2003 CHEVROLET ASTRO engine oil

These are some examples of vehicle symbols you may find on your vehicle:
POSSIBLE A
CAUTION INJURY
PROTECT EYES BY
SHIELDING
CAUSTIC
BATTERY
KID COULD
CAUSE
BURNS
AVOID
SPARKS OR FLAMES
SPARK OR COULD
EXPLODE FLAME
\\I/'
BAlTERY I
LATCH BOTH LAP AND
SHOULDER BELTS TO
PROTECT OCCUPANT
*&: @
DO NOT TWIST SAFETY
BELT WHEN AlTACHING
FASTEN SEAT
BELTS
MOVE SEAT FULLY
\!$!
REARWARD /a
SECURE
CHILD
SEAT
PULL BELT
COMPLETELY
rHEN SECURE CHILD SEAT
POWER
WINDOW DO NOT INSTALL
A REAR-FACING
CHILD RESTRAINT IN THIS SEATING POSITION
DO NOT INSTALL A
'ORWARD-FACING CHILD RESTRAINT IN THIS SEATING POSITION
DOOR LOCK UNLOCK LIGHTING
- MASTER SWITCH u- 0 ,
SIGNALS
TURN
LAMPS
Pf
RUNNING ***o
DAYTIME 0.0
LAMPS ea.
LAMPS $0
ENGINE
COOLANT
cc
TEMP
CHARGING
I-1
BATTERY SYSTEM
BRAKE
(a)
ENGINE OIL PRESSURE
Wb
ANTI-LOCK (@)
BRAKES COOLANT
FAN
OWNERS MANUAL
SERVICE
MANUAL
V

Engine Coolant Heater
If your vehicle has this
feature,
in very cold
weather, 0°F
(-8°C) or
colder, the engine coolant heater can help. You’ll get
easier starting and better
fuel economy during engine warm-up.
Usually, the coolant heater should be plugged in a
minimum of four hours prior to starting your vehicle.
At temperatures above 32°F
(OOC), use of the coolant
heater is not required.
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.
The engine coolant heater cord is located on the
driver’s side of the engine compartment, near
the power steering fluid reservoir. 3.
Plug
it into a normal, grounded 1 IO-volt AC outlet.
Plugging the cord i ..__ _.. mgrounc,, ,utlet
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
11 0-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.
2-22

Section 3 Instrument Panel
Instrument Panel Overview ............................... 3.2
Hazard Warning Flashers
................................ 3-4
Other Warning Devices
................................... 3-5
Horn
............................................................. 3-5
Tilt Wheel
..................................................... 3-5
Turn SignaVMultifunction Lever
......................... 3.6
Exterior Lamps
.......................................... 3.12
Interior Lamps
................................ ....... 3.15
Accessory Power Outlets
............................... 3.16
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter
........................ 3.17
Climate Controls ............................................ 3.18
Climate Control System
................................. 3.18
Rear Heating System
................................... -3-1 9
Rear Air Conditioning System ......................... 3.20
Rear Climate Control System
......................... 3.21
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators ............. 3.23
Instrument Panel Cluster
................................ 3.24
Speedometer and Odometer
........................... 3.25
Safety Belt Reminder Light
............................. 3.26
Air Bag Readiness Light
................................ 3-26
Charging System Light
.................................. 3.27
Voltmeter Gage
........................................... -3-28
Brake System Warning Light
.......................... 3.28 Anti-Lock
Brake System Warning Light
............. 3.29
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
= = =. ~ = = ~ ~ ~ = i. 3-39
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
............................. 3.30
Oil Pressure Gage
........................................ 3.34
Security Light
.............................................. -3-35
Service All-Wheel Drive Light
......................... 3.35
Tow/Haul Mode Light
......... ................... 3.36
Fuel Gage
................................................... 3.36
Low Fuel Warning Light
................................. 3.37
Audio System@) ............................................. 3.38
Setting the Time for Radios with
the Set Button
.......................................... 3-38
Setting the Time for Radios with
HR and MN Buttons .................................. 3-38
AM-FM Radio
............................................... 3.39
Radio with CD
.............................................. 3-41
Theft-Deterrent Feature
........... ................ 3.47
Understanding Radio Reception
................... 3.50
Care of Your CDs
......................................... 3-50
Care of Your CD Player
................................ 3-50
Fixed Mast Antenna
...................................... 3.50
Check Gages Warning
Light
........................... 3-36
Rear Seat Audio (RSA)
. . .... ............ 3.46
3-
1

Oil Pressure Gage
The oil pressure gage
shows the engine oil
pressure
in psi (pounds
per square inch) when the
engine is running.
Canadian vehicles indicate pressure in kPa (kilopascals).
Oil pressure may vary with engine speed, outside
temperature and oil viscosity, but readings above the
low pressure zone indicate the normal operating range.
A reading in the low pressure zone may be caused by
a dangerously low oil level or other problems causing
low oil pressure.
Don’t keep driving if
the oil pressure is low.
If you do, your engine can become so hot that
it catches fire. You or others could be burned.
Check your oil as soon as possible and have
your vehicle serviced.
Notice: Damage to your engine from neglected
oil problems can be costly and
is not covered
by your warranty.
3-34

Tow/HauI Mode Liaht
TOW / HAUL
J
This light should come on
when the tow/haul mode
has been selected.
For more information, see “Tow/Haul Mode” in
Towing a
Trailer on page 4-31.
Check Gages Warning Light
CHECK
GAGES
The CHECK GAGES light
will come on briefly when
you are starting the engine.
Fuel Gage
I
UNLEADED
United States Canada
The
fuel gage tells you approximately how much fuel
you have remaining when the ignition is on.
When the gage first indicates empty, you still have a
little fuel left, but you should get more fuel as soon
as possible.
If the light comes on and stays on while you are driving,
check your coolant temperature and engine oil
pressure gages to see
if they are in the warning zones.
3-36

The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply.
The exit speed is usually posted.
Reduce your speed according to your speedometer, not
to your sense of motion. After driving for any distance
at higher speeds, you
may tend to think you are
going slower than you actually are.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well rested. If you
must start when you’re not fresh
- such as after a day’s
work
- don’t plan to make too many miles that first
part of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes
you can easily drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it’s ready to go.
If it needs
service, have it done before starting out. Of course,
you’ll find experienced and able service experts
in dealerships all across North America. They’ll be
ready and willing to help
if you need it. Here
are some things you can check before a trip:
e
e
e
Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reservior full?
Are
all windows clean inside and outside?
Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked
all levels?
Lamps: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
Tires: They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip.
Is the tread good enough for
long-distance driving? Are the tires all inflated
to the recommended pressure?
Weather Forecasts: What’s the weather outlook
along your route? Should you delay your trip a
short time to avoid a major storm system?
Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps?
4-2 1

Driving On Grades Parking on Hills
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.
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
5-3 1.
You really shoul tot park your vehicle, ith 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
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your PARK (P) yet.
wheels. regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
parking brake, and shift to PARK (P).
5. Release the regular brakes.
4-39

When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:
start your engine,
shift into a gear, and
release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the
chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re
pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for more
on this. Things that are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transmission fluid (don’t overfill),
engine oil, axle lubricant, belt, cooling system and
brake system. Each
of these is covered in this manual,
and the Index will help you find them quickly.
If you’re
trailering, it’s a good idea to review these sections
before you start your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
4-40