2004 CHEVROLET ASTRO CARGO VAN child restraint

There are no top strap anchors at the second and
third row center seating positions. Do not secure a
child seat in these positions if a national or local law
requires that the top strap be anchored, or if the
instructions that came with the child restraint say that
the top strap must be anchored.
If your child restraint does not have the LATCH system,
you’ll be using the lap belt to secure the child restraint
in this position. Be sure to follow the instructions
that came with the child restraint. Secure the child in
the child restraint when and as the instructions say.
1. Make the belt as long as possible by tilting the latch
plate and pulling it along the belt.
2. Put the restraint on the seat.
3. Run the vehicle’s safety belt through or around the
restraint. The child restraint instructions will show
you how.
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4. Buckle the belt. Make sure the release button is
positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the
safety belt quickly if you ever had to.
5. To tighten the belt, pull its free end while you push
down on the child restraint. If you’re using a
forward-facing child restraint, you may nd it helpful
to use your knee to push down on the child
restraint as you tighten the belt.
6. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure it is secure.To remove the child restraint, just unbuckle the vehicle’s
safety belt. It will be ready to work for an adult or
larger child passenger.
Securing a Child Restraint in the
Right Front Seat Position
If your child restraint is equipped with the LATCH
system, seeLower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System) on page 1-51.
There is no top strap anchor in the right front
passenger’s position. Do not secure a child seat in this
position if a national or local law requires that the
top strap be anchored, or if the instructions that come
with the child restraint say that the top strap must
be anchored. SeeTop Strap on page 1-47if the child
restraint has one.
Your vehicle has a front passenger air bag.Neverput a
rear facing child restraint in this seat. Here is why:
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{CAUTION:
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can
be seriously injured or killed if the front
passenger’s air bag inates. This is because
the back of the rear-facing child restraint
would be very close to the inating air bag.
If your vehicle is a passenger van, always
secure a rear-facing child restraint in a rear
seat. If your vehicle is a cargo van, do not
use a rear-facing child restraint in this vehicle.
If you secure a forward-facing child restraint
in the right front seat, always move the
passenger seat as far back as it will go.
A rear seat is a safer place to secure a forward-facing
child restraint.If you need to secure a forward-facing child restraint in
the right front seat, you will be using the lap-shoulder
belt to secure the child restraint in this position. Be sure
to follow the instructions that came with the child
restraint. Secure the child in the child restraint when
and as the instructions say.
1. Because your vehicle has a right front passenger
air bag, always move the seat as far back as it will
go before securing a forward-facing child restraint.
SeeManual Seats on page 1-3.
2. Put the child restraint on the seat.
3. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulder
portions of the vehicle’s safety belt through or
around the restraint. The child restraint instructions
will show you how.
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6. To tighten the belt, push down on the child restraint,
pull the shoulder portion of the belt to tighten the
lap portion of the belt and feed the shoulder
belt back into the retractor. You may nd it helpful
to use your knee to push down on the child
restraint as you tighten the belt.
7. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure it is secure.
To remove the child restraint, just unbuckle the vehicle’s
safety belt and let it go back all the way. The safety belt
will move freely again and be ready to work for an adult or
larger child passenger.
1-61

{CAUTION:
Anyone who is up against, or very close to,
any air bag when it inates can be seriously
injured or killed. Air bags plus lap-shoulder
belts offer the best protection for adults, but
not for young children and infants. Neither the
vehicle’s safety belt system nor its air bag
system is designed for them. Young children
and infants need the protection that a child
restraint system can provide. Always secure
children properly in your vehicle. To read how,
seeOlder Children on page 1-35andInfants
and Young Children on page 1-38.There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows AIR BAG or the air bag symbol.
The system checks the air bag electrical system
for malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an
electrical problem. SeeAir Bag Readiness Light on
page 3-25for more information. United States
Canada
1-63

Notice:Overloading your vehicle may cause
damage. Repairs would not be covered by your
warranty. Do not overload your vehicle.
If you put things inside of your vehicle — like suitcases,
tools, packages, or anything else — they will go as
fast as the vehicle goes. If you have to stop or
turn quickly, or if there is a crash, they’ll keep going.
{CAUTION:
Things you put inside your vehicle can strike
and injure people in a sudden stop or turn,
or in a crash.
Put things in the cargo area of your
vehicle. Try to spread the weight evenly.
Never stack heavier things, like suitcases,
inside the vehicle so that some of them
are above the tops of the seats.
Do not leave an unsecured child restraint
in your vehicle.
When you carry something inside the
vehicle, secure it whenever you can.
Do not leave a seat folded down unless
you need to.
Payload
The Payload Capacity is shown on the Certication/Tire
label. This is the maximum load capacity that your
vehicle can carry. Be sure to include the weight of the
people inside as part of your load. If you added any
accessories or equipment after your vehicle left
the factory, remember to subtract the weight of these
things from the payload. Your dealer can help you
with this.
Trailering Package
There is a load rating which includes the weight of the
vehicle and the trailer it tows. This rating is called
the Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR).
When you weigh your trailer, be sure to include the
weight of everything you put in it. And, remember
to gure the weight of the people inside the vehicle as
part of your load.
Add-On Equipment
When you carry removable items, you may need to
put a limit on how many people you carry inside your
vehicle. Be sure to weigh your vehicle before you
buy and install the new equipment.
4-34

Chains, Tire...................................................5-76
Charging System Light....................................3-26
Check
Engine Light...............................................3-29
Gages Warning Light...................................3-34
Checking Brake Fluid......................................5-41
Checking Coolant............................................5-27
Checking Engine Oil........................................5-13
Checking Things Under the Hood....................... 5-9
Chemical Paint Spotting...................................5-97
Child Restraints
Child Restraint Systems...............................1-43
Infants and Young Children...........................1-38
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System)..........................1-51
Older Children.............................................1-35
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for
the LATCH System...................................1-54
Securing a Child Restraint in a Center
Seat Position...........................................1-56
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear
Outside Seat Position...............................1-54
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right
Front Seat Position...................................1-58
Top Strap...................................................1-47
Top Strap Anchor Location............................1-49
Where to Put the Restraint...........................1-46
Cigarette Lighter.............................................3-16Cleaning
Inside of Your Vehicle..................................5-92
Outside of Your Vehicle................................5-95
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-97
Weatherstrips..............................................5-94
Cleaning Aluminum Wheels..............................5-96
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses.......................5-95
Cleaning Fabric/Carpet....................................5-92
Cleaning Glass Surfaces..................................5-94
Cleaning Interior Plastic Components.................5-94
Cleaning Leather............................................5-93
Cleaning the Top of the Instrument Panel...........5-93
Cleaning the Windshield and
Wiper Blades..............................................5-96
Cleaning Tires................................................5-97
Cleaning Vinyl................................................5-93
Climate Control System...................................3-17
Outlet Adjustment........................................3-19
Rear Air Conditioning System........................3-20
Rear Heating System...................................3-20
Compact Spare Tire........................................5-90
Composite Headlamps.....................................5-54
Control of a Vehicle.......................................... 4-5
Convenience Net............................................2-43
Coolant
Engine Temperature Gage............................3-28
Heater, Engine............................................2-21
Cooling System..............................................5-31
3

Hood
Checking Things Under.................................. 5-9
Release.....................................................5-10
Horn............................................................... 3-5
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery Tank............................................5-33
How to Add Coolant to the Radiator..................5-35
How to Add Fluid............................................5-25
How to Check Lubricant...................................5-51
How to Check Power Steering Fluid..................5-38
How to Inspect the Engine Air Cleaner/Filter.......5-22
How to Use This Manual...................................... ii
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly...................1-18
Hydroplaning..................................................4-16
I
If No Steam Is Coming From Your Engine..........5-30
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine...............5-29
If the Light Is Flashing.....................................3-30
If the Light Is On Steady.................................3-30
If You Are Caught in a Blizzard.........................4-26
If You Are Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow.......4-28
If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer.....................4-35
Ignition Positions.............................................2-18Ignition Transmission Lock Check......................6-25
Infants and Young Children, Restraints...............1-38
Ination - Tire Pressure...................................5-70
Inspection
Brake System.............................................6-27
Engine Cooling System................................6-26
Exhaust System..........................................6-26
Fuel System...............................................6-26
Part C - Periodic Maintenance.......................6-26
Steering, Suspension and Front Drive
Axle Boot and Seal..................................6-26
Throttle System...........................................6-27
Transfer Case and Front Axle
(All-Wheel Drive)......................................6-27
Installing a Garage Door Opener.......................2-39
Instrument Panel
Cluster.......................................................3-23
Overview..................................................... 3-2
Instrument Panel Brightness Control..................3-14
Instrument Panel Fuse Block..........................5-101
Interior Lamps................................................3-14
J
Jump Starting.................................................5-44
7