Chevrolet 1998 Astro User manual

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1 power controls

Supplement t
AstroBafari Uwnd
Replacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash
‘0 the 1998
zr’s Manual
If you’ve had a.crash, doyou need new safety belts or
~~~~
built-in child restraint parts?
This information replacesthe “Replacing Restraint
System Parts After a Crash” portion located in Section
After a very minor collision, nothing may be necessary.
1 in your owner’smanual. But if thesafety belts or built-in child restraint harness
straps were stretched, as they would be if wornduring a
more severe crash, then
you need new safety belts or
harness straps.
Part No. 15020756
1

If you ever see a label on the drrver’s or right front
passenger’ssafety belt thatsays to replace
the belt, be
sure
to do so. Then the new belt will be there to help
protect
you in a collision. You would see this label on
the belt near the latchplate.
If safety belts or built-in childrestraint harness straps
are cut or damaged,replace them. Collision damage also
may mean you will needto have safety belt, built-in
child restraint or seat parts repaired
or replaced. New
parts and repairs may benecessary even if the safety belt
or built-in childrestraint wasn’t being used at the time
of the collision.
If an air bag inflates, you’ll needto replace air bag
systemparts. See
the part on theair bag system earlier
in thissection.
2

The 1998 Chevrolet Astro Owner’s Manual
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9-1
Seats and Restraint Systems
This section tells youhow to use yourseats and safety belts properly. Italso explains the “SIR’ system.
Features and Controls
This section explains how to start and operate your vehicle.
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
This section tells you how toadjust the ventilation and comfortcontrols and how to operate your audio system.
Your Driving and the Road
Here you’ll find helpful information and tips about the road and how todrive under different conditions.
Problems on the Road
This section tells what to do if you have a problem while driving, such as a flat tire or overheatedengine, etc.
Service and Appearance Care
Here the manual tells you how to keep your vehicle running properly and lookinggood.
Maintenance Schedule
This section tells you when to perform vehicle maintenance and whatfluids and lubricants to use.
Customer Assistance Information
This section tells you how tocontact Chevrolet for assistance and how to get service and owner publications.
It also gives you information on “Reporting Safety Defects’’ on page
8- 10.
Index
Here’s analphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual. You can use it to quickly find
something you want to read.
i

~-, CHEVROLET pll
GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem,
CHEVROLET, theCHEVROLETEmblem and the
name ASTRO areregistered trademarks
of General
Motors Corporation.
This manual includesthe latest information at thetime it
was printed.We reserve the right
to make changes in the
product after that time without further notice. For
vehicles first sold inCanada, substitute the name
“General Motors
of Canada Limited” for Chevrolet
Motor Division whenever
it appears in this manual.
Please keep this manual in your vehicle,
so it will be
there if youever need it when you’reon the road.If
you
sell the vehicle, pleaseleave this manual in it so the new
owner can use it.
Litho in U.S.A.
C9810 B First Edition
WE SUPPORT
VOLUNTARY TECHNICIAN
CERTIFICATION THROUGH
AUTOMOTIVE
National Institute for
SERVICE
EXCELLENCE
We support voluntary
technician certification.
For Canadian Owners Who Prefer a
French Language Manual:
Aux propriktaires canadiens: Vous pouvez vous
procurer un exemplaire de ceguide en franGaischez
votre concessionaire ou au:
DGN Marketing Services Ltd.
1577 Meyerside Dr.
Mississauga, Ontario L5T 1B9
@CopyrightGeneral Motors Corporation 1997
All Rights Reserved
ii

How to Use this Manual
Many people read their owner’smanual from beginning
to end when theyfirst receive their new vehicle. If you
do this, it will help you learn about the features and
controls foryour vehicle. In this manual, you’ll find
that pictures and words work togetherto explain
things quickly.
Index
A good place to look for what you need is the Indexin
back of
the manual. It’s analphabeticallist of what’s in
the manual, and the page number where you’ll find it.
Safety Warnings and Symbols
You will find a number of safety cautionsin this book.
We use a
box and the word CAUTION to tell you
about things that could hurt you if you were toignore
the warning.
A CAUTION:
I
These mean there is something that could hurt
you or other people.
In the caution area,we tell you what the hazard is. Then
we tell you what todo to help avoid or reduce the
hazard. Please read these cautions. If you don’t, you or
otherscould be
hurt.
iii

You will also find a circle
with a slash through it in
this book. This safety
symbol means “Don’t,’’
“Don’t dothis” or “Don’t
let this happen.”
Vehicle Damage Warnings
Also, in this book you will find these notices:
NOTICE:
In the notice area, we tell youabout something that can
damage your vehicle. Many times, this damage would
not be covered by your warranty,and it could be costly.
But the notice will tell you whatto do tohelp avoid
the damage.
When you readother manuals, you might see
CAUTION and NOTICE warnings in different colors or
in different words.
You’ll also see warning labels on your vehicle. They use
the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.
These mean there is something that could
damage your vehicle.
iv

Vehicle Symbols
These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle.
For example,
these symbols
are used on an
original battery:
POSSIBLE A
CAUTION
INJURY
PROTECT
EYES BY
SHIELDING
CAUSTIC
BURNS
AVOID
SPARKS
OR
FLAMES
SPARK
OR ,\I/,
COULD
FLAME
EXPLODE
BATTERY
These symbols
are important
for you and
your passengers
whenever your
vehicle
is
driven:
DOOR LOCK
UNLOCK
FASTEN
SEAT
BELTS
POWER
WINDOW
These symbols
have to do with
your lamps:
SIGNALS e
TURN
FOG LAMPS $0
These symbols
are on some
of
your controls:
WINDSHIELD
DEFROSTER
WINDOW
DEFOGGER
VENTILATING
FAN
These symbols
are used on
warning and
indicator lights:
COOLANT
TEMP
-
CHARGING I-1
BATTERY
SYSTEM
BRAKE
(a)
COOLANT
a
ENGINE OIL e,
PRESSURE
ANTI-LOCK
(@)
BRAKES
Here are some
other symbols
you may see:
FUSE -%-
t
LIGHTER
HORN
b
SPEAKER
b
FUEL p3
V

Model Reference
This manual covers these models:
Cargo Van
Passenger Van
vi

Section 1
Seats and Restraint Systems
Here you’ll find information about theseats in your vehicle and how to use your safety belts properly. You can also
learn about some things you should
not do with air bags and safety belts.
1-2
1-12
1-17
1-18
1-18
1-25
1-26
1-26
1-32
Seatsand Seat Controls
Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone
Here Are Questions QuestionsMany People
Ask About SafetyBelts
-- and the Answers
How to Wear Safety BeltsProperly
Driver Position
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy
Right Front PassengerPosition
Air Bag System
Rear Seat Passengers
1-35
1-38
1-39
1-44
1-52
1-65
1-68
1-68
1-68
Rear SafetyBelt Comfort Guides for
Children and SmallAdults
Center Passenger Position (Bench Seat)
Children
Built-in Child Restraint (Option)
ChildRestraints
Larger Children
SafetyBelt Extender
Checking Your Restraint Systems
Replacing Restraint SystemParts After
a Crash

Seatsand Seat Controls
This section tells youabout the seats -- how to adjust
them, take them out and put them back in. Italso tells
you about bucket and benchseats, power seats and
head restraints.
Man1
7 Front Sc
ts
2-Way Front Seat
You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to
adjust a manual driver’s seatwhile the vehicle
is
moving. The sudden movement could startle and
confuse you, or makeyou push a pedalwhen you
don’t wantto. Adjust the driver’s seatonly when
the vehicle
is not moving.
’ . ’ . ’? .. The bucket seats can be
adjusted forward or
rearward
by the lever at
the front
of the seat.
Move the seat adjustmentlever at thefront
of the seat
toward
the driver’s door to unlock it. Slide the seatto
where you wantit. Then release the lever and try to
move the seat with your body,to make sure the seat
is
locked into place.
1-2

Manual Lumbar Support (If Equipped) Power Seats
(If Equipped)
If you have this feature, there willbe a control pad
on the inboardside
of the driver andpassenger
bucket seats.
If you have this feature, there will be a knob on the
inboard side of the driverand passenger bucket seats.
Turn the knob toward the front
of the vehicle to increase
lumbar support. Turn theknob toward the rear of the
vehicle
to decrease lumbar support.
The front control makes the front of the seat go up
and down.
The center control makes the whole seatgo forward,
rearward, up or down.
The rear control makes the rear
of the seat go up
and down.
1-3

Reclining Seatbacks
There is a lever on the inside of the seat to adjust
the seatback.
You can adjust the
seatback
by lifting the
lever. Release the lever to
lock the seatback where
you want it. Pull up on the
lever and the seat will go
to an'upright position.
But don't have a seatbackreclined if your vehicle
is moving.

A CAUTION:
--
Sit---lgin a reclined positionwl- - n your vehicle is
in motion can be dangerous. Evenif you buckle
up, your safety belts can’t do their job when
you’re reclined like this.
The shoulder belt can’t do its job because
it
won’t be against yourbody. Instead, itwill be in
front of you. In a crashyou could go into it,
receiving neckor other injuries.
The lap belt can’t do its jobeither. In
a crash the
belt couldgo
up over your abdomen. The belt
forces would bethere, not at yourpelvic bones.
This could cause serious internal injuries.
For proper protection when thevehicle is in
motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit
well back in the seat and wear your safety
belt properly.
Head Restraints
Head restraints are fixed on some models and adjustable
on others. Slide an adjustablehead restraint
up or down
so that the top of the restraint is closest to the top of
your ears. This position reduces the chanceof a neck
injury
in a crash.
Seatback Latches
(Non-TouringBench Seats)
The seatback lever is on
the right rear of your seat.
1-5

0
RELEASE
To fold your non-touring
seatback forward, pull up on
the latch release lever while
pulling the seatback toward
the rear
of the vehicle.
After the latch has been released, push the seatback
toward thefront of the vehicle untilit locks in place.
To
raise the seatback, unlock theseatback latch by pushing
up
on the lever while pushingdown on the upperedge
of the seatback. Move theseatback into the upright
position. Make sure the seatback is locked whenit is
back
in the upright position.
A CAUTION:
If the seatback isn’tlocked, it couldmove
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could
cause injury to the person sitting there,Always
press rearward on the seatback to be sureit
is locked.
Rear Seats
I
A seat that isn’tlocked into place properly can
move around in acollision or sudden stop. People
in the vehicle could beinjured. Be sure tolock
the seat into place properly when installingit.
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