2003 CHEVROLET ASTRO Owners Manual

Passing Another Vehicle While Using
Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed.
When you take your foot
off the pedal, your vehicle will
slow down to the cruise control speed you set earlier.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load and the steepness
of the hills.
When going up steep hills, you may want to step on the
accelerator pedal to maintain your speed. When going
downhill, you may have to brake or shift to a lower gear to
keep your speed down. Of course, applying the brake
takes you out of cruise control. Many drivers find this to
be too much trouble and don’t use cruise control on
steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
There are two ways to turn off the cruise control:
Step lightly on the brake pedal.
Move the cruise switch to OFF.
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition, your
cruise control set speed memory is erased.
Exterior Lamps
The exterior lamp control is located on the driver’s side
of the instrument panel.
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The exterior lamp control has three positions:
0 (Off): Turning the control to this position turns off
all lamps except the Daytime Running Lamps (DRL).
%: (Parking Lamps): Turning the control to this
position turns on the parking lamps, together with the
following:
Sidemarker Lamps
0 Taillamps
License Plate Lamps
0 Instrument Panel Lights
Ashtray Lamp
-g- (Headlamps): Turning the control to this position
turns on the headlamps, together with the previously
listed lamps and lights.
Automatic Headlamp System
When it is dark enough outside, your automatic
headlamp system will turn on your headlamps at the
normal brightness along with other lamps such as
the taillamps, sidemarker, parking lamps and the
instrument panel lights. The radio lights will also dim.
Your vehicle is equipped with a light sensor on the top
of
the instrument panel in the defroster grille. Be sure it
is not covered, or the system will be on whenever
the ignition is on.
The system may also turn on your headlamps when
driving through a parking garage, heavy overcast
weather or a tunnel. This is normal.
There
is a delay in the transition between the daytime and
nighttime operation of the Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
and the automatic headlamp systems
so that driving
under bridges or bright overhead street lights does not
affect the system. The DRL and automatic headlamp
system will only be affected when the light sensor sees a
change in lighting lasting longer than the delay.
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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 “Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)” 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 first 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.
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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 first 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 first 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.
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Dome Lamps
The dome lamps will come on when you open a door,
except with the liftgate glass (if equipped).
You can also turn the dome lamps on by turning the
thumbwheel, located next to the exterior lamp control,
all the way up. In this position, the dome lamps will
remain on whether a door is opened or closed.
You can use the
DOME OVERRIDE button, located
near the exterior lamp control, to set the dome lamps
to come on automatically when a door is opened,
or to remain
off. To turn the lamps off, press the button
into the
in position, the dome lamps will remain off
when a door is open. To return the lamps to automatic
operation, press the button again and return it to the
out position. With the button in this position, the dome
lamps will come on when you open a door.
Battery Run-Down Protection
This feature shuts off the dome, courtesy, vanity, reading
and glove box lights
if they are left on for more than
20 minutes when the ignition is off. This will keep your
battery from running down.
If the battery run-down protection shuts off the interior
lamps, it may be necessary to do one of the following to
return to normal operation:
Shut off all lamps and close all doors, or
turn the ignition key to RUN.
Accessory Power Outlets
If your vehicle has this feature, you can plug accessory
electrical equipment into an accessory power outlet.
Just pull on the outlet cover to remove it and follow the
proper installation instructions that are included with
any electrical equipment that you install.
The accessory power outlet is located on the
passenger’s side of the front storage compartment.
These circuits are protected by a fuse and have
maximum current levels.
Certain power accessory plugs may not be compatible
to the power accessory outlet and could result in
blown vehicle or adapter fuses.
If you experience a
problem, see your dealer for additional information on
the power accessory plugs.
Notice: When using an accessory power outlet,
maximum electrical load must not exceed
25 amps.
Always turn
off any electrical equipment when
not in use. Leaving electrical equipment on for
extended periods will drain your battery.
Notice: Power outlets are designed for accessory
plugs only.
Do not hang any type of accessory
or accessory bracket from the plug. Improper use of
the power outlet can cause damage not covered
by your warran-ly.
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Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter
Your vehicle may have a cigarette lighter which is
located on the left side
of the engine cover console.
To use the lighter, press it in ail the way and let go.
When it’s done heating, it will pop back out by itself.
Notice: Don’t hold a cigarette lighter in with
your hand while
it is heating. If you do, it won’t
be able to back away from the heating element when
it’s ready. That can make
it overheat, damaging
the lighter and the heating element.
Notice: When using the cigarette lighter as an
accessory power outlet, maximum electrical load must not exceed 20 amps. Always turn
off any
electrical equipment when not
in use. Leaving
electrical equipment on for extended periods will
drain your battery. The
front ashtray
is located above the passenger’s side
front cupholder. To remove the front ashtray, open it
and gently pull it slightly past its stop.
To remove the ashtray on the sliding door, open it,
then press down
on the inside tab and pull it out.
You may have another ashtray on the driver’s sidewall.
Press the right side to turn the ashtray around for use.
To remove the ashtray, open it and gently pull it off
the hinge.
Notice: Don’t put papers or other flammable
items into your ashtrays. Hot cigarettes or other
smoking materials could ignite them, causing
a damaging fire.
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Climate Controls
Climate Control System
With this system you can control the heating, cooling
and ventilation for your vehicle.
Turn the right knob clockwise or counterclockwise to
direct the airflow inside of your vehicle. To change
the current mode, select one of the following:
+2 (Bi-Level): This mode directs approximately half
of the air to the instrument panel outlets and directs
most of the remaining air to the floor outlets. Some air
may be directed toward the windshield.
;$’ (Vent): This mode directs air to the instrument
panel outlets.
(Floor): This mode directs most of the air to the
floor outlets with some air directed to the outboard
outlets (for the side windows) and some air directed to
the windshield.
A/C (Air Conditioning): This setting brings in outside
air, cools and dehumidifies it.
MAX A/C (Maximum Air Conditioning): This setting
cools the air the fastest, by recirculating the inside air.
The right knob can also be used to select the defrost
mode. Information on defogging and defrosting can be
found later in this section.
@ (Fan): Turn the left knob clockwise or
counterclockwise to increase or decrease the fan speed.
Temperature Control: Turn the center knob clockwise
or counterclockwise to increase or decrease the
temperature inside your vehicle.
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Defogging and Defrosting
Turn the right knob to select the defog or defrost mode.
+3 (Blend): With this setting, the outside air comes
out
of both the floor and defroster outlets. Adjust the
temperature knob for warmer or cooler air. The air
conditioning compressor may operate in this setting to
dehumidfy the air.
9 (Defrost): This setting operates the defroster.
Most of the air comes out near the windshield, with
some going to the floor outlets and front side windows.
The air conditioning compressor may operate in this
setting to dehumidify the air.
The bi-level setting is useful for cold weather with a
large number of passengers or very humid conditions to
help keep the windshield clear. 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.
Rear Heating System
Your vehicle may have an optional rear heating system
that allows you to adjust the amount of air flowing
into the rear
of the vehicle, from the front-seating area.
This feature works with the main climate-control
system in your vehicle.
The thumbwheel for this system is located to the right
of the audio system.
Turn the thumbwheel up or down to increase or
decrease the amount of heated air sent to the
rear-seating area.
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