2005 CHEVROLET ASTRO CARGO VAN brake

Running the Engine While Parked
It is better not to park with the engine running. But if you
ever have to, here are some things to know.
{CAUTION:
Idling the engine with the climate control
system off could allow dangerous exhaust into
your vehicle. See the earlier caution under
Engine Exhaust on page 2-26.
Also, idling in a closed-in place can let deadly
carbon monoxide (CO) into your vehicle even if
the climate control fan is at the highest setting.
One place this can happen is a garage.
Exhaust — with CO — can come in easily.
NEVER park in a garage with the engine
running.
Another closed-in place can be a blizzard. See
Winter Driving on page 4-23.
{CAUTION:
It can be 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).
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle will not
move. SeeShifting Into Park (P) on page 2-24.
If you are pulling a trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on
page 4-34.
2-27

Instrument Panel Overview...............................3-4
Hazard Warning Flashers................................3-6
Other Warning Devices...................................3-6
Horn.............................................................3-6
Tilt Wheel.....................................................3-6
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.........................3-7
Turn and Lane-Change Signals........................3-8
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer..................3-9
Flash-to-Pass.................................................3-9
Windshield Wipers..........................................3-9
Windshield Washer.......................................3-10
Cruise Control..............................................3-11
Exterior Lamps.............................................3-14
Headlamps on Reminder................................3-15
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL).......................3-15
Automatic Headlamp System..........................3-16
Instrument Panel Brightness...........................3-17
Dome Lamps...............................................3-17
Entry Lighting...............................................3-17
Exit Lighting.................................................3-17
Battery Run-Down Protection..........................3-18
Accessory Power Outlets...............................3-18
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter........................3-18Climate Controls............................................3-19
Climate Control System.................................3-19
Outlet Adjustment.........................................3-21
Rear Heating System....................................3-22
Rear Air Conditioning System.........................3-22
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators............3-24
Instrument Panel Cluster................................3-25
Speedometer and Odometer...........................3-26
Trip Odometer..............................................3-26
Safety Belt Reminder Light.............................3-26
Airbag Readiness Light..................................3-27
Charging System Light..................................3-28
Voltmeter Gage............................................3-28
Brake System Warning Light..........................3-29
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light.............3-30
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage..................3-30
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.............................3-31
Oil Pressure Gage........................................3-34
Security Light...............................................3-35
Highbeam On Light.......................................3-35
Service All-Wheel Drive Light.........................3-35
Tow/Haul Mode Light....................................3-36
Check Gages Warning Light...........................3-36
Fuel Gage...................................................3-37
Low Fuel Warning Light.................................3-37
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-1

To turn the wiper on, slide the switch all the way
up to ON.
For delay wiping, slide the switch up to the center
position next to the word DELAY on the rear wiper
control. The wiper will cycle every nine seconds.
To wash the window, push in on the switch. Window
washer uid will continue to spray until the switch
is released. The wiper will continue with three more
wipes and then return to the setting that was chosen
before the lever was pushed.
Move the switch to OFF to turn off the rear window
washer.
The rear window washer uses the same uid bottle as
the front windshield washer. If the uid level is low in the
washer bottle, you may not be able to wash your rear
window. If you can wash your windshield, but not
your rear window, check the uid level.Cruise Control
Your vehicle may have this feature. With cruise control,
you can maintain a speed of about 25 mph (40 km/h)
or more without keeping your foot on the accelerator.
This can really help on long trips. Cruise control
does not work at speeds below about 25 mph (40 km/h).
When you apply your brakes, the cruise control shuts off.
{CAUTION:
Cruise control can be dangerous where you
cannot drive safely at a steady speed. So, do
not use your cruise control on winding roads
or in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous on slippery
roads. On such roads, fast changes in tire
traction can cause needless wheel spinning,
and you could lose control. Do not use cruise
control on slippery roads.
3-11

Setting Cruise Control
{CAUTION:
If you leave your cruise control on when you
are not using cruise, you might hit a button
and go into cruise when you do not want to.
You could be startled and even lose control.
Keep the cruise control switch off until you
want to use cruise control.
1. Move the cruise control switch to ON.
2. Get up to the speed you want.3. Press in the SET
button at the end of the
lever and release it.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
Resuming a Set Speed
Suppose you set your cruise control at a desired speed
and then you apply the brake. This, of course, shuts
off the cruise control. But you don’t need to reset it.
3-12

Once you’re going about
25 mph (40 km/h) or more,
you can move the
cruise control switch
from ON to R/A
(Resume/Acclerate) briey.
You’ll go right back up to your chosen speed and
stay there.
If you hold the switch at R/A, the vehicle will keep going
faster until you release the switch or apply the brake. So
unless you want to go faster, don’t hold the switch at R/A.Increasing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed:
Use the accelerator pedal to get to the higher
speed. Press the button at the end of the lever, then
release the button and the accelerator pedal.
You’ll now cruise at the higher speed.
Move the cruise switch from ON to R/A. Hold it
there until you get up to the speed you want,
and then release the switch. To increase your speed
in very small amounts, move the switch to R/A
briey. Each time you do this, your vehicle will go
about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster.
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
There are two ways to reduce your speed while using
cruise control:
Press the button at the end of the lever until you
reach the lower speed you want, then release it.
To slow down in very small amounts, press the
button briey. Each time you do this, you’ll go
about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower.
3-13

Passing Another Vehicle While Using
Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed.
When you take your foot off the pedal, your vehicle will
slow down to the cruise control speed you set earlier.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load and the steepness of the
hills. When going up steep hills, you may want to step
on the accelerator pedal to maintain your speed.
When going downhill, you may have to brake or shift to
a lower gear to keep your speed down. Of course,
applying the brake takes you out of cruise control. Many
drivers nd this to be too much trouble and don’t use
cruise control on steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
There are two ways to turn off the cruise control:
Step lightly on the brake pedal.
Move the cruise switch to OFF.
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition, your
cruise control set speed memory is erased.
Exterior Lamps
The exterior lamp control is located on the driver’s side
of the instrument panel.
The exterior lamp control has three positions:
9(Off):Turning the control to this position turns off
all lamps except the Daytime Running Lamps (DRL).
3-14

;(Parking Lamps):Turning the control to this
position turns on the parking lamps, together with the
following:
Sidemarker Lamps
Taillamps
License Plate Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
Ashtray Lamp
O(Headlamps):Turning the control to this position
turns on the headlamps, together with the previously
listed lamps and lights.
Headlamps on Reminder
A reminder tone will sound when your headlamps or
parking lamps are manually turned on and your ignition
is in OFF, LOCK or ACCESSORY. To disable the
tone, turn the instrument panel brightness thumbwheel
all the way down. In the automatic mode, the
headlamps turn off once the ignition key is in OFF.
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the
day. DRL can be helpful in many different driving
conditions, but they can be especially helpful in the short
periods after dawn and before sunset. Fully functional
daytime running lamps are required on all vehicles
rst sold in Canada.
The DRL system will make your headlamps come on at
a reduced brightness when the following conditions
are met:
The ignition is on,
the exterior lamp control is off,
the automatic transmission is not in PARK (P),
the light sensor determines it is daytime, and
the parking brake is released.
When the DRL are on, only your DRL lamps will be on.
The taillamps, sidemarker and other lamps won’t be
on. Your instrument panel won’t be lit up either.
When it begins to get dark, the automatic headlamp
system will switch from DRL to the headlamps or the last
chosen headlamp setting that was used.
To idle your vehicle with the DRL off, put the transmission
in PARK (P). The DRL will stay off until you shift out of
PARK (P).
3-15

The following does not apply to vehicles rst sold in
Canada.
When necessary, you may turn off the automatic
headlamp system and the Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL) feature by following the steps below:
1. Turn the ignition to RUN.
2. Press the DOME OVERRIDE button four times
within six seconds. After the fourth press of the
button, a chime will sound informing you that
the system is off.
To return to the automatic mode, push the DOME
OVERRIDE button four times within six seconds (the
chime will sound), or turn the ignition to off and then to
RUN again.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
Automatic Headlamp System
When it is dark enough outside, your automatic
headlamp system will turn on your headlamps at the
normal brightness along with other lamps such as
the taillamps, sidemarker, parking lamps and the
instrument panel lights. The radio lights will also dim.Your vehicle is equipped with a light sensor on the top of
the instrument panel in the defroster grille. Be sure it is
not covered, or the system will be on whenever the
ignition is on.
The system may also turn on your headlamps when
driving through a parking garage, heavy overcast
weather or a tunnel. This is normal.
There is a delay in the transition between the daytime
and nighttime operation of the Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL) and the automatic headlamp systems so
that driving under bridges or bright overhead street
lights does not affect the system. The DRL and
automatic headlamp system will only be affected when
the light sensor sees a change in lighting lasting
longer than the delay.
To idle your vehicle with the automatic headlamp
system off, set the parking brake while the ignition is off.
Then start your vehicle. The automatic headlamp
system will stay off until you release the parking brake.
You may be able to turn off your automatic headlamp
system. SeeDaytime Running Lamps (DRL) on
page 3-15for more information.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamps when you need them.
3-16