1993 CHEVROLET ASTRO PASSENGER steering

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 brak\
ing by shifting
to a lower gear). Any sudden changes could cause the tires to s\
lide. 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 sno\
w on the
road to make a “mirrored sutface”-and slow down when you have any\

doubt.
Remember: Any anti-lock braking system
(ABS) helps avoid only the braking
skid. Steer the way you want to go.
Driving at Night
AN450006
Night driving is more dangerous than day driving. One reason is that some
drivers are likely to be impaired-by alcohol or drugs, with night vision
problems, or by fatigue.
Here are some tips on night driving.
Drive defensively. Remember, this is the most dangerous time.
Don’t drink and drive (See “Drunken Driving” in the Index for more on
Adjust your inside rearview mirror to reduce the glare from he\
adlights
this problem.)
behind you.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine .. .
AN48001 9
What’s the worst time for this? “Wet ice.” Very cold \
snow or ice can be slick and hard to drive on. But wet ice can be even more trouble \
because it may
offer the least traction of all. You can get “wet ice” when it’s about freezing
(32°F; 0°C) and freezing rain begins to fall. Try to avoid driving on wet ice
until salt and sand crews can get there.
Whatever the condition-smooth ice, packed, blowing
or loose snow-drive
with caution. Accelerate gently. Try not to break the fragile \
traction.
If you
accelerate too fast, the drive wheels will spin and polish the\
surface under
the tires even more.
Your anti-lock brakes improve your ability to make a hard stop on \
a slippery
road. Even though you have the anti-lock braking system, you’\
ll want to begin
stopping sooner than you would on dry pavement. See “Anti-lo\
ck” in the Index.
Allow greater following distance on any slippery road.
Watch for slippery spots. The road might be fine until you hi\
t a spot
that’s covered with ice. On an otherwise clear road, ice pa\
tches may
appear in shaded areas where the sun can’t reach: around clumps of
trees, behind buildings, or under bridges. Sometimes the surface\

of a
curve or an overpass may remain icy when the surrounding roads\
are
clear.
If you see a patch of ice ahead of you, brake before you are o\
n
it. Try not to brake while you’re actually on the ice, and avoid sudden
steering maneuvers.
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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 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.
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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.
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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.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Service & Appearance Care
L
......... ..... -&-.A- -
I 5, "9
. .
Here you will find information about the care of your vehicle \
. This Section
begins with service and fuel information. and then
it shows how to check
important fluid and lubricant levels
. There is also technical information about
your vehicle. and a section devoted to its appearance care
.
Service ........................................................................\
........................................... 6-3
Fuel
........................................................................\
................................................ 6-4
Checking Things Under the Hood
....................................................................... \
6-8
Hood Release
........................................................................\
............................ 6-8
Engine
Oil ........................................................................\
.................................. 6-9
Engine Cover
........................................................................\
........................... 6-15
Air Cleaner
........................................................................\
............................... 6-19
Automatic Transmission Fluid
........................................................................\
. 6-20
Rear Axle
........................................................................\
................................. 6-23
All-Wheel Drive
........................................................................\
........................ 6-23
Transfer Case
........................................................................\
.......................... 6-23
Front Axle
........................................................................\
................................. 6-24
Engine Coolant
........................................................................\
........................ 6-26
Power Steering Fluid
........................................................................\
............... 6-30
Windshield Washer Fluid
........................................................................\
......... 6-31
Brake Master Cylinder
........................................................................\
............. 6-32
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Power Steering Fluid
I
I .
.. ., ...
L
PO665
How To Check Power Steering Fluid:
Unscrew the cap and wipe the dipstick with a clean rag. Repla\
ce the cap
and completely tighten
it. Then remove the cap again and look at the fluid
level on the dipstick.
When the engine compartment is hot, the level should be at th\
e HOT
mark.
When the engine compartment is cool, the level should be at the FULL
COLD mark.
What to Add:
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what kind of fluid to use.
See ”Recommended Fluids and Lubricants” in the Index.
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