Chevrolet 1974 CAMARO User manual

1974 CHEVROLET
C""ROm ~
CAMARO
OWNER'S MANUAL
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 1974 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

1974 CAMARO
OWNER'S
MANUAL
This manual should be considered
a permanent part of the vehicle,
and must remain with the vehicle
at time of resale.
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.
For vehicles
sold in Canada, substitute the name
General
Motors of Canada Limited, whereverthe name
Chevrolet
Motor Division appears in this manual.
ST 309-74
©GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION 1974
Table of Contents
Section
Reprinted with Permission of
General Motors Corporation
1 Before Driving Your Camaro ................................ . Page
3
2 Starting and Operating. . . . . . ... . . .. .. .. . .. . .. . .. .. .. . ... .. . .. 13
Steering Column Controls. . . . . . . .. . . .. .. . . . . . . .. .. .. . . .. .. 14
Starting Engine. .. . . . ... . .. ... .. .. . ... . ... .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. 15
Floor Controls.. . . . . .. . .. .. ... .. . .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . ... . . .. 21
Instrument Panel ......................................... , 23
Other Controls and Features. . .. . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. . ... . .. 35
3 In Case of Emergency.. . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. 36
4 Appearance Care ............................................. 41
5 Service and Maintenance. . . . .. . . .... . . .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. . .. . . .. 46
6 Minor Trouble Shooting. . .. . .. . .. . . .... .. .. .. . . . . .. .. . . .... .. 66
7 Specifications. Owner Assistance. Service Manuals. Index. Gas
Station Information. . . . . . .. . . .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. . .. . . . .. .. ... . . .. 70
Applicable to CALIFORNIA Sales Only
This vehicle as delivered by GM Chevrolet Division is equipped with a bumper energy
absorption system meeting California S.B.42
(1971) as set forth in Sec. 34715 Vehicle Code.
1

YOUR CAR'S FIRST
FEW HUNDRED MILES OF DRIVING
You can operate your new carfrom
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-
use during this period will destroy
much future bnlke 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 11.
SEE PAGE 64 for ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON
HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR GAS M,ILEAGE.
2

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. Adjustinside 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 "J") -for ignition
switch only.
• Key with oval head (stamped
"K")-for all other locks.
fIiJJ
~===(iD
ALlOTHER~
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 vision to the right rear
quarter.
"
REMINDER: Always lock the
doors when driving, for greater
security in the event of an accident,
to help keep children from opening
door, and for greater security
against entry
by unwelcome per-
sons while momentarily stopped.
Front Seat Backlocks
Front seat backs are equipped
with a self,locking mechanism to
keep the seat back locked in place
while
in the up position. The lock
release lever
is located at the lower
4
rear of the seat back nearest the
door.
To tilt the seat back forward,
lift the lock release lever and tilt
the seat back forward. When the
seat back
is returned to the up
position, the seat back will auto-
matically lock.
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
forward or rearward by moving the
control lever at the front of the
seat to the right. Move control
lever to the right to release the
locking
mechanism; then exert
slight body pressure to move seat
to desired position. ·Release con-
trol lever to lock seat in desired
position.
Inside Rearview Mirrors
Switc.h mirror to night position
to reduce glare from following
, headlights.
To raise or lower mir-
ror
to achieve desired field of view,
grasp mirror and exert sufficient
pressure by pushing or pulling up,
down or sideways.
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.
Seat Belt Restraint System
This vehicle is equipped with a
belt system, starter interlock, and
a light-buzzer
reminder system
which
is designed to prevent·start-
5
ing the car until front seat occu-
pants are buckled in.
NOTE: 1974 model General
Motors passenger cars sold in
CANADA have a light-buzzer re-
minder system which reminds occu-
pants when the driver's and any
front passenger's seat belts are not
fastened. Operation of this "SEAT
BELT BUZZER / LIGHT RE-
MINDER" is explained under that
heading in this manual.
However, these cars do
NOT
have a seat belt starter interlock sys-
tem-a system which prevents start-
ing the car until the driver and the
right front passenger are buckled
up.
Therefore, the information
about the seat belt starter interlock
system under the heading "TO
START CAR" in this manual does
not apply, nor do any other refer-
ences in this manual to the seat belt
starterinterlock system apply to this
new car sold in Canada.

To Start Car:
• Seat belts must be properly
buckled around each outboard
front seat occupant, after getting
in the car, before the starter will
operate.
• The reminder buzzer and light
are designed to
go on if seat
belts are unbuckled at occupied
front seats while the vehicle
is
underway (the engine will con-
tinue to
run).
• The engine may be restarted
after a stall without interlock in-
terference if the driver remains
seated.
If Starter Will Not Operate:
• Remove any objects from un-
occupied front seats.
• Re-buckle front seat belts.
NOTE: Front seating positions
contain a weight detector which is
, designed to activate the starter in-
terlock
or the buzzer and light ni-
minder whenever a nominal weight
is placed on the seat and belts are
not buckled. The weight detector
cannot distinguish between a pas-
senger and any object on the seat,
therefore, such items should be
stowed elsewhere in the vehicle.
Leaving something on the front
seat and leaving the front seat belts
fastened while the
car is parked
creates a current drain which could
result in a discharged battery after
a period of time, which will vary
depending on battery and weather
conditions.
IfStarterStiIIWiIINotOperate:
• Set parking brake firmly, move
transmission lever to "Park" (re-
verse for manual transmission
cars).
• TURN IGNITION KEY TO
"ON" ("RUN").
• Open hood and press button on
manual override switch labeled
"START", mounted on bright
6
orange support at side of engine
compartment
on driver's side-
see illustration.
• Close hood, enter car, fasten
seat belt, and follow normal
starting procedures.
NOTE: The reminder buzzer and
Light are also designed to come on
if a malfunction develops in the
starter interlock system.
If the car
will not start and the buzzer/light
reminder did
not come on, the

trouble is not likely to be due to
the starter interlock system.
If the
starter will crank, this indicates the
interlock
is not causing interfer-
ence.
Front Seat Lap-Shoulder
Belt Combination
• Adjust front seat to satisfaction
of driver and sit erect and well
back in seat.
• In a single motion, pull the lap-
shoulder belt webbing across lap
far enough
to permit inserting
metal latch plate end of belt into
the buckle, until a snap
is heard.
If webbing is not pulled out far
enough to reach buckle, let lap
belt rewind into its retractor to
release lock mechanism,
so belt
can be pulled out to the proper
length.
• Position "lap" portion of belt
across lap
as LOW ON HIPS as
possible. To reduce the risk of
sliding under belt during an ac-
cident, adjust to a SNUG FIT
by pulling belt firmly across lap
in direction of lap belt retractor
so it can take up slack. The belt
retractors are designed to auto-
matically take up excess webbing
and maintain tension on the belt.
KEEP
BELOW
HIP BONE
7
• The front seat shoulder belts in
this vehicle are equipped with a
"vehicle sensitive retractor"
which is designed to grip the
belt
only during a sudden stop
or impact. At other times it
is
designed to move freely with the
occupant, regardless of occupant
movement.
• For best restraint the slight ten-
sion on the shoulder caused by
the shoulder belt retractor
is de-
sirable.