1994 CHEVROLET ASTRO PASSENGER Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Problems on the Road
Section
5
Here you’ll find what to do about some problems that can occur on the road .
Hazard Warning Flasher ..................................... 5-2
Other Warning Devices
...................................... 5-3
Jumpstarting
.............................................. 5-3
TowingYourVehicle
........................................ 5-7
Engine Overheating
...................................... 5-11
Engine Fan Noise
.......................................... 5-18
If a Tire Goes Flat ....................................... 5-18
Changing a Flat Tire
..................................... 5-19
Compact Spare Tire
..................................... 5-32
If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud. Ice or Snow
. . ........ 5-33
5-1

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Hazard Warning Flashers
.I - -- .‘ -----
others. They also let
police know you have
a problem. Your front
and rear turn signal
lights will flash on
and
off.
But they won’t flash if
you’re braking.
. :
Press the button in to
make your front and
rear turn signal lights
flash on
and off. Your
hazard warning
flashers work
no
matter what position
your key is in, and
even
if the key isn’t in.
To turn off the
flashers, pull out on
the collar.
When the hazard warning flashers are on, your turn signals won’t work.
5-2

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Other Warning Devices
If you carry reflective triangles, you can set one up at the side of the road
about
300 feet (100 m) behind your vehicle.
Jump Starting
If your battery has run down, you may want to use another vehicle and some
jumper cables to start your vehicle. But please follow the steps below to do
it safely.
I NOTICE:
Ignoring these steps could result in costly damage to your
vehicle that wouldn’t be covered by your warranty.
Trying to start your vehicle by pushing or pulling it won’t work,
and it could damage your vehicle.
To Jump Start Your Vehicle:
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt battery with a negative
ground system.
NOTICE:
If the other system isn’t a 12-volt system with a negative
ground, both vehicles can be damaged.
5-3

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables can reach, but be
sure the vehicles aren’t touching each other. If they are, it could cause a
ground connection you don’t want. You wouldn’t be able to start your
vehicle, and the bad grounding could damage the electrical systems.
You could be injured if the vehicles roll. Set the parking brake firmly
on each vehicle. Put an automatic transmission
in “P” (Park) or a
manual transmission in
“N’ (Neutral). If you have a four-wheel-drive
vehicle with a manual transfer case shift lever, be sure the transfer case
is not in
“N’ (Neutral).
needed, and radios. This will avoid sparks and help save both batteries.
And it could save your radio!
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Turn off all lights that aren’t
NOTICE:
If you leave your radio on, it could be badly damaged. The
repairs wouldn’t be covered by your warranty.
4. Open the hoods and locate the batteries. Find the positive (+) and
negative
(-) terminals on each battery.
5-4

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 5. Check that the jumper cables don’t have loose or missing insulation. If
they do, you could get a shock. The vehicles could be damaged, too.
Before you connect the cables, here are some basic things you should
know. Positive
(+) will go to positive (+) and negative (-) will go to
negative
(-) or a metal engine part. Don’t connect (+) to (-) or you’ll
get a short that would damage the battery and maybe other parts, too.
6. Connect the red positive (+) cable to the positive (+) terminal of the
vehicle with the dead battery. Use a remote positive
(+) terminal if the
vehicle has
one.
Dead Battery (+)
7. Don’t let the other end touch metal. Connect it to the positive (+)
terminal of the good battery. Use a remote positive (+) terminal if the
vehicle has one.
8. Now connect the black negative (-) cable to the good battery’s
negative
(-) terminal.
Don’t let the other end touch anything until the next step. The other end
of the negative cable doesn’t go to the dead battery. It goes to a heavy
unpainted metal part
of the vehicle with the dead battery.
5-5

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Good Battery (-)
B
b
Heavy Metal Engine Part
9.
10.
11.
12.
Attach the cable at least 18 inches (45 cm) away from the dead battery,
but
not near engine parts that move. The electrical connection is just as
good there, but the chance of sparks getting back to the battery is much
less.
Now start the vehicle with the good bat ’y and run the engine for a
while.
Try to start the vehicle with
the dead battery. If it won’t start after a few
tries, it probably needs service.
Remove the cables
in reverse order to prevent electrical shorting. Take
care that
they don’t touch each other or any other metal.
Remove Cables In This Order:
2 n
5-6
1. Heavy Metal
Engine Part
2. Good Battery (-)
3. Good Battery (+)
4. Dead Battery (+)

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 can 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
The make, model, and year of your vehicle.
all-wheel-drive
option.
0 Whether you can still move the shift lever.
0 If there was an accident, what was damaged.
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 Don't have your vehicle towed with the wheels in contact with the ground if
it has all-wheel drive.
If a vehicle with all-wheel drive must be towed with
sling-type
or wheel lift equipment, then either the front or rear wheels must
be supported on a dolly.
If your vehicle has rear-wheel drive, don't have it towed on the rear wheels,
unless you must.
If a vehicle with rear-wheel drive must be towed on the
rear wheels, don't go more than
35 mph (56 kmh) or farther than 50 miles
(80 km) or your transmission will be damaged. If these limits must be
exceeded, then the rear wheels have to
be supported on a dolly.
Towing AI!= Wheel Drive Vehicles
NOTICE:
Do not tow with sling-type equipment or the front bumper
system will be damaged.
Use wheel lift
or car-carrier equipment.
(Continued)
I