CHEVROLET ASTRO PASSENGER 1994 1.G Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 0 Will the trailer parts take 3,000 psi (20 650 kPa) of pressure? If not, the
trailer brake system must not be used with your vehicle.
If everything checks out this far, then make the brake fluid tap at the
port
on the master cylinder that sends fluid to the rear brakes. But don’t
use copper tubing for this.
If you do, it will bend and finally break off.
Use steel brake tubing.
Driving with a Trailer
Towing a trailer requires a certain amount of experience. Before setting out
for the open road, you’ll want to get to know your rig. Acquaint yourself
with the feel
of handling and braking with the added weight of the trailer.
And always keep in mind that the vehicle you are driving is now a good
deal longer and not nearly
so responsive as your vehicle is by itself.
Before you start, check the trailer hitch and platform, safety chains,
electrical connector, lights, tires and mirror adjustment. If the trailer has
electric brakes, start your vehicle and trailer moving and then apply t\
he
trailer brake controller by hand to be sure the brakes are working. This lets
you check your electrical connection at the same time.
During your trip, check occasionally to be sure that the load is secure, and
that the lights and any trailer brakes are still working.
4-27

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead as you would when
driving your vehicle without a trailer. This can help you avoid situations that
require heavy braking and sudden turns.
Passing
You’ll need more passing distance up ahead when you’re towing a trailer.
And, because you’re a good deal longer, you’ll need to go much farther
beyond the passed vehicle before you can return to your lane. \
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand. Then, to move the
trailer to the left, just move that hand to the left.
To move the trailer to the
right, move your hand to the right. Always back up slowly and, if possible,
have someone guide you.
Making Turns
When you’re turning with a trailer, make wider turns than normal. Do this
so your trailer won’t strike soft shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees, or other
objects. Avoid jerky or sudden maneuvers. Signal well
in advance.
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle has to have a different turn signal
flasher and extra wiring. The green arrows on your instrument panel will
flash whenever you signal a turn or lane change. Properly hooked up, the
trailer lights will also flash, telling other drivers you’re about to turn,
change lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the green arrows on your instrument panel will flash
for turns even
if the bulbs on the trailer are burned out. Thus, you may think
drivers behind you are seeing your signal when they are not. It’s important
to check occasionally to be sure the trailer bulbs are still working.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you start down a long or
steep downgrade. If you don’t shift down, you might have to use your
brakes
so much that they would get hot and no longer work well.
On a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce your speed to around
45 mph
(70 km/h) to reduce the possibility of engine and transmission overheating.
4-28

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
5. Release the regular brakes.
“P” (Park).
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. Thin.gs 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 Light Wiring
See “Trailer Wiring Harness” in the Index.
4-29

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Notes
4-30

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Problems on the Road
Section
5
Here you’ll find what to do about some problems that can occur on the road .
Hazard Warning Flasher ..................................... 5-2
Other Warning Devices
...................................... 5-3
Jumpstarting
.............................................. 5-3
TowingYourVehicle
........................................ 5-7
Engine Overheating
...................................... 5-11
Engine Fan Noise
.......................................... 5-18
If a Tire Goes Flat ....................................... 5-18
Changing a Flat Tire
..................................... 5-19
Compact Spare Tire
..................................... 5-32
If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud. Ice or Snow
. . ........ 5-33
5-1

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Hazard Warning Flashers
.I - -- .‘ -----
others. They also let
police know you have
a problem. Your front
and rear turn signal
lights will flash on
and
off.
But they won’t flash if
you’re braking.
. :
Press the button in to
make your front and
rear turn signal lights
flash on
and off. Your
hazard warning
flashers work
no
matter what position
your key is in, and
even
if the key isn’t in.
To turn off the
flashers, pull out on
the collar.
When the hazard warning flashers are on, your turn signals won’t work.
5-2

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Other Warning Devices
If you carry reflective triangles, you can set one up at the side of the road
about
300 feet (100 m) behind your vehicle.
Jump Starting
If your battery has run down, you may want to use another vehicle and some
jumper cables to start your vehicle. But please follow the steps below to do
it safely.
I NOTICE:
Ignoring these steps could result in costly damage to your
vehicle that wouldn’t be covered by your warranty.
Trying to start your vehicle by pushing or pulling it won’t work,
and it could damage your vehicle.
To Jump Start Your Vehicle:
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt battery with a negative
ground system.
NOTICE:
If the other system isn’t a 12-volt system with a negative
ground, both vehicles can be damaged.
5-3

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 systems.
You could be injured if the vehicles roll. Set the parking brake firmly
on each vehicle. Put an automatic transmission
in “P” (Park) or a
manual transmission in
“N’ (Neutral). If you have a four-wheel-drive
vehicle with a manual transfer case shift lever, be sure the transfer case
is not in
“N’ (Neutral).
needed, and radios. This will avoid sparks and help save both batteries.
And it could save your radio!
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Turn off all lights that aren’t
NOTICE:
If you leave your radio on, it could be badly damaged. The
repairs wouldn’t be covered by your warranty.
4. Open the hoods and locate the batteries. Find the positive (+) and
negative
(-) terminals on each battery.
5-4

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 5. Check that the jumper cables don’t have loose or missing insulation. If
they do, you could get a shock. The vehicles could be damaged, too.
Before you connect the cables, here are some basic things you should
know. Positive
(+) will go to positive (+) and negative (-) will go to
negative
(-) or a metal engine part. Don’t connect (+) to (-) or you’ll
get a short that would damage the battery and maybe other parts, too.
6. Connect the red positive (+) cable to the positive (+) terminal of the
vehicle with the dead battery. Use a remote positive
(+) terminal if the
vehicle has
one.
Dead Battery (+)
7. Don’t let the other end touch metal. Connect it to the positive (+)
terminal of the good battery. Use a remote positive (+) terminal if the
vehicle has one.
8. Now connect the black negative (-) cable to the good battery’s
negative
(-) terminal.
Don’t let the other end touch anything until the next step. The other end
of the negative cable doesn’t go to the dead battery. It goes to a heavy
unpainted metal part
of the vehicle with the dead battery.
5-5

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Good Battery (-)
B
b
Heavy Metal Engine Part
9.
10.
11.
12.
Attach the cable at least 18 inches (45 cm) away from the dead battery,
but
not near engine parts that move. The electrical connection is just as
good there, but the chance of sparks getting back to the battery is much
less.
Now start the vehicle with the good bat ’y and run the engine for a
while.
Try to start the vehicle with
the dead battery. If it won’t start after a few
tries, it probably needs service.
Remove the cables
in reverse order to prevent electrical shorting. Take
care that
they don’t touch each other or any other metal.
Remove Cables In This Order:
2 n
5-6
1. Heavy Metal
Engine Part
2. Good Battery (-)
3. Good Battery (+)
4. Dead Battery (+)