1993 CHEVROLET ASTRO PASSENGER Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine CAUTION
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet could cause an electrical
shock.
Also, the wrong kind of extension cord could overheat and
cause a fire. You could be seriously injured. Plug the cord into a
properly grounded three-prong
1 IO-volt outlet. If the cord won't
reach, use a heavy-duty three-prong extension
cord rated for at least
15 amm.
I
After you've used the block heater, be sure to store the cord as it was
before, to
ep it i 9v from vina enaine Parts. If vou don't, it could be I
damaaed.
How long should you keep the block heater plugged in? The answer ,)ends
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 Ilansmission
PO472
There are several different positions for your shift lever.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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.
WTION
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the shift lever is not -fully
in
P (Park) with the parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll. .
Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine is running unless you have
to.
If you have left the engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You
or others could be injured. to be sure your vehicle
won’t move, when you’re on fairly level ground, always set your
parking brake and move the shift lever
to P (Park).
See “Shifting Into
P (Park)” in the Index. If you are parking on a hill:
or pulling a trailer, also see “Parking on Hills” or “Towing a Trailer”
in the Index.
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.
I
Shifting to R (Reverse) while your vehicle is moving forward could dama--
your transmission. Shift
to R (Reverse) only after your vehicle is stoppec
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.
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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) (
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e
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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
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Features & Controls
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 1
I
If your rear wheels can't rotate, don't try to drive. This might happen
you were stuck in very deep sand
or mud or were up against a soli(
obiect. You could damage your transmission or transfar case, or hoth
Atso, IT u stop when goir uphill, m't hold your vel ~ -e tl 'e with only
the accelerator pedal. This could overheat and damage the transmission.
Use yo1 "--kes or shift into :Park) hold your vehicle in position o
Loc&hg Rear Axle
If you have this feature, your 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,
the locking feature will allow the wheel with traction to move\
the vehicle.
Parking Brake
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine To release the parking brake:
Hold the regular brake pedal down. Pull the brake release lever.
I NOTICE -1
, ,arking brakL
in ronlnro thorn ar
hiving .Ah thc , ,Pwe your real ,rakes to nverheal.
‘ou may ha
‘our vehicle.
- -
If you are on a hill: See “Parking on Hills” in the Index. That part shows
how to turn your front wheels.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on any hill: See “Towing a Trailer”
in the Index. That part shows what to do first to keep the \
trailer from moving.
Shifting Into P (Park)
A It can be dangerous’to get out of your vehicle if the shift lever is not
b fully in P (Park) with the parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
If you have left the-engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others
could be injured. To be sure your vehicle won’t-:.rnove,
when you’re on
faiily level ground, use the steps that follow. If you
are parking
on $:hi!!, or if you’re pulling’ a trailer, also see “P;a.rking
On Hills” or “Towing a Trailer” in the Index.
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and set the parking\

brake.
F“
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Features & Controls
2. Move the shift lever into the P (Park) position like this:
Pull the lever toward you.
Move the lever up as far as it will go.
3. Move the ignition key to LOCK.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can walk away from your
vehicle with the ignition key in your hand, your vehicle is in
P (Park).
Leaving Your Vehicle With the
Engine Running
It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with the engine running.
‘) Your vehicle could move suddenly if the shift lever is not fully in
P (Park) with the parking brake firmly set. And, if you leave the
vehicle .with the engine running, it could overheat and even catch’
fire, You or others could be injured. Don’t leave your vehicle with the
I engine running unless you have to.
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine running, be sure your
vehicle is in
P (Park) and your parking brake 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 P
{Park) without first pulling it toward you. If you can, it means that the shift
lever wasn’t fully locked into
P (Park).
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 wish.
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.
Parking Over Things That Burn
-1
AN22001 2
CAUTION
Things that can burn could touch hot. exhaust parts under your
vehicle and ignite. Don’t park over papers, leaves,
dry grass or other‘
I
I things that- can burn. :-
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Features & Controls
Engine Exhaust
CAUTION
Engine exhaust can kill. It contains the gas carbon monoxide (CO), I
which you can't see or smell. It can cause unconsciousness and
death.
You might have exhaust coming in
if:
Your exhaust system sounds strange or different.
Your vehicle gets rusty underneath.
Your vehicle was damaged in a collision.
Your vehicle was damaged when driving over high points on the \
road or over road debris.
Repairs weren't done correctly.
Your vehicle or exhaust system had been modified improperly.
If you ever suspect exhaust is coming into your vehicle:
Drive it only with all the windows down to blow out any CO;
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