Chevrolet 2005 Astro User manual

Seats and Restraint Systems ........................... 1-1
Front Seats ............................................... 1-3
Rear Seats ............................................... 1-7
Safety Belts ............................................. 1-18
Child Restraints ....................................... 1-38
Airbag System ......................................... 1-63
Restraint System Check ............................ 1-70
Features and Controls ..................................... 2-1
Keys ........................................................ 2-2
Doors and Locks ....................................... 2-6
Windows ................................................. 2-14
Theft-Deterrent Systems ............................ 2-16
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle ........... 2-16
Mirrors .................................................... 2-28
HomeLink
®
Transmitter ............................. 2-29
Storage Areas ......................................... 2-33
Instrument Panel ............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview .......................... 3-4
Climate Controls ...................................... 3-19
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators ........ 3-23
Driver Information Center (DIC) .................. 3-37
Audio System(s) ....................................... 3-39
Driving Your Vehicle ....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle ..... 4-2
Towing ................................................... 4-33
Service and Appearance Care .......................... 5-1
Service ..................................................... 5-3
Fuel ......................................................... 5-5
Checking Things Under the Hood ............... 5-10
All-Wheel Drive ........................................ 5-47
Rear Axle ............................................... 5-48
Front Axle ............................................... 5-49
Bulb Replacement .................................... 5-50
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement ......... 5-57
Tires ...................................................... 5-58
Appearance Care ..................................... 5-84
Vehicle Identification ................................. 5-93
Electrical System ...................................... 5-94
Capacities and Specifications ................... 5-101
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts .... 5-102
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
2005 Chevrolet Astro Owner Manual M

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.
Keep this manual in the vehicle, so it will be there if
it is needed while you are on the road. If the vehicle is
sold, leave this manual in the vehicle.
Canadian Owners
A French language copy of this manual can be obtained
from your dealer or from:
Helm, Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
How to Use This Manual
Many people read the owner manual from beginning to
end when they first receive their new vehicle. If this
is done, it can help you learn about the features
and controls for the vehicle. Pictures and words work
together in the owner manual to explain things.
Index
A good place to quickly locate information about the
vehicle is the Index in the back of the manual. It is
an alphabetical list of what is in the manual and
the page number where it can be found.
Litho in U.S.A.
Part No. 05ASTRO A First Edition
©
2004 General Motors Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
ii

Safety Warnings and Symbols
There are a number of safety cautions in this book. We
use a box and the word CAUTION to tell 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 do not,
you or others could be hurt.
You will also find a circle
with a slash through it in
this book. This safety
symbol means “Do Not,”
“Do Not do this” or
“Do Not let this happen.”
iii

Vehicle Damage Warnings
Also, in this manual you will find these notices:
Notice: These mean there is something that could
damage your vehicle.
A notice tells about something that can damage the
vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be covered
by your vehicle’s warranty, and it could be costly. But
the notice will tell 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.
There are also warning labels on the vehicle. They use
the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.
Vehicle Symbols
The vehicle has components and labels that use
symbols instead of text. Symbols are shown along with
the text describing the operation or information
relating to a specific component, control, message,
gage, or indicator.
If you need help figuring out a specific name of a
component, gage, or indicator, reference the
following topics:
•Seats and Restraint Systems in Section 1
•Features and Controls in Section 2
•Instrument Panel Overview in Section 3
•Climate Controls in Section 3
•Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators in Section 3
•Audio System(s) in Section 3
•Engine Compartment Overview in Section 5
iv

These are some examples of symbols that may be found on the vehicle:
v

✍NOTES
vi

Front Seats ......................................................1-3
Manual Seats ................................................1-3
Power Seat ...................................................1-3
Manual Lumbar ..............................................1-4
Reclining Seatbacks ........................................1-4
Head Restraints .............................................1-6
Seatback Latches ...........................................1-6
Rear Seats .......................................................1-7
Rear Seat Operation .......................................1-7
Bench Seat ..................................................1-11
Bucket Seats ...............................................1-17
Safety Belts ...................................................1-18
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone ................1-18
Questions and Answers About Safety Belts ......1-22
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly .................1-23
Driver Position ..............................................1-23
Shoulder Belt Height Adjustment .....................1-30
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy ..................1-31
Right Front Passenger Position .......................1-31
Rear Seat Passengers ..................................1-31
Center Rear Passenger Position .....................1-34
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for
Children and Small Adults ..........................1-35
Safety Belt Extender .....................................1-37
Child Restraints .............................................1-38
Older Children ..............................................1-38
Infants and Young Children ............................1-40
Child Restraint Systems .................................1-46
Where to Put the Restraint .............................1-49
Top Strap ....................................................1-50
Top Strap Anchor Location .............................1-52
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System) ...........................1-54
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for
the LATCH System ....................................1-56
Securing a Child Restraint in a
Rear Outside Seat Position .........................1-57
Securing a Child Restraint in a Center Rear
Seat Position (Bench Seat) .........................1-58
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front
Seat Position ............................................1-60
Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems
1-1

Airbag System ...............................................1-63
Where Are the Airbags? ................................1-65
When Should an Airbag Inflate? .....................1-66
What Makes an Airbag Inflate? .......................1-67
How Does an Airbag Restrain? .......................1-68
What Will You See After an Airbag Inflates? .....1-68
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle ...........1-69
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle ....................................................1-70
Restraint System Check ..................................1-70
Checking Your Restraint Systems ...................1-70
Replacing Restraint System
Parts After a Crash ...................................1-71
Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems
1-2

Front Seats
Manual 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 do not want to. Adjust the driver’s
seat only when the vehicle is not moving.
If your vehicle has manual
seats, they can be
adjusted forward or
rearward using the lever
located under the front
of the seat(s).
1. Move the seat adjustment lever toward the outboard
side of the seat to unlock it.
2. Slide the seat to where you want it.
3. Release the lever and try to move the seat with
your body, to make sure that the seat is locked
into place
Power Seat
If your vehicle has this feature, there will be controls
located on the inboard side of the driver’s seat.
To raise or lower the front of the seat cushion, raise or
lower the lever located toward the front of the vehicle.
To raise or lower the rear of the seat cushion, 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.
1-3

Manual Lumbar
If your vehicle has 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.
Reclining Seatbacks
There is a lever located
on the inboard side of
the seat to adjust
the seatback.
1. Lift the lever and lean back until the seatback
is at the desired position.
2. Release the lever to lock the seatback where you
want it.
To return the seatback to an upright position, pull up on
the lever and lean forward.
1-4

But do not have a seatback reclined if your vehicle
is moving.
{CAUTION:
Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle
is in motion can be dangerous. Even if you
buckle up, your safety belts can not do their
job when you are reclined like this.
The shoulder belt can not do its job because it
will not 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 not 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.
1-5

Head Restraints
Adjust your head restraint so that the top of the
restraint is closest to the top of your head. This position
reduces the chance of a neck injury in a crash.
Seatback Latches
The seatback lever is
located on the right rear of
your seat. If your vehicle
has the non-touring
bench seatback, 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.
1-6

{CAUTION:
If the seatback is not 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.
Rear Seats
Rear Seat Operation
Removing the Rear Seats
To remove the rear seats, do the following:
1. If you are removing
the center seat,
remove the right
lap-shoulder belt.
To do this, press
the tip of a key into
the release hole of the
safety belt attachment
while pulling up on
the safety belt.
1-7

2. If you have a safety
belt guide on your
seat, pull the safety
belt all the way
out through the guide.
3. To store the safety belt while the second row bench
seat is removed, pull the belt out and put both
buckles in the passenger’s side rear storage bin.
Route the belt out of the forward edge of the storage
bin. Close the cover to retain the belt.
4. Pull up on the seatback latch on the right rear of
the seat. Push the seatback down until it locks
into place.
5. Lift up on the left and the right seat release levers
at the same time. The latches are near the floor on
the rear legs of the seat.
1-8

6. Lift up on the rear of the seat to remove the seat
assembly from the rear latch pins. Then, pull the
whole seat back to remove the seat from the
front retainers and then lift the seat out of the
vehicle.
Replacing the Rear Seats
1. Lower the seat into position. Make sure the front
retainers are hooked onto the anchor pins.
1-9

2. Pull the seat down to latch the rear retainers.
Make sure the seat is locked in by pulling up
and down on the seat.
{CAUTION:
A seat that is not locked into place properly
can move around in a collision or sudden stop.
People in the vehicle could be injured. Be sure
to lock the seat into place properly when
installing it.
3. To raise the seatback, do the following:
3.1. Unlock the seatback latch by pulling up on
the latch release lever at the right rear of the
seat, while pushing down on the upper
edge of the seatback.
3.2. Move the seatback into the upright position.
Make sure the seatback is locked when it is
back in the upright position.
If you are replacing the center seat, connect the right
lap-shoulder belt to the attachment on the seat cushion.
If you have a safety belt guide on your seat, pull the
belt through the guide before reattaching the
lap-shoulder belt to the side of the seat. The release
hole should be facing outward.
1-10

If you installed the safety belt with the release hole facing
inward (toward the seat), slide the plastic cover up so you
can see the buckle. Disconnect the seat belt. Slide the
cover back down and reinstall the belt correctly.
{CAUTION:
A safety belt that is improperly routed, not
properly attached, or twisted will not provide
the protection needed in a crash. The person
wearing the belt could be seriously injured.
After raising the rear seatback, always check
to be sure that the safety belts are properly
routed and attached, and are not twisted.
Bench Seat
Each bench seat can carry up to three passengers.
They can also be removed to increase storage space.
See “Removing the Rear Seats” following.
Only the third row bench seat can be adjusted forward
or rearward.
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 and
release the lever. 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.
1-11

To adjust your seatback, pull up on the lever located on
the outboard sides of the seat cushion.
Entering the Third Row Seat
The second row seat has
a seatback lever that
makes it easier to enter
the third row seat, if
equipped. The lever is
located on the right rear
of the second row seat.
1. Pull up on the seatback release lever while pulling
the seatback toward the rear of the vehicle.
2. After the lever has been released, push the seatback
toward the front of the vehicle until it locks into place.
1-12

To raise the seatback, do the following
1. Unlock the seatback lever by pulling up on the lever
while pushing down on the upper edge of the
seatback.
2. Move the seatback into the upright position.
3. Make sure the seatback is locked when it is back
in the upright position.
{CAUTION:
If the seatback is not 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.
Removing the Rear Seats
To remove the rear bench seats, do the following:
1. If you are removing
the center seat,
remove the right
lap-shoulder belt.
To do this, press
the tip of a key into
the release hole of the
safety belt attachment
while pulling up on
the safety belt.
1-13

2. If you have a safety
belt guide on your
seat, pull the safety belt
all the way out
through the guide.
3. To store the safety belt while the second row bench
seat is removed, pull the belt out and put both
buckles in the passenger’s side rear storage bin.
Route the belt out of the forward edge of the storage
bin. Close the cover to retain the belt.
4. Pull up on the seatback latch on the right rear of
the seat. Push the seatback down until it locks
into place.
5. Lift up on the left and the right seat release levers
at the same time. The latches are near the floor on
the rear legs of the seat.
1-14