1996 CHEVROLET ASTRO wiper blades

Windshield Winers
You control the windshield
wipers by turning the band
with the wiper symbol
on it.
For a single wiping cycle,
turn the band to MIST. Hold
it there until the wipers
start, then let go. The wipers
will stop after one wipe.
If -5
Windshield Washer
you want more wipes,-hold
the band on MIST longer.
You can set the wiper speed for a long or short delay
between wipes. This can be very useful in light rain or
snow. Turn the band to choose the delay time. The
closer to
LOW, the shorter the delay.
For steady wiping at low speed, turn the band away
from you
to the LOW position. For high-speed wiping,
turn the band further, to HIGH. To stop the wipers,
move the band to the OFF position.
Be sure to clear ice and snow from the wiper blades
before using them.
If they're frozen to the windshield,
carefully loosen or thaw them.
If your blades do become
worn
or damaged, get new blades or blade inserts. At
the top of the multifunction lever, there's a paaale
marked with the windshield washer symbol and
PUSH. To
spray washer fluid on the windshield, press the paddle.
The wipers will clear the window and then either stop
or
return to your preset speed.
A CAUTION:
In freezing weather, don't use your washer until
the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the washer
fluid can form ice on the windshield, blocking
your vision.
2-31

The heavier the rain, the harder it is to see. Even if your
windshield wiper blades are
in good shape, a heavy rain
can make
it harder to see road signs and traffic signals,
pavement markings,
the edge of the road and even
people walking.
It’s wise to keep
your wiping equipment in good shape
and keep your windshield washer tank filled
with
washer fluid. Replace your windshield wiper inserts
when they show signs
of streaking or missing areas on
the windshield, or when strips of rubber start to separate
from the inserts. Driving too fast through large water puddles
or
even
going through some car washes can cause problems, too.
The water may affect your brakes. Try to avoid puddles.
But if you can’t, try to slow down before you hit them.
Wet brakes can cause accidents. They won’t work
well in a quick stop and may cause pulling to one
side.
You could lose control of the vehicle.
After driving through a large puddle of water or
a car wash, apply your brake pedal lightly until
your brakes work normally.
49.1 5

Once you are moving on the freeway, make certain you
allow a reasonable following distance. Expect to move
slightly slower at night.
When you want
to leave the freeway, move to the proper
lane well
in advance. If you miss your exit, do not,
under any circumstances, stop and back up. Drive on to
the next exit.
The
exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply.
The exit speed is usually posted.
Reduce your speed according to
your speedometer, not
to your sense of motion. After driving for any distance
at higher speeds, you may tend
to think you are going
slower than
you actually are.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well rested. If you
must start when you’re
not fresh -- such as after a day’s
work
-- don’t plan to make too many miles that first part
of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes
you
can easily drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it’s ready to go. If it needs
service, have it done before starting
out. Of course,
you’ll find experienced and able service experts
in GM
dealers all across North America. They’ll be ready and
willing
to help if you need it.
Here are some things you can check before a trip:
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0
0
0
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Windshield WcrslTer Fluid: Is the reservoir full? Are
all windows clean inside and outside?
Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked
all levels?
Lamps: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
Tires: They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip. Is the tread good enough for
long-distance driving? Are the tires all inflated to the
recommended pressure?
Weather Forecasts: What’s the weather outlook
along your route? Should you delay your trip a short
time to avoid
a major storm system?
Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps?
4-19

Cleaning the Top of the Instrument Panel
Use only mild soap and water to clean the top surfaces
of the instrument panel.. Sprays containing silicones or
waxes may cause annoying reflections
in the windshield
and
even make it difficult to see through the windshield
under certain conditions.
Care of Safety Belts
Keep belts clean and dry.
Do not bleach or dye safety belts. If you do, it
may severely weaken them. In a crash, they
might not be able to provide adequate protection.
Clean safety belts only with mild soap and
lukewarm water.
~~~ ~
Glass
Glass should be cleaned often. GM Glass Cleaner (GM
Part
No. 1050427) or a liquid household glass cleaner
will remove normal tobacco smoke and dust films. Don’t
use abrasive cleaners
on glass, because they may
cause scratches. Avoid placing decals on the inside rear
window, since they may have to be scraped off later.
If
abrasive cleaners are used on the inside of the rear
window, an electric defogger element may be damaged.
Any temporary license should not be attached across the
defogger grid.
Cleaning the Outside of the
Windshield, Backglass and
Wiper Blades
If the windshield is not clear after using the windshield
washer, or
if the wiper blade chatters when running, wax
or other material may be on the blade or windshield.
Clean the outside of the windshield
with GM
Windshield Cleaner, Bon-Ami Powder@ (GM Part
No. 105001 1). The windshield is clean if beads do not
form when
you rinse it with water.
Clean the blade by wiping vigorously with a cloth soaked
in full-strength windshield washer solvent. Then rinse the
blade with water..
Wiper blades should be checked on a regular basis and
replaced when worn.
6-53

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

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