1997 CHEVROLET ASTRO instrument panel

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle has to have extra
wiring (included
in the optional trailering package).
The green arrows
on your instrument panel will flash
whenever
you signal a turn or lane change. Properly
hooked up, the trailer lamps will also flash, telling other
drivers you’re about
to turn, change lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the green arrows
on your
instrument panel will flash for turns even if the bulbs on
the trailer are burned
out. Thus, you may think drivers
behind you are seeing your signal when they are not. It’s
important to check occasionally to be sure the trailer
bulbs are still working.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you start
down a long or steep downgrade. If you don’t shift
down,
you might have to use your brakes so much that
they would get hot and no longer work well.
On a long uphill grade,
shift down and reduce your
speed to around
45 mph (70 km/h) to reduce the
possibility
of engine and transmission overheating.
When towing at high altitude on steep uphill grades,
consider the following: Engine coolant will boil at a
lower temperature than at normal altitudes. If
you turn
your engine
off immediately after towing at high altitude
on steep uphill grades, your vehicle may show signs
similar to engine overheating.
To avoid this, let the
engine run while parked (preferably on level ground)
with the automatic transmission in
PARK (P) for a few
minutes before turning
the engine off. If you do get the
overheat warning, see “Engine Overheating” in
the Index.
4-37

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Engine Overheating
You will find an engine coolant temperature gage on
your vehicle’s instrument panel. See “Gages” in
the Index.
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
“‘ON:
Steam from an overheated engine can burn you
badly, even
if you just open the hood. Stay away
from the engine if you see or hear steam coming
from
it. Just turn it off and get everyone away
from the vehicle until it cools down. Wait until
there is no sign
of steam or coolant before you
open the hood.
If you keep driving when your engine is
overheated, the liquids in it can catch fire. You or
others could be badly burned.
Stop your engine if
it overheats, and get
out of the vehicle until the
engine
is cool.
NOTICE:
If your engine catches fire because you keep
driving with no coolant, your vehicle can be
badly damaged. The costly repairs would not be
covered
by your warranty.
5-13

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle
Things you might add to the outside of your vehicle can
affect the airflow around it. This may cause wind noise
and affect windshield washer performance. Check with
your GM dealer before adding equipment
to the outside
of your vehicle.
J
Use regular unleaded gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher.
At a minimum, it should meet specifications ASTM
D48 14
in the United States and CGSB 3.5-M93 in Canada.
Improved gasoline specifications have been developed by
the American Automobile Manufacturers Association (AAMA) for better vehicle performance and engine
protection. Gasolines meeting the AAMA specification
could provide improved driveability and emission control
system protection compared to other gasolines.
Be sure the posted octane is at least 87. If the octane
is
less than 87, you may get a heavy knocking noise when
you drive. If it’s bad enough, it can damage your engine.
If you’re using fuel rated at 87 octane or higher and you
hear heavy knocking, your engine needs service. But
don’t worry if
you hear a little pinging noise when
you’re accelerating or driving up a hill. That’s normal,
and you don’t have to buy a higher octane fuel to get rid
of pinging. It’s the heavy, constant knock that means
you have a problem.
If your vehicle is certified to meet California Emission
Standards (indicated on the underhood tune-up label),
it is designed to operate
on fuels that meet California
specifications. If such fuels are
not available in states
adopting California emissions standards, your vehicle
will operate satisfactorily on fuels meeting federal
specifications, but emission control system performance
may be affected. The malfunction indicator lamp on
your instrument panel may turn on and/or your vehicle
may fail a smog-check test. If this occurs, return to your
authorized GM dealer for diagnosis to determine the
cause
of failure. In the event it is determined that the
cause of the condition is the type of fuels used, repairs
may not be covered by your warranty.
Some gasolines that are not reformulated for low
emissions contain an octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT);
ask your service station operator whether or not his fuel
contains MMT. General Motors does
not recommend the
use of such gasolines. If fuels containing MMT are used,
spark plug
life may be reduced and your emission
control system performance may be affected.
The
malfunction indicator lamp on your instrument panel
may turn
on. If this occurs, return to your authorized
GM dealer for service.
6-3

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Engine Cover
Removing the Engine Cover
1. Move both front seats as far back as they will go.
2.
Remove the instrument panel extension by removing
the two nuts that secure it in place.
3. The nuts are located at the bottom of the extension
on the driver’s and passenger’s side corners.
6-15

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 6. Grasp the top of the heater duct and pull down gently
to remove
it.
7. Remove the two bolts at the engine cover. The bolts
are
not supposed to come out of the cover, only from
the front of the dash.
When removing the cover, be careful
not to damage
the instrument panel or the trim.
6-17

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine C- -7ing 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.
Cleaning the Built-in Child Restraint
Your built-in child restraint may be cleaned with mild
soap and lukewarm water. Don’t
use household cleaners.
They may weaken the harness or damage plastic parts.
The built-in child restraint pad is attached to the child
restraint cushion and seatback with fastener strips. You
can remove the pad, machine wash it
in cold water on a
gentle cycle and tumble dry it
on a low heat setting.
Never bleach or iron the pad, and don’t dry clean it.
Care of Safety Belts and Built-in
Child Restraint
Keep the safety belts and the built-in child restraint
harness clean and dry.
L
Do not bleach or dye safety belts or the built-in
child restraint harness.
If you do, they may be
severely weaken. In a crash, they might not be
able to provide adequate protection. Clean the
safety belts and the child restraint harness only
with mild soap and lukewarm water.
Cleaning Glass Surfaces
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 on
interior glass.
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.
6-54

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
This is the legal identifier for your vehicle. It appears on
a plate
in the front corner of the instrument panel, on the
driver’s side. You can
see it if you look through the
windshield from outside your vehicle. The VTN also
appears
on the Vehicle Certification and Service Parts
labels and the certificates of title and registration.
Engine Identification
The 8th character in your VIN is the engine code. This
code will help you identify your engine, specifications
and replacement
parts.
Service Parts Identification Label
You’ll find this label on the inside of the front storage
compartment door. It’s very helpful if you ever need to
order parts. On this label
is:
your VIN,
the model designation,
0 paint information and
0 a list of all production options and
special equipment.
Be sure that this label is not removed from the vehicle.
Electrical System
Add-on Electrical Equipment
NOTICE:
Don’t add anything electrical to your vehicle
unless you check with
your dealer first. Some
electrical equipment can damage your vehicle
and the damage wouldn’t be covered by
your
warranty. Some add-on electrical equipment
can keep other components from working as
they should.
Your vehicle has an air bag system. Before attempting to
add anything electrical
to your vehicle, see “Servicing
Your
Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle’’ in the Index.
6-60

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Instrument Panel Fuse Block
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The fuse block is on the lower portion of the instrument
panel
on the driver's side.
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c7 11
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c7 9
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7
FuseKircuit
Breaker
4
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Usage
Stop/Turn/Hazard Lamps, CHMSL,
Chime Module
Not Used
Courtesy Lamps, Power Outside
Mirrors, Glove
Box Lamp, Dome
Reading Lamps, Vanity Mirror Lamps
DRL Relay, DRL Module, Chime
Headlamp Switch, Keyless Entry,
Cluster, Overhead Console,
EVO
Module, Interior Lamps Module
6-62