Section
6. See “Inflation-Tire Pressure” in the Index.
At Least Once a Year
Key lock cylinder lubrication -Lubricate key lock cylinders with one of the
lubricants recommended in this section.
Transmission neutral start switch operation
I A When you are doing this check, the vehicle could move suddenly\
. If I
it does, you or others could be injured. Follow the steps below. I L
1. Before you start, be sure you have enough room around the vehicle.
2. Firmly apply both the manual parking brake and the regular brake. See
“Brakes” and “Parking Brake” in the Index.
Do not use the accelerator
pedal.
3. Be ready to turn off the engine immediately if it starts.
4. Try to start the engine in each gear. The starter should work only in P
Steering column lock operation -While parked, try to turn the key to Lock
in each gear shift position. The key should turn to Lock only when the gear
shift is in
P (Park). The key should come out only in Lock.
(Park) or N (Neutral).
7-1 1

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine ..
.
E
Engine Block Heater
..................... 2.16. 3-9
Coolant
............................ 5.11. 6-26
Coolant Temperature Gage
...... 2-60
Cover
......................................... 6-1 5
Exhaust ............................ 2.24. 6-41
Fan Noise
.................................. 5-1 6
Identification
..................... 6.60. 6-64
Oil (See “Oil”) Overheating
................................. 5-8
Running While Parked
... 2.22. 2-25
Equipment. Add-on
...................... 6-44
Exhaust System
............................ 6-41
F
Finish Care
........................................... 6-56
Damage
..................................... 6-57
Automatic Transmission
............ 6-20
Brake
......................................... 6-32
Capacities
.................................. 6-64
Coolant
............................ 5.11. 6-26
Leak Check
............................... 6-34
Power Steering
......................... 6-30
Transfer Case
........................... 6-23
Windshield Washer
................... 6-31
Fog Lamps
.................................... 2-42
Four-wheel Antilock
..................... 4-1 5
Front Seats ..................................... 1-2
Fuel
................................................. 6-4
Gage
.......................................... 2-63
In Foreign Countries
................... 6-6
Regulator
................................... 2-1 5
Tank Capacity ........................... 6-65
Fuse Block
.................................... 6-63
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
......... 6-68
Fluid
Filling Your Tank
......................... 6-6
G
Gages
Fuel ............................................ 2-63 ....
Voltmeter .................................... 2-64
Gasolines for Cleaner Air
.............. 6-5
H
Hatch Release Switch .................. 2-27
Hazard Warning Flashers
.............. 5-2
Head Restraints
............................ 1-11
Headlights
...................................... 6-35
High Beams
..................... 2.66. 4-24
High-Low Beam
......................... 2-31
Reminder Light
.......................... 2-44
Heating System
.............................. 3-5
Fan Lever
.................................... 3-5
Rear
............................................. 3-7
Temperature Lever
...................... 3-5
Highway Hypnosis
........................ 4-34
Hitches Hood Block Heater.,
............................ 2-16
Function Lever
............................ 3-5
4-46
...........................................
Latches and Hinge ................... 6-40
Release
........................................ 6-8
Horn
............................................... 2-28
Hydroplaning
................................. 4-27
I
If You’re Stuck in Sand. Mud.
Ice or Snow
.............................. 5-32
Ignition Switch
............................... 2-13
Inflation-Tire Pressure
................... 6-45
Instrument Cluster
........................ 2-52
Standard
.................................... 2-55
Digital
......................................... 2-52
J
Jack Storage ................................. 5-18
Jump Starting
.................................. 5-3
9-3