2003 CHEVROLET ASTRO maintenance schedule

It I DU have toc ..Iuc.. >rake fluid, it can spill on
the engine. The fluid will burn if the engine is
hot enough. You or others could be burned,
and your vehicle could be damaged. Add brake
fluid only when work
is done on the brake
hydraulic system. See “Checking Brake Fluid”
in this section.
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine
when to check your brake fluid. See
Part C: Periodic
Maintenance Inspections
on page 6-30.
Checking Brake Fluid
MIN / \
You can check the brake fluid without taking off the cap.
Just look at the brake fluid reservoir. The fluid level
should be above
MIN. If it isn’t, have your brake system
checked to see
if there is a leak.
After work is done on the brake hydraulic system,
make sure the level is above the
MIN but not over the
MAX mark.
5-43

All-Wheel Drive
Lubricant checks in this section also apply to these
vehicles. However, there are two additional systems that
need lubrication.
Transfer Case
When to Check Lubricant
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine how
often to check the lubricant. See
Part C: Periodic
Maintenance lnspections on page
6-30.
How to Check Lubricant
To get an accurate reading, the vehicle should be on a
level surface.
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.
Use care not to overtighten the plug.
What to Use
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind
of lubricant to use. See Part D: Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants on page
6-32.
5-52

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 Part D: Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-32.
5-53

Front 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
Part A: Scheduled Maintenance Services on
page 6-4.
How to Check Lubricant
To get an accurate reading, the vehicle should be on a
level surface.
If the level is below the
bottom of the filler plug
hole, you may need to
add some lubricant.
When the differential is cold, add enough lubricant to
raise the level to
1/2 inch (12 mm) below the filler
plug hole.
When the differential is at operating temperature
(warm), 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 Part D: Recommended
Fluids and lubricants on page
6-32.
5-54

Make sure the spare tire is stored securely. Push,
pull, and then try to rotate or turn the tire.
If it moves,
use the ratchevwheel wrench to tighten the cable.
See
Changing a Flat Tire on page 5-71.
The purpose Gf regular rotation is lo achieve more
uniform wear for all tires on the vehicle. The first rotation
is the most important. See “Part
A: Scheduled
Maintenance Services,” in Section
6, for scheduled
rotation intervals. After
the tires have been rotated, adjust the front and rear
inflation pressures as shown on the CertificationA-ire
label. Make certain that all wheel nuts are properly
tightened. See “Wheel Nut Torque” under
Capacities and
Specifications
on page 5-99.
When rotating your tires, always use the correct rotation
patterns shown here.
ts to
-
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the par
which
it is fastened, can make wheel nuts
become loose after a time. The wheel could
come
off and cause an accident. When you
change a wheel, remove any rust or dirt from
places where the wheel attaches to the vehicle.
In an emergency, you can use a cloth or a
paper towel to do
this; but be sure to use a
scraper
or wire brush later, if you need to,
to get all the rust or dirt
off. See “Changing a
Flat Tire” in the Index.
Don’t include the compact spare tire in your tire rotation.
5-65

Section 6 Maintenance Schedule
Maintenance Schedule ............................... 6.2
Introduction
................................................... 6.2
Your Vehicle and the Environment
.................... 6-2
Maintenance Requirements
.............................. 6-2
How This Section
is Organized ......................... 6-3
Part
A: Scheduled Maintenance Services ........... 6.4
Using Your Maintenance Schedule
.................... 6.4
Selecting the Right Schedule
........................... 6-5
Short Trip/City Scheduled Maintenance
.............. 6.7
Long Trip/Highway Scheduled Maintenance
...... 6.18
Part B: Owner Checks and Services
................ 6.26
At Each Fuel Fill
.......................................... 6-26
At Least Once a Month
................................. 6.26
At Least Twice a Year
................................... 6.26 At
Least Once a Year
................................... 6-27
Part C: Periodic Maintenance inspections
......... 6.30
Steering. Suspension and Front Drive Axle
Boot and Seal Inspection
............................ 6.30
Exhaust System Inspection
............................ 6.30
Fuel System Inspection
.................................. 6.30
Engine Cooling System Inspection
................... 6.30
Throttle System Inspection
............................ -6-31
Transfer Case and Front Axle
(All-Wheel Drive) Inspection
....................... -6-31
Brake System Inspection
................................ 6.31
Part D: Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants
.......................................... 6.32
Part E: Maintenance Record
........................... 6.34
6-
1

Maintenance Schedule
Introduction
IMPORTANT-
KEEP ENGINE C ~~
AT THE PROPER
1 LEVEL AND CHANGE AS 1
RECOMMENDED
Have you purchased the GM Protection Plan? The Plan
supplements your new vehicle warranties. See your
Warranty and Owner Assistance booklet or your dealer
for details.
Your Vehicle and the Environment
Proper vehicle maintenance not only helps to keep your
vehicle in good working condition, but also helps the
environment.
All recommended maintenance procedures
are important. Improper vehicle maintenance can
even affect the quality
of the air we breathe. Improper
fluid levels or the wrong tire inflation can increase
the level
of emissions from your vehicle. To help protect
our environment, and to keep your vehicle in good
condition, please maintain your vehicle properly.
Maintenance Requirements
Maintenance intervals, checks, inspections and
recommended fluids and lubricants as prescribed in
this manual are necessary to keep your vehicle in good
working condition. Any damage caused by failure to
follow recommended maintenance may not be covered
by warranty.
6-2

How This Section is Organized
This maintenance schedule is divided into five parts:
“Part
A: Scheduled Maintenance Services” explains
what to have done and how often. Some of these
services can be complex,
so unless you are technically
qualified and have the necessary equipment, you
should let your dealer’s service department or another
qualified serIine center do these
jobs.
Performing maintenance work on a vehicle
can be dangerous. In trying to do some jobs,
you can be seriously injured.
Do your own
maintenance work only if you have the required
know-how and the proper tools and equipment
for the job.
If you have any doubt, have a
qualified technician do the work. “Part
B: Owner Checks and Services”
tells you what
should be checked and when.
It also explains what
you can easily do to help keep your vehicle
in
good condition.
“Part C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections” explains
important inspections that your dealer’s service
department or another qualified service center
should perform.
“Part
D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants” lists
some recommended products necessary to help
keep your vehicle properly maintained. These products,
or their equivalents, should be used whether you do
the work yourself or have
it done.
“Part
E: Maintenance Record” is a place for you to
record and keep track
of the maintenance performed
on your vehicle. Keep your maintenance receipts.
They may be needed to qualify your vehicle for
warranty repairs.
If you want to get the service information, see Service
Publications Ordering Information
on page 7- I 1.
6-3