manual transmission CHEVROLET ASTRO PASSENGER 1994 1.G Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Features & Controls
Section
A
..
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional features 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 the
Introduction
.
Keys ................................. .................. 2-3
Your Doors and How They Work
..................... ....... 2-5
DoorLocks
................................................ 2-8
Theft
..............................................
New Vehicle “Break-In” ................. .......
. . 2-11
. . 2-12
Ignition Switch
....... ....... .......................... 2-13
Starting Your Engine
....................................... 2-14
FuelRegulator
......................................... 2-15
Driving Through Deep Standing Water
... ............... 2-15
Automatic Transmission
.................................... 2-17
Engine
Block Heater
................................... 2-16
.. ..< .. Locking Rear Axle ...................... .... 2-20
ParkingBrake
............................................ 2-20
Shifting Into
“P’ (Park) ....... .......................... 2-21
Shifting Out of “P” (Park)
................................... 2-22
Parking Over Things That Burn
............................... 2-23
EngineExhaust
.....................................
Running Your Engine While You’re Parked .............
.... 2-24
. . 2-24
2-1

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 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.
Parking at Night
Park in a lighted spot, close all windows and lock your vehicle. Remember
to keep your valuables out
of sight. Put them 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 the doors except the driver’s.
Then take the door key with you.
New Vehicle “Break-In ”
NOTICE:
Your modern vehicle doesn’t need an elaborate “break-in.” But
it will perform better in the long run if you follow these
guidelines:
0 Keep your speed at 55 mph (88 km/h) or less for the first
500 miles (804 km).
Don’t drive at any one speed - fast or slow - for the first
500 miles (804 km). Don’t make full-throttle starts.
0 Avoid making hard stops for the first 200 miles (322 km) or
so. During this time your new brake linings aren’t yet broken
in. Hard stops with new linings can mean premature wear and
earlier replacement. Follow this “breaking-in” guideline
every time you get new brake linings.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Ignition Switch
Use your ignition key to start your vehicle. The ignition key lets YOU turn
the ignition switch to five different positions.
3
1. OFF
2. RUN
3. START
4. ACC
5. LOCK
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:
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.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I 1
I 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.
Farting Your Engine
Engines start differently. The 8th digit of your Vehicle Identification
Number (VIN) shows the code letter or number for your engine. You will
find the VIN at the top left of your instrument panel. (See “Vehicle
Identification Number”
in the Index.) Follow the proper steps to start the
engine.
Move your shift lever to
“P’ (Park) or “N” (Neutral). Your engine won’t
start in any other position
- that’s a safety feature. To restart when you’re
already moving, use
“N” (Neutral) only.
NOTICE:
Don’t try to shift to “P” (Park) if your vehicle is moving. If you
do, you could damage the transmission. Shift
to “P” (Park) 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 three seconds, push the accelerator pedal about one-quarter of the
way down for
12 more seconds, or until it starts.
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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 a
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.
P (Park) - This locks your rear wheels. It’s the best position to use
when you start your engine because your vehicle can’t move easily.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Ensure the shift lever is fully in “P” (Park) 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 “P” (Park) when the
ignition key is in the
RUN position. If you cannot shift out of “P’ (Park),
ease pressure on the shift lever
- push the shift lever all the way into
“P” (Park)
as you maintain brake application. Then move the shift lever into
the gear you wish. See “Shifting Out of ‘P’ (Park)”in this part.
R (Reverse) - Use this gear to back up.
NOTICE:
Shifting to “R” (Reverse) while your vehicle is moving forward
could damage your transmission. Shift to
“R” (Reverse) 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.
N (Neutral) - In this position, your engine doesn’t connect with the
wheels. To restart when you’re already moving, use
“N’ (Neutral) only.
Also, use
“N” (Neutral) when your vehicle is being towed.
-
NOTICE:
Damage to your transmission caused by shifting out of “P”
(Park) or “N” (Neutral) with the engine racing isn’t covered by\

your warranty.
1
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine @ (Overdrive)
This position is for normal driving. If you need more power for
passing, and you’re:
- Going less than about 35 mph (56 kdh), push your accelerator
- Going about 35 mph (56 kdh) 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.
@ 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.
0 D (Third Gear) - This is like @, but you never go into Overdrive.
You should use
“D’ (Third Gear) 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” (Second Gear), 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 economy) than
“2” (Second Gear). You can use it on very steep
hills, or in deep snow or mud. If the selector lever is put in
“1” (First
Gear), the transmission won’t shift into
“1” (First Gear) 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 up
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 there
with only the accelerator pedal. This could overheat and damage
the transmission. Use your brakes or shift into
“P” Park to hold
your vehicle in position on
a hill.
2-19

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Leaving Your Vehide With the Engine Running
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine running, be sure your
vehicle is in “P” (Park) and your parking brake is firmly set before you
leave it. After you’ve moved the shift lever into the
“P” (Park) position,
hold the regular brake pedal down. Then, see if you can move the shift lever
away from
“F’” (Park) without first pulling it toward you. If you can, it
means that the shift lever wasn’t fully locked into
“P” (Park).
Shifting Out of “P” (Park)
Your vehicle has a brake-transmission shift interlock. You have to fully
apply your regular brake before you can shift from “P” (Park) when the
ignition is in the
RUN position. See “Automatic Transmission” in the Index.
If you cannot shift out of
“P” (Park), ease pressure on the shift lever - push
the shift lever all the way into
“P” (Park) 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 “P” (Park),
try this:
1. Turn the key to OFF.
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.
3. Shift to “N’ (Neutral).
4. Start the vehicle and then shift to the drive gear you want.
5. Have the vehicle fixed as soon as you can.
2-22

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and you don’t shift your transmission into
“I?’ (Park) 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
“P” (Park). This is called “torque lock.” To prevent torque
lock, set the parking brake and then shift into “P” (Park) properly before
you leave the driver’s seat.
To find out how, see “Shifting Into ‘P’ (Park)” in
the Index.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out
of “P” (Park)
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 “P” (Park).
Parking Over Things That Burn
I
8
2-23

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Highway Hypnosis
Is there actually such a condition as “highway hypnosis”? Or is it just plain
falling asleep at the wheel? Call it highway hypnosis, lack of awareness, or
whatever.
There is something about an easy stretch of road with the same scenery,
along with the hum of the tires on the road, the drone of the engine, and the
rush of the wind against the vehicle that can make you sleepy. Don’t let
it
happen to you! If it does, your vehicle can leave the road in less than a
second,
and you could crash and be injured.
What can you do about highway hypnosis? First, be aware that
it can
happen.
Then here are some tips:
Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated, with a comfortably cool
interior.
Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead and to the sides. Check
your mirrors and your instruments frequently.
If you get sleepy, pull off the road into a rest, service, or parking area
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.
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