1993 CHEVROLET ASTRO PASSENGER weight

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine PO480
If you have the optional luggage carrier, you can load things on \
top of your
vehicle. The luggage carrier has slats attached to the roof, s\
ide rails, and
tiedowns.
Loading cargo that weighs more than
200 pounds (91 kg) on the luggage
carrier may damage your vehicle. When you carry large things, never le\
t
them hang over the rear
or the sides of your vehicle. Load your cargo so
that it rests on the slats and does not scratch or damage the vehi
Put the cargo against the side rails and fasten
it securely to the 1
carrier. Put the main weight as far forward as you can.
Don’t exceed the maximum vehicle capacity when loading your \
vehicle. For
more information on vehicle capacity and loading, see “Loadin\
g Your Vehicle’’
in the Index.
To prevent damage or
loss of cargo as you’re driving, check now and then to
make sure the luggage carrier and cargo are still securely fas\
tened.
249

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine maneuver, in both city and rural driving. You never know when the vehicle in
front of you is going to brake
or turn suddenly.
Here’s a final bit of information about defensive driving. The most dangerous
time for driving in the
US. is very early on Sunday morning. In fact, GM
Research studies show that the most and the least dangerous ti\
mes for
driving, every week, fall on the same day. That day is Sunday\
. The most
dangerous time is Sunday from
3 a.m. to 4 a.m. The safest time is Sunday
from
10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Driving the same distance on a Sunday at 3 a.m.
isn’t just a little more dangerous than it is at 10 a.m. It‘s about 134 times
more dangerous!
That leads
to the next part.
Drunken Driving
Death and injury associated with drinking and driving is a nat\
ional tragedy. It’s
the number one contributor to the highway death toll, claiming \
thousands of
victims every year. Alcohol takes away three things that anyone\
needs to drive a vehicle:
Judgment
Muscular Coordination
0 Vision
Police records show that half of all motor vehicle-related deat\
hs involve
alcohol-a driver, a passenger or someone else, such as a pedestrian, had
been drinking. In most cases, these deaths are the result of someone who
was drinking and driving. Over
25,000 motor vehicle-related deaths occur
each year because of alcohol, and thousands of people are inju\
red.
Just how much alcohol is too much
if a person plans to drive? Ideally, no
one should drink alcohol and then drive. But
if one does, then what’s “too
much”? It can be a lot less than many might think. Although it depends on
each person and situation, here
is some general information on the problem.
The Blood Alcohol Content (BAC)
of someone who is drinking depends upon
four things:
0 How much alcohol is in the drink.
The drinker’s body weight.
The amount of food that is consumed before and during drinking.
The length of time it has taken the drinker to consume the alcohol.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine ~~~~ If you’re going uphill on a one-way street and you’re parking on the
left side,
your wheels should point to the right.
AM470055
If there is no curb when you’re parking uphill, turn the wheel\
s to the right.
If there is no curb when you’re parking uphill on the left si\
de of a one-way
street, your wheels should be turned
to the left.
Torque Lock (Automatic Transmission)
If you are parking on a hill and you don’t shift your transmission into P
(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, always be
sure to 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).
4-39

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Your Driving and the Road
If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer
If you do, here are some important points.
There are many different laws having to do with trailering. Make sure
your rig will be legal, not only where you live but also where you’\
ll be
driving. A good source for this information can be state
or provincial
pol ice.
Consider using a sway control if your trailer will weigh 2,000 pounds
(900 kg) or less. You should always use a sway control
if your trailer will
weigh more than
2,000 pounds (900 kg). You can ask a hitch dealer
about sway controls.
Don’t tow a trailer at all during the first 500 miles (800 km) your new
vehicle is driven. Your engine, axle, or other parts could ‘be damaged.
Then, during the first 500 miles (800 km) that you tow a trailer, don’t
drive over
50 mph (80 km/h) and don’t make starts at full throttle. This
helps your engine and other parts of your vehicle wear in at the heavier
loads.
Three important considerations have
to do with weight:
Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be? It depends on how you plan to use your
rig. For example, speed, altitude, road grades, outside temperat\
ure, and how
much your vehicle is used
to pull a trailer are all important. And, it can also
depend on any special equipment that you have on your vehicle.\
You can
ask your dealer for our trailering information or advice,
or you can write us at
the address listed in your Warranty and Owner Assistance Inform\
ation booklet.
In Canada, write to:
General Motors of Canada Limited,
Customer Assistance Center 1908 Colonel Sam Drive,
Oshawa, Ontario
L1H 8P7
4-44

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Weight of the Trailer Tongue
The tongue load (A) of any trailer is an important weight to measure because it
affects the total or gross weight of your vehicle. The gross vehicle weight (GVW)
includes the curb weight of the vehicle, any cargo you may carry in it, and the
people who will be riding in the vehicle. And
if you will tow a trailer, you must
add the tongue load
to the GVW because your vehicle will be carrying that
weight too. See “Loading Your Vehicle in the Index for more information about
your vehicle’s maximum load capacity.
---
A B
--1
I
1
AN490002
If you’re using a “dead-weight” hitch, the trailer tongue \
(A) should weigh 10% of
the total loaded trailer weight (B). If you have a “weight-distributing” hitch, the
trailer tongue (A) should weigh
12% of the total loaded trailer weight (B).
After you’ve loaded your trailer, weigh the trailer and then\
the tongue,
separately,
to see if the weights are proper. If they aren’t, you may be able to
get them right simply by moving some items around in the trai\
ler.
Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s Tires
Be sure your vehicle’s tires are inflated to the limit for cold tires. You’ll find
these numbers on the Certification label
at the rear edge of the driver’s door (or
see the “Tire Loading” in the Index.) Then be sure you
don’t go over the GVW
limit for your vehicle.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Your Driving and the Road
Hitches
It’s important to have the correct hitch equipment. Crosswinds, large trucks
going by, and rough roads are a few reasons why you’ll need the righ\
t hitch.
Here are some rules to follow:
a
a
a
If you’ll be pulling a trailer that, when loaded, will weigh more than 2,000
pounds (900 kg), be sure to use a properly mounted weight-distributing
hitch and sway control of the proper size. This equipment is very
important for proper vehicle loading and good handling when you\
’re
driving.
Will you have to make any holes in the body of your vehicle when you
install a trailer hitch?
If you do, then be sure to seal the holes later
when you remove the hitch.
If you don’t seal them, deadly carbon
monoxide (CO) from your exhaust can get into your vehicle (see “Carbon
Monoxide” in the Index). Dirt and water can too.
Don’t let the steel in a hitch contact the aluminum on you\
r bumper.
If
you do, the two will corrode. You can use something like paint or plastic
tape to separate the steel and aluminum. The same steel to aluminum
problem can happen with fasteners too.
Safety Chains
You should always attach chains between your vehicle and your trail\
er. Cross
the safety chains under the tongue of the trailer
so that the tongue will not
drop to the road
if it becomes separated from the hitch. Instructions about
safety chains may be provided by the hitch manufacturer
or by the trailer
manufacturer. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendation for atta\
ching safety
chains. Always leave just enough slack
so you can turn with your rig. And,
never allow safety chains to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
If your trailer weighs
its own brakes-and
Be sure to read and more than
1,000 pounds (450 kg) loaded, then
it needs
they must be adequate.
follow the instructions for the trailer brakes to install,
adjust and maintain them properly.
Don’t tap into your vehicle’s brake system
if the trailer’s brake system will use
more than
0.02 cubic inch (0.3~~) of fluid from your vehicle’s master cylinder.
If it does, both braking systems won’t work well. You could even \
lose your
brakes.
4-46

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 Service & Appearance Care
Loading Your Vehicle
K3651
The Certificationrrire label is found on the rear edge of the driver’s door. The
label shows the size of your original tires and the inflation pressures needed
to obtain the gross vehicle weight capacity of your vehicle. This is called the
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating). The GVWR includes the weight of the
vehicle, all occupants, fuel and cargo.
The Certificationflire label also tells you the maximum weights for the front
and rear axles, called Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR).
To find out the
actual loads on your front and rear axles, you need
to go to a weigh station
and weigh your vehicle. Your dealer can help you with this. Be sure
to
spread out your load equally on both sides of the centerline.
Never exceed the GVWR for your vehicle, or the Gross Axle Wei\
ght Rating
(GAWR) for either the front or rear axle.
And,
if you do have a heavy load, you should spread it out.
Do not load your vehicle any heavier than the GVWR or the
- maximum front and rear GAWRs. If you do, parts on your vehicle
can break, or
it can change the way your vehicle handles. These
could cause you
to lose control. Also, overloading can shorten the
life
of your vehicle. I
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