1993 CHEVROLET ASTRO PASSENGER towing

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine accelerator slightly. This uses less fuel for the heat that yo\
u get and it keeps
the battery charged. You
will need a well-charged battery to restart the
vehicle, and possibly for signaling later on with your headligh\
ts. Let the heater run for awhile.
Then, shut the engine
off and close the window almost all the way to
preserve the heat. Start the engine again and repeat this only\
when you feel really uncomfortable from the cold. But
do it as little as possible. Preserve
the fuel as long as you can. To help keep warm, you ca
vehicle and do some fairly vigorous exercises every half
comes.
If You’re Stuck in Deep Snow
This manual explains how to get the vehicle out of deep
damaging it. See “Rocking Your Vehicle” in the Index.
Towing a mailer
In get out of the
hour or
so until
snow without help
If you don’t use the correct equipment and drive properly you \
can
lose control when you pull a trailer.
For example, if the trailer is too
heavy the brakes may not work well-or even at all. You and your
passengers could be seriously injured. Pull a trailer only
if you have
followed all the steps in this section.
I
NOTICE
Pulling a trailer improperly can damage your vehicle and result\
in costly
advice in this section.
pairs not covered
our
\a/arran+y. To pull a r correct‘ fnllow the
Every vehicle is reaay ior some trailer towing.
If it was built with trailering
options, as many are, it’s ready for heavier trailers. But \
trailering is different
than just driving your vehicle by itself. Trailering means chan\
ges in handling,
durability, and fuel economy. Successful,
safe trailering takes correct
equipment, and it has to be used properly.
That’s the reason for this section. In
it are many time-tested, important
trailering tips and safety rules. Many
of these are important for your safety
and that of your passengers.
So please read this section carefully before you
pull a trailer.
4-43

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Will the trailer brake parts take 3,000 psi (20 650 kPa) of pressure? If
not, the trailer brake system must not be used with your vehi\
cle.
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 brak\
es. 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 the trail\
er brake controller
by hand to be sure the brakes are working. This lets you check your
electrical connection at the same time.
If you have a rear-most window open and you pull a trailer with your
vehicle, carbon monoxide (CO) could come into your vehicle. You
can’t see or smell CO. It can cause unconsciousness or death (see
“Engine Exhaust” in the Index).
To maximize your safety when towing
a trailer:
Have your exhaust system inspected for leaks and make
Keep the rear-most windows closed.
If exhaust does come into your vehicle through a window in the
rear, or another opening, drive with your front, main heating \
or
cooling system
on and with the fan on any speed. This will
bring fresh, outside air into your vehicle.
Do not use MAX NC
because it only recirculates the air inside your vehicle. See
“Comfort Controls” in the Index.
necessary repairs before starting
on your trip.
During your trip, check occasionally to be sure that the load is secure, and
that the lights and any trailer brakes are still working.
4-47

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Your Driving and the Road
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead as you w\
ould when
driving your vehicle without a trailer. This can help you avoi\
d situations that require heavy braking and sudden turns.
Passing
You’ll need more passing distance up ahead when you’re to\
wing 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 your 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 n\
ormal. Do this so
your trailer wheels 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 pan\
el 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.
You should use
D (or as you need to, a lower gear) when towing a trailer.
Operating your vehicle in
D when towing a trailer will minimize heat buildup
and extend the life
of your transmission.
4-48

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
P (Park).
5. Release the regular brakes.
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. Things that are especially
important in trailer operation are automatic transmission fluid (don’t ove\
rfill),
engine oil, axle lubricant, belt, cooling system, and brake adj\
ustment. 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.
mailer Light Wiring
See “Trailer Wiring Harness” in the Index.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I m Section
Here you’ll find what to do about some problems that can occur on the road .
Hazard Warning Flashers ........................................................................\
........... 5-2
Other Warning Devices ........................................................................\
............... 5-3
Jump Starting ........................................................................\
.............................. 5-3
Towing Your Vehicle ........................................................................\
.................... 5-7
Engine Overheating ........................................................................\
..................... 5-8
Engine Fan Noise ........................................................................\
....................... 5.16
a Tire Goes Flat ........................................................................\
...................... 5-16
Changing a Flat Tire ........................................................................\
............... 5-17
Storing the Jack and Tire ........................................................................\
....... 5-30
You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow ................................................... 5-32
5-1

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Towing Your Vehicle
Try to have a GM dealer or a professional towing service tow your vehicle.
They can provide the right equipment and know how to tow it without
damage.
If your vehicle has been changed or modified since it was factory-new by
adding aftermarket items like fog lamps, aero skirting, or special tires and
wheels, these things could be damaged during towing.
Before you do anything, turn on the hazard warning flashers.
When you call, tell the towing service:
That, if your vehicle has all-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive with fog
lamps, it cannot be towed from the front with sling-type equipment.
That your vehicle has rear-wheel drive, or that it has the all-wheel-drive
option.
The make, model, and year of your vehicle.
Whether you can still move the shift lever.
If there was an accident, what was damaged.
* To help avoid injury to you or others:
I
Never let passengers ride in a vehicle that is being towed.
Never tow faster than safe or posted speeds.
Never tow with damaged parts not fully secured.
Never get under your vehicle after it has been lifted by the tow
Always use separate safety chains on each side when towing a
truck.
I vehicle.
When your vehicle is being towed, have the ignition key
off. The steering
wheel should be clamped in a straight-ahead position, with a clamping device
designed
for towing service. Do not use the vehicle’s steering column lock for
this. The transmission should be in
N (Neutral) and the parking brake
released.
If your vehicle has the all-wheel drive option, it can only be towed with
all four wheels
off the ground. A dolly must be used under the un-raised
wheels when towing or the vehicle must be transported
on a flat bed
carrier.
5-7

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Pmblems on the Road
Engine Fan Noise
This vehicle has a clutched engine cooling fan. When the clutc\
h is engaged,
the fan spins faster
to provide more air to cool the engine. In most every day
driving conditions, the clutch is not engaged. This improves fu\
el economy and
reduces fan noise. Under heavy vehicle loading, trailer towing \
andlor high
outside temperatures, the fan speed increases when the clutch e\
ngages.
So
you may hear an increase in fan noise. This is normal and should not be
mistaken as the transmission slipping
or making extra shifts. It is merely the
cooling system functioning properly. The fan will slow down whe\
n additional
cooling is not required and the clutch disengages.
You may also hear this fan noise when you start the engine.
It will go away
as the fan clutch disengages.
If a Tim Goes Flat
It’s unusual for a tire to “blow out” while you’re driving, especially if you
maintain your tires properly.
If air goes out of a tire, it’s much more likely to
leak out slowly. But
if you should ever have a “blowout,” here are a few tips
about what to expect and what
to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a drag that pulls the vehicle toward
that side. Take your foot
off the accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel
firmly. Steer
to maintain lane position, then gently brake to a stop well out of
the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a skid \
and may
require the same correction you’d use in a skid. In any rear blowout, remove
your foot from the accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under co\
ntrol by steering
the way you want the vehicle
to go. It may be very bumpy and noisy, but
you can still steer. Gently brake
to a stop, well off the road if possible.
If your tire goes flat, the next part shows how to use your jacking equipment
to change a flat tire safely.
5-1 6

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Problems on the Road
If You’m Stuck: In Sand, Mud,
Ice or Snow
What you don’t want to do when your vehicle is stuck is to spin your
wheels. The method known as “rocking” can help you get o\
ut when you’re
stuck, but you must use caution.
I CAUTION
A
If you let your tires spin at high speed, they can explode and \
you or
others could be injured. And, the transmission or other parts of the
vehicle can overheat. That could cause an engine compartment fire
or other damage. When you’re stuck, spin the wheels as
little as
possible. Don’t spin the wheels above
35 mph (55 km/h) as shown
on the speedometer.
NOTICE
Spinning your wheels can destroy parts of your vehicle as well as the
tires.
If you spin the wheels too fast while shifting VOUI ;mission bal
and forth, you can destroy your transmissioi
Rocking your vehicle to get it out:
First, turn your steering wheel left and right. That will clea\
r the area around
your front wheels. Then shift back and forth between
R (Reverse) and a
forward gear, spinning the wheels
as little as possible. Release the
accelerator pedal while you shift, and press lightly on the ac\
celerator pedal
when the transmission is in gear.
If that doesn’t get you out after a few tries,
you may need to be towed out.
If you do need to be towed out, see “Towing Your Vehicle” in the Index.
5-32