2004 CHEVROLET ASTRO CARGO VAN window

Seats and Restraint Systems........................... 1-1
Front Seats
............................................... 1-3
Rear Seats
............................................... 1-7
Safety Belts
.............................................1-13
Child Restraints
.......................................1-35
Air Bag System
.......................................1-62
Restraint System Check
............................1-68
Features and Controls..................................... 2-1
Keys
........................................................ 2-2
Doors and Locks
....................................... 2-7
Windows
.................................................2-15
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................2-17
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
...........2-18
Mirrors
....................................................2-31
HomeLink
®Transmitter
.............................2-32
Storage Areas
.........................................2-36
Instrument Panel............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 3-2
Climate Controls
......................................3-17
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators
........3-22
Audio System(s)
.......................................3-35
Driving Your Vehicle....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
..... 4-2
Towing
...................................................4-29Service and Appearance Care.......................... 5-1
Service
..................................................... 5-3
Fuel
......................................................... 5-4
Checking Things Under the Hood
................. 5-9
All-Wheel Drive
........................................5-50
Rear Axle
...............................................5-51
Front Axle
...............................................5-52
Bulb Replacement
....................................5-53
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.........5-59
Tires
......................................................5-60
Appearance Care
.....................................5-91
Vehicle Identication
.................................5-99
Electrical System
....................................5-100
Capacities and Specications
...................5-107
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
....5-109
Maintenance Schedule..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance and Information.............. 7-1
Customer Assistance and Information
........... 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects
...........................7-11
Index................................................................ 1
2004 Chevrolet Astro Owner ManualM

Child Restraints
Older Children
Older children who have outgrown booster seats should
wear the vehicle’s safety belts.
If you have the choice, a child should sit next to a
window so the child can wear a lap-shoulder belt and
get the additional restraint a shoulder belt can provide.
Q:What is the proper way to wear safety belts?
A:If possible, an older child should wear a
lap-shoulder belt and get the additional restraint
a shoulder belt can provide. The shoulder belt
should not cross the face or neck. The lap
belt should t snugly below the hips, just touching
the top of the thighs. It should never be worn
over the abdomen, which could cause severe or
even fatal internal injuries in a crash.
Accident statistics show that children are safer if they
are restrained in the rear seat.
In a crash, children who are not buckled up can strike
other people who are buckled up, or can be thrown
out of the vehicle. Older children need to use safety
belts properly.
1-35

A booster seat (F-G) is a child restraint designed to
improve the t of the vehicle’s safety belt system.
Some booster seats have a shoulder belt positioner,
and some high-back booster seats have a ve-point
harness. A booster seat can also help a child to see
out the window.
Q:How do child restraints work?
A:A child restraint system is any device designed for
use in a motor vehicle to restrain, seat, or position
children. A built-in child restraint system is a
permanent part of the motor vehicle. An add-on
child restraint system is a portable one, which
is purchased by the vehicle’s owner.
For many years, add-on child restraints have used
the adult belt system in the vehicle. To help
reduce the chance of injury, the child also has to be
secured within the restraint. The vehicle’s belt
system secures the add-on child restraint in the
vehicle, and the add-on child restraint’s harness
system holds the child in place within the restraint.
One system, the three-point harness, has straps
that come down over each of the infant’s shoulders
and buckle together at the crotch. The ve-point
harness system has two shoulder straps, two
hip straps and a crotch strap. A shield may take
the place of hip straps. A T-shaped shield has
shoulder straps that are attached to a at pad
which rests low against the child’s body. A shelf- or
armrest-type shield has straps that are attached
to a wide, shelf-like shield that swings up or
to the side.
1-45

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.
1-66

Keys...............................................................2-2
Remote Keyless Entry System.........................2-4
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation...........2-5
Doors and Locks.............................................2-7
Power Door Locks..........................................2-8
Programmable Automatic Door Locks................2-8
Leaving Your Vehicle......................................2-9
Sliding Side Door...........................................2-9
Rear Doors..................................................2-12
Windows........................................................2-15
Manual Windows..........................................2-15
Power Windows............................................2-16
Sun Visors...................................................2-16
Theft-Deterrent Systems..................................2-17
Passlock
®....................................................2-17
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle................2-18
New Vehicle Break-In....................................2-18
Ignition Positions..........................................2-18
Starting Your Engine.....................................2-20
Engine Coolant Heater..................................2-21Automatic Transmission Operation...................2-22
All-Wheel Drive............................................2-25
Parking Brake..............................................2-25
Shifting Into Park (P).....................................2-26
Shifting Out of Park (P).................................2-28
Parking Over Things That Burn.......................2-29
Engine Exhaust............................................2-29
Running Your Engine While
You Are Parked........................................2-30
Mirrors...........................................................2-31
Manual Rearview Mirror.................................2-31
Outside Manual Mirror...................................2-31
Outside Power Mirrors...................................2-31
Outside Convex Mirror...................................2-32
HomeLink®Transmitter...................................2-32
Programming the HomeLink®Transmitter.........2-33
Storage Areas................................................2-36
Overhead Console........................................2-38
Luggage Carrier...........................................2-43
Convenience Net..........................................2-43
Section 2 Features and Controls
2-1

Keys
{CAUTION:
Leaving children in a vehicle with the ignition
key is dangerous for many reasons. They
could operate the power windows or other
controls or even make the vehicle move.
The children or others could be badly injured
or even killed. Do not leave the keys in a
vehicle with children.
2-2

To fully open the rear
doors, push in on the
clip and lift the check
assembly up off the
mounting bracket.
Do this on each door. Replace the check assemblies
on the mounting brackets before closing the doors.
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to drive with the rear
glass open because carbon monoxide (CO)
gas can come into your vehicle. You can not
see or smell CO. It can cause
unconsciousness and even death. If you must
drive with the rear glass open or if electrical
wiring or other cable connections must pass
through the seal between the body and the
rear glass:
Make sure all other windows are shut.
Turn the fan on your heating or cooling
system to its highest speed and select the
control setting that will force outside air
into your vehicle. SeeClimate Control
System on page 3-17.
If you have air outlets on or under the
instrument panel, open them all the way.
SeeEngine Exhaust on page 2-29.
2-13

Windows
{CAUTION:
Leaving children, helpless adults, or pets in a
vehicle with the windows closed is dangerous.
They can be overcome by the extreme heat
and suffer permanent injuries or even death
from heat stroke. Never leave a child, a
helpless adult, or a pet alone in a vehicle,
especially with the windows closed in warm
or hot weather.
Manual Windows
To operate your manual windows, turn the hand crank
on each door to raise or lower your side door windows.
2-15