traction control CHEVROLET ASTRO PASSENGER 1999 2.G Owners Manual

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2-29
Locking Rear Axle
If your vehicle has this feature, your locking rear axle
can give you additional traction on snow, mud, ice, sand
or gravel. It works like a standard axle most of the time,
but when one of the rear wheels has no traction and the
other does, this feature will allow the wheel with
traction to move the vehicle.
All-Wheel Drive (Option)
If your vehicle has
all
-wheel drive, your
engine's driving power is
sent to all four wheels for
extra traction when needed.
This is like four
-wheel drive, but there is no separate lever
or switch to engage or disengage the front axle. It is fully
automatic, and adjusts itself as needed for road conditions.
You may experience a brief vehicle vibration upon
acceleration when driving in slippery conditions. This is
normal and is an indication that the all
-wheel drive
system is functioning properly.
Windows
Manual Windows
To open your manual windows, turn the hand crank on
each door to raise or lower your side door windows.
Power Windows (If Equipped)
If you have the optional power windows, the controls
are on each of the front side doors. The driver's door has
a switch for the front passenger window as well. Your
power windows will not move unless the ignition has
been turned to RUN or ACCESSORY.

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Rear Window Washer/Wiper (Option)
You control your rear
window washer/wiper
from a switch on your
instrument panel, next to
the audio system.
To turn the wiper on, slide the switch all the way up.
For delay wiping, slide the switch even with the word
DELAY in the center position of the rear wiper control.
The wiper will cycle every nine seconds.
To wash the window, push in on the switch. Window
washer fluid will continue to spray until the switch is
released. The wiper will continue with three more wipes
and then return to the setting that was chosen before the
lever was pushed.
The rear window washer uses the same fluid bottle as
the front windshield washer. If the fluid level is low inthe washer bottle, you may not be able to wash your rear
window. If you can wash your windshield, but not your
rear window, check the fluid level.
Cruise Control (If Equipped)
With cruise control, you can maintain a speed of about
25 mph (40 km/h) or more without keeping your foot on
the accelerator. This can really help on long trips.
Cruise control does not work at speeds below about
25 mph (40 km/h).
When you apply your brakes, the cruise control
shuts off.
CAUTION:

Cruise control can be dangerous where you
can't drive safely at a steady speed. So,
don't use your cruise control on winding
roads or in heavy traffic.

Cruise control can be dangerous on
slippery roads. On such roads, fast changes
in tire traction can cause needless wheel
spinning, and you could lose control. Don't
use cruise control on slippery roads.

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Remember: Anti-lock doesn't change the time you need
to get your foot up to the brake pedal or always decrease
stopping distance. If you get too close to the vehicle in
front of you, you won't have time to apply your brakes
if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops. Always leave
enough room up ahead to stop, even though you have
anti
-lock brakes.
Using Anti
-Lock
Don't pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal down
firmly and let anti
-lock work for you. You may feel
the brakes vibrate, or you may notice some noise, but
this is normal.
Braking in Emergencies
With anti-lock, you can steer and brake at the same
time. In many emergencies, steering can help you more
than even the very best braking.
Steering
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist because the engine
stops or the system is not functioning, you can steer but
it will take much more effort.
Steering Tips
Driving on Curves
It's important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
A lot of the ªdriver lost controlº accidents mentioned on
the news happen on curves. Here's why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is subject to
the same laws of physics when driving on curves. The
traction of the tires against the road surface makes it
possible for the vehicle to change its path when you turn
the front wheels. If there's no traction, inertia will keep
the vehicle going in the same direction. If you've ever
tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you'll understand this.
The traction you can get in a curve depends on the
condition of your tires and the road surface, the angle at
which the curve is banked, and your speed. While you're
in a curve, speed is the one factor you can control.
Suppose you're steering through a sharp curve. Then you
suddenly accelerate. Both control systems
-- steering and
acceleration
-- have to do their work where the tires meet
the road. Adding the sudden acceleration can demand too
much of those places. You can lose control.
What should you do if this ever happens? Ease up on the
accelerator pedal, steer the vehicle the way you want it
to go, and slow down.

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Loss of Control
Let's review what driving experts say about what
happens when the three control systems (brakes, steering
and acceleration) don't have 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
ªoverdrivingº those conditions. But skids are
always possible.
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, ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want the
vehicle to go. If you start steering quickly enough, your
vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready for a
second skid if it occurs.
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 these
conditions. It is important to slow down on slippery
surfaces because stopping distance will be longer and
vehicle control more limited.
While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try
your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration or
braking (including engine braking by shifting to a lower
gear). Any sudden changes could cause the tires to slide.
You may not realize the surface is slippery until your
vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warning
clues
-- such as enough water, ice or packed snow on
the road to make a ªmirrored surfaceº
-- and slow
down when you have any doubt.
Remember: Any anti
-lock brake system (ABS) helps
avoid only the braking skid.

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CAUTION:
Mixing tires could cause you to lose control while
driving. If you mix tires of different sizes or types
(radial and bias
-belted tires), the vehicle may not
handle properly, and you could have a crash.
Using tires of different sizes may also cause
damage to your vehicle. Be sure to use the same
size and type tires on all wheels.
It's all right to drive with your compact spare,
though. It was developed for use on your vehicle.
CAUTION:
If you use bias-ply tires on your vehicle, the
wheel rim flanges could develop cracks after
many miles of driving. A tire and/or wheel could
fail suddenly, causing a crash. Use only radial
-ply
tires with the wheels on your vehicle.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
The following information relates to the system
developed by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, which grades tires by
treadwear, traction and temperature performance. (This
applies only to vehicles sold in the United States.) The
grades are molded on the sidewalls of most passenger
car tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading system does
not apply to deep tread, winter
-type snow tires,
space
-saver or temporary use spare tires, tires with
nominal rim diameters of 10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm),
or to some limited
-production tires.
While the tires available on General Motors passenger
cars and light trucks may vary with respect to these
grades, they must also conform to Federal safety
requirements and additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC) standards.

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Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on
the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified government test course. For
example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and a half
(1 1/2) times as well on the government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their use, however, and
may depart significantly from the norm due to variations
in driving habits, service practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate.
Traction
-- AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A,
B, and C. Those grades represent the tire's ability to stop
on wet pavement as measured under controlled
conditions on specified government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor
traction performance. Warning: The traction grade
assigned to this tire is based on straight
-ahead braking
traction tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction characteristics.Temperature
-- A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire's resistance to the generation of
heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested under
controlled conditions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire failure.
The grade C corresponds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must meet under the
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades
B and A represent higher levels of performance on the
laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by law.
Warning: The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed, underinflation, or
excessive loading, either separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.

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Temperature 6-48 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Traction 6-48 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Treadwear 6-48 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Uniform Quality Grading 6-47 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Wear Indicators 6-46 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Wheel Replacement 6-49 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
When It's Time for New 6-46 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Top Strap 1-51 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Torque Lock 2-26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Torque, Wheel Nut 5-30, 6-67 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Towing
Recreational 4
-27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Trailer 4-30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Your Vehicle 5-7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Trailer
Brakes 4
-34 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Driving on Grades 4-37 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Driving with 4-35 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hitches 4-34 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Maintenance When Towing 4-38 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Parking on Hills 4-38 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Safety Chains 4-34 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tongue Weight 4-33 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total Weight on Tires 4-33 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Towing 4-30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Turn Signals 4-37 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Weight 4-32 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Wiring Harness 4-39 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Transmission Fluid, Automatic 6
-20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Transmitters, Keyless Entry 2-7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Transportation, Courtesy 8-8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Trip Odometer 2-59 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
TTY Users 8-4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Turn Signal and Lane Change Signals 2-32 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever 2-31 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer 4-37 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tw o-Way Manual Seat 1-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Underbody Flushing Service 7-44 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Underbody Maintenance 6-57 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Underhood Electrical Center 6-64 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Universal Transmitter 2-52 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Vehicle
Control 4-6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Damage Warnings iv. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dimensions 6
-69 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Identification Number 6-59 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Loading 4-28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Storage 6-36 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ventilation System 3-6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Visor Vanity Mirrors 2-51 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Visors, Sun 2-51 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Voltmeter 2-61 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .