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
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
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
This gage shows
the engine coolant
temperature.
If the
gage pointer moves
to the red area, your
engine is too hot!
It means that your engine coolant has overheated.
If you have been operating your vehicle under normal
driving conditions, you should pull
off the road, stop your
vehicle and turn
off the engine as soon as possible.
See
Engine Overheating on page 5-31.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
Service Engine Soon Light in the
United States
or Check Engine Light
in Canada
SERVICE
ENGINE
SOON
ds
CHECK
United States Canada
Your vehicle is equipped with a computer which
monitors operation of the fuel, ignition and emission
control systems.
3-30
Some gasolines that are not reformulated for low
emissions may contain an octane-enhancing additive
called methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl
(MMT); ask the attendant where you buy gasoline
whether the fuel contains MMT. General Motors
does not recommend the use of such gasolines.
Fuels containing MMT can reduce the life of spark
plugs and the performance
of the emission control
system may be affected. The malfunction indicator lamp
may turn on.
If this occurs, return to your authorized
GM dealer for service.
Fuels in Foreign Countries
If you plan on driving in another country outside the
United States or Canada, the proper fuel may be
hard to find. Never use leaded gasoiine or any other
fuel not recommended in the previous text on fuel.
Costly repairs caused by use of improper fuel wouldn’t
be covered by your warranty.
To check the fuel availability, ask an auto club, or
contact a major oil company that does business in the
country where you’ll be driving.
5-7
When It Is Time for New Tires
One way to tell when it’s
time for new tires is to
check the treadwear
indicators, which will
appear when your tires
have only 1/16 inch
(1.6 mm) or less of
tread remaining. Some commercial truck
tires may not have
treadwear indicators.
You need a new tire
if any of the following statements
are true:
You can see the indicators at three or more places
You can see cord or fabric showing through the
The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut or snagged
The tire has a bump, bulge or split.
The tire has a puncture, cut or other damage that
around
the tire.
tire’s rubber.
deep enough to show cord or fabric.
can’t be repaired well because of the size or
location
of the damage.
Buying New Tires
To find out what kind and size of tires you need,
look at the Certification/Tire label.
The tires installed on your vehicle when it was new had
a Tire Performance Criteria Specification (TPC Spec)
number on each tire’s sidewall. When you get new tires,
get ones with that same TPC Spec number. That way
your vehicle will continue to have tires that are designed
to give proper endurance, handling, speed rating,
traction, ride and other things during normal service
on your vehicle.
If your tires have an all-season tread
design, the TPC number will be followed by an
“MS”
(for mud and snow).
If you ever replace your tires with those not having
a
TPC Spec number, make sure they are the same
size, load range, speed rating and construction type
(bias, bias-belted or radial) as your original tires.
5-66
Inspection (cont.) Exhaust System
........................ ....... 6-30
Fuel System
............................................... 6-30
Part C
- Periodic Maintenance ....................... 6-30
Steering, Suspension and Front Drive Axle
Boot and Seal
......................................... 6-30
Throttle System
........................................... 6-31
Installing a Garage Door Opener
....................... 2-40
Instrument Panel Cluster
....................................................... 3-24
Overview
.................................................. 3-2
Instrument Panel Brightness Control
.............. 3-1 5
Instrument Panel Fuse Block ............................ 5-93
Interior Lamps
................................................ 3-15
Interior Plastic Components
.............................. 5-85
Introduction Transfer Case (All-Wheel Drive) Inspection
........ 6-31
Jump Starting
....................................... ... 5-47
Key Lock Cylinders Service
.............................. 6-27
Keys
............................................................... 2-2
Keyless Entry System
....................................... 2-4
L
Lamps
Exterior
...................................................... 3-12
Interior
....................................................... 3-15
Lap Belt
........................................................ 1-27
Lap-Shoulder Belt
................................... 1-18, 1-29
LATCH System
Child Restraints
........................................... 1-52
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for
the LATCH System
........................... . 1-54
Latches, Seatback
............................................ 1-6
Leather
......................................................... 5-85
Leaving Your Vehicle
....................................... 2-10
Leaving Your Vehicle With the
Engine Running
.......................................... 2-28
Light
Air Bag Readiness
....................................... 3-26
Brake System Warning
................................. 3-28
Charging System
......................................... 3-27
Check Gages Warning
................................. 3-36
Low Fuel Warning
....................................... 3-37
Malfunction Indicator
.................................... 3-30
Safety Belt Reminder
................................... 3-26
Security
.............................................. 3-35
Service All-Wheel-Drive
......................... 3-35
Tow/Haul Mode
........................................... 3-36
Lamps On Reminder
....................................... 3-14
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
................... 3-29
7
Loading Your Vehicle ....................................... 4-29
Locks Door
........................................................... 2-7
Front Doors
.................................................. 2-8
Leaving Your Vehicle
.................................... 2-10
Power Door
.................................................. 2-8
Programmable Automatic Door Locks
............... 2-9
Long Trip/Highway Definition
.............................. 6-6
Long Trip/Highway Intervals
............................... 6-6
Long Trip/Highway Scheduled Maintenance
........ 6-1 8
Loss
of Control ............................................... 4-1 3
Low Fuel Warning Light
................................... 3-37
Lumbar
Luggage
Carrier
.............................................. 2-44
Manual Controls
............................................ 1-3
M
Maintenance. Normal Replacement Parts .......... 5-1 01
Maintenance Schedule At Each Fuel Fill
......................................... 6-26
At Least Once a Month
................................ 6-26
At Least Once a Year
.................................. 6-27
At Least Twice a Year
.................................. 6-26
Brake System Inspection
.............................. 6-31
Engine Cooling System Inspection
................. 6-30
Fuel System Inspection
................................ 6-30
How This Section is Organized
....................... 6-3
Exhaust System
Inspection
........................... 6-30 Maintenance Schedule (cont.)
Introduction
.................................................. 6-2
Long Trip/Highway Scheduled Maintenance
..... 6-18
Maintenance Requirements
............................. 6-2
Part A
. Scheduled Maintenance Services ......... 6-4
Part B
. Owner Checks and Services ............. 6-26
Part C
. Periodic Maintenance Inspections ...... 6-30
Part D
- Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants
............................................... 6-32
Part E
. Maintenance Record ........................ 6-34
Selecting the Right Schedule
.......................... 6-5
Short Trip/City Scheduled Maintenance
............. 6-7
Steering, Suspension and Front Drive Axle
Boot and Seal Inspection
.......................... 6-30
Using Your
................................................... 6-4
Your Vehicle and the Environment
................... 6-2
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
..................... 4-40
Throttle
System Inspection
............................ 6-31
Making Turns
................................................. 4-38
Malfunction Indicator Light
................................ 3-30
Manual Lumbar Controls
.................................... 1-3
Manual Seats
................................................... 1-2
Manual Windows
........................................ 2-16
Mirrors Manual Rearview Mirror
................................ 2-32
Outside Convex Mirror
................................. 2-33
Outside Manual Mirrors
................................ 2-32
Outside Power Mirrors
.................................. 2-32
Model Reference
............................................ vi
8
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