Chevrolet 2001 Astro User manual

1-800-CHEV-USA
( For vehicles purchased in Canada,
call
1-800-268-6800 )
that provides in an emergency:
1-800-CHEV-USA
( For vehicles purchased in Canada,
call
1-800-268-6800 )
Free lockout assistance
Free dead-battery assistance
Free out-of-fuel assistance
Free flat-tire change
Emergency towing
Courtesy
Transportation
Every
2001 Astro
under warranty is
backed with the
following
services:
®

2001 Chevrolet Astro
Owner's Manual
Litho in U.S.A.
Part Number C2110 A First Edition © Copyright General Motors Corporation 2000 All Rights Reserved i

ii
Table of Contents
Windows
Keys and Door Locks
Keyless Entry System (Option)
Hatch
Automatic Transmission
All-Wheel Drive (Option)
Parking Brake
Tilt Wheel (If Equipped)
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
Windshield Wipers
Cruise Control (Option)
Exterior and Interior Lamps
Mirrors
Storage Compartments
Convenience Net/Luggage Carrier (If Equipped)
Accessory Power Outlets
HomeLink® Transmitter (Option)
Instrument Panel, Warning Lights and Gages
Seats and Seat Controls
Safety Belts Air Bag System Restraint Systems for Children
Section
1
Section
2
Seats and Restraint Systems
Features and Controls

Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
Your Driving and the Road
Table of Contents (cont'd)
Your Driving, the Road and Your Vehicle
Defensive Driving
Drunken Driving
Control of a Vehicle
Braking
Steering
Driving Tips for Various Road Conditions
Recreational Vehicle Towing
Loading Your Vehicle
Towing a Trailer
Heating and Air Conditioning
Setting the Radio Clock Radio/CD Player Radio Theft-Deterrent Feature
Hazard Warning Flashers
Jump Starting
Towing Your Vehicle
Engine Overheating
Changing a Flat Tire
If You're Stuck
Problems on the Road
iii
Section
5
Section
4
Section
3

iv
Fuel
Checking Fluids and Lubricants
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
Brakes
Bulb Replacement
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
Tires and Wheels
Appearance Care
Electrical System/Fuses and Circuit Breakers
Capacities and Specifications
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
Table of Contents (cont'd)
Maintenance Schedule
Service and Appearance Care
Section
7
Section
6
Scheduled Maintenance
Owner Checks and Services
Periodic Maintenance Inspections
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
Maintenance Records

v
Table of Contents (cont'd)
Customer Assistance Information
In the Index you will find an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual.
You can use it to quickly find something you want to read.
Section
8
Customer Satisfaction Procedures
Customer Assistance Offices
Roadside Assistance and Courtesy Transportation
Warranty Information (See Warranty Manual)
Reporting Safety Defects on page 8-10
Service Publications
Index
Section
9
Please refer to the last page of this manual for your Service Station Guide

vi
GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem,
CHEVROLET, the CHEVROLET Emblem and the
name ASTRO are registered trademarks of General
Motors Corporation.
This manual includes the latest information at the time it
was printed. We reserve the right to make changes after
that time without further notice. For vehicles first sold in
Canada, 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 you ever need it when you’re on the road.
If you sell the vehicle, please leave this manual in it so
the new owner can use it.
We support voluntary
technician certification.
For Canadian Owners Who Prefer a
French Language Manual:
Aux propriétaires canadiens: Vous pouvez vous
procurer un exemplaire de ce guide en français chez
votre concessionaire ou au:
Helm, Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207

vii
How to Use this Manual
Many people read their owner’s manual from beginning
to end when they first receive their new vehicle. If you
do this, it will help you learn about the features and
controls for your vehicle. In this manual, you’ll find
that pictures and words work together to explain
things quickly.
Safety Warnings and Symbols
You will find a number of safety cautions in this book.
We use a box and the word CAUTION to tell you
about things that could hurt you if you were to ignore
the warning.
CAUTION:
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 to do to help avoid or reduce the
hazard. Please read these cautions. If you don’t, you or
others could be hurt.

viii
You will also find a circle
with a slash through it in
this book. This safety
symbol means “Don’t,”
“Don’t do this” or “Don’t
let this happen.”
Vehicle Damage Warnings
Also, in this book you will find these notices:
NOTICE:
These mean there is something that could
damage your vehicle.
In the notice area, we tell you about 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 what to do to help avoid
the damage.
When you read other 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.

ix
For example,
these symbols
are used on an
original battery:
CAUTION
POSSIBLE
INJURY
PROTECT
EYES BY
SHIELDING
CAUSTIC
BATTERY
ACID COULD
CAUSE
BURNS
AVOID
SPARKS OR
FLAMES
SPARK OR
FLAME
COULD
EXPLODE
BATTERY
These symbols
are important for
you and your
passengers
whenever your
vehicleisdriven:
CHILD
RESTRAINT
TOP STRAP
ANCHOR
DOOR LOCK
UNLOCK
FASTEN
SEAT
BELTS
POWER
WINDOW
AIR BAG
These symbols
have to do with
your lamps:
MASTER
LIGHTING
SWITCH
TURN
SIGNALS
PARKING
LAMPS
HAZARD
WARNING
FLASHER
DAYTIME
RUNNING
LAMPS
FOG LAMPS
These symbols
are on some of
your controls:
WINDSHIELD
WIPER
WINDSHIELD
WASHER
WINDSHIELD
DEFROSTER
REAR
WINDOW
DEFOGGER
VENTILATING
FAN
These symbols
are used on
warning and
indicator lights:
ENGINE
COOLANT
TEMP
BATTERY
CHARGING
SYSTEM
BRAKE
COOLANT
ENGINE OIL
PRESSURE
ANTI-LOCK
BRAKES
Here are some
other symbols
you may see:
FUSE
LIGHTER
HORN
FUEL
Vehicle Symbols
These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle. Also see “Warning Lights and Gages” in the Index.

x
Model Reference
This manual covers these models:
Cargo Van
Cargo Van

For
a More
Detailed Look at
What's Under the Hood
See Section 6
Service Station Guide
Oil Viscosity
Engine Oil
See Section 6
Engine Oil Dipstick
See Section 6
Fuel
Use unleaded only.
See Section 6
for octane ratings.
Cooling System
See Section 5
Hood Release
See Section 6
Windshield Washer
Fluid
See Section 6
Spare Tire Pressure
See Section 5
Battery
See Section 6
Fuel Door
See Section 6
Tire Pressure
See Section 6

1- 1-1
Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems
Here you’ll find information about the seats 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 Seats and Seat Controls
1-13 Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone
1-17 Here Are Questions Many People Ask About
Safety Belts -- and the Answers
1-18 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly
1-18 Driver Position
1-26 Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy
1-27 Right Front Passenger Position
1-27 Air Bag System
1-34 Rear Seat Passengers
1-38 Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for
Children and Small Adults
1-40 Center Passenger Position (Bench Seat)
1-42 Children
1-48 Restraint Systems for Children
1-62 Older Children
1-65 Safety Belt Extender
1-65 Checking Your Restraint Systems
1-66 Replacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash

1-2
Seats and Seat Controls
This section tells you about the seats -- how to adjust
them, take them out and put them back in. It also tells
you about bucket and bench seats, power seats and
head restraints.
Manual Front Seats
CAUTION:
You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to
adjust a manual driver’s seat while the vehicle is
moving. The sudden movement could startle and
confuse you, or make you push a pedal when you
don’t want to. Adjust the driver’s seat only when
the vehicle is not moving.
2-Way Front Seat
The bucket seats can be
adjusted forward or
rearward using the lever
located on the front of
the seat.
Move the seat adjustment lever on the front of the seat
toward the outboard side of the seat to unlock it. Slide
the seat to where you want it. Then release the lever and
try to move the seat with your body, to make sure that
the seat is locked into place.

1-3
Manual Lumbar Support (If Equipped)
If you have this feature, there will be a knob located
on the inboard side of the driver’s and passenger’s
bucket seats.
Turn the knob toward the front of the vehicle to increase
lumbar support. Turn the knob toward the rear of the
vehicle to decrease lumbar support.
Power Seat (If Equipped)
If you have this feature, there will be a control pad
located on the inboard side of the driver’s seat.
To raise or lower the front of the seat, raise or lower the
lever located toward the front of the vehicle.
To raise or lower the rear of the seat, raise or lower the
lever located toward the rear of the vehicle.
To move the entire seat backwards, forward, or up or
down, move the center knob.

1-4
Reclining Seatbacks
There is a lever located on the inside of the seat to adjust
the seatback.
You can adjust the seatback
by lifting the lever and
leaning back. Release the
lever to lock the seatback
where you want it. Pull up
on the lever, lean forward
and the seat will go to an
upright position.
But don’t have a seatback reclined if your vehicle is moving.

1-5
CAUTION:
Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle is
in motion can be dangerous. Even if 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 your body. Instead, it will be in
front of you. In a crash you could go into it,
receiving neck or other injuries.
The lap belt can’t do its job either. In a crash the
belt could go up over your abdomen. The belt
forces would be there, not at your pelvic bones.
This could cause serious internal injuries.
For proper protection when the vehicle 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 adjustable head restraint up or down
so that the top of the restraint is closest to the top of
your ears. This position reduces the chance of a neck
injury in a crash.

1-6
Seatback Latches
The seatback lever is
located on the right rear
of your seat.
To fold your bench 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 the front of the vehicle until it locks into place.
To raise the seatback, unlock the seatback latch by
pushing up on the lever while pushing down on the
upper edge of the seatback. Move the seatback into the
upright position. Make sure the seatback is locked when
it is back in the upright position.
CAUTION:
If the seatback isn’t locked, it could move
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could
cause injury to the person sitting there.
Always press rearward on the seatback to be
sure it is locked.

1-7
Rear Seats
Bucket Seats (If Equipped)
You may have rear bucket seats with an adjustment
release bar located at the front of the seats. These seats
can be adjusted forward or rearward with the release bar.
Pull the release bar up to release the seat bottom and
slide the seat where you want it. Then let go of the
release bar and try to move the seat with your body, to
make sure the seat is locked into place.
Bench Seats
Each bench seat can carry up to three passengers.
They can also be removed to increase storage space.
The center bench and rear bench seats can be adjusted
forward or rearward using the lever at the front of
the seat.
Move the seat adjustment
lever located at the front
of the seat toward the
passenger’s side to unlock
it. Slide the seat to where
you want it. Then release
the lever and try to move
the seat with your body, to
make sure the seat is locked
into place.
The center bench seat has a pivoting right armrest.
The optional bench seats come with moveable armrests,
individual reclining seatbacks, adjustable headrests and
a fold-down center armrest console.