2003 CHEVROLET ASTRO CARGO VAN warning

If the overheat warning continues, there's one more
thing you can try. You can add the proper coolant
mixture directly to the radiator, but be sure the cooling
system is cool before you do it.
{CAUTION:
Steam and scalding liquids from a hot cooling
system can blow out and burn you badly. They
are under pressure, and if you turn the radiator
pressure cap Ð even a little Ð they can come
out at high speed. Never turn the cap when the
cooling system, including the radiator pressure
cap, is hot. Wait for the cooling system and
radiator pressure cap to cool if you ever have
to turn the pressure cap.
5-36

Brake Wear
Your vehicle has four-wheel disc brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that make
a high-pitched warning sound when the brake pads
are worn and new pads are needed. The sound
may come and go or be heard all the time your vehicle
is moving (except when you are pushing on the
brake pedal ®rmly).
{CAUTION:
The brake wear warning sound means that
soon your brakes won't work well. That could
lead to an accident. When you hear the brake
wear warning sound, have your vehicle
serviced.
Notice:Continuing to drive with worn-out brake
pads could result in costly brake repair.Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake
squeal when the brakes are ®rst applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean something is wrong with
your brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are necessary to help
prevent brake pulsation. When tires are rotated, inspect
brake pads for wear and evenly tighten wheel nuts in
the proper sequence to GM torque speci®cations.
Brake linings should always be replaced as complete
axle sets.
See
Brake System Inspection on page 6-31.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal does not return to
normal height, or if there is a rapid increase in
pedal travel. This could be a sign of brake trouble.
Brake Adjustment
Every time you make a brake stop, your disc brakes
adjust for wear.
5-45

Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a vehicle is complex. Its many
parts have to be of top quality and work well together if
the vehicle is to have really good braking. Your vehicle
was designed and tested with top-quality GM brake parts.
When you replace parts of your braking system Ð for
example, when your brake linings wear down and you
need new ones put in Ð be sure you get new approved
GM replacement parts. If you don't, your brakes may no
longer work properly. For example, if someone puts in
brake linings that are wrong for your vehicle, the balance
between your front and rear brakes can change Ð for the
worse. The braking performance you've come to expect
can change in many other ways if someone puts in the
wrong replacement brake parts.
Battery
Your new vehicle comes with a maintenance free
ACDelcožbattery. When it's time for a new battery, get
one that has the replacement number shown on the
original battery's label. We recommend an ACDelco
ž
battery. SeeEngine Compartment Overview on
page 5-14for battery location.
Warning:Battery posts, terminals and related
accessories contain lead and lead compounds,
chemicals known to the State of California to cause
cancer and reproductive harm. Wash hands after
handling.
5-46

Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on
the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a speci®ed government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and
a half (1.5) times as well on the government course as
a tire graded 100. The relative performance of tires
depends upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart signi®cantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits, service practices and
differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction ± AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A,
B, and C. Those grades represent the tire's ability
to stop on wet pavement as measured under controlled
conditions on speci®ed government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor
traction performance. Warning: The traction grade
assigned to this tire is based on straight-ahead braking
traction tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction characteristics.
Temperature ± A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire's resistance to the generation
of heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested
under controlled conditions on a speci®ed indoor
laboratory test wheel. Sustained high temperature can
cause the material of the tire to degenerate and
reduce tire life, and excessive temperature can lead to
sudden tire failure. The grade C corresponds to a
level of performance which all passenger car tires must
meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
No. 109. Grades B and A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test wheel than the
minimum required by law.
Warning: The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly in¯ated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed, underin¯ation, or
excessive loading, either separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.
5-68

Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes ¯at, avoid further tire and wheel damage by
driving slowly to a level place. Turn on your hazard
warning ¯ashers.
{CAUTION:
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 ®rmly.
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.
5-71

Appearance Care
Remember, cleaning products can be hazardous. Some
are toxic. Others can burst into ¯ames if you strike a
match or get them on a hot part of the vehicle. Some are
dangerous if you breathe their fumes in a closed
space. When you use anything from a container to clean
your vehicle, be sure to follow the manufacturer's
warnings and instructions. And always open your doors
or windows when you're cleaning the inside.
Neveruse these to clean your vehicle:
·Gasoline
·Benzene
·Naphtha
·Carbon Tetrachloride
·Acetone
·Paint Thinner
·Turpentine
·Lacquer Thinner
·Nail Polish Remover
They can all be hazardous ± some more than
others ± and they can all damage your vehicle, too.Don't use any of these unless this manual says you
can. In many uses, these will damage your vehicle:
·Alcohol
·Laundry Soap
·Bleach
·Reducing Agents
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle
Use a vacuum cleaner often to get rid of dust and
loose dirt. Wipe vinyl, leather, plastic and painted
surfaces with a clean, damp cloth.
Cleaning Fabric/Carpet
Your dealer has cleaners for the cleaning of fabric and
carpet. They will clean normal spots and stains very well.
You can get GM-approved cleaning products from your
dealer. See
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials on
page 5-89.
5-83

A
Accessory Power Outlets.................................3-16
Activating the Theft-Deterrent Feature................3-48
Adding Equipment to Your Air Bag-Equipped
Vehicle.......................................................1-70
Adding Washer Fluid.......................................5-41
Additional Program Information.........................7-10
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-6
Add-On Electrical Equipment............................5-92
Add-On Equipment..........................................4-31
Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)......3-40, 3-43
Air Bag System..............................................1-62
Adding Equipment to Your Air
Bag-Equipped Vehicle...............................1-70
How Does an Air Bag Restrain?....................1-67
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle.........1-69
What Makes an Air Bag In¯ate?....................1-67
What Will You See After an Air Bag In¯ates?......1-68
When Should an Air Bag In¯ate?...................1-66
Where Are the Air Bags?..............................1-64
Air Bag .........................................................3-26
Readiness Light..........................................3-26
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-24
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) System.........................2-26
All-Wheel Drive...............................................5-52
All-Wheel-Drive Service Light............................3-35
AM-FM Radio.................................................3-39AM ...............................................................3-50
Antenna, Fixed Mast.......................................3-50
Anti-Lock Brake, System Warning Light..............3-29
Anti-lock Brake System..................................... 4-7
Appearance Care............................................5-83
Care of Safety Belts....................................5-86
Chemical Paint Spotting...............................5-89
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle................5-83
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle..............5-86
Finish Damage............................................5-88
Sheet Metal Damage...................................5-88
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-89
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials................5-89
Weatherstrips..............................................5-86
Ashtrays........................................................3-17
Audio System(s).............................................3-38
AM-FM Radio.............................................3-39
Care of Your CD Player...............................3-50
Care of Your CDs........................................3-50
Fixed Mast Antenna.....................................3-50
Radio with CD............................................3-41
Rear Seat Audio (RSA)................................3-46
Setting the Time for Radios with
HR and MN Buttons.................................3-38
Setting the Time for Radios
with the Set Button...................................3-38
Theft-Deterrent Feature................................3-47
Understanding Radio Reception.....................3-50
1

Audio System(s) (cont.)
Automatic Headlamp System............................3-13
Automatic Transmission Check..........................6-27
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock Control
System Check.............................................6-28
Automatic Transmission...................................5-25
Fluid..........................................................5-25
Operation...................................................2-23
B
Backing Up....................................................4-38
Battery Replacement......................................... 2-6
Battery Run-Down Protection............................3-16
Battery..........................................................5-46
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.........................4-21
Bench Seat............................................1-11, 1-57
Body Lubrication Service..................................6-27
Brake Adjustment............................................5-45
Brake Fluid....................................................5-42
Brake Pedal Travel.........................................5-45
Brake Wear...................................................5-45
Brake............................................................2-26
Parking......................................................2-26
System Inspection.......................................6-31
System Warning Light..................................3-28
Brakes..........................................................5-42
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 4-9Braking........................................................... 4-6
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-19
Bucket Seats, Rear.........................................1-12
Bulb Replacement...........................................5-55
Front Turn Signal Lamps..............................5-59
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-55
Headlamps.................................................5-55
Replacement Bulbs......................................5-61
Taillamps....................................................5-60
Buying New Tires...........................................5-66C
California Fuel.................................................. 5-6
Canada ± Customer Assistance.......................... 7-5
Canadian Owners................................................ ii
Canadian Roadside Assistance........................... 7-7
Canceling the Sliding Door Security Lock...........2-12
Capacities and Speci®cations............................5-99
Carbon Monoxide...........................4-24, 4-31, 2-30
Care of.........................................................5-86
Safety Belts................................................5-86
Your CD Player...........................................3-50
Your CDs ...................................................3-50
Cargo Vans...........................................1-41, 1-48
Center Passenger Position, Safety Belts.............1-27
Chains, Tires..................................................5-70
Charging System Light....................................3-27
2