1997 CHEVROLET ASTRO Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine & NOTES
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine &I NOTES
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Section 5 Problems on the Road
Here you’ll find what to do about some problems that can occur on the road.
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5-3
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Hazard Warning Flashers
Other Warning Devices
Jump Starting
Towing Your Vehicle
Engine Overheating Cooling System 5-22
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Engine Fan Noise
If
a Tire Goes Flat
Changing a Flat Tire
Compact Spare Tire
If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Hazard Warning Flashers
The hazard warning flasher button is located on top of
the steering column.
Your hazard warning flashers let you warn others. They
also
let police know you have a problem. Your front and
rear turn signal lamps will flash on and
off.
Press the button down to make your front and rear turn
signal lamps 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, press the button down again.
When the hazard warning flashers are on. your
turn signals
won’t work. They
also won’t flash while you’re braking.
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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 numbered steps to do it safely.
1
Batteries can hurt you. They can be dangerous
because:
They contain acid that can burn you.
0 They contain gas that can explode or ignite.
They contain enough electricity to burn you.
If you don’t follow these steps exactly, some
or all
of these things can hurt you.
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.
I. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt
battery with a negative ground system.
I NOTICE:
If the other system isn’t a 12-volt system with a
negative ground, both vehicles can be damaged.

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.
To avoid the possibility of the vehicles rolling, set
the parking brake firmly
on both vehicles involved in
the jump start procedure. Put an automatic
transmission
in PARK (P).
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug
unnecessary accessories plugged into the cigarette
lighter or accessory power outlets. Turn
off all lamps
that aren’t needed as well
as radios. This will avoid
sparks and help save both batteries. In addition, it
could save your radio!
NOTICE:
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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.
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.

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 positive (+) to
negative (-) or you’ll get a short that would damage
the battery and maybe other parts
too.
-
A CAI’TION:
f--
6. Connect the red
positive
(+) cable to the
positive
(+) terminal of
the vehicle with the
dead battery.
7. Don’t let the other end
touch metal. Connect
it to
the positive (+) terminal
of the good battery.
Fans or other moving engine parts can injure you
badly. Keep your hands away from moving parts
once the engines are running.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 1 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
does not
go to the dead
battery. It goes to a
heavy unpainted metal
part of the vehicle with
the dead battery.
9. Make your last connection away from the battery,
to the engine block, frame or other unpainted metal
parts
of your vehicle.
The electrical connection is just as good there, but
the chance of sparks getting back to
the battery is
much less.
10. Now start the vehicle with the good battery and run
the engine for a while.
11.
Try to start the vehicle with the dead battery. If it
won’t start after a few tries, it probably needs
service.
12. Remove the cables in reverse order to prevent
electrical shorting. Take care that they don’t touch
each other or any other metal.
A. Heavy Metal Engine Part
B. Good Battery
C. Dead Battery
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