2003 CHEVROLET ASTRO check oil

Part B: Owner Checks and Services
Listed in this part are owner checks and services
which should be performed at the intervals specified to
help ensure the safety, dependability and emission
control performance of your vehicle.
Be sure any necessary repairs are completed at once.
Whenever any fluids or lubricants are added to your
vehicle, make sure they are the proper ones, as shown
in Part D.
At Each Fuel Fill
It is important for you or a service station attendant to
perform these underhood checks at each fuel fill.
Engine Oil Level Check
Check the engine oil level and add the proper oil
if necessary. See Engine Oil on page 5-15 for
further details.
Engine Coolant Level Check
Check the engine coolant level and add DEX-COOL@
coolant mixture
if necessary. See Engine Coolant
on page
5-28 for further details.
Windshield Washer Fluid Level Check
Check the windshield washer fluid level in the windshield
washer tank and add the proper fluid
if necessary.
See
Windshield Washer Fluid on page 5-41 for
further details.
At Least Once a Month
Tire Inflation Check
Make sure tires are inflated to the correct pressures.
Don’t forget to check your spare tire. See
Tires on
page
5-63 for further details.
At Least Twice a Year
Restraint System Check
Make sure the safety belt reminder light and all your belts,
buckles, latch plates, retractors and anchorages are
working properly. Look for any other loose or damaged
safety belt system parts. If you see anything that might
keep a safety belt system from doing its job, have it
repaired. Have any torn or frayed safety belts replaced.
Also look for any opened or broken air bag coverings,
and have them repaired or replaced. (The air bag
system does not need regular maintenance.)
6-26

Throttle System Inspection
Inspect the throttle system for interference or binding,
and for damaged or missing parts. Replace parts
as needed. Replace any components that have high
effort or excessive wear.
Do not lubricate accelerator
and cruise control cables.
Transfer Case and Front Axle
(All-Wheel Drive) Inspection
Every 12 months, or at engine oil change intervals,
check front axle and transfer case and add lubricant
when necessary.
A fluid loss could indicate a problem.
Check and have it repaired, if needed. Check vent
hose at transfer case for kinks and proper installation.
Brake System Inspection
Inspect the complete system. Inspect brake lines and
hoses for proper hook-up, binding, leaks, cracks,
chafing, etc. Inspect disc brake pads for wear and
rotors for surface condition. inspect other brake parts,
including calipers, parking brake, etc. Check parking
brake adjustment. You may need to have your brakes
inspected more often
if your driving habits or conditions
result in frequent braking.
6-31

Checking Brake Fluid .................................. 5-43
Checking Coolant ............................................ 5-29
Checking Engine Oil ........................................ 5-15
Checking Things Under the Hood ...................... 5-1 1
Checking Your Restraint Systems ...................... 1-71
Chemical Paint Spotting ................................... 5-89
Child Restraints
Child Restraint Systems
............................... 1-44
Infants and Young Children ........................... 1-38
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System)
.......................... 1-52
Older Children ............................................. 1-35
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for
the LATCH System
................................ 1-54
Securing a Child Restraint in a Center
Seat Position
....................................... 1-57
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear
Outside Seat Position
............................... 1-54
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right
Front Seat Position
................................... 1-59
Top Strap ................................................... 1-48
Top Strap Anchor Location ............................ 1-50
Where to Put the Restraint ........................... 1-47
Cigarette Lighter ............................................. 3-1 7
Cleaning
Inside of Your Vehicle
.................................. 5-83
Outside of Your Vehicle ................................ 5-86
Underbody Maintenance ............................... 5-89
Weatherstrips .............................................. 5-86
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses ....................... 5-86
Climate Control System ................................... 3-18
Rear .......................................................... 3-21
Rear Heating System ................................... 3-19
Compact Disc Messages .................................. 3-45
Compact Spare Tire ........................................ 5-82
Composite Headlamps ..................................... 5-56
Control of a Vehicle .......................................... 4-6
Convenience Net ............................................ 2-45
Coolant
Engine Temperature Gage
............................ 3-30
Heater, Engine ............................................ 2-22
Cooling System .............................................. 5-33
Cruise Control ................................................ 3-10
Current and Past Model Order Forms ................ 7-12
Customer Assistance Information
Customer Assistance for Text
Customer Assistance
Off ices ........................... 7-4
Customer Satisfaction Procedure ..................... 7-2
GM Mobility Program for Persons with
Disabilities
................................................ 7-5
Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors ....... 7-11
Reporting Safety Defects to the
Canadian Government
.............................. 7-11
Reporting Safety Defects to the United States Government
......................... 7-10
Roadside Assistance Program ......................... 7-6
Service Publications Ordering Information ........ 7-11
Rear Air Conditioning System ........................ 3-20
Courtesy Transportation ......... ...... 7-8
Telephone (TTY) Users ............................... 7-4
3

Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) ...................... 3-14
Defensive Driving
............................................. 4-2
Defogging and Defrosting
................................. 3-1 9
Directing the Airflow
........................................ 3-20
Disabling the Theft-Deterrent Feature
................. 3-49
Doing Your Own Service Work
........................... 5-3
Dome Lamps
.......................................... ~ ~~~ 3-16
Door Front Doors
............................................... 2-8
Locks
.......................................................... 2-7
Power Door Locks
......................................... 2-8
Programmable Automatic Door Locks
............... 2-9
Rear Doors
................................................. 2-13
Sliding Side Door
........................................ 2-10
Position, Safety Belt
..................................... 1-1 8
Driver Information System
................................ 2-42
At Night
..................................................... 4-14
City
........................................................... 4-19
Defensive
..................................................... 4-2
Drunken
....................................................... 4-3
Freeway
..................................................... 4-20
Hill and Mountain Roads
.............................. 4-22
In Rain and on Wet Roads ........................... 4-16
Winter
........................................................ 4-24
Driving On Grades
.......................................... 4-39
Driving on Snow or Ice
.................................... 4-24
Driver
Driving Driving
Through Deep Standing Water
............... 4-18
Driving Through Flowing Water
......................... 4-18
Driving with a Trailer
....................................... 4-37
E
Electrical System
Add-on Equipment
...................................... 5-92
Headlamp Wiring
......................................... 5-92
Fuses and
Circuit Breakers
........................... 5-93
Power Windows and Other Power Options
......... 5-92
Windshield Wiper Fuses
............................... 5-92
Emissions Inspection and
Engine Maintenance Programs
................................. 3-33
Air Cleaner/Filter
......................................... 5-24
Battery
....................................................... 5-46
Check and Service Engine Soon Light
............ 3-30
Coolant
...................................................... 5-28
Coolant Heater
............................................ 2-22
Coolant Temperature Gage
........................... 3-30
Cooling System Inspection
............................ 6-30
Cover
........................................................ 5-20
Engine Compartment Overview
...................... 5-14
Exhaust
..................................................... 2-30
Fan Noise
.................................................. 5-39
Oil
............................................................. 5-15
Starting
...................................................... 2-21
Overheating
................................................ 5-31
4

Engine Coolant Level Check ............................. 6-26
Engine Oil Additives
........................................ 5-18
Entry Lighting
................................................. 3-15
Erasing HomeLink@ Buttons
.............................. 2-37
Except Cargo Vans
................................. 1-38, 1-47
Express-Down Window
.................................... 2-1 7
Extender, Safety Belt
....................................... 1-34
Exterior Lamps
............................................... 3-12
Engine
Oil Level Check
................................... 6-26
Exit Lighting
................................................... 3-15
F
FabricKarpet ................................................. 5-83
Filter Engine Air Cleaner
...................................... 5-24
Finding a Station
.................................... 3-39, 3-41
Finish Care
.................................................... 5-87
Finish Damage
............................................... 5-88
Fixed Mast Antenna
........................................ 3-50
Flash-to-Pass
................. ........................... 3-7
Flat Tire
........................................................ 5-70
Fluid Flat Tire, Changing
......................................... 5-71
Automatic Transmission
................................ 5-25
Power Steering
........................................... 5-40
Windshield Washer
...................................... 5-41
FM
............................................................... 3-50
Following Distance
.......................................... 4-38 Footnotes
..... ................................ 6.7.
6-18
Front Axle
........ ................................... 5-54
Front Doors
..................................................... 2-8
Fuel
............................................................... 5-5
Additives ...................................................... 5-6
California Fuel
.............................................. 5-6
Filling a Portable Fuel Container
.................... 5-10
Filling Your Tank
........................................... 5-8
Fuels in Foreign Countries
.............................. 5-7
Gage
......................................................... 3-36
Gasoline Octane
........................................... 5-5
Gasoline Specifications .................................. 5-5
System Inspection
....................................... 6-30
Fuel Regulator
................................................ 2-21
Fuses Low Warning
Light
....................................... 3-37
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
........................... 5-93
Windshield Wiper
......................................... 5-92
G
Gage
Check Gages Warning Light
.......................... 3-36
Engine Coolant Temperature
......................... 3-30
Fuel
.......................................................... 3-36
Oil Pressure
............................................... 3-34
Speedometer
.............................................. 3-25
Voltmeter Gage
........................................... 3-28
Garage Door Opener
....................................... 2-34
5

Matching Transmitter(s) to Your Vehicle ................. 2-5
Mexico, Central America and Caribbean
Islands/Countries (Except Puerto Rico and
U.S. Virgin Islands) ........................................ 7-5
MyGMLink.com
................................................ 7-4
New Vehicle Break-In
...................................... 2-19
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
........... 5-101
Odometer
............................................
Off-Road Recovery ................................
Oil
... 3-25
... 4-1 1
Engine ....................................................... 5-1 5
Pressure Gage
............................................ 3-34
Older Children, Restraints
................................ 1-35
Online Owner Center
........................................ 7-4
Operation Tips
................................................ 3-22
Other Warning Devices
...................................... 3-5
Outlet Adjustment
............................................ 3-22
Outside Convex Mirror
............................................. 2-33
Manual Mirrors
............................................ 2-32
Power Mirrors
............................................. 2-32
Overhead Console
.......................................... 2-39
Owners, Canadian
............................................... ii
Owner’s Information
........................................ 7-1 2
P
Park (P)
Shifting Into
............................. ........ 2-27
Shifting Out
of ......................... ............ 2-29
Brake
..................................................... 2-26
Parking
Over Things That Burn
................................. 2-30
Park (P) Mechanism Check
........................... 6-29
Parking Brake
and Automatic Transmission
Parking on Hills
........................................ 4-39 -39
Part A
- Scheduled Maintenance Services ............... 6-4
Part B
- Owner Checks and Services ................... 6-26
Part D
- Recommended Fluids and Lubricants ....... 6-32
Part
E - Maintenance Record ............................. 6-34
Passing
................................................. 4-12, 4-38
Passlock@
...................................................... 2-18
Payload
......................................................... 4-31
Plan Ahead When Possible
................................ 7-8
Playing the Radio
................................... 3-39, 3-41
Power
Accessory Outlets
........................................ 3-16
Door Locks
.................................................. 2-8
Electrical System
......................................... 5-92
Seat
............................................................ 1-3
Windows .................................................... 2-17
Part
C - Periodic
Maintenance Inspections ............ 6-30
Playing a Compact Disc
................................... 3-43
Steering Fluid
............................................. 5-40 9

Vehicle Identification
Number (VIN)
............................................. 5-91
Vehicle Storage
.............................................. 5-47
Vinyl
............................................................. 5-85
Visor Vanity Mirror
.......................................... 2-17
Visors
........................................................... 2-1 7
Voltmeter Gage
.............................................. 3-28
Service Parts identification Label
................... 5-91
When
to Add Engine Oil
.................................. 5-16
When to Change Engine Oil
............................. 5-18
When to Check
.............................................. 5-64
When to Check and Change
............................ 5-25
When
to Check Lubricant ................................. 5-53
When to Check Power Steering Fluid
................ 5-40
When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
......................................... 4-40
Where to Put the Restraint
............................... 1-47
Why Safety Belts Work
.................................... 1-14
Windows
....................................................... 2-16
Manual
...................................................... 2-16
Power
........................................................ 2-17
Windshield and Wiper Blades
........................... 5-87
Windshield Washer
........................................... 3-8
Fluid
.......................................................... 5-41
Windshield Washer Fluid Level Check
................ 6-26
Windshield Wiper
Blade Replacement
...................................... 5-62
Fuses
........................................................ 5-92
Windshield Wipers
............................................ 3-8
Winter Driving
............................................ 4-24
Wiper Blade Check
.... ............................. 6-27
Warning Lights. Gages and
Indicators
................ 3-23
Warnings Hazard Warning Flashers
............................... 3-4
Other Warning Devices
.................................. 3-5
Safety and Symbols
......................................... 111
Vehicle Damage .............................................. iv
Washing Your Vehicle
.................. ............ 5-86
Weatherstrip Lubrication
................... ........ 6-27
Weight of the Trailer Tongue
............................. 4-35
What Kind of Engine Oil to Use
........................ 5-17
What to Do with Used Oil
................................ 5-19
What to Use
.......................... 5-28, 5-40, 5-41, 5-53
Wheels Alignment and Tire Balance 5-69
...
Weight of the Trailer ........................................ 4-33
Y ..........................
Replacement .................... .... ......... 5-69 four Vehicle and the Environment ....... .. 6-2
14