1998 CHEVROLET ASTRO towing

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud,
Ice
or Snow
What you don’t want to do when your vehicle is stuck is
to spin your wheels too fast. The method known
as
“rocking” can help you get out when you’re stuck, but
you must use caution.
L
A CAUTION: I I
If you let your tires spin at high speed, they can
explode, and you or others could be injured. And,
the transmission or other parts
of the vehicle can
overheat. That could cause an engine
compartment fire or other damage. When you’re
stuck, spin the wheels as little
as possible. Don’t
spin the wheels above
35 mph (55 km/h) as shown
on the speedometer.
NOTICE:
Spinning your wheels can destroy parts of your
vehicle as well as the tires.
If you spin the wheels
too fast while shifting your transmission back
and forth, you can destroy your transmission.
For information about using tire chains on your vehicle,
see “Tire Chains” in the Index.
Rocking Your Vehicle To Get It Out
First, turn your steering wheel left and right. That will
clear the area around your front wheels. Then shift back
and forth between
REVERSE (R) and a forward gear,
spinning the wheels as little as possible. Release the
accelerator pedal while you shift, and press lightly on
the accelerator pedal when the transmission is in gear. If
that doesn’t get you out after a few tries, you may need
to be towed out. If you do need to be towed out, see
“Towing Your Vehicle” in the Index.
5-37

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Automatic Transmission Fluid
When to Check and Change
How to Check
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you may
choose
to have this done at your GM dealership ~
A good time to check your automatic transmission fluid Service Department.
level is when the engine oil
is changed.
Change both the fluid and filter every
15,000 miles here, or you could get a false reading on the dipstick.\

(25 000 km) if the vehicle is mainly driven under one or If
you do
it yourself, be sure to follow all the instructions
more of these conditions:
0 In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
0 In hilly or mountainous terrain.
0 When doing frequent trailer towing.
regularly reaches
90°F (32 “C) or
higher.
NOTICE:
Too much or too little fluid can damage your
transmission.
Too much can mean that some of
the fluid could come out and fall on hot engine
Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service.
If you do not
use your vehicle under any of
these conditions, change the fluid and filter every
50,000 miles (83 000 km).
parts or exhaust system parts, starting a fire. Be
sure to get an accurate reading if you check your
transmission fluid.
See “Scheduled Maintenance Services’’ in the Index.
6-20

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Maintenance Schedule
I Short Trip/City Intervals
Every 100,000 Miles (166 000 km): Spark Plug Wire
Inspection. Spark Plug Replacement. Positive
Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) Valve Inspection.
Every 150,000 Miles (240 000 km): Cooling System
Service (or every
60 months, whichever occurs first).
These intervals only summarize maintenance services.
Be sure to follow the complete maintenance schedule
on
the following pages.
Long Trip/Highway Definition ,-
Follow this maintenance schedule only if none of the
conditions from the Short TripKity Maintenance
Schedule
is true. Do not use this schedule if the vehicle
is used for trailer towing, driven in a dusty area or used
off paved roads. Use the Short Trip/City schedule for
these conditions.
Driving a vehicle with a fully warmed engine
under higlzway conditions causes engine oil to
break down slowec
c
7-6

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Short TripKity Maintenance Schedule
The services shown in this schedule up to 100,000 miles
(166 000 km) should be performed after 100,000 miles
(166 000 km) at the same intervals. The services shown
at 150,000 miles
(240 000 km) should be performed at
the same interval after 150,000 miles (240 000 km).
See “Owner Checks and Services’’ and “Periodic
Maintenance Inspections” following.
Footnotes
The U.S. Envlronmental Protection Agency or the
California Air Resources Board has determined that the
failure to perform this maintenance item will
not nullify
the emission warranty or limit recall liability prior to the
completion
of the vehicle’s useful life. We, however,
urge that all recommended maintenance services be
performed at the indicated intervals and the maintenance
be recorded.
# Lubricate the front suspension, ball joints and kingpin
bushings, steering linkage and transfer case shift linkage,
parking brake cable guides, and brake pedal springs.
+ A good time to check your brakes is during tire
rotation. See “Brake System Inspection” under “Periodic
Maintenance Inspections” in Part
C of this schedule.
** Drive axle service (see “Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants”
in the Index for proper lubricant to use):
0
0
0
Locking Differential -- Drain fluid and refill at first
engine oil change. At subsequent oil changes, check
fluid level and add fluid as needed. If driving
in
dusty areas or towing a trailer, drain fluid and refill
every 15,000 miles
(25 000 km).
Standard Differential
-- Check fluid level and add
fluid as needed at every oil change. If driving in
dusty areas or towing a trailer, drain fluid and refill
every 15,000 miles
(25 000 km).
More frequent lubrication may be required for
heavy-duty use.
7-8

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 1 Short TripKity Maintenance Schedule I
0 Inspect air cleaner filter if you are driving in dusty conditions. Replace filter
if necessary.
An Emission Control Service. (See footnote?.)
velocity joints and axle seals for leaking. (See footnote
**.)
bearings (or at each brake relining, whichever occurs first).
under
one or more of these conditions:
0 Check readfront axle fluid level and add fluid as needed. Check constant
0 For Two-Wheel-Drive vehicles only: Clean and repack the front wheel
0 Change automatic transmission fluid and filter if the vehicle is mainly driven
- In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature regularly reaches
- In hilly or mountainous terrain.
- When doing frequent trailer towing.
90 OF (32 O C) or higher.
- Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service.
If you do not use yaw- vehicle under any of these conditions, change thejiruid
andfilter every
50,000 miles (83 000 km).
18,000 Miles (30 000 km)
0 Change engine oil and filter (or every 3 months, whichever occurs first).
An Emission Control Service.
7-11

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I Short TripKity Maintenance Schedule I
30,000 Miles (50 000 km) (Continued)
0
0
0
For Two-Wheel-Drive vehicles only: Clean and repack the front wheel
bearings (or at each brake relining, whichever occurs first).
Replace
fuel filter.
An Emission Control Service. (See footnote+.)
Replace air cleaner filter.
An Emission Control Service.
Change automatic transmission fluid and filter if the vehicle is mainly driven
under one or more of these conditions:
- In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature regularly reaches
- In hilly or mountainous terrain.
- When doing frequent trailer towing.
- Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these conditions, change the fluid
and.filter every
50,000 miles (83 000 km).
Rotate tires. See “Tire Inspection and Rotation” in the Index for proper
rotation pattern and additional information. (See footnote
+.)
90°F (32°C) or higher.
7-14

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I Short TripKity Maintenance Schedule 1
0 For Two-Wheel-Drive vehicles only: Clean and repack the front wheel
0 Change automatic transmission fluid and filter if the vehicle is mainly driven
bearings
(or at each brake relining, whichever occurs first),
under one
or more of these conditions:
- In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature regularly reaches
- In hilly or mountainous terrain.
- When doing frequent trailer towing.
- Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these conditions, change the fluid
andfilter every
50,000 miles (83 000 km).
filter if necessary.
An Emission Control Service. (See footnote?.)
90°F (32°C) or higher.
0 Inspect air cleaner filter if you are driving in dusty conditions. Replace
48,000 Miles (80 000 km)
0 Change engine oil and filter (or every 3 months, whichever occurs first).
0 Lubricate chassis components (or every 3 months, whichever occurs first).
An Emission Control Service.
(See footnote #.)
(Continued)
DATE
MILEAGE
ACTUAL SERVICED BY:
7-17

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I Short Trip/City Maintenance Schedule I
60,000 Miles (100 000 km) (Continued)
0 Lubricate chassis components (or every 3 months, whichever occurs first).
0 Check readfront axle fluid level and add fluid as needed. Check constant
0 For Two-Wheel-Drive vehicles only: Clean and repack the front wheel
(See footnote
#.)
velocity
joints and axle seals for leaking. (See footnote **.)
bearings (or at each brake relining, whichever occurs first).
0 Change automatic transmission fluid and filter if the vehicle is mainly driven
under one or more
of these conditions:
- In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature regularly reaches
- In hilly or mountainous terrain.
- When doing frequent trailer towing.
- Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these conditions, change the fluid
andfilter every
50,000 miles (83 000 krn).
90°F (32°C) or higher.
0 Inspect engine accessory drive belt.
0 Replace fuel filter.
0 Replace air cleaner filter.
An Emission Control Service. (See footnote?.)
An Emission Control Service.
7-20