2004 CHEVROLET ASTRO CARGO VAN tow

How Does an Air Bag Restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions,
even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel
or the instrument panel. Air bags supplement the
protection provided by safety belts. Air bags distribute
the force of the impact more evenly over the occupant’s
upper body, stopping the occupant more gradually.
But air bags would not help you in many types of
collisions, including rollovers, rear impacts and many
side impacts, primarily because an occupant’s motion is
not toward those air bags. Air bags should never be
regarded as anything more than a supplement to safety
belts, and then only in moderate to severe frontal or
near-frontal collisions.
What Will You See After an Air Bag
Inates?
After an air bag inates, it quickly deates, so quickly that
some people may not even realize the air bag inated.
Some components of the air bag module — the steering
wheel hub for the driver’s air bag, or the instrument
panel for the right front passenger’s bag — will be hot
for a short time. The parts of the bag that come into
contact with you may be warm, but not too hot to touch.There will be some smoke and dust coming from the
vents in the deated air bags. Air bag ination doesn’t
prevent the driver from seeing or being able to steer the
vehicle, nor does it stop people from leaving the vehicle.
{CAUTION:
When an air bag inates, there is dust in the
air. This dust could cause breathing problems
for people with a history of asthma or other
breathing trouble. To avoid this, everyone in
the vehicle should get out as soon as it is safe
to do so. If you have breathing problems but
can not get out of the vehicle after an air bag
inates, then get fresh air by opening a
window or a door. If you experience breathing
problems following an air bag deployment,
you should seek medical attention.
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Power Door Locks
If your vehicle has power
door locks, press the
power door lock switch
located on the door panel
to lock or unlock all the
doors at once.
The power door lock switch will lock or unlock the rear
hatch and Dutch doors. See “Hatch Release” in
Rear Doors on page 2-12.
When a door is locked, the inside door handle will not
open the door. This will help stop a door from being
accidentally opened.
If the sliding door is open and you press the power door
lock switch, the sliding door will not lock immediately.
After you close the door, the system comes on and locks
the sliding door in about ve seconds.
When the key is in the ignition and the power door lock
switch is pressed with a door open, all doors are
locked while the driver’s side door remains unlocked.
Programmable Automatic
Door Locks
Your vehicle is equipped with an auto lock/unlock feature
which enables you to program your power door locks.
Your vehicle left the factory programmed to have all the
doors lock automatically when the shift lever is moved out
of PARK (P). All of the doors will unlock when the shift
lever is moved back into PARK (P). The following
instructions detail how to program your door locks.
To enter the program mode you need to do the following:
1. Begin with the ignition in OFF. Then, pull back on the
turn signal/multifunction lever all the way toward you
and hold it while you perform the next step.
2. Turn your key to RUN and OFF twice. Then, with
the key in OFF, release the turn signal/multifunction
lever. Once you do this, you will hear the lock
switch lock and unlock.
You are now ready to program the automatic door locks.
Select one of the following four programming options and
follow the instructions. You will have thirty seconds to
begin programming. If you exceed the thirty second limit,
the locks will automatically lock and unlock to indicate
that you have left the program mode. If this occurs, repeat
the procedure beginning with Step 1. You can exit the
program mode any time by turning the ignition to RUN.
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The locks will automatically lock and unlock to indicate
that you are leaving the program mode. If the lock/unlock
switches are not pressed while in the programming mode,
the auto lock/unlock setting will not be modied.
The following is a list of the available
programming options:
All doors lock/Only the driver’s door unlocks:
Press the lock side of the power lock switch on
the door panel once and then the unlock side once.
All doors lock/All doors unlock:Press the
lock side of the power lock switch on the door
panel once, and then the unlock side twice.
All doors lock/None of the doors unlock:Press
the lock side of the power lock switch on the door
panel once, and then the unlock side three times.
No doors lock/None of the doors unlock:Press
the lock side of the power lock switch on the
door panel twice. This turns off the automatic
lock feature.
For more information, see your dealer.
Leaving Your Vehicle
If you are leaving your vehicle, take your key, open
your door and set the locks from inside. Then get out
and close the door.
Sliding Side Door
To open the sliding side door, pull the handle toward
the back and slide the door to the rear until it rests in
the open position.
To close the sliding side door, pull the handle toward
the front and slide the door forward.
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Sliding Door Security Lock
Your vehicle may have
this feature. A sliding
door security lock helps
to prevent young children
or other passengers
from opening the sliding
door using the inside
door handle.
The security door lock is located near the front of the
sliding door.There are two labels on your vehicle to remind you
that you have this feature. One can be seen from the
outside on your sliding door. It is located near the bottom
of the door glass, toward the front of the door. The
other label is located on the front of the sliding door,
near the security door lock.
This feature prevents passengers from opening the
sliding side door from the inside.
To use this feature, do the following:
1. Move the lever all the way up.
2. Close the door.
To open the sliding side door while the security lock is
engaged, unlock the door and open it from the outside.
If you don’t cancel the security lock feature, adults or
older children who ride in the rear won’t be able to open
the sliding door from the inside. You should let adults
and older children know how the security door lock
works, and how to cancel the lock.
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Starting and Operating
Your Vehicle
New Vehicle Break-In
Notice:Your vehicle does not need an elaborate
“break-in.” But it will perform better in the long
run if you follow these guidelines:
Keep your speed at 55 mph (88 km/h) or
less for the rst 500 miles (805 km).
Do not drive at any one speed — fast or
slow — for the rst 500 miles (805 km).
Do not make full-throttle starts.
Avoid making hard stops for the rst 200 miles
(322 km) or so. During this time your new brake
linings are not yet broken in. Hard stops with
new linings can mean premature wear and earlier
replacement. Follow this breaking-in guideline
every time you get new brake linings.
Do not tow a trailer during break-in. SeeTowing
a Trailer on page 4-35for more information.
Ignition Positions
With the key in the ignition, you can turn it to
ve different positions.
A (ACCESSORY):This position lets you use things
like the radio, power windows and windshield wipers
when the engine is off. To get into ACCESSORY,
push in the key and turn it toward you.
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Notice:Lengthy operation of features such
as the radio in the accessory ignition position
may drain the battery and prevent your vehicle
from starting. Do not operate your vehicle in
the accessory ignition position for a long period
of time.
B (LOCK):This position locks your ignition and
transmission. It’s a theft-deterrent feature. You will
only be able to remove your key when the ignition is
turned to LOCK.
Notice:Using a tool to force the key from the
ignition switch could cause damage or break the
key. Use the correct key and turn the key only
with your hand. Make sure the key is all the way in.
If it is, turn the steering wheel left and right while
you turn the key hard. If none of this works,
then your vehicle needs service.C (OFF):This position lets you turn off the engine.
Use OFF if you must have your vehicle in motion
while the engine is off (for example, if your vehicle is
being towed).
D (RUN):This is the position for driving.
E (START):This position starts your engine.
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
Your vehicle is equipped with a Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) feature which will allow certain features
on your vehicle to continue to work up to 20 minutes
after the ignition key is turned to OFF.
Your radio, power windows and overhead console will
work when the ignition key is in RUN or ACCESSORY.
Once the key is turned from RUN to OFF, these
features will continue to work for up to 20 minutes or
until a door is opened.
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How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged
in? The answer depends on the outside temperature, the
kind of oil you have, and some other things. Instead
of trying to list everything here, we ask that you contact
your dealer in the area where you’ll be parking your
vehicle. The dealer can give you the best advice for that
particular area.
Automatic Transmission Operation
There are several different positions for your shift lever.
PARK (P):This position locks your rear wheels.
It’s the best position to use when you start your engine
because your vehicle can’t move easily.
{CAUTION:
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake rmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Do not leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you have left
the engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured.
To be sure your vehicle will not move, even
when you are on fairly level ground, always
set your parking brake and move the shift
lever to PARK (P). SeeShifting Into Park (P)
on page 2-26. If you are pulling a trailer,
seeTowing a Trailer on page 4-35.
Ensure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before starting
the engine. Your vehicle has an automatic transmission
shift lock control system. You have to fully apply your
regular brakes before you can shift from PARK (P) when
the ignition key is in RUN. If you cannot shift out of
PARK (P), ease pressure on the shift lever – push the
shift lever all the way into PARK (P) as you maintain
brake application. Then move the shift lever into the gear
you wish. SeeShifting Out of Park (P) on page 2-28.
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REVERSE (R):Use this gear to back up.
Notice:Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle
is moving forward could damage the transmission.
The repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle
is stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,
ice or sand without damaging your transmission,
seeIf You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow
on page 4-28.
NEUTRAL (N):In this position, your engine doesn’t
connect with the wheels. To restart when you’re
already moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only. Also, use
NEUTRAL (N) when your vehicle is being towed.
{CAUTION:
Shifting into a drive gear while your engine is
running at high speed is dangerous. Unless
your foot is rmly on the brake pedal, your
vehicle could move very rapidly. You could
lose control and hit people or objects. Do not
shift into a drive gear while your engine is
running at high speed.Notice:Shifting out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N)
with the engine running at high speed may damage
the transmission. The repairs would not be covered
by your warranty. Be sure the engine is not running
at high speed when shifting your vehicle.
DRIVE (D):This position is for normal driving. If you
need more power for passing, and you’re:
Going less than about 35 mph (55 km/h), push your
accelerator pedal about halfway down.
Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push the
accelerator pedal all the way down. You’ll shift
down to the next gear and have more power.
DRIVE (D) should be used for normal towing.
THIRD (3):This position is also used for normal driving,
however it offers more power and lower fuel economy
than DRIVE (D). You should use THIRD (3) when
carrying a heavy load or driving on steep hills.
SECOND (2):This position gives you more power but
lower fuel economy. You can use SECOND (2) on
hills. It can help control your speed as you go down
steep mountain roads, but then you would also want
to use your brakes off and on.
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