Chevrolet 1973 Camaro User manual

1973 CHEVROLET
,
,
IMPORTANT OPERATING, SAFETY AND MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS

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A WORD TO CAMARO OWNERS ...
This manual has been prepared to acquaint you with the operation and maintenance of your 1973 Camaro. and to
provide important safety information . It is supplemented by three convenient folders which provide additional infor-
mation on vehicle maintenance. emission control. and warranties. We urge you to read these publications carefully
and follow the recommendations to help assure the most enjoyable and troublefree 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 in Sec-
tion 7 of this manual under the heading. "Owner Assistance".
We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for choosing a Chevrolet product-and assure you of our con-
tinuing interest in your motoring pleasure and satisfaction.
FOR CONTINUING SATISFACTION. KEEP YOUR
GM CAR ALL GM. GENERAL MOTORS PARTS ARE
IDENTIFIED BY ONE OF THESE TRADEMARKS:
CHEVROLET MOTOR DIVISION

1973 CAMARO
OWNER'S
MANUAL
CHEVROLET MOTOR
DIVISION
GENERAL MOTORS
CORPORATION
DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48202
All information. illu$trations 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.
For vehicles
sold in Canada. substitute the name
General
Motors of Canada. wherever the name
Chevrolet
Motor Division appears in this manual.
ST 309-73
© GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION 1972
Table of Contents
Section
1 Before Driving Your Camaro ...
Page
3
2 Starting and Operating. . .. .. .. .. ... .. .. .. . .. ... .. .. .. . .. .. . .. 12
Steering Column Controls. .. .. . . . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . .. 13
Starting Engine. .. .. .. .. ... .. . •. . .. . .. . . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . .. 13
Floor Controls. . . . ... . . .. . . . ... . •. .. ... . .. .. . .. . .. . . .. . . .. 20
Instrument Panel.. .. .. ... .. .. .. .... .. ... . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. 22
Other Controls and Features. . . ... ... .. .. ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 35
3 In Case of Emergency. ......................... . ............. 36
4 Appearance Care .................... . ........................ 41
5 Service and Maintenance ............ . ........... " . . ... . . . .. 45
6 Minor Trouble Shooting . . .... .. .............................. 62
7 Specifications, Owner Assistance, Service Manuals, Index,
Gas
Station Information ................................ . ....... " 66
1

YOUR CAR'S FIRST
FEW HUNDRED MILES OF DRIVING
You can operate your new car from
its very first mile without adhering
to a formal "break-in" schedule.
However, during the first
few hun-
dred miles of driving you can, by
observing 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, avoid hard
stops especially during the first 200
miles of operation since brake mis-
2
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 10.

BEFORE DRIVING YOUR CAMAR 0
DRIVER CHECKLIST
Before Entering Car
1. See that windows, mirrors and
lights are clean.
2. Visually note inflation condition
of tires.
3. Check that area to rear is clear
if about to back up.
Before Driving Off
1. Lock all doors.
2. Position seat.
3. Adjust inside andoutside mirrors.
4. Fasten seat belts.
5. Check that warning bulbs light
when key
is turned to start
position.
6. Release parking brake (and
see
that brake warning light turns
off) .
7. Be sure you understand your car
and how to operate it safely.
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 "E") -for ignition
switch and door locks.
• Key with oval head (stamped
"H")-for all other locks.
3
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.

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: Avoid hanging ob-
jects on the right hand coat hook
in such a way that you block the
driver's
vi sion 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 entry by
unwelcome persons while momen-
tary stopped.
Seats
Folding seat backs are equipped
with self-latching mechanisms and
release controls designed for the
4
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.
Keep seat belts and buckles clear
of mechanism when tilting folding
seats forward
or backwards, to pre-
vent damage to these belt restraints.

Manually Operated
Front Seats
The front seats may be adjusted
to suit an individual's preference.
Simply release the seat lock mech-
anism located at the front of the
seat. Once released, exert slight
body pressure in the direction de-
sired. Release the lever
so the seat
will lock in the desired position.
Inside Rearview Mirrors
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 up
or down.
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
• Adjust front seat to satisfaction
of driver and sit erect and
well
back in seat.
5
• In a single motion, pull webbing
across lap far enough to permit
inserting metal latch plate end
of lap belt into the buckle, until
a snap
is heard. If not pulled
out far enough to reach, let belt
rewind into the retractor to re-
lease lock mechanism, so belt
can be pulled out to the proper
length.

• Position belt across lap as
LOW ON HIPS as possible. To
reduce the risk of sliding under
belt during an accident, adjust
to a SNUG
FIT by pulling belt
firmly across lap in direction
of
retractor so it can take up slack. • Seating posItIOns next to side
windows have retractors which
are designed to automatically
take up excess webbing and
maintain tension on the lap
belt.
• Lap belts at center seating posi-
tions should be positioned and
secured as above, and adjusted
to a SNUG FIT by pulling on
the end of the belt extending
from the adjustable latch plate.
• To lengthen lap belt at center
seating positions place adjust-
able latch plate at right angles
to the belt webbing and pull on
latch plate; belt should then
slide easily through the adjust-
able latch plate.
6
• To unfasten lap belts, depress
push button in center of buckle.
NOTE: Take care not to let the
lap belt twist while it
is being re-
wound into the retractor.
The bulk
of the twisted belt may cause the
retractor to jam so it will not re-
wind further while at the same time
the retractor's locking mechanism
prevents the belt from being with-
drawn.
If a belt should become
jammed, you may be able to re-
lease
it by pulling the belt out far
enough to untwist it. Otherwise,
the retractor will require servicing.
Seat Belt Buzzer/Light
Reminder
• The front outboard lap belts

(those next to side windows)
are linked to a buzzer and light
which remind occupants to fas-
ten seat belts.
• On cars with automatic trans-
missions, or manual transmis-
sions with steering column-
mounted shift levers, the buzzer
and light are designed to come
on when the ignition switch
is
on, the transmission selector is
in a forward drive position, and
the driver's or right front pas-
senger's lap belt
is not fastened.
• On manual transmission cars
with floor mounted shift con-
trols the reminders are designed
to come on when the ignition
switch
is on, the driver's or
right front passenger's lap belt
is not fastened and the transmis-
sion
is in any gear position, ex-
cept that they do not come
on
when the parking brake is en-
gaged.
NOTE: The right front seat con-
tains a weight detector which
is
designed to activate the buzzer
and light whenever
a. nominal
weight
is placed on the seat. The
weight detector cannot distinguish
between a passenger and any item
of luggage or cargo, therefore such
items should be placed elsewhere
in the car, preferably
in the trunk.
If seat belt system or reminder
system does not work
as described,
see your dealer for information
and assistance.
Shoulder Belts
• When properly worn with a lap
belt, a shoulder belt can provide
important additional protection
against impact with the car in-
terior by restraining forward
motion of the upper torso in a
collision. This
is particularly
true in the case of a frontal im-
pact, which
is the most frequent
7
type of accident.
• To fasten the shoulder belt, un-
stow it and place the knob on
the shoulder belt end in the key-