2004 CHEVROLET ASTRO CARGO VAN maintenance

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 ller 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 ller
plug hole.
When the differential is at operating temperature
(warm), add enough lubricant to raise the level to
the bottom of the ller plug hole.
What to Use
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of lubricant to use. SeePart D: Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-28.
5-52

Replacement Bulbs
Exterior Lamp Bulb Number
Back-Up Lamps 1156
Halogen Headlamps
Composite9005
(High Beam)
Halogen Headlamps
Composite9006
(Low Beam)
Halogen Headlamps
Sealed BeamH6054
Parking, Turn Signal Lamps 3157NA
Rear, Stoplamps 2057
Sidemarker Lamps 194
For any bulb not listed here, contact your dealer.
Windshield Wiper Blade
Replacement
Windshield wiper blades should be inspected at least
twice a year for wear and cracking. See “Wiper
Blade Check” inAt Least Twice a Year on page 6-22
for more information.
To replace your
windshield wiper
blade inserts, do
the following:
1. Lift the wiper arm away from the windshield.
2. Pinch the two tabs on the wiper arm and slide
the insert out of the blade.
3. Slide the new one in place.
Make sure the tabs are locked into position. SeeNormal
Maintenance Replacement Parts on page 5-109for
the proper type of replacement blade.
5-59

How to Check
Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire
pressure. You can’t tell if your tires are properly inated
simply by looking at them. Radial tires may look
properly inated even when they’re underinated.
Remove the valve cap from the tire valve stem. Press
the tire gage rmly onto the valve to get a pressure
measurement. If the cold tire ination pressure is low,
add air until you reach the recommended pressure
on the Certication/Tire label or the Tire and Loading
Information label.
If you overll the tire, release air by pushing on the
metal stem in the center of the tire valve. Recheck the
tire pressure with the tire gage.
Be sure to put the valve caps back on the valve stems.
They help prevent leaks by keeping out dirt and moisture.
Tire Inspection and Rotation
Tires should be rotated every 5,000 to 8,000 miles
(8 000 to 13 000 km).
Any time you notice unusual wear, rotate your tires as
soon as possible and check wheel alignment. Also
check for damaged tires or wheels. SeeWhen It Is Time
for New Tires on page 5-72andWheel Replacement
on page 5-75for more information.Make sure the spare tire is stored securely. Push,
pull, and then try to rotate or turn the tire. If it moves,
use the ratchet/wheel wrench to tighten the cable.
SeeChanging a Flat Tire on page 5-78.
The purpose of regular rotation is to achieve more
uniform wear for all tires on the vehicle. The rst rotation
is the most important. SeePart A: Scheduled
Maintenance Services on page 6-4.
When rotating your tires, always use the correct rotation
patterns shown here.
Don’t include the compact spare tire in your tire rotation.
5-71

If a Tire Goes Flat
It’s unusual for a tire to “blowout” while you’re driving,
especially if you maintain your tires properly. If air
goes out of a tire, it’s much more likely to leak out
slowly. But if you should ever have a “blowout,” here
are a few tips about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the at tire will create a drag that
pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot off
the accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel rmly.
Steer to maintain lane position, and then gently brake
to a stop well out of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like
a skid and may require the same correction you’d use
in a skid. In any rear blowout, remove your foot from
the accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control by
steering the way you want the vehicle to go. It may
be very bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer.
Gently brake to a stop, well off the road if possible.{CAUTION:
Lifting a vehicle and getting under it to do
maintenance or repairs is dangerous without
the appropriate safety equipment and training.
The jack provided with your vehicle is
designed only for changing a at tire. If it is
used for anything else, you or others could
be badly injured or killed if the vehicle slips
off the jack. Use the jack provided with your
vehicle only for changing a at tire.
If a tire goes at, the next part shows how to use your
jacking equipment to change a at tire safely.
5-77

Cleaning Tires
To clean your tires, use a stiff brush with tire cleaner.
Notice:Using petroleum-based tire dressing
products on your vehicle may damage the paint
nish and/or tires. When applying a tire dressing,
always wipe off any overspray from all painted
surfaces on your vehicle.
Sheet Metal Damage
If the vehicle is damaged and requires sheet metal
repair or replacement, make sure the body repair shop
applies anti-corrosion material to parts repaired or
replaced to restore corrosion protection.
Original manufacturer replacement parts will provide
the corrosion protection while maintaining the warranty.
Finish Damage
Any stone chips, fractures or deep scratches in the
nish should be repaired right away. Bare metal
will corrode quickly and may develop into major
repair expense.
Minor chips and scratches can be repaired with touch-up
materials available from your dealer. Larger areas of
nish damage can be corrected in your dealer’s
body and paint shop.
Underbody Maintenance
Chemicals used for ice and snow removal and dust
control can collect on the underbody. If these are
not removed, corrosion and rust can develop on the
underbody parts such as fuel lines, frame, oor pan,
and exhaust system even though they have
corrosion protection.
At least every spring, ush these materials from the
underbody with plain water. Clean any areas where
mud and debris can collect. Dirt packed in close areas
of the frame should be loosened before being ushed.
Your dealer or an underbody car washing system can
do this for you.
Chemical Paint Spotting
Some weather and atmospheric conditions can create
a chemical fallout. Airborne pollutants can fall upon and
attack painted surfaces on the vehicle. This damage can
take two forms: blotchy, ring-shaped discolorations, and
small, irregular dark spots etched into the paint surface.
Although no defect in the paint job causes this, GM
will repair, at no charge to the owner, the surfaces
of new vehicles damaged by this fallout condition within
12 months or 12,000 miles (20 000 km) of purchase,
whichever occurs rst.
5-97

Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
Replacement parts identied below by name, part number, or specication can be obtained from your dealer.
Part GM Part Number ACDelco®Part Number
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 25098463 A1163C
Engine Oil Filter 25010792 PF47
Fuel Filter 15050894 GF481
PCV Valve 6487532 CV 769-C
Spark Plugs 25162556 41–932
Wiper Blades (Trico Type)
Front – 18 inches (45.7 cm)
Rear – 14 inches (35.5 cm)22110431
22121329—
—
5-109

Maintenance Schedule......................................6-2
Introduction...................................................6-2
Maintenance Requirements..............................6-2
Your Vehicle and the Environment....................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..............6-6
Long Trip/Highway Scheduled Maintenance......6-16
Part B: Owner Checks and Services................6-22
At Each Fuel Fill..........................................6-22
At Least Once a Month.................................6-22
At Least Twice a Year...................................6-22At Least Once a Year...................................6-23
Part C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections.........6-26
Steering, Suspension and Front Drive
Axle Boot and Seal Inspection....................6-26
Exhaust System Inspection............................6-26
Fuel System Inspection..................................6-26
Engine Cooling System Inspection...................6-26
Throttle System Inspection.............................6-27
Transfer Case and Front Axle
(All-Wheel Drive) Inspection........................6-27
Brake System Inspection................................6-27
Part D: Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants..........................................6-28
Part E: Maintenance Record...........................6-30
Section 6 Maintenance Schedule
6-1

Maintenance Schedule
Introduction
Important: Keep engine oil at the proper level and
change as 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.
Maintenance Requirements
Maintenance intervals, checks, inspections and
recommended uids and lubricants as prescribed in
this manual are necessary to keep your vehicle in good
working condition. Any damage caused by failure to
follow scheduled maintenance may not be covered
by warranty.
Your Vehicle and the Environment
Proper vehicle maintenance not only helps to keep your
vehicle in good working condition, but also helps the
environment. Improper vehicle maintenance can
even affect the quality of the air we breathe. Improper
uid levels or the wrong tire ination can increase
the level of emissions from your vehicle. To help protect
our environment, and to keep your vehicle in good
condition, be sure to maintain your vehicle properly.
6-2