1998 CHEVROLET ASTRO coolant temperature

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine A CAUTION:
Plugging the cord iL-_ 1 an ungrounded outlet
could cause an electrical shock.
Also, the wrong
kind
of extension cord could overheat and cause
a fire. You could
be seriously injured. Plug the
cord into a properly grounded three-prong
110-volt
AC outlet. If the cord won’t reach, use a
heavy-duty three-prong extension cord rated
for
at least 15 amps.
4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and
store the cord as it was before to keep it away from
moving engine parts.
If you don’t, it could
be damaged. How long should
you keep the coolant heater
plugged
in? The answer depends on
the outside temperature, the
kind of oil you have, and some other things. Instead of
trying to list everything here, we ask that you contact
your dealer in the area where
you’ll be parking your
vehicle. The dealer can give
you the best advice for that
particular area.
Automatic Transmission Operation
There are several different positions for your shift lever.
II II
PARK (P): This locks your rear wheels. It’s the best
position to use when you start your engine because your
vehicle can’t move easily.
2-19

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
ANTI -
LOCK
With the anti-lock brake
system, this light will come
on when
you start your
engine and may stay
on for
several seconds.
That’s normal.
If the light stays on, or comes on when you’re driving,
your vehicle needs service.
If the regular brake system
warning light isn’t on,
you still have brakes, but you
don’t have anti-lock brakes.
If the regular brake system
warning light is also on, you don’t have anti-lock brakes
and there’s a problem with your regular brakes. See
“Brake System Warning Light’’ earlier in this section.
The anti-lock brake system warning light should come
on briefly when you turn the ignition key to RUN. If the
light doesn’t come on then, have
it fixed so it will be
ready to warn
you if there is a problem.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
If the gage pointer moves to
the red area, your engine
is
too hot!
It means that your engine coolant has overheated. If you
have been operating your vehicle under normal driving
conditions,
you should pull off the road, stop your
vehicle and turn off the engine as soon as possible.
The “Problems on the Road” section of this manual
shows
you what to do. See “Engine Overheating” in
the Index.
2-61

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If your vehicle has rear air conditioning, setting it on
LOW may enhance the front
A/C performance by
allowing trapped refrigerant in
the rear lines to circulate.
The rear air conditioning system will
only send cooled
air if the front system is
on. It can still be used to
circulate air,
even if the front system is off.
When the air conditioning, DEFROST or BLEND is on,
you may notice a slight increase or decrease in engine
speed, due to compressor operation. This is normal
because the system is designed
to cycle the compressor
on and off to keep the desired temperature.
Heating
On cold days, use HEATER with the temperature knob
in the red area. Outside air will be brought in through
the floor outlets. The heater works best if you keep your
windows closed while using it.
If you use the optional engine coolant heater before
starting your engine, your heating system
will produce
warmer air faster
to heat the passenger compartment in
cold weather. See “Engine Coolant Heater” in the Index.
Defrosting
Use DEFROST to remove fog or ice from the
windshield quickly in extremely cold conditions. The
temperature knob should be in the red area and the fan
control toward high. The air conditioning compressor
may operate
in this setting to dehumidify the air.
The BLEND setting is useful for cold weather with
a
large number of passengers or very humid conditions to
help keep the windshield clear.
Ventilation System
For mild outside temperatures when little heating or
cooling is needed, use VENT
to direct outside air
through your vehicle. Air will flow through the
instrument panel vents.
Your vehicle’s flow-through ventilation system supplies
outside air to the inside of your vehicle when it is
moving. With the side windows closed, air will flow into
the front air inlet grilles at the base of the windshield,
through the vehicle and
out the rear air exhaust valve.
Outside air will also
enter the vehicle when the heater or
the air conditioning fan is running.
3-6

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Making Turns
NOTICE:
Making very sharp turns while trailering could cause the trailer
to come in contact with the
vehicle.
Your vehicle could be damaged. Avoid
making very sharp turns while trailering.
When you’re turning with a trailer, make wider turns than
normal. Do this so your trailer won’t strike soft shoulders,
curbs, road signs, trees or other objects. Avoid jerky or
sudden maneuvers. Signal well
in advance.
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 arrows on your instrument panel will flash
whenever you signal a turn or lane change. Properly
hooked
up, the trailer lamps
drivers you’re about to turn, will
also flash, telling other
change lanes or stop. When
towing a trailer, the 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 kdh) 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.
4-35

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
A CAUTION:
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 Rear Axle
When to Check and Change Lubricant
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine how
often
to check the lubricant and when to change it. See
“Scheduled Maintenance Services” in the Index.
How to Check Lubricant
If the level is below the bottom of the filler plug hole,
you’ll need to add some lubricant. Add enough lubricant
to raise the level to the bottom
of the filler plug hole.
What to Use
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of lubricant
to use. See “Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants” in the Index.
Engine Coolant
The cooling s stem in your vehicle is filled with
DEX-COOL engine coolant. This coolant
is designed
to remain in your vehicle for
5 years or 150,000 miles
(240
000 km) whichever occurs first, if you add only
DEX-COOL’ extended life coolant.
The following explains your cooling system and how to
add coolant when it is low. If you have a problem with
engine overheating,
see “Engine Overheating” in
the Index.
A 50/50 mixture of water and DEX-COOL@
coolant will:
Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37°C).
0 Give boiling protection up to 265 “F ( 129°C).
0 Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work as
B
they should.
6-25

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Power Steering Fluid
When you replace your radiator pressure cap, a GM cap
is recommended.
Thermostat
Engine coolant temperature is controlled by a thermostat
in the engine coolant system. The thermostat stops the
flow
of coolant through the radiator until the coolant
reaches a preset temperature.
When to Check Power Steering Fluid
It is not necessary to regularly check power steering
fluid unless you suspect there is a leak in the system or
you hear an unusual noise.
A fluid loss in this system
could indicate a problem. Have the system inspected
and repaired.
6-29

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Cooling System .................. ... 5-15
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone Users ......... 8-4
Courtesy Transportation
......................... 8-8
Cruise Control
................................. 2-34
Customer Assistance Information
................... 8- I
Customer Satisfaction Procedure .................... 8-2
Damage. Finish
............................... 6-57
Damage. Sheet Metal ............................ 6-57
Daytime Running Lamps
......................... 2-38
Daytime Running Lamps Indicator Light
............ 2-66
Dead Battery
................................... 5-3
Defects. Reporting Safety
................... 8- IO. 8- 1 1
Defensive Driving ............................... 4-2
Defogger. Rear Window
.......................... 3-8
Defrosting
..................................... 3-6
Dimensions. Vehicle
............................ 6-69
Dome Lamps
.............................. 2-39
Door Front
.......... ........................ 2-4
Rear
........................................ 2-4
Sliding
..................................... 2-10
Drive Position ................................. 2-21
Driver Position
................................. 1 - I 8
Driving
City
........................................ 4-17
Defensive
.................................... 4-2
Drunken
..................................... 4-2
Freeway
.................................... 4-18
InaBlizzard
................................. 4-24
In Foreign Countries
........................... 6-5
IntheRain .................................. 4-15
Locks
....................................... 2-6 Night
...................................... 4-13
OnCurves
................................... 4-9
On Grades While Towing a Trailer
............... 4-35
On
Hill and Mountain Roads .................... 4-21
OnSnowandIce ............................. 4-23
Through Water
............................... 4-17
WetRoads
.................................. 4-15
Winter
...................................... 4-22
With
a Trailer ................................ 4-33
Drunken Driving
................................ 4-2
Electrical Equipment. Adding
.......... 2-18. 3-28. 6-60
Electrical System
............................... 6-60
Engine
........................................ 6-9
Coolant
..................................... 6-25
Coolant Heater
............................... 2-18
Coolant Level Check
.......................... 7-41
Cooling System Capacity
....................... 6-67
Cover
...................................... 6-15
Exhaust
................. 2-13.2-27.2.30.4.25. 4.33
FuseBlock
.................................. 6-64
Identification
................................ 6-59
OilLevelCheck
.............................. 7-41
Overheating
................................. 5-13
Running While Parked
......................... 2-27
Specifications
................................ 6-67
Starting
..................................... 2-17
Temperature Gage
............................ 2-61
Engineoil
.................................... 6-10
Adding ..................................... 6-12
Additives
................................... 6-14
Checking
................................... 6-11
Pressure Gage
................................ 2-64
9-3