
The 2003 Chevrolet Astro Owner Manual
Seats and Restraint Systems ........................... I-!
Front Seats ............................................... 1-2
Rear Seats
............................................... 1-7
Safety Belts
............................................. 1-13
Child Restraints
....................................... 1-35
Air Bag System
....................................... 1-62
Restraint System Check
............................ 1-71
Keys
........................................................ 2-2
Doors and Locks
....................................... 2-7
Windows
................................................. 2-1 6
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................ 2-1 8
Mirrors
.................................................... 2-32
HomeLink@ Transmitter
............................. 2-34
Features and Controls ..................................... 2-1
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
........... 2-19
Storage Areas
Instrument Panel .
Instrument Panel
Climate Controls
......................................... 2-38
........................................... 3-1
Overview .......................... 3-2
...................................... 3-18
Warning Lights. Gages and Indicators
......... 3-23
Audio System(s)
....................................... 3-38
Driving Your Vehicle ....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
........ 4-2
Towing
................................................... 4-29
Service and Appearance Care .......................... 5-1
Service ..................................................... 5-3
Fuel
......................................................... 5-5
All-Wheel Drive
........................................ 5-52
Rear Axle ............................................... 5-53
Front Axle
............................................... 5-54
Bulb Replacement
.................................... 5-55
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement ......... 5-62
Tires
...................................................... 5-63
Appearance Care
..................................... 5-83
Vehicle Identification
................................. 5-91
Electrical System
...................................... 5-92
Capacities and Specifications
..................... 5-99
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
...... 5-1 01
Maintenance Schedule ..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance Information .................... 7-1
Customer Assistance Information
.................. 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects ........................... 7-10
Checking Things Under
the Hood
............... 5-11
Index ................................................................ 1

Vehicle Damage Warnings
Also, in this book you will find these notices:
Notice: These mean there is something that could
damage your vehicle.
A notice will tell you about something that can damage
your vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be
covered by your warranty, and it could be costly. But the
notice will tell you what to do to help avoid the damage.
When you read other manuals, you might see CAUTION
and NOTICE warnings in different colors or in different
words.
You’ll also see warning labels on your vehicle. They use
the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.
Vehicle Symbols
Your vehicle has components and labels that use
symbols instead of text. Symbols, used on your vehicle,
are shown along with the text describing the operation
or information relating to a specific component, control,
message, gage or indicator.
If you need help figuring out a specific name of a
component, gage or indicator reference the following
topics:
Seats and Restraint Systems in Section 1
Features and Controls in Section 2
Instrument Panel Overview in Section 3
Climate Controls in Section 3
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators in Section 3
Audio System(s) in Section 3
Engine Compartment Overview in Section 5
iv

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

The main components of your instrument panel are the following:
A. B.
C. D. E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
I.
Exterior Lamp Control
Instrument Panel Brightness Thumbwheel
Multifunction Lever
Hazard Warning Flasher Button
Transmission Shift Lever
Ignition Switch
Rear Defogger Button (Option)
Climate Controls
Rear A/C Control (Option)
Rear Heater Control (Option) Y.
L.
M.
N.
0.
P.
Q.
R.
S.
Rear WasherNViper Switch (Option)
Front Ashtray
Dome Override Button
Hood Release
Cigarette Lighter
Audio System Front Storage Compartment
Cupholders/Storage Tray
Accessory Power Outlets
3-3

Rear Window WasherNViper For delay wiping, slide the switch up to the center
position next to the word DELAY on the rear wiper
Your vehicle may have this control. The wiper will cycle every nine seconds.
feature. The rear window
To wash the window, push in on the switch. Window
washer'wiper
is controHed washer fluid will continue to spray until the switch
by using
the switch located is released. The wiper will continue with three more
on the instrument panel, wipes and then return to the setting that was chosen
next to the audio system.
before the lever was pushed.
Move the switch to
OFF to turn off the rear window
washer.
The rear window washer uses the same fluid bottle as
the front windshield washer. If the fluid level
is low in the
washer bottle, you may not be able to wash your rear
window.
If you can wash your windshield, but not
your rear window, check the fluid level.
To turn the wiper on, slide the switch all the way
up to
ON.
3-9

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.
3-1 9

Audio System(s)
Notice; Before you add any sound equipment to
your vehicle
- like a tape player, CB radio, mobile
telephone or two-way radio
- be sure you can add
what you want. If you can, it’s very important to do
it
properly. Added sound equipment may interfere
with the operation of your vehicle’s engine, Delphi Electronics radio or other systems, and even damage
them. Your vehicle’s systems may interfere with the
operation
of sound equipment that has been added
improperly.
So, before adding sound equipment, check with
your dealer and be sure to check federal rules
covering mobile radio and telephone units.
Your audio system has been designed to operate easily
and to give years of listening pleasure. You will get the
most enjoyment out of it
if you acquaint yourself with it
first. Find out what your audio system can do and how to
operate all of its controls to be sure you’re getting the
most out of the advanced engineering that went into it.
Your vehicle may have a feature called Retained
Accessory Power (RAP). With RAP, you can play
your audio system even after the ignition is turned
off.
See “Retained Accessory Power (RAP)” under
Ignition Positions on page 2- 79.
Setting the Time for Radios with
the Set Button
Press SET. Within five seconds, press and hold the
right SEEK arrow until the correct minute appears on the
display. Press and hold the left SEEK arrow until the
correct hour appears on the display.
Setting the Time for Radios with
HR and MN Buttons
Press and hold HR until the correct hour appears on the
display. Press and hold
MN until the correct minute
appears on the display.
To display the time with the
ignition
off, press RECALL or HR/MN and the time will
be displayed for a few seconds. There is an initial
two-second delay before the clock goes into the
time-set mode.
3-38

Radio with CD
Playing the Radio
PWR (Power): Press this knob to turn the system
on and
off.
VOL (Volume): Turn this knob to increase or to
decrease volume. The knob is capable of rotating
continuously.
SCV (Speed-Compensated Volume): With SCV,
your audio system adjusts automatically to make up
for road and wind noise as you drive.
Set the volume at the desired level. Turn the control
ring behind the upper knob clockwise to increase
the SCV. Each notch on the control ring allows for
more volume compensation at faster vehicle speeds.
Then, as you drive, SCV automatically increases
the volume, as necessary, to overcome noise at any
speed. The volume level should always sound the same
to you as you drive.
If you don’t want to use SCV,
turn the control all the way down.
RECALL: Press this button to switch the display
between the radio station frequency and the time.
Time display is available with the ignition turned
off.
Finding a Station
AM FM: Press this button to switch between AM, FM1
and FM2. The display will show your selection.
TUNE: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn it to
choose radio stations. Push the knob back into its stored
position when you’re not using it.
3-41