2004 CHEVROLET ASTRO Owners Manual

Foreign materials such as calcium chloride and other
salts, ice melting agents, road oil and tar, tree sap, bird
droppings, chemicals from industrial chimneys, etc.,
can damage your vehicle's ®nish if they remain
on painted surfaces. Wash the vehicle as soon as
possible. If necessary, use non-abrasive cleaners that
are marked safe for painted surfaces to remove
foreign matter.
Exterior painted surfaces are subject to aging, weather
and chemical fallout that can take their toll over a
period of years. You can help to keep the paint ®nish
looking new by keeping your vehicle garaged or covered
whenever possible.
Protecting Exterior Bright Metal Parts
Bright metal parts should be cleaned regularly to keep
their luster. Washing with water is all that is usually
needed. However, you may use chrome polish on
chrome or stainless steel trim, if necessary.
Use special care with aluminum trim. To avoid damaging
protective trim, never use auto or chrome polish,
steam or caustic soap to clean aluminum. A coating of
wax, rubbed to high polish, is recommended for all
bright metal parts.
Cleaning the Windshield and
Wiper Blades
If the windshield is not clear after using the windshield
washer, or if the wiper blade chatters when running,
wax, sap or other material may be on the blade or
windshield.
Clean the outside of the windshield with a full-strength
glass cleaning liquid. The windshield is clean if beads do
not form when you rinse it with water.
Grime from the windshield will stick to the wiper blades
and affect their performance. Clean the blade by
wiping vigorously with a cloth soaked in full-strength
windshield washer solvent. Then rinse the blade
with water.
Check the wiper blades and clean them as necessary;
replace blades that look worn.
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Cleaning Aluminum Wheels
Keep your wheels clean using a soft clean cloth with
mild soap and water. Rinse with clean water. After
rinsing thoroughly, dry with a soft clean towel. A wax
may then be applied.
The surface of these wheels is similar to the painted
surface of your vehicle. Do not use strong soaps,
chemicals, abrasive polishes, abrasive cleaners,
cleaners with acid, or abrasive cleaning brushes on
them because you could damage the surface. Do not
use chrome polish on aluminum wheels.
Do not take your vehicle through an automatic car wash
that has silicone carbide tire cleaning brushes. These
brushes can also damage the surface of these wheels.
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 your 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.
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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 avaliable 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 your 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.
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Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials
See your GM dealer for more information on purchasing
the following products.
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials
Description Usage
Polishing Cloth
Wax-TreatedInterior and exterior polishing
cloth.
Tar and Road Oil
RemoverRemoves tar, road oil and
asphalt.
Chrome Cleaner and
PolishUse on chrome or stainless
steel.
White Sidewall Tire
CleanerRemoves soil and black
marks from whitewalls.
Vinyl CleanerCleans vinyl tops, upholstery
and convertible tops.
Glass CleanerRemoves dirt, grime, smoke
and ®ngerprints.
Chrome and Wire
Wheel CleanerRemoves dirt and grime from
chrome wheels and wire
wheel covers.
Finish EnhancerRemoves dust, ®ngerprints,
and surface contaminants.
Spray on wipe off.
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials
(cont'd)
Description Usage
Swirl Remover PolishRemoves swirl marks, ®ne
scratches and other light
surface contamination.
Cleaner WaxRemoves light scratches and
protects ®nish.
Foaming Tire Shine
Low GlossCleans, shines and protects
in one easy step, no wiping
necessary.
Wash Wax
ConcentrateMedium foaming shampoo.
Cleans and lightly waxes.
Biodegradable and
phosphate free.
Spot LifterQuickly and easily removes
spots and stains from
carpets, vinyl and cloth
upholstery.
Odor EliminatorOdorless spray odor
eliminator used on fabrics,
vinyl, leather and carpet.
See your General Motors parts department for these
products. See
Part D: Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 6-30.
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Vehicle Identi®cation
Vehicle Identi®cation Number (VIN)
This is the legal identi®er for your vehicle. It appears on
a plate in the front corner of the instrument panel, on
the driver's side. You can see it if you look through the
windshield from outside your vehicle. The VIN also
appears on the Vehicle Certi®cation and Service Parts
labels and the certi®cates of title and registration.
Engine Identi®cation
The 8th character in your VIN is the engine code. This
code will help you identify your engine, speci®cations
and replacement parts.
Service Parts Identi®cation Label
You'll ®nd this label on the front passenger door frame.
It's very helpful if you ever need to order parts. On
this label is:
·your VIN,
·the model designation,
·paint information and
·a list of all production options and special
equipment.
Be sure that this label is not removed from the vehicle.
Electrical System
Add-On Electrical Equipment
Notice:Don't add anything electrical to your
vehicle unless you check with your dealer ®rst.
Some electrical equipment can damage your vehicle
and the damage wouldn't be covered by your
warranty. Some add-on electrical equipment can
keep other components from working as they
should.
Your vehicle has an air bag system. Before attempting
to add anything electrical to your vehicle, see
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle on page 1-69.
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Headlamp Wiring
The headlamp wiring is protected by a circuit breaker in
the lamp switch. An electrical overload will cause the
lamps to ¯icker on and off, or in some cases to remain
off. If this happens, have your headlamp wiring
checked right away.
Windshield Wiper Fuses
The windshield wiper motor is protected by a circuit
breaker and a fuse. If the motor overheats due to heavy
snow, etc., the wiper will stop until the motor cools.
Although the circuit is protected from electrical overload,
overload due to heavy snow, etc., may cause wiper
linkage damage. Always clear ice and heavy snow from
the windshield before using the windshield wipers. If
the overload is caused by some electrical problem and
not snow, etc., be sure to get it ®xed.
Power Windows and Other Power
Options
Circuit breakers in the fuse panel protect the power
windows and other power accessories. When the current
load is too heavy, the circuit breaker opens and
closes, protecting the circuit until the problem is ®xed or
goes away.
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
The wiring circuits in your vehicle are protected from
short circuits by a combination of fuses, circuit breakers
and fusible thermal links. This greatly reduces the
chance of ®res caused by electrical problems.
Look at the silver-colored band inside the fuse. If the
band is broken or melted, replace the fuse. Be sure you
replace a bad fuse with a new one of the identical
size and rating.
Spare fuses and a fuse puller are located in the
underhood fuse block. You can remove fuses with the
fuse puller. Remember to replace any of the spare fuses
you use, so you will have some if you ever need them
again.
If you ever have a problem on the road and don't have
a spare fuse, you can borrow one that has the same
amperage. Just pick some feature of your vehicle
that you can get along without ± like the radio or
cigarette lighter ± and use its fuse, if it is the correct
amperage. Replace it as soon as you can.
There are two fuse blocks in your vehicle: one is inside
the vehicle and one is in the engine compartment.
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Instrument Panel Fuse Block
The fuse block is located on the lower portion of the
instrument panel on the driver's side.
Fuse/Circuit
Breaker Usage
1 Stop/Turn/Hazard Lamps, Center
High Mounted Stop Lamp, Anti-Lock
Brakes
2 Radio Accessory, Rear Seat Audio
Controls
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Fuse/Circuit
Breaker Usage
3 Courtesy Lamps, Glove Box Lamp,
Dome Reading Lamps, Vanity Mirror
Lamps, Courtesy Lamps
4 Daytime Running Lamps Relay,
Instrument Panel Cluster
5 Rear Defogger
6 Cruise Module, Truck Body Control
Module, Instrument Panel Cluster,
Cruise Control Switch,
Electrochromic Mirror
7 Power Outlets, Subwoofer Ampli®er
8 Crank Circuit Fuse, Park/Neutral
Switch, Starter Enabler Relay
9 License Plate Lamp, Tailamps,
Parking Lamps, Ashtray Lamp,
Panel Lights, Trailer Taillamps, Front
and Rear Sidemarker Lamps, Door
Switch Illumination, Headlamp
Switch Illumination, Rear Seat Audio
Illumination, Truck Body Control
Module
10 Air Bag System
11 Not UsedFuse/Circuit
Breaker Usage
12 Blower Motor, Rear Air Conditioning
Relay Coil, Front Cont. Temp. Door
Motor, HI Blower Relay, Defogger
Timer Coil
13 Cigarette Lighter, Door Lock
Switches, Dutch Door Release
Module
14 Cluster Illumination, Climate
Controls, Chime Module, Radio
Illumination, Rear Heat Switch
Illumination, Rear Wiper/Washer
Switch Illumination, Rear Liftgate
Switch Illumination, Remote
Cassette Illumination, Overhead
Console, Truck Body Control
Illumination
15 Truck Body Module, Headlamp
Relay
16 Front Turn Signals, Rear Turn
Signals, Trailer Turn Signals,
Back-Up Lamps, Brake
Transmission Shift Interlock Solenoid
17 Front Wipers, Front Washer Pump
5-98