1998 CHEVROLET ASTRO Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine How to Add Coolant to the Radiator
1.
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You can remove the
radiator pressure cap
when the cooling system, including the
radiator pressure cap and
upper radiator hose, is
no longer hot. Turn the
pressure cap slowly
counterclockwise until it
first stops. (Don’t press down while turning the
pressure cap.)
2.
If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop. A hiss means
there is still some pressure left. Then keep turning
the pressure cap, but now push down as you
turn
it. Remove the
pressure cap.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 3. Fill the radiator with the proper DEX-COOL@
coolant mixture, up to the base of the filler neck.
(See “Engine Coolant” in
the Index for more
information about the proper coolant mixture.)
4. Then fill the coolant recovery tank to the ADD mark.
5. Put the cap back on the coolant recovery tank, but
leave the radiator pressure cap off.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 6. Start the engine and let it run until you can feel the
upper radiator hose getting hot. Watch out for the
engine cooling fan.
filler neck may be lower.
If the level is lower, add
more
of the proper DEX-COOL@ coolant mixture
through the filler neck
until the level reaches the
base
of the filler neck.
7. By this time, the coolant level inside the radiator
8. Then replace the pressure cap. At any time during
this procedure if coolant begins to
flow out of the
filler neck, reinstall the pressure cap.
Be sure the
arrows on the pressure cap line up like this.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Engine Fan Noise
This vehicle has a clutched engine cooling fan. When
the clutch is engaged, the fan spins faster to provide
more air to cool the engine. In most everyday driving
conditions, the clutch is not
fully engaged. This
improves fuel economy and reduces fan noise. Under
heavy vehicle loading, trailer towing andor high
outside temperatures, the fan speed increases when the
clutch engages.
So you may hear an increase in fan
noise. This is normal and should not be mistaken
as the
transmission slipping or making extra shifts. It is merely
the cooling system functioning properly. The fan will
slow down when additional cooling
is not required and
the clutch disengages.
You may also hear this fan noise when you start the
engine. It will go away
as the fan clutch disengages.
If a Tire Goes Flat
It’s unusual for a tire to “blow out” while you’re driving,
especially
if you maintain your tires properly. If air goes
out of
a tire, it’s much more likely to leak out slowly.
But
if you should ever have a “blowout,” here are a few
tips about what to expect and what
to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a drag that
pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot off
the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel firmly.
Steer
to maintain lane position, and then gently brake to
a stop well out of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a
skid and may require the same correction you’d use in a
skid. In any rear blowout, remove your foot from the
accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control by
steering the way you want the vehicle to go. It may be
very bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently
brake to
a stop -- well off the road if possible.
If
a tire goes flat, the next part shows how to use your
jacking equipment to change a flat tire safely.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage
by driving slowly to a level place. Turn on your hazard
warning flashers.
/! C! UTION:
Changing a tire can cause an injury. The vehicle
can slip
off the jack and roll over you or other
people. You and they could be badly injured.
Find
a level place to change your tire. To help
prevent the vehicle from moving:
1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put the shift lever in PARK (P).
3. Turn off the engine.
4. Put the wheel blocks at the front and
rear of the tire farthest away from the
one being changed. That would be the
tire on the other side of the vehicle, at
the opposite end. The
following steps will tell
you how to use the jack and
change a tire.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Removing the Spare Tire and Tools
The jacking equipment you'll need is stored by your
vehicle's rear doors, along the passenger's side wall.
Remove your jack cover by pulling it away from the
side wall and down to release the tabs securing the top
of the cover. Remove
the wheel blocks by turning the top nut toward
the left. Remove the nut and washer, then pull the wheel
blocks off the bolt. Push down on the bolt and remove
the hooked end from the slot. Slide the jack toward the
front of the vehicle and lift it from the mounting.
Remove the extension and the ratchet from the pouch.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine The ratchet has an UP side.
Your spare tire is stored underneath the rear
of your
vehicle. You will
use the ratchet and extension to lower
the spare tire.
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It also has a DOWN side.
Attach
the ratchet, with the DOWN side facing you, to
the extension. The extension has a socket end and a flat
chisel end.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Put the flat end of the extension on an angle through the
hole in the rear door frame, above the bumper. Be sure
the flat end connects into the hoist shaft. When the
tire has been
lowered, tilt the retainer
plate at the end
of the
cable and pull it through
the wheel opening.
Turn the ratchet toward the left to lower the spare tire to
can be pulled
out from under the vehicle.
i the ground. Keep turning the ratchet until the spare tire Pull the
tire out from under the vehicle.
I NOTICE:
To help avoid vehicle damage, do not drive the
vehicle before cable is restored.
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