fuel CHEVROLET ASTRO PASSENGER 1993 1.G Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine These symbols are used on warning and indicator lights:
Engine Coolant
Temperature
BRAKE
Brake
(Standard Cluster) mrtery
Charging
System
I
ANTI-
LOCK
Four- Wheel
Anti-lock Brakes
Fuse Fuel
1
Engine Oil
Pressure
Here are some
other symbols you may see:
Lighter Horn Speaker
PO359

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Features & Controls
ic
c
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional featur\
es on your
vehicle, and information on starting, shifting and braking. Also\
explained are
the instrument panel and the warning systems that tell you
if everything is
working properly-and what
to do if you have a problem.
For explanation of vehicle symbols, refer to “Vehicle Symbols in
Section
0.
Keys ........................................................................\
............................................... 2-3
Your Doors and How They Work
........................................................................\
2-5
Door
Locks ........................................................................\
.................................. 2-1 0
Theft ........................................................................\
............................................. 2-1 2
New Vehicle “Break-In”
........................................................................\
.............. 2-1 3
Ignition Switch ........................................................................\
............................. 2-1 3
Starting Your Engine ........................................................................\
................... 2-14
Fuel Regulator
........................................................................\
......................... 2-15
Driving Through Deep Standing Water
.......................................................... 2-16
Engine Block Heater
........................................................................\
............... 2-1 6
Automatic Transmission ........................................................................\
.............. 2-1 7
Locking Rear Axle ........................................................................\
....................... 2-20
Parking Brake
........................................................................\
.............................. 2-20
2-1

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 3. 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 car-
your battery to be drained
---? s~-~~~ And the e:*-?ssive heat ---
damage your starter motor
I
4. If it doesn’t start right away, hold your key in atart. If it doesn’t start in
three seconds, push the accelerator pedal about one-quarter of the way
down for
12 more seconds, or until it starts.
flooded with too much gasoline. Try this:
Wait
15 seconds to let the starter motor cool down. Then push your
accelerator pedal all the way to the floor. Hold it there. Then, hold the
key in
Start for no more than ten seconds. This clears the extra
gasoline from the engine.
5. If your engine still won’t start (or starts but then stops), \
it could be
If the engine still doesn’t start, wait another
15 seconds and do it all
again.
When the engine starts, let go
of the key and the accelerator pedal.
~ NOTICE
Your engine is designed to work with the electronics in your vehicle. If yo
add electrical parts or accessories, you could change the way the fuel
injection svstem operates. Before adding electrical equipment, ch\
eck with
vour
dt If you -.m’t, you. -ngi might not 1 -.form I perlv.
IT you ever have to have your vehicle towe see tl pan of tnrs Man[
that tells how to do it without damaging your ‘We.
e “Towing You
Vehi
’ ” ‘7 the Inc’ .
Fuel Regulator
If you have the 4.3L engine (VIN Code W), you will have a fuel regulator
that shuts the fuel
off when the engine reaches 5600 rpm.
2-1 5

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Features & Controls
Driving Through Deep Standing Water
’‘ ~ou drive too quickly through deep puddles or standing water, water ci
ne in through your engine’s air intake and badly damage your e\
ngine. I!
you can” .void deep puddles or standing water, drive through them very
slowly.
Engine Block Heater (Option)
In very cold weather, -0°F (-18°C) or colder, the engine block heater can
help. You’ll get easier starting and better fuel economy during engine
warm-up.
To use the block heater:
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt outlet.
2-1
6

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine CAUTION
Shifting out of P (Park) or N (Neutral) while your engine is
b “racing”(running at high speed) is dangerous. Unless your\
foot is
firmly on the brake pedal, your vehicle could move very rapidl\
y.
You could lose control and hit people or objects. Don’t shift out
of
P (Park) or N (Neutral) while your engine is racing.
NOTICE
sed by shifting out of P (Park) (
g isn’t covered I . .. . . . . . by . , . ..I. your , , , , warranty. , ., , ; s,L ., ... . , I . ::: :,.:. ’ .. ’., ; , : , .. . .: .. . , .. , , , . . . , .,
e
e
e
OD (Automatic Overdrive).
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
about halfway down,
- Going about 35 mph (56 km/h) or more, push the accelerator all the
way down. You’ll shift down to the next gear and have more power.
OD should not be used when towing a trailer, carrying a heavy load, or
driving on steep hills. Select
D (third gear) when operating the vehicle
under any of these conditions.
D (Third Gear).
This
is like OD, but you never go into Overdrive. You should use D
when towing a trailer, carrying a heavy load, or driving on steep hills.
2 (Second Gear).
This position gives you more power but lower fuel economy. You can
use
2 (Second Gear) 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 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.
1 (First Gear).
This position gives you even more power (but lower fuel econo\
my) than
2 (Second Gear). You can use it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or
2-1 9

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Features & Contmls
K3256
To open yo.ur optional rear storage compartment, pull up on the handle to
remove the cover. To replace the cover, fit the notches
on the cover into the
storage compartment slots and push down.
To open your optional beverage cooler, lift up on the armrest. Th\
e cooler has
a drain system that drains
off as much fluid as necessary. It also has an
ashtray and a cupholder for your convenience.
Instrument Cluster
Your instrument cluster is designed to let you know at a glance how your
vehicle is running. You’ll know how fast you’re going, about how much fuel
remains, and many other things you’ll need to know to drive safely and
economically.
5igital Cluster
The optional digital cluster on your vehicle’s instrument panel is displayed
electronically and will tell you everything the standard cluster does.
The digital cluster will give readings in either English or Metric. To switch
from English to Metric, just press the
EIM button.
2-52

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine El
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (SERVICE ENGINE SOON Light)
Standard Cluster Digital Cluster
PO644
A computer monitors operation of your fuel, ignition and emission controls
system. This light should come on when the ignition is on, bu\
t 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
f you keep driving your vehicle with this light on, after a whi\
le, the
!mission controls won't work well, your fuel economy won't be \
as
g--.
lnd your engine may not run as smoothly. Tis could lead to costly
epairs not covered by your warranty.
I nis light is on the right hand side of your standard cluster. If you have the
digital cluster, it
is on the left hand side.
2-61

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Fuel Gage
Sfandard Cluster Digifal Cluster
FU
PO651
The fuel gage tells you how much fuel you have remaining, whe\
n the ignition is on. When the gage first indicates empty you still have a \
little fuel left, but
you should get more fuel as soon as possible.
A box around the fuel gage symbol on the digital cluster will begin to flash
when your tank is
1/8 full or less.
Here are four things some owners ask about. None of these indicate a
problem with your fuel gage:
At the gas station, the gas pump shuts off before the gage reads full.
The fuel tank will take either a little more or a little les\
s fuel to fill up
The gage moves a little when you turn a corner or speed up. \
The gage doesn’t go back to empty when you turn off the ignition.
than the gage shows.
For your fuel tank capacity, see the Index under “Fluid Cap\
acities.”
2-63

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Most drivers treat their brakes with care. Some, however, overwork the
braking system with poor driving habits.
Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive in spurts-heavy
acceleration followed by heavy braking-rather than keeping pace with
traffic. This
is a mistake. Your brakes may not have time to cool
between hard stops. Your brakes will wear out much faster if you do a
lot of heavy braking.
Don’t ”ride” the brakes by letting your left foot rest lightly on the brake
pedal while driving.
II
!
I AM410001
A
“Riding” your brakes can cause them to overheat to the point that
they won’t work well. You might not be able
to stop your vehicle in
time to avoid an accident.
If you “ride” your brakes, they will get so
hot they will require a lot of pedal force to slow you down. Avoid
“riding” the brakes.
1 CAUTION
I
NOTICE
“Riding .he brakes wears them out much faster. You would need costll
brake replacement much
sooner than normal. and it also reduces fuel
4-1 3

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Driving On a Long nip
Although most long trips today are made on freeways, there are still many
made on regular highways.
Long-distance driving on freeways and regular highways is the same in some
ways. The trip has to be planned and the vehicle prepared, you drive at
higher-than-city speeds, and there are longer turns behind the wheel. You’ll
enjoy your trip more
if you and your vehicle are in good shape. Here are
some tips for a successful long trip.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well rested. If you must start when you’re
not fresh-such as after a day’s work-don’t plan to make too many miles
that first part of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes you can
easily drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it serviced and maintained,
it’s ready to
go. If it needs service, have it done before starting out. Of
course, you’ll find experienced and able service experts in
GM dealerships all
across North America. They’ll be ready and willing to help
if you need it.
Here are some things you can check before a trip:
Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reservoir full? Are all windows clean
Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked all levels?
Lights: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
Tires: They are vitally important to a safe, trouble-free trip. Is the tread
good enough for long-distance driving? Are the tires all inflated to the
recommended pressure?
Should you delay your trip a short time to avoid a major storm system?
inside and outside?
Weather Forecasts: What’s the weather outlook along your route?
Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps?
On the Road
Unless you
are the only driver, it is good to share the driving task with
others. Limit turns behind the wheel to about
100 miles (160 km) or two
hours- at a sitting. Then, either change drivers or stop for some refres\
hment
like coffee, tea or soft drinks and some limbering up. But
do stop and move
around. Eat lightly along the way. Heavier meals tend to make some people
sleepy.
4-33