Chevrolet 1971 Camaro User manual

1971 OWNER'S MANUAL
IMPORTANT OPERATING, SAFETY, AND MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS
GM
CHEVROLET
CAMARO

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A WORD TO CAMARO OWNERS ...
This manual has been prepared to acquaint you with the operation and maintenance of your Camaro, and to provide
important safety information . We urge you to read it carefully and follow the recommendations contained to help
assure the most enjoyable and trouble-free operation of your vehicle.
When it comes to service , remember that your Chevrolet dealer knows your vehicle best and is interested in your
complete satisfaction. Return to him for Guardian Maintenance Service and any other assistance you may require.
To assist dealers in handling your needs, Chevrolet maintains a number of Zone Offices throughout the country.
Should you have a problem that cannot be handled through normal channels, follow the procedure presented on page
71 of this manual under the heading, " Owner Relations".
Regarding warranty, your Camara, when purchased new is covered by the Chevrolet New Vehicle Warranty and the
Policy on Chevrolet Owner Service. Complete details will be found in the 1971 Chevrolet New Vehicle Warranty and
Policy on Owner Service folder which was given to you by your dealer at the time of new car delivery.
We would li ke to take this opportunity to thank you for choosing a Chevrolet product-and assure you of our continuing
interest in your motoring pleasure and satisfaction.
Chevrolet Motor Division
FOR MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE AND ECONOMY I OM I" IGI
KEEP YOUR GMCAR ALL GM . SPECIFY GENERAL _ Uui~~De ~Jco
MOTORS PARTS IDENTIFIED BY ONE OF THESE ~
TRADE-MARKS:

1971 CAMARO
OWNER'S
MANUAL
CHEVROLET MOTOR
DIVISION
GENERAL MOTORS
CORPORATION
DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48202
All information, illustrations and specifications con-
tained in this manual are based on the latest product
information available at the time
of publication. The
right is reserved to make changes at any time without
notice.
Part No. 3991061
ST 309-71
©GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION 1970
Table of Contents Page
Before Driving your Car. _ ...... _. .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. .. . . .. . . . . 3
Starting and Operating
............................................ 11
Safety Checks. . . . . . .. . . .. . . . .. . . .. . . .. . •.. . . . ... . . . .. . . . .. . . .. .. 33
In Case of Emergency. .. . . . . . . .. . . ... . . . .. . . . .. . .. . . . .. . . .. . . .. .. 38
Air Pollution Control Systems.. .. . ....... . . . . .. . .... .. . .. . .... . ... 41
Appearance Care. . .. . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . .. . . .. . . . .. . .. . .. . . . .. . . .. . . .. 47
Service and Maintenance ......................................... 51
Maintenance Schedule ........................................... 66
Specifications, Owner Relations, Service Manuals, Index ........... 72
1

YOUR CAR'S FIRST
FEW HUNDRED MILES OF DRIVING
Sound design and precision manu-
facturing methods will permit you
to operate your new car from its
very first mile without adhering to
a formal "break-in" schedule. How-
ever, during the first
few hundred
miles of driving you can, by observ-
ing a
few simple precautions, add
to the future performance and
economy of your car.
It is recommended that your
speed during the first 500 miles
be confined to a maximum of 60
M.P.H., but do not drive for ex-
tended periods
at anyone constant
speed, either fast or slow. Dur-
ing this period, avoid full throttle
starts and, if possible, abrupt stops.
Gentle braking during the first
few
hundred miles of operation will re-
sult in longer brake life and better
future performance. Avoid hard
2
stops especially during the first 200
miles of operation since brake mis-
use during this period will destroy
much future brake efficiency.
Always drive at moderate speed
until the engine has completely
warmed up.
If you plan to use your neW car
for trailer hauling see additional
information on page 9.

BEFORE DRIVING YOUR CAR
Keys
Two separate keys are provided
for your car. Each key has a differ-
ent cross section
so that it can be
inserted only in certain locks.
• Key with square head
(stamped "A") -for ignition
switch, door locks.
• Key with oval head (stamped
"B") -for all other locks.
The code number of each key
is
stamped on the "knock out" plug
in the key head. Your Chevrolet
dealer removed these plugs and
placed them with the spare set of
keys in the special key envelope
that was given to you at time of
delivery.
For your protection:
• Record the numbers on the key
envelope and discard the key
plugs.
• Keep the key envelope in a safe
place such
as your wallet, Not
In The Car.
In the event the original keys are
lost, duplicates can be made by
your dealer or a locksmith using
the key code information.
Be sure to lock the glove box or
console compartments and remove
the key from the car whenever it
is
necessary to leave the ignition key
with
an attendant.
3
Door Locks
Front side doors can be locked
from the inside by depressing the
passenger guard door lock buttons
located on the upper door panel.
All doors can be locked from the
outside by first depressing the door
lock button and closing the door.
The front doors can also be
locked by using the key.
All models have
as a standard
safetyfeature overriding door locks.
When the doors are locked, the
door latch mechanism
is inopera-
tive, preventing inadvertent open-
ing of the door by movement of the
inside handle.
REMINDER: While the car is
being driven, avoid hanging objects
on the right hand coat hook in such
a way that you block the driver's
vision to the right rear quarter.

REMINDER: Always lock the
doors when driving, for greater
security in the event of an accident
and for security against unauthor-
ized entries.
Seats
Folding seat backs are equipped
with self-latching mechanisms and
release controls designed for the
convenience of entering and exiting
passengers.
Back Locks
The release knob is located at the
lower rear of each backrest nearest
the door. Lift the knob upward,
then pull the seatback forward.
Manually Operated
Front Seats
Push the seat adjuster lever to
the right, located
at the front of
each front seat, to unlock the seat
and allow adjustment to the front
or rear. As the seat slides forward,
it tilts slightly to provide best pos-
ture and increased driver ease. Re-
lease the lever to lock the seat in
the desired position.
4
CAUTION: Do not adjust a manually oper·<
ated driver's seat while the car is movi
-the seat couldmove unexpectedly, c
Ing loss
at control.
Inside Rearview Mirrors
• The inside mirror has day/night
control to change reflectivity.
• Switch mirror to night position
to reduce glare from following
headlights.

To raise or lower, grasp mirror
and exert sufficient pressure by
pushing or pulling to move mirror
support rod toward
or away from
windshield, and up
or down. The
upper ball joint, where the support
rod attaches to the windshield, and
the ball joint at the mirror end
work together to permit setting the
mirror at a variety of heights.
Occupant Restraint Belts
Lap and shoulder belts provide
added security and comfort for you
and your passengers. Proper use
and care of these belts will assure
continuance of this security.
Lap Belts -After the front seat
has been adjusted to the satisfac-
tion of the driver, sit erect and well
back in the seat, grasp the buckle
end and the flat metal "eye" end of
your individual belt assembly and
position the belt across the lap
as
LOW ON THE HIPS AS POS-
SIBLE. Insert the metal eye into
the open end of the buckle until an
audible snap
is heard. Make sure
the connection
is secure and, to re-
duce the risk of sliding under the
belt, adjust it to a SNUG
FIT by
pulling on the end of the belt ex-
tending from the buckle. The snug
and low positions are essential in
order that the force exerted by the
lap belt in a collision will be spread
over the strong hip bone structure
and not across the soft abdominal
area which could result in serious
5
injury. For retractor-equipped
belts, pull the retractor hl;tlf of the
belt out to a solid stop to make sure
the belt webbing
is completely un-
wound from the retractor; then con-
nect the belt and make the neces-
sary adjustments at the buckle for
proper fit.
To lengthen a lap belt,
pLace the buckle at right angles to
the belt webbing. The belt will then
slide easily through the buckle.
To
unfasten the lap belt, simply de-

press the push button located in the
center of the buckle.
Automatic-locking lap belt re-
tractors are provided for the added
convenience of the driver and out-
board front seat passenger on all
Camaro cars
as an extra cost op-
tion. The automatic-locking re-
tractors adjust and lock the lap
belts into position automatically
after fastening.
When not in use, shoulder belts
should be secured in the special
storage convenience provision, to
reduce the danger of the metal end
striking an occupant in a sudden
stop. When storage provisions are
not provided, the loose end
mounted on the upper structure
should be .fastened to the fioor-
mounted end, and adjusted to re-
move excess·slack.
Passengers in the rear seat of a
convertible must remove any shoul-
der belts BEFORE the top
is low-
ered. Rear shoulder belts require
readjustment after the top has been
either lowered or raised.
To fasten a lap belt equipped
with an automatic-locking retrac-
tor, pull the webbingacross the lap
far enough to permit inserting the
fiat metal "eye" end into the buckle.
If the webbing is not initially pulled
out far enough to permit buckling,
release the webbing, allowing it to
6
rewind in the retractor and release
the locking mechanism,
so the web-
bing can be pulled out to the proper
length. Once the buckle
is fastened,
pull the belt firmly across the lap in
the direction of the retractor to ob
.;.
tain a snug fit. The retractor will
automatically take up the excess
webbing.
Shoulder Belts -When properly
worn with a lap belt, a shoulder
belt can provide additional protec-

tion against impact with the car in-
terior
by restraining forward mo-
tion of the upper torso in a colli-
sion. This
is primarily true in case
of frontal impacts, which are the
most frequent type of accident.
Shoulder belts are fastened and
unfastened in the same manner
as
lap belts. A shoulder belt should
have sufficient slack to insert a fist's
width between your chest and the
belt. This can be checked by insert-
ing a clenched
fist between the belt
and your chest with thumb against
chest and back of hand facing up-
ward.
Releasing Belts - To release the
belts, simplydepress the release tab
or button located in the center of
the buckle.
7
Seat Belt Inspection
And Care (All)
• Keep sharp edges and damaging
objects away from belts.
• Periodically inspect belts,
buckles, retractors, and anchors
for damage that could lessen the
effectiveness of the restraint
system.
• Have questionable parts re-
placed.
• Replace belts if cut, weakened,
frayed,
or subjected to collision
loads.
• Check that anchor mounting
bolts are tight to the floor.
• Keep seat belts clean and dry.
• Clean only with mild soap solu-
tion and lukewarm water.
• Do not bleach or dye belts since
this may severely weaken belts.

Child Restraint
Children in automobiles should
be restrained to lessen the risk of
injury in accidents, sudden
s~ops or
other driving conditions. General
Motors has designed an
"INFANT
SAFETY CARRIER" specifically
for infants anda"CHILD SAFETY
SEAT" specifically for small chil-
dren which are available from your
Che~rolet dealer. The Carrier and
Child Seat are designed to utilize
lap belts in your 1971 Camaro.
TheGeneralMotorsInfant
Safety
Carrier and the Child Safety Seat
must be used only in passenger ve-
hicle seats equipped with lap belts.
They must be used only on front
or
rear seats which do not fold or on
folding seats equipped with a latch
to hold the seat back upright (Stan-
dard on 1967 and later model GM
passenger vehicles) .
In using either
Carrier or Child Seat, read and
comply with all installation and
usage instructions.
Do ?ot place
more than one child at a tIme In the
Carrier or Child Seat.·The Carrier
is designed for use only with infants
weighing up to 20 pounds. The
Child Seat
is designed for use only
by children weighing up to 30
pounds and who are able to sit up
by themselves. All unused seat belts
near the Carrier or Child Seat
should be stowed properly to help
prevent them from striking the
child in the event of a sudden stop
or collision. Shoulder belts should
be stowed in any special storage
convenience provision provided.
Lap belts and shoulder belts with-
out storage provisions should have
buckles latched and belts adjusted
to remove slack.
Cars Not Equipped With
Special Child Restraints
If a child is traveling in a vehicle
not equipped with a General
8
Motors Infant Safety Carrier or
Child Safety Seat, the following
precautions should be taken:
1. Children should be placed in
the rear seat. Never allow a
child to stand
or kneel on any
seat.
2. Infants .unable to sit up by
themselves should be restrained
by placing them in a covered,
paddedbassinet
whi~h is pl~ced
crossways in thevehlcle (wldth-
wise) on the rear seat. The bas-
sinet should be securely re-
strained with the regular ve-
hicle seat belts. An alternate
method
is to position the bas-
sinet so that it rests against the
back of the front seat, again
crossways in the vehicle.
3. When a child
is old enough to
sit up by himself in a
~ar, he
should sit on a firm cushion and
use the conventional lap belt to
restrain him at the hips. The

cushion should be as firm as
practical and just high enough
to enable the child to look hori-
zontally out of the carwindows.
4. The use of the cushion should
be discontinued
as soon as the
child
is old enough to see out of
the car windows without it.
Trailer Hauling
Sincepassengercars aredesigned
and intended to
be used primarily
as passenger conveyances, towing
a trailer will affect handling, dura-
bility and economy. Maximum
safety and · satisfaction depends
upon proper use of correct equip-
ment and avoiding overloads and
other abusive operation.
The maximum loaded trailer
weight which you can pull with
5. Do not
use shoulder belts on
children shorter than approxi-
mately 4 feet 7 inches
in height.
6. General Motors recommends
thatchildrenberestrainedwhen
riding. However, if conditions
require that a child must stand,
he should stand on the floor di-
your Camaro depends on what
special equipment has been in-
stalled on your car. We do not rec-
ommend pulling any trailer unless
the car
is properly equipped. In-
formation on trailer hauling capa-
bilities, special equipment required,
and optional equipment offered by
Chevrolet
is available from your
Chevrolet Dealer or by writing
Chevrolet Motor Division, Detroit,
9
rectly behind the front seat.
This
will minimize the possi-
bility of his being thrown from
the rear compartment during a.
sudden stop. This method
should be used only if more
complete restraint cannot be
used.
Michigan 48202.
Usage of bumper hitches
is not
recommended; however, rental in-
stallations may be made ifin accord
with proper installation and usage
instructions of a reputable trailer
rental agency. Axle mounted
hitches should not be used.
To assist in attaining good han-
dling of the car-trailer combina-
tion, it
is important that the trailer

tongue load be maintained at ap-
proximately
10% of the loaded
trailer weight. Tongue loads can be
adjusted by proper distribution of
the load in the trailer, and can be
checked by weighing separately the
loaded trailer and then the tongue.
When towing trailers, tires should
be inflated to the standard pressure
shown
on the placard, affixed to
left front door. The allowable pas-
senger and cargo load also shown
on the same placard,
is reduced by
an amount equal to the trailer
tongue load on the trailer hitch.
Maintenance
More frequent vehicle mainte-
nance
is required when using your
car to pull a trailer. Change the:
1. Automatic transmission and rear
axle fluid each 12,000 miles.
2. Engine oil each
60 days or 3000
miles whichever occurs first,
3. Replace the positive crankcase
ventilation valve each 12 months
or 12,000 miles whichever oc-
curs first.
Break .. in Schedule
In addition to the new car break-
in instructions in the Owners' Man-
ual,
it is recommended that your
new Camaro be operated for
500
miles before trailer towing. If it is
necessary to tow during this period,
avoid speeds over
50 MPH and
full throttle starts.
For cars already in use the above
precautions should be observed
whenever a new engine, transmis-
sion
or axle is installed.
10

11

STEERING COLUMN CONTROLS
Anti-Theft Steering
Column Lock
The anti-theft lock, located on the
right side of the steering column,
has
five positions:
• Accessory -Permits operation
of electrical accessories when en-
gine is not running. To engage,
push key in and
tum toward you
(counterclockwise) .
• Lock-Normal parking position.
Locks ignition and provides
added theft protection by pre-
venting normal operation of
steering wheel and shift controls.
Key cannotbereturned to "lock"
position and removed until trans-
mission is placed in "park"
(automatic transmission models)
or in reverse on manual trans-
mission models.
• Off-Permits turning engine off
without locking steering wheel
and shift controls.
12
• Run -Normal operating posi-
tion.
• Start -Permits engagement of
starter.
NOTE: The anti-theft steering column lock
is not a substitute lor the parking brake.
Always set the parking brake when leav-
ing the car unaHended.
When parking-
• Always let go 01 steering wheel belore
turning ignition key to lock position.
• When parking on a hill with wheels
turned toward curb, be sure
car has
come to complete stop belore turning
key to
lock position.
Turning wheels
after car has stopped
"winds up" steering system, which can
result
in a "spring back" 01 the steering
wheel when the steering column
lock is
released. As a lurther precaution, never
reach through the steering wheel
lor any
reason.
'"
When leaving your car unaHended,
• Set parking brake.·
• Place automatic transmission selector
in Park (Reverse tor manual trans-
mission). .
• Turn key to LOCK position.
• Remove key (the buzzer will remind
you).
• Lock all doors.

Starting Engine
Automatic Transmission
Models
1. Apply the foot brake.
2. Place transmission selector
in "P" or "N" (UP" preferred).
A starter safety switch prevents
starter operation while the trans-
mission selector
is in any drive
position.
(If it is necessary to
re-start the engine with the car
moving, place the selector lever
in "N".)
3. Depress accelerator pedal and
activate starter
as outlined be-
low for different conditions.
• Cold Engine -Fully de-
press accelerator pedal and
slowly release. With foot off
the pedal, crank the engine
by turning the ignition key
to the Start position-release
when engine starts.
If engine starts, but fails to
run, repeat this procedure.
When engine is running
smoothly, the idle speed may
be reduced by slightly de-
pressing the accelerator pedal
and then slowly releasing.
• Warm Engine -Depress ac-
celerator pedal about halfway
and hold while cranking the
engine.
• Extremely Cold Weather
(Below 0° F.) Or After Car
Has Been Standing Idle
Several
Days-
Fully depress and release
accelerator pedal two
or three
times before cranking the
engine. With foot off the ac-
celerator pedal, crank the
engine by turning the key to
the Start position and release
when engine starts.
13
ManualTransmission Models
1. Apply parking brake and shift
transmission to neutral.
2.
Hold clutch pedal to floor
throughout the starting proce-
dure. A starter interlock pre-
vents starter operation when
clutch
is not fully depressed.
3. Operate accelerator pedal and
starter
as outlined in step 3
(under Automatic Transmission
Models).
Engine Flooded
Depress accelerator pedal and
hold to floor while starting until
engine
is cleared of excess fuel
and
is running smoothly. Never
"pump" the accelerator pedal.
Warm-Up
Always let the engine idle for
20 to 30 seconds after starting
and drive at moderate speeds for
several miles, especially during
cold weather.

Driving with the Chevrolet Automatic Transmissions
The Powerglide and the Turbo
Hydra-matic 350 and 400 are com-
pletely automatic transmissions.
All replace the standard clutch
and
transmission.
Powerglide, Turbo Hydra-
Malic 350 and Turbo Hydra-
Matic 400
After starting the engine with the
selector lever in N (Neutral)
or P
(Park) position select the range de-
sired (see tables)
and depress the
accelerator.
All Automatic Transmissions
A gradual start with a steady in-
crease in accelerator pressure will
result inbest possible fuel economy.
Rapid acceleration for fast starts
will result in greater fuel consump-
tion.
Automatic transmission shift
quadrants of all OM cars continue
the uniform sequence of selector
positions. This particularly benefits
multicar families
and those who
occasionally drive other cars. Shift
indicators are arranged with "Park"
position at one end, followed in se-
quence by "Reverse", "Neutral"
and the forward driving ranges.
All automatic transmission are
POWERGLIDE
P-PARK
Use only when car Is stopped.
R-REVERSE
N-NEUTRAL
D-DRIVE
L-LOW
For backing car-from stop.
For standing(Brakes Applied)
For forward driving.
Depress accelerator
to floor for extra acceleration at speeds
(depending on engine, axle and
tire combinations) as high as 40
to 60 mph.
For hard pulling through sand, snow or mud, and for climbing or
descending steep grades. Do not shift to Labove 40 mph.
14

equipped with a starter safety
switch designed to permit starting
the engine only when the trans-
mission
is in the "Park" or "Neu-
tral" position.
For additional
engine braking effect,
as sometimes
needed in mountainous driving,
place the transmission in an inter-
mediate or low range.
Column Shifl Lever
The heavy line in the illustrations
indicates the movement of the shift
lever
as it is lifted to shift into Re-
verse or Low (Low on the Turbo
Hydra-Matic 350 and 400) and
into or out of Park position.
Floor Console Shift Lever
The floor console shift lever may
be moved freely between Neutral
and Drive and (on the Turbo
Hydra-Matic 350 and 400) be-
tween 1 and 2. Squeeze shift lever
button under handle as you shift
into Reverse or Low
(2 on Turbo
Hydra-Matic 350 and 400).
Squeeze the button under the
Turbo Hydra-Malic 350 and 400
P-PARK
R-REVERSE
Console
N-NEUTRAL
3 D-DRIVE
2
L.-LOW.
1
L.-LOW.
Use only when car is stopped.
For backing car-from stop.
For standing (Brakes Applied)
For forward driving. Depress accelerator to floor for
extra accelerator below 65 mph; depress accelerator
half-way
at speeds below 30 mph.
For driving in heavy traffic or on hilly terrain. Shift into
L. or 2 at any vehicle speed.
For
hard pulling through sand, snow or mud, for climb-
ing or descending steep grades_
15
handle fully when shifting into or
out of the Park position. Exercise
care when squeezing button to
prevent unintentional shifts to
Park, Low (or
2) or Reverse.
NOTE: Shift quadrant for all
Automatic Transmissions
is located
on the instrument cluster.

Driving with Manual Transmissions
The 3-speed manual transmis-
sion shift positions follow the stan-
dard pattern shown on the illustra-
tion. The 4-speed transmission shift
lever, extending from the floor,has
its special shift pattern diagram lo-
cated on the knob or floor plate.
Depress the clutch pedal fully be-
fore attempting to shift to a differ-
ent gear, then release the pedal to
move in that gear. Shifting into 2nd
and 3rd gear
as soon as possible
will add appreciably to your fuel
economy.
Both transmissions, being fully
synchronized, may be downshifted
into 1st gear at any speed below 20
m.p.h. Shift into Reverse gear only
after the car has stopped. Always
depress and release the clutch pedal
fully when shifting. On Four-Speed
transmission the shift linkage may
be adjusted to allow "short stroke"
shift lever operation. See your
Chevrolet Dealer.
Also, shift into "Reverse" before
shutting
off engine. This will permit
the ignition key to be turned to the
"Lock" position.
REMINDER: Before descending a
steep or long grade, down a moun-
tain or hillside, reduce speed and
shift into a lower gear (for either
automatic or manual transmission
cars). Use the brakes sparingly
to
prevent them from overheating and
thus reducing brake effectiveness.
16
Turn Signals and Lane
Change Feature
The turn signal lever is located
on the left side of the steering col-
umn immediately under the steer-
ing wheel. The lever is moved up-
ward to signal a right turn and '
downward to signal a left turn.
Lamps on the front and rear of the
car transmit this signal to other

motorists and pedestrians. The ig-
nition switch must be in the "ON"
position in order for the turn sig-
nals to be operational. This feature
prevents battery drain if the lever
is left in an "ON" position when
your car
is not in use.
In a normal turning situation
such
as turning a corner, the turn
signal is cancelled automatically
after the turn
is completed. How-
ever, in some driving maneuvers
such
as changing lanes on an ex-
pressway, the steering wheel
is not
turned back sufficiently after com-
pleting the turn to automatically
cancel the turn signal. For con-
venience in such maneuvers, the
driver can flash the turn signals by
moving the turn signal lever part
way (to the first stop) and holding
it there. The lever returns to the
neutral or cancelled position when
the driver releases his hold on the
lever.
A green light on the instrument
cluster flashes to indicate proper
operation of the front and rear
tum
signal lamps. If the indicator lamp
remains on and does not flash,
check for a defective lamp bulb.
If
the indicator fails to light when the
17
lever is moved, check the fuse and
indicator bulb.
Power Steering
Power steering assist is provided
by a hydraulic pump driven by the
engine. When the engine
is not run-
ning
or if the power steering pump
drive belt breaks, the car can still
be steered, but much greater steer-
ing effort will be required.
Holding Car on an Upgrade
When stopped on an upgrade,
maintain your position by applying
the brakes. Never hold the car in
place by accelerating engine with
transmission in gear. This could
cause damage by overheating the
transmission (automatic) or clutch
(manual).