1996 CHEVROLET ASTRO change time

I I
9.
A CAUTION:
Remove any rust or dirt
from the wheel bolts,
mounting surfaces and
spare wheel.
-
Never use oil or grease on studs or nuts. If you
do, the nuts might come loose. Your wheel could
fall
off, causing a serious accident.
Rust or dirt on the wheel, or on tL parts to
which it is fastened, can make the wheel nuts
become loose after a time. The wheel could come
off and cause an accident. When you change a
wheel, remove any rust or dirt from the places
where the wheel attaches to the vehicle..In an
emergency, you can use a
cloth or a paper towel
to do this; but be sure to use a scraper or wire
brush later, if ybu need to, to get all the rust or
dirt
off.
10. Put on the spare tire. Put the nuts on by hand.
Make sure the cone-shaped end is toward the
wheel. Tighten each
nut by hand until the wheel is
held against the hub.
If a nut can’t be turned by
hand, use the extension and see your dealer as
soon as possible.
5-32

Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine when to
replace the air filter and the crankcase ventilation filter.
See “Scheduled
N ntenance Services” in the Index.
Operating th, mgine with the air cleaner off
can cause
you or others to be burned. The air
cleaner not only cleans the air, it stops flame if
the engine backfires. If it isn’t there, and the
engine backfires, you could be burned. Don’t
drive with it
off, and be careful working on the
engine with the
air cleaner off.
NOTICE:
If the air cleaner is off, a backfire can cause a
damaging engine fire. And, dirt can easily get
into your engine, which will damage it. Always
have the air cleaner in place when you’re driving.
Automatic Transmission Fluid
When to Check and Change
A good time to check your automatic transmission fluid
level is when the engine oil is changed,
Change both the fluid and filter every
15,000 miles
(25 000 km) if the vehicle is mainly driven under one
or more of these conditions:
In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
In hilly or mountainous terrain.
When doing frequent trailer towing.
Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service.
If
you do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, change
the fluid and filter every
30,000 miles (50 000 km).
See “Scheduled Maintenance Services” in
the Index.
regularly reaches
90°F (32°C) or
higher.
6-20

Your rear drum brakes don’t have wear indicators, but
if you ever hear a rear brake rubbing noise, have the
rear brake linings inspected. Also, the rear brake drums should be removed and inspected each time the tires are
removed for rotation or changing. When you have the
front brakes replaced, have the rear brakes inspected, too.
Brake linings should always be replaced as complete
axle sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal does not return to
normal height, or if there is a rapid increase
in pedal
travel. This could be a sign
of brake trouble.
Brake Adjustment
Every time you make a brake stop, your disc brakes
adjust for wear.
If your brake pedal goes down farther than normal, your
rear drum brakes may need adjustment. Adjust them by
backing up and firmly applying
the brakes a few times.
Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a modern vehicle is complex.
Its many parts have to be of top quality and work well
together
if the vehicle is to have really good braking.
Vehicles we design and test have top-quality
GM brake
parts
in them, as your vehicle does when it is new. When
you replace parts of your braking system
-- for example,
when your brake linings wear down and
you have to have
new ones put
in -- be sure you get new genuine GM
replacement parts. If you don’t, your brakes may no
longer work properly. For example,
if someone puts in
brake linings that are wrong for your vehicle,
the balance
between your front and rear brakes can change
-- for the
worse. The braking performance
you’ve come to expect
can change
in many other ways if someone puts in the
wrong replacement brake parts.
Battery
Every new vehicle has a Delco Freedom@ battery. You
never have
to add water to one of these. When it’s time
for a new battery, we recommend a Delco Freedom
battery. Get one that has the replacement number shown
on
the original battery’s label.
6-35

Tire Inspection and Rotation
Tires should be inspected every 6,000 to 8,000 miles
(10 000 to 13 000 km) for any signs of unusual wear.
If unusual wear is present, rotate your tires as soon as
possible and check wheel alignment. Also check for
damaged tires or wheels. See “When It’s Time for New
Tires” and “Wheel Replacement” later in this section for
more information.
The purpose of regular rotation
is to achieve more
uniform wear for all tires on the vehicle. The first
rotation is the most important. See “Scheduled
Maintenance Services” in the Index for scheduled
rotation intervals. When
rotating your tires, always use the correct rotation
pattern shown here.
Don’t include the compact spare tire in your tire rotation. \
After the tires have been rotated, adjust the front and
rear inflation pressures as shown on the
CertificatiodTire label. Make certain that all wheel nuts
are properly tightened. See “Wheel
Nut Torque” in
the Index.
’ A CAUTIO1
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to which
it
is fastened, can make wheel nuts become loose
after a time. The wheel could come
off and cause
an accident. When you change a wheel, remove
any rust or dirt from places where the wheel
attaches to the vehicle. In an emergency, you can
use a cloth or a paper towel to do this; but be
sure to use a scraper or wire brush later,
if you
need to, to get all the rust or dirt
off. (See
“Changing
a Flat Tire” in the Index.)

Normal Maintenance Replacement
Parts
Replacement part numbers listed in this section are
based on the latest information available at the time of
printing, and are subject to change.
If a part listed in this
manual is
not the same as the part used in your vehicle
when it was built, or
if you have any questions, please
contact your
GM truck dealer.
Oil Filter..
......................... PF52
Air Cleaner Filter
.................. A 1 163C
Automatic Transmission
Filter Kit
............ ... 24200796
PCV Valve
...................... CV774C
Spark Plugs
....................... 41-932
Spark
Plug Gap ...... 0.060 inches (1.52 mm) Fuel
Filter
...
Radiator Cap .......
Wiper Blades (Front) .
Wiper Blade (Rear) . .
. . GF481
............ RC27
. . 22110158, Pin Type
. . 22154396, Pin Type
Vehicle Dimensions*
Wheelbase .............. 189.8 inches (482 cm)
Width
................... 77.5 inches (1 96.8 cm)
Height.
.................. 76.2 inches (193.5 cm)
Wheelbase
.............. 11 1.2 inches (282.4 cm)
Front Tread Width
......... 65.1 inches (165.4 cm)
Rear Tread Width
........ 65.1 inches (1 65.4 cm)
*Figures reflect base equipment only.
6-69

Canadian Roadside Assistance
Vehicles purchased in Canada have afi extensive
Roadside Assistance program accessible from anywhere
in Canada or the United States. Please refer
to the
separate brochure provided by the dealer or call
1-800-268-6800 for emergency services.
Courtesy Transportation
Chevrolet/Geo offers Courtesy Transportation for
customers needing warranty service. Courtesy
Transportation will be offered in conjunction with the
coverage provided by the Bumper to Bumper New
Vehicle Limited Warranty to retail purchasers of
1996 Chevrolet/Geo passenger cars and light duty
trucks (please see your selling dealer for details).
Courtesy Transportation includes:
One way shuttle ride for any warranty repair
completed during the same day.
0 Up to $30 maximum daily vehicle rental allowance for
any overnight warranty repair up to five days,
OR
Up to $30 maximum daily cab, bus or other
transportation allowance in lieu of rental for any
overnight warranty repair up
to five days, OR
Up to $10 daily fuel allowance for rides provided by
another person (Le., friend, neighbor, etc.) in
lieu of rental
for
any overnight warranty repair up to five days.
Note: All Courtesy Transportation arrangements will
be administered by your Chevrolet/Geo dealer
service management. Claim amounts should reflect
all actual costs.
Chevrolet/Geo Courtesy Transportation is not part
of the Bumper
to Bumper New Vehicle Limited
Warranty. Chevrolet/Geo reserves the right
to make
any changes or discontinue Courtesy Transportation
at any time without notification.
I
For additional program details, contact your
Chevrolet/Geo dealer.
In Canada, please consult your
GM dealer for
information on Courtesy Transportation.
Some state insurance regulations make it impractical to
rent vehicles to people under 21 years of age.
If you are
under
21 and have difficulty renting a vehicle, Chevrolet
will reimburse
up to $30/day for documented
transportation
you receive.
8-6

Damage. Finish ........................ . . 6-56
Damage. Sheet Metal
............................ 6-56
Daytime Running Lamps
......................... 2-36
Daytime Running Lamps Indicator Light
............ 2-62
Dead Battery
................................... 5-2
Defects. Reporting Safety
......................... 8-8
Defensive Driving ............................... 4- 1
Defogger. Rear Window .......................... 3-7
Defrosting
..................................... 3-6
Dimensions. Vehicle
............................ 6-69
Dome Lamps
.................................. 2-37
Door Locks
....................................... 2-5
Sliding ...................................... 2-9
DrivePosition
................................. 2-20
DriverPosition
................................. 1-16
Driving City
........................................ 4-17
Defensive
.................................... 4-1
Drunken ..................................... 4-2
Freeway
.................................... 4-18
InaBlizzard ................................. 4-24
In Foreign Countries ........................... 6-4
In the Rain .................................. 4-14
Night
...................................... 4-13
OnCurves
................................... 4-8
On Grades While Towing
a Trailer ............... 4-35
On Hill and Mountain Roads
.................... 4-20
On Snow and Ice
............................. 4-22
Through Water
................... ....... 4-16
WetRoads
.................................. 4-14
Winter ...................................... 4-22
With a Trailer ................................ 4-33
Drunken Driving
................................ 4-2 Electrical
Equipment. Adding
........ 2- 16. 3.26. 6-60
Electrical System
............................... 6-60
Engine ........................................ 4-9
Coolant
..................................... 6-25
Coolant Heater
............................... 2-16
Coolant Level Check
.......................... 7-41
Cooling System Capacity
....................... 6-67
Cover
...................................... 6-15
Exhaust
..................................... 2-26
FuseBlocks
............................ 6-61. 6-64
Identification
................................ 6-59
OilLevelCheck
.............................. 7-41
Overheating
................................. 5-13
Running While Parked
......................... 2-26
Specifications
................................ 6-67
Starting
..................................... 2-15
Temperature Gage
............................ 2-62
Engineoil
.................................... 6-11
Adding
..................................... 6-12
Additives
................................... 6-14
Checking
................................... 6-12
Pressure Gage
........................... .... 2-60
Used
....................................... 6-15
Whentochange .............................. 6-14
Exhaust. Engine
................................ 2-26
Express-Down Window
........................ 2-28
Fabric Cleaning
............................... 6-50
Fiberglass Springs
.............................. 6-57
Filling Your Tank
................................ 6-5
Filter. Air
..................................... 6-69
Filter. Engine Oil
............................... 6-69
Finish Care
.................................... 6-54
9-3

Tire Loading ............................... 4-26
Alignment and Balance
........................ 6-47
Buying New
................................. 6-45
Chains
..................................... 6-49
Changing a Flat
.............................. 5-23
Cleaning
.................................... 6-56
Compact Spare
............................... 5-36
Inflation
.................................... 6-43
Inflation Check
............................... 7-41
Inspection and Rotation
........................ 6-44
Loading
.................................... 4-26
Pressure
.................................... 6-43
Temperature
................................. 6-47
Traction
.................................... 6-47
Treadwear
................................... 6-46
Uniform Quality Grading
....................... 6-46
Wear Indicators
.............................. 6-45
When It's Time for New
....................... 6-45
TopStrap
..................................... 1-42
TorqueLock
................................... 2-24
Tire-Loading
Information Label
................... 4-26
Tires
......................................... 6-42
Wheel Replacement
........................... 6-47
Torque. Wheel
Nut ......................... 5-33. 6-67
Towing
a Trailer ................................ 4-29
Towing Your Vehicle
............................. 5-6
Driving on Grades ............................ 4-35
Trailer
Brakes
..................................... 4-33
Drivingwith
................................. 4-33
Hitches
..................................... 4-32
Maintenance When Towing
..................... 4-36
Parking
on Hills .............................. 4-36 Safety
Chains
................................ 4-32
Tongueweight
............................... 4-31
Total Weight on Tires
.......................... 4-32
Towing
..................................... 4-29
Turnsignals
................................. 4-35
Weight
..................................... 4-30
Wiring Harness
............................... 4-37
Transmission Fluid. Automatic
.................... 6-20
Transmitters. Keyless Entry
........................ 2-7
Transportation. Courtesy
.......................... 8-6
Trip Odometer
................................. 2-53
TTY Users
..................................... 8-3
Turn Signal and Lane Change Signals
............... 2-30
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
................... 2-29
Turn Signals When Towing
a Trailer ................ 4-35
Two-way Manual Seat
........................... 1-2
Underbody 'Maintenance ....... ........... 6-56
Underhood Electrical Center
...................... 6-64
Vehicle Control
...................................... 4-5
Damage Warnings
.............................. iv
Dimensions ................................. 6-69
Identification Number
......................... 6-59
Loading .................................... 4-26
Storage
..................................... 6-36
Ventilation System
............................... 3-6
Visor Vanity Mirrors
............................ 2-49
Visors. Sun
.................................... 2-49
Voltmeter
................................. 2-55
9-9