1996 CHEVROLET ASTRO check engine light

I A CAUTION:
Using a match near a battery can cause battery
gas to explode. People have been hurt doing this,
and some have been blinded. Use
a flashlight if
you need more light.
Be sure the battery has enough water. You’don’t
need to add water to the Delco Freedom’ battery
installed in every new
GM vehicle. But if a
battery
has filler caps, be sure the right amount
of fluid is there. If it is low, add water to take
care
of that first. If you don’t, explosive gas could
be present.
Battery fluid contains acid that can burn you.
Don’t get it on you.
If you accidentally get it in
your eyes or on your skin, flush the place with
water and get medical help immediately.
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
positive
(+) to negative (-) or you’ll get a short that
would damage the battery
and maybe other
parts too.
Fans or other moving engine pa, can injure you
badly. Keep your hands
away from moving parts
once the engines are running.
5-4

Engine Oil
CHECK
OIL
If the CHECK OIL light on
the instrument panel comes
on, it means you need to
check your engine oil level
right away. For more information, see “Check Oil
Light” in the Index.
You should check your engine oil level regularly; this is
an added reminder.
It’s a good idea to check your engine oil every time
you
get fuel. In order to get an accurate reading, the oil must
be warm and the vehicle must be
on level ground. The
engine oil dipstick
is a yellow ring.
Turn
off the engine and give the oil a few minutes to
drain back into the oil pan. If you don’t, the oil dipstick
might not show the actual
level.
6-11

What to Use Rear Axle
When to Check and Change Lubricant
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine how
often to check the lubricant and when
to change it. See
“Scheduled Maintenance Services” in the Index.
How to Check Lubricant
If the level is below the bottom of the filler plug hole,
you’ll need to add some lubricant. Add enough lubricant
to raise the level to the bottom of the filler plug hole. Refer
to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of lubricant
to use. See “Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants” in the Index.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is filled with new
DEX-COOL (orange-colored, silicate-free) engine
coolant. This coolant is designed to remain in your
vehicle for
5 years or 100,000 miles (166 000 km),
whichever occurs first.
The following explains your cooling system and how to
add coolant when it is low. If
you have a problem with
engine overheating, see “Engine Overheating’’ in
the Index.
A 50/50 mixture of water and the proper coolant for
your vehicle will:
0 Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 265 “F (1 29°C).
0 Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
0 Let the warning lights and gages work as
they should.
6-25

Brakes. Anti-Lock ............................... 4-6
Braking
........................................ 4-5
Braking
in Emergencies ........................... 4-8
Break-In. New Vehicle
.......................... 2- 13
BTSICheck ................................... 7-43
Bulb Replacement
.............................. 6-36
Canadian Roadside Assistance
.................... 8-6
Capacities and Specifications
...................... 6-67
Carbon Monoxide
............... 2.26.4.25.4.32. 4.33
Cassette Deck Service
........................... 7-41
Cassette Tape Player
.................. 3- 10. 3. 12. 3.20
Cassette Tape Player Care
........................ 3-27
Center Passenger Position
........................ 1-34
Chains. Safety
................................. 4-32
Chains. Tire
................................... 6-49
Changing a Flat Tire
............................. 5-23
Charging System Light
.......................... 2-55
Check Gages Light
.............................. 2-63
Check Oil Light
................................ 2-61
Checking
Your Restraint Systems .................. 1-52
Chemical Paint Spotting
.......................... 6-57
Child Restraints
................................ 1-4 I
Securing in a Rear Outside Seat Position ........... 1-43
Securing
in the Center Seat Position .............. 1-45
Securing
in the Right Front Seat Position .......... 1-46
TopStrap
................................... 1-42
Where to Put
........................... 1-4 I. 1-42
Cigarette Lighter
............................... 2-48
Circuit Breakers and Fuses
....................... 6-61
Cleaner. Air ................................... 6-19 Cleaning
Aluminum Wheels ............................ 6-55
Fabric
...................................... 6-50
Glass
....................................... 6-53
Inside
of Your Vehicle ......................... 6-50
Instrument Panel
............................. 6-53
Leather
..................................... 6-52
Outside
of Your Vehicle ........................ 6-54
Special Problems
............................. 6-51
Stains
...................................... 6-51
Tires
....................................... 6-56
Vinyl ....................................... 6-52
Wheels
..................................... 6-55
Windshield and Wiper Blades
................... 6-53
Clock. Setting the
................................ 3-8
Comfort Controls
................................ 3-1
Compact Disc Care
............................. 3-28
Compact Disc Player
............................ 3-16
Compact Spare Tire
............................. 5-36
Control of a Vehicle .............................. 4-5
ConvenienceNet
............................... 2-46
Convex Outside Mirror
.......................... 2-39
Coolant
....................................... 6-25
Heater. Engine
............................... 2-16
RecoveryTank
............................... 5-15
Courtesy Lamps
................................ 2-37
Courtesy Transportation
........................... 8-6
Cruise Control
................................. 2-32
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone Users
......... 8-3
Customer
Assistance Information ................... 8-1
Customer Satisfaction Procedure .................... 8-1
Cooling System
................................ 5-15
9-2

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

Instrumentpanel ............................... 2-50
Brightness Control
.................... i ....... 2-35
Cleaning
.................................... 6-53
Cluster
..................................... 2-52
FuseBlock
.................................. 6-61
Interior Lamps
................................. 2-37 Charging System
........................... 2-55
Check Gages
................................ 2-63
Check Oil
................................... 2-61
Daytime Running Lamps Indicator
............... 2-62
Safety Belt Reminder
..................... 1 - 12. 2-54
Service Engine Soon
.......................... 2-58
Loading Your Vehicle
........................... 4-26 .
J
Locks
ack. Tire .................................... 5-24
Cylinders ................................... 7-42
Jump Starting ................................... 5-2
Door ........................................ 2-5
Key Lock Cylinders Service
..................... 7-42
Keyless Entry System
............................ 2-7
Keys
.......................................... 2-1
Key Lock Cylinder Service ..................... 7-42
PowerDoor
.................................. 2-6
Sliding Door Child Security
..................... 2-10
Steering Column Lock Check
................... 7-44
Lubricants and Fluids
............................ 7-47
Lubrication Service. Body
........................ 7-42
Luggagecarrier
................................ 2-47
Certificationflire
............................. 4-26 Lumbar Controls ................................ 1-2
Service Parts Identification ..................... 6-59
Tire-Loading Information
...................... 4-26
Vehicle Identification Number
................... 6-59
Lamps ........................................ 2-35
Dome
...................................... 2-37
Interior
..................................... 2-37
OnReminder
................................ 2-36
Latches. Seatback ................................ 1-5
Leaving Your Vehicle ............................. 2-6
Leaving Your Vehicle with the Engine Running
....... 2-24
Lighter
....................................... 2-48
Lights
Air Bag Readiness ....................... 1-25. 2-54
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
............ 2-57. 4-6
Brake System Warning
......................... 2-57 Maintenance.
Normal Replacement Parts
........... 6-69
Maintenance Record
............................ 7-49
Maintenance Schedule
............................ 7-1
Long Trip/Highway Definition
................... 7-5
Long TripMighway Intervals
..................... 7-5
Owner Checks and Services
..................... 7-41
Periodic Maintenance Inspections
................ 7-45
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
............. 7-47
Scheduled Maintenance Services
.................. 7-2
Short Trip/City Definition
....................... 7-4
Short Trip/City Intervals ........................ 7-4
Maintenance. Underbody ......................... 6-X
9-5

Seatback Latches
.................................... 1-5
Reclining .................................... 1-3
Bench
....................................... 1-6
Bucket ...................................... 1-6
ManualFront
................................. 1-1
Manual Lumbar Support ........................ 1-2
Power
....................................... 1-3
Rear
........................................ 1-5
Removable Rear Bucket ......................... 1-8
Restraint Systems
.............................. 1 - 1
Seat Controls ................................. 1 . 1
Securing a Child Restraint ................. 1.41. 1-42
Two-WayManual
............................. 1-2
Second Gear
................................... 2-20
Service
........................................ 6-1
Bulletins. Ordering
............................. 8-9
EngineSoonLight
............................ 2-58
Manuals. Ordering
............................. 8-9
Parts Identification Label
....................... 6-59
Publications. Ordering
........................... 8-9
Work. Doing Your Own
......................... 6-2
Service and Appearance Care
...................... 6- 1
Service Publications .............................. 8-9
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle
........... 1-29
Sheet Metal Damage
............................ 6-56
Shifting
....................................... 2-18
IntoPark
.................................... 2-22
Outofpark
.................................. 2-25
Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster
..................... 1 - 18
SIR .......................................... 1-24
Skidding
....................................... 4-12
Sound Equipment. Adding
........................ 3-26
Seats
Spare Tire.
Compact
............................. 5-36
Specifications and Capacities
...................... 6-67
Speech Impaired. Customer Assistance
............... 8-3
Speedometer
................................... 2-53
Springs. Fiberglass
.............................. 6-57
Stains. Cleaning
................................ 6-51
Starter Switch Check ............................ 7-43
Starting Your Engine
............................ 2-15
Steam
........................................ 5-13
Steering
....................................... 4-8
Column Lock Check
.......................... 7-44
In Emergencies ................................ 4-9
Power
....................................... 4-8
Tips
......................................... 4-8
Wheel. Tilt
.................................. 2-29
Storage Compartments
........................... 2-40
Storage. Vehicle
................................ 6-36
Stuck:
In Sand. Mud. Ice or Snow .................. 5-37
Sunvisors
.................................... 2-49
Sunglasses Storage
.............................. 2-46
Supplemental Inflatable Restraint
.................. 1-24
Symbols. Vehicle
.................................. v
Taillamp Bulb Replacement ...................... 6-40
Tape Player Care
............................... 3-27
Theft
......................................... 2-12
Theft-Deterrent Feature
.............. ; ........... 3-23
THEFTLOCK" ................................ 3-23
Thermostat
.................................... 6-30
Third Gear
.................................... 2-20
Tilt Steering Wheel
............................. 2-29
Time. Setting
................................... 3-8
Tirechains
.................................... 6-49
9-8