1994 CHEVROLET ASTRO PASSENGER change time

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Important Notes to Owners and Drivers
. . . .About This Manual:
Please keep this manual in your vehicle so it will be there if you ever need it
when you’re on the road. If you sell the vehicle, please leave this manual in
it
so the new owner can use it.
This manual includes the latest information at the time it was printed. We
reserve the right to make changes in the product after that time without
further notice. For vehicles first sold in Canada, substitute the name
“General Motors of Canada Limited” for Chevrolet Motor Division
whenever it appears in this manual.
For Canadian Owners Who Prefer a
French Language Manual:
Auxpruprietaires canadiens: Vous pouvez vous procurer un exemplaire de
ce guide en francais chez votre concessionaire ou au DGN Marketing
Services Ltd.,
1500 Bonhill Rd., Mississauga, Ontario L5T 1C7.
General Motors, GM and the GM Emblem, Chevrolet and the Chevrolet
Emblem, and
ASTRO are registered trademarks of General Motors
Corporation.
11 ..

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Daytime Running Lights (DRL) indicator Light
(Canada Only)
If your vehicle was first sold, when new, in Canada, you will have this light
on the instrument panel. It goes on whenever the Daytime Running Lights
are on, the ignition is on, the headlamp switch is off, and the parking brake
is released.
Daytime Running Lights (Canada Only)
The Canadian Federal Government has decided that “Daytime Running \
Lights” (DRL) is a useful feature, in that DRL can make your vehicle more
visible to pedestrians and other drivers during daylight hours. DRL is
required on new vehicles sold in Canada.
The high beam headlights will come
on at reduced brightness in daylight
when:
0 The ignition is on,
0 The headlight switch is off, and
0 The parking brake is released.
When you turn on your headlights, the DRL will switch off and the exterior
lights will come on. When
you turn off the headlights, the exterior lights
will go out and the high beams will change to the reduced brightness of
DRL again.
The DRL indicator light on the instrument panel will go on whenever the
DRL is
on. This light means that only the DRL is on. When you turn on
your exterior lights, this light will go out.
If the DRL indicator light is on at dawn
or dusk, it is a reminder to turn on
your headlights.
Of course, you may still turn
on the headlights any time you need to.
To idle your vehicle with the DRL off, set the parking brake, The DRL will
stay off until you release the parking brake.
2-43

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Daytime Running Lights (DRL) lndicator Light
(Canadian Vehicles Only)
L,
The DRL indicator is
on whenever the
ignition and the
headlight switch and
parking brake are off.
For more details about
DRL, see “Lights” in
this part.
The
DRL indicator light is on the lower left of the standard cluster. If you
have the digital cluster, it is
on the top left.
Headlight High Beam Indicator Light
The high beam
indicator is on
whenever
you use
your high beam
headlights. For more
details, see “Headlight
High-Low Beam
Changer” in this part.
The light
is on the left hand side of the standard cluster. If you have the
digital cluster, it is on the top of the cluster.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive in spurts - heavy
acceleration followed by heavy braking
- rather than keeping pace with
traffic. This
is a mistake. Your brakes may not have time to cool between
hard stops. Your brakes will wear out much faster if you do a lot
of heavy
braking. If you keep pace with the traffic and allow realistic followin\
g
distances, you will eliminate a
lot of unnecessary braking. That means better
braking and longer brake life.
If your engine ever stops while you're driving, brake normally but don't
pump your brakes. If you do, the pedal may get harder to push down. If
your engine stops, you will still have some power brake assist. But you will
use it when you brake. Once the power assist is used up,
it may take longer
to stop and the brake pedal will be harder to push.
Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS)
Your vehicle has an advanced electronic braking system that can help you
keep it under control. When
you start your vehicle and begin to drive away,
you may hear a momentary motor or clicking noise. This is the
ABS system
testing itself.
Here's how anti-lock works. Let's say the road
is wet. You're driving safely.
Suddenly an animal jumps out in front of you.
You slam on the brakes. Here's what happens with
ABS.
A computer senses that wheels are slowing down. If one of the wheels is
about to stop rolling,
the computer will separately work the brakes at each
front wheel and at the rear wheels. The anti-lock system can change the
brake pressure faster than any driver could. The computer is programmed
to
make the most of available tire and road conditions. You can steer around
the obstacle while braking hard.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine As you brake, your computer keeps receiving updates on wheel speed and
controls braking pressure accordingly.
Remember: Anti-lock doesn’t change the time you need to get your foot up
to the brake pedal. If you get too close to the vehicle in front of you, you
won’t have time to apply your brakes if that vehicle suddenly slows or
stops. Always leave enough room up ahead to stop, even though you have
anti-lock brakes.
To Use Four-wheel Anti-Lock
Don’t pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal down and let anti-lock
work for you. You may feel the brakes vibrate, or you may notice some
noise, but this is normal.
Braking in Emergencies
Use your anti-lock braking system when you need to. With anti-lock, you
can steer and brake at the same time. In many emergencies, steering can
help you more than even the very best braking.
Steering
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist because the engine stops or the system is
not functioning, you can steer but it will take much more effort.
4-7

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Steering Tips
Driving on Curves
It’s important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents mentioned on the news happen
on curves. Here’s
why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is subject to the same laws of
physics when driving on curves. The traction of the tires against the road
surface makes it possible for the vehicle to change its path when you turn
the front wheels. If there’s no traction, inertia will keep the vehicle going in
the same direction.
If you’ve ever tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you’ll
understand this.
The traction you can get in a curve depends
on the condition of your tires
and
the road surface, the angle at which the curve is banked, and your
speed. While you’re in a curve, speed is the one factor you can control.
Suppose you’re steering through a sharp curve. Then you suddenly
accelerate. Both control systems
- steering and acceleration - have to do
their work where
the tires meet the road. Adding the sudden acceleration
can demand too much of those places. You can lose control.
What should you do if this ever happens? Ease up on the accelerator pedal,
steer the vehicle the
way you want it to go, and slow down.
Speed limit signs near curves warn that you should adjust yo1 speed. Of
course, the posted speeds are based on good weather and roaa conditions.
Under less favorable conditions you’ll want to go slower.
If you need to reduce your speed as you approach a curve, do it before you
enter the curve, while your front wheels are straight ahead.
Try to adjust your speed
so you can “drive” through the curve. Maintain a
reasonable, steady speed. Wait to accelerate until you are out of the curve,
and then accelerate gently into the straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
There are times when steering can be more effective than braking. For
example, you come over a hill and find a truck stopped
in your lane, or a car
suddenly pulls out from nowhere, or a child darts out from between parked
cars and stops right in front of you. You can avoid these problems by
braking
- if you can stop in time. But sometimes you can’t; there isn’t
room. That’s the time for evasive action
- steering around the problem.
Your vehicle can perform very well
in emergencies like these. First apply
your brakes.
It is better to remove as much speed as you can from a possible
collision. Then steer around the problem, to the left or right depending on
the space available.
4-8

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Passing
The driver of a vehicle about to pass another on a two-lane highway waits
for just the right moment, accelerates, moves around the vehicle ahead, then
goes back into the right lane again. A simple maneuver?
Not necessarily! Passing another vehicle on a two-lane highway is a
potentially dangerous move, since the passing vehicle occupies the same
lane as oncoming traffic for several seconds. A miscalculation, an error
in
judgment, or a brief surrender to frustration or anger can suddenly put the
passing driver face to face with the worst of all traffic accidents
- the
head-on collision.
So here are some tips for passing:
“Drive ahead.” Look down the road, to the sides, and to crossroads for
situations that might affect your passing patterns. If you have any doubt
whatsoever about making a successful pass, wait for
a better time.
0 Watch for traffic signs, pavement markings, and lines. If you can see a
sign up ahead that might indicate a
turn or an intersection, delay your
pass. A broken center line usually indicates it’s all right to pass \
(providing the road ahead is clear). Never cross a solid line on your side
of the lane or
a double solid line, even if the road seems empty of
approaching traffic.
0 Do not get too close to the vehicle you want to pass while you’re
awaiting an opportunity. For one thing, following too closely reduces
your area of vision, especially
if you’re following a larger vehicle.
Also, you won’t have adequate space if the vehicle ahead suddenly
slows
or stops. Keep back a reasonable distance.
0 When it looks like a chance to pass is coming up, start to accelerate but
stay in the right lane and don’t get too close. Time your move
so you
will be increasing speed as the time comes to move into the other lane.
If the way is clear to pass, you will have
a “running start” that more
than makes up for the distance you would lose by dropping back. And
if something happens to cause you to cancel your pass, you need only
slow down and drop back again and wait for another opportunity.
0 If other cars are lined up to pass a slow vehicle, wait your turn. But
take care that someone isn’t trying to pass you as you pull out to pass
the slow vehicle. Remember to glance over your shoulder and check
the blind spot.
0 Check your mirrors, glance over your shoulder, and start your \
left lane
change signal before moving out of the right lane to pass. Wh\
en you are
far enough ahead of the passed vehicle to see its front
in your inside
mirror, activate your right lane change signal and move back i\
nto the

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine NOTICE:
Pulling a trailer improperly can damage your vehicle and result\

in costly repairs not covered by your warranty.
To pull a trailer
correctly, follow the advice in this section, and see your
GM
dealer for important information about towing a trailer with
your vehicle.
Every vehicle is ready for 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 changes 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.
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
police.
0 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 kmh) and don’t make starts at full throttle. This
helps your engine and other parts of your vehicle wear in at the heavier
loads.
You should use “D” (Drive) when towing a trailer. Operating your
vehicle in “D” (Drive) when towing a trailer will minimize heat
buildup and extend the life of
your transmission.
Three important considerations have to do with weight: