2003 CHEVROLET ASTRO CARGO VAN automatic transmission

Keys...............................................................2-2
Remote Keyless Entry System.........................2-4
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation...........2-5
Doors and Locks.............................................2-7
Door Locks....................................................2-7
Front Doors...................................................2-8
Power Door Locks..........................................2-8
Programmable Automatic Door Locks................2-9
Leaving Your Vehicle....................................2-10
Sliding Side Door..........................................2-10
Rear Doors..................................................2-13
Windows........................................................2-16
Manual Windows..........................................2-16
Power Windows............................................2-17
Sun Visors...................................................2-17
Theft-Deterrent Systems..................................2-18
Passlock
ž....................................................2-18
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle................2-19
New Vehicle Break-In....................................2-19
Ignition Positions..........................................2-19
Starting Your Engine.....................................2-21Engine Coolant Heater..................................2-22
Automatic Transmission Operation...................2-23
All-Wheel Drive............................................2-26
Parking Brake..............................................2-26
Shifting Into Park (P).....................................2-27
Shifting Out of Park (P).................................2-29
Parking Over Things That Burn.......................2-30
Engine Exhaust............................................2-30
Running Your Engine While You Are Parked. . . .2-31
Mirrors...........................................................2-32
Manual Rearview Mirror.................................2-32
Outside Manual Mirror...................................2-32
Outside Power Mirrors...................................2-32
Outside Convex Mirror...................................2-33
HomeLink
žTransmitter...................................2-34
Programming the HomeLinkžTransmitter.........2-35
Storage Areas................................................2-38
Overhead Console........................................2-39
Luggage Carrier...........................................2-44
Convenience Net..........................................2-45
Section 2 Features and Controls
2-1

Remote Keyless Entry System
Operation
If your vehicle has this feature, you can lock and unlock
your doors from about 3 feet (1 m) up to 30 feet
(9 m) away using the remote keyless entry transmitter
supplied with your vehicle.
UNLOCK:Press UNLOCK
once for the driver's door to
unlock, the parking lamps
to ¯ash and the interior
lights to go on.
If you press UNLOCK again within three seconds, all
doors will unlock.LOCK:Press LOCK to lock all the doors. Press LOCK
again within three seconds and the horn will chirp.
REAR 2X:Press the REAR button twice within three
seconds to unlock the rear hatch or cargo doors.
The parking lamps will ¯ash and the interior lights will
go on. If the engine is running, the automatic
transmission must be in PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) for
the REAR 2X button to operate.
L(Panic Alarm):Press this button for the horn to
sound and the headlamps and taillamps to ¯ash for up to
30 seconds. This can be turned off by pressing the
panic button again, waiting for 30 seconds, or starting
the vehicle.
Matching Transmitter(s) to Your
Vehicle
Each remote keyless entry transmitter is coded to
prevent another transmitter from unlocking your vehicle.
If a transmitter is lost or stolen, a replacement can
be purchased through your dealer. Remember to bring
any remaining transmitters with you when you go to
your dealer. When the dealer matches the replacement
transmitter to your vehicle, any remaining transmitters
must also be matched. Once your dealer has coded the
new transmitter, the lost transmitter will not unlock
your vehicle. Each vehicle can have a maximum of four
transmitters matched to it.
2-5

Automatic Transmission Operation
There are several different positions for your shift lever.
PARK (P):This position locks your rear wheels. It's the
best position to use when you start your engine
because your vehicle can't move easily.
{CAUTION:
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake ®rmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
Don't leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured. To
be sure your vehicle won't move, even when
you're on fairly level ground, always set your
parking brake and move the shift lever to
PARK (P). See ªShifting Into Park (P)º in the
Index. If you're pulling a trailer, see ªTowing a
Trailerº in the Index.
Ensure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before starting
the engine. Your vehicle has an automatic transmission
shift lock control system. You have to fully apply
your regular brakes before you can shift from PARK (P)
when the ignition key is in RUN. If you cannot shift
out of PARK (P), ease pressure on the shift lever ± push
the shift lever all the way into PARK (P) as you
maintain brake application. Then move the shift lever
into the gear you wish. See
Shifting Out of Park (P) on
page 2-29.
2-23

Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and you don't shift your
transmission into PARK (P) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl
in the transmission. You may ®nd it difficult to pull the
shift lever out of PARK (P). This is called ªtorque
lock.º To prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and
then shift into PARK (P) properly before you leave
the driver's seat. To ®nd out how, see
Shifting Into Park
(P) on page 2-27.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out of
PARK (P)
beforeyou release the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to have another
vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some of the
pressure from the parking pawl in the transmission, so
you can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P).
Shifting Out of Park (P)
Your vehicle has an automatic transmission shift lock
control system. You have to fully apply your regular
brakes before you can shift from PARK (P) when the
ignition is in RUN. See
Automatic Transmission
Operation on page 2-23.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever and push the shift lever all the way up into
PARK (P) as you maintain brake application. Then,
move the shift lever into the gear you want.
If you ever hold the brake pedal down but still can't shift
out of PARK (P), try this:
1. Turn the key to OFF.
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.
3. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the vehicle and then shift to the drive gear
you want.
5. Have the system ®xed as soon as you can.
2-29

To idle your vehicle with the automatic headlamp
system off, set the parking brake while the ignition is off.
Then start your vehicle. The automatic headlamp
system will stay off until you release the parking brake.
You may be able to turn off your automatic headlamp
system. See ªDaytime Running Lamps (DRL)º later
in this section for more information.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamps when you need them.
Lamps On Reminder
A reminder tone will sound when your headlamps or
parking lamps are manually turned on and your ignition
is in OFF, LOCK or ACCESSORY. To disable the
tone, turn the instrument panel brightness thumbwheel
all the way down. In the automatic mode, the
headlamps turn off once the ignition key is in OFF.
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the
day. DRL can be helpful in many different driving
conditions, but they can be especially helpful in the short
periods after dawn and before sunset. Fully functional
daytime running lamps are required on all vehicles
®rst sold in Canada.
The DRL system will make your headlamps come on at
a reduced brightness when the following conditions
are met:
·The ignition is on,
·the exterior lamp control is off.
·the automatic transmission is not in PARK (P),
·the light sensor determines it is daytime and
·the parking brake is released.
When the DRL are on, only your DRL lamps will be on.
The taillamps, sidemarker and other lamps won't be
on. Your instrument panel won't be lit up either.
3-14

When it begins to get dark, the automatic headlamp
system will switch from DRL to the headlamps or the last
chosen headlamp setting that was used.
To idle your vehicle with the DRL off, put the
transmission in PARK (P). The DRL will stay off until
you shift out of PARK (P).
The following does not apply to vehicles ®rst sold in
Canada.
When necessary, you may turn off the automatic
headlamp system and the Daytime Running Lamps
(DRL) feature by following the steps below:
1. Turn the ignition to RUN.
2. Press the DOME OVERRIDE button four times
within six seconds. After the fourth press of the
button, a chime will sound informing you that
the system is off.
To return to the automatic mode, push the DOME
OVERRIDE button four times within six seconds (the
chime will sound), or turn the ignition to off and then to
RUN again.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Brightness Control
The thumbwheel for this feature is located to the right of
the exterior lamps control.
(Instrument Panel Brightness):Turn the thumbwheel
up to brighten the lights or down to dim them.
Moving the thumbwheel up to the ®rst position will
activate the interior dome lamps.
Exit Lighting
With exit lighting, the interior lamps will come on when
you remove the key from the ignition. The lights will not
come on if the DOME OVERRIDE button is pressed in.
Entry Lighting
Your vehicle is equipped with an illuminated entry
feature.
When a door is opened, the dome lamps will come on if
the DOME OVERRIDE button is in the out position.
When all the doors are closed, the lamps will stay on for
a short period of time and will then go out. If the
DOME OVERRIDE button is pressed in, the lamps will
not come on.
3-15

Tow/Haul Mode
The tow/haul mode is a feature that assists when pulling
a heavy trailer. The purpose of the tow/haul mode is:
·to reduce the frequency of shifts when pulling a
heavy trailer.
·to provide the same shift feel when pulling a heavy
trailer as when the vehicle is unloaded.
·to reduce the need to change throttle position when
pulling a heavy trailer.
This feature is turned on or off by pressing a button on
the column shift lever. When the feature is on, a
light on the instrument panel will illuminate to indicate
that the tow/haul mode has been selected.
See
Tow/Haul Mode Light on page 3-36. The tow/haul
mode is automatically turned off each time the vehicle is
started.
The tow/haul mode is most effective when the vehicle
and trailer combined weight is at least 75% of the Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and the maximum
trailer weight rating for the vehicle.
The tow/haul mode for hauling a heavy trailer is most
useful under the following conditions:
·When driving through hilly terrain at speeds below
55 mph (88 km/h).
·When driving in low speed or stop and go traffic
below 55 mph (88 km/h).
·When driving in parking lots.
Operating in the tow/haul mode when not pulling a
heavy trailer will not cause damage to the vehicle, but
you may experience reduced fuel economy and
undesirable performance from the engine and
transmission. The tow/haul mode should be used only
when pulling a heavy trailer.
Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
It depends on how you plan to use your rig. For
example, speed, altitude, road grades, outside
temperature and how much your vehicle is used to pull
a trailer are all important. And, it can also depend
on any special equipment that you have on your vehicle.
4-33

Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gearbeforeyou 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.
You can tow in DRIVE (D). You may want to shift
the transmission to THIRD (3) or, if necessary, a
lower gear selection if the transmission shifts too often
(e.g., under heavy loads and/or hilly conditions).
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 on
page 5-31.
Parking on Hills
{CAUTION:
You really should not park your vehicle, with a
trailer attached, on a hill. If something goes
wrong, your rig could start to move. People
can be injured, and both your vehicle and the
trailer can be damaged.
But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here's
how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don't shift into
PARK (P) yet.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer
wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your
parking brake, and shift to PARK (P).
5. Release the regular brakes.
4-39