Chevrolet 1980 Citation User manual

1980
CHEVROLET
OWNER'S
MANUAL
Contains Important Operating,
Safety and Maintenance Instructions.
Keep with car at all times.

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A WORD TO CITATION OWNERS
:;':'.'1'.;.-:,-, 32 ~
This manual has beet} prepared to acquaint vou-:withtheoperation and maintenance
of your 1980 Citation, and to provide importa~t~afeJY infc?rmation. It is supplemented
by a Maintenance Schedule and a Warranty Information folder. We urge you to read
these three publications carefully. Follow the recommendations to help assure the
most enjoyable, safe and troublefree operation of your vehicle.
While reading this manual, you will notice that specifications are given in both metric
and customary measures. Where precise accuracy is not needed, some conversions
have been rounded to even numbers for your handy use.
When it comes to service, remember that your Chevrolet dealer knows your vehicle
best and is interested in your complete satisfaction.
Be
sure to discuss the GM Continuou's'Protection Plan with your dealer, if you haven't
already done so. The Plan is an optional service contract which goes beyond the New
Vehicle Limited Warranty and gives you added mechanical and electrical protection
for a total of 36 months or 36,000 miles (60 000 kilometers in Canada), whichever
comes first. In the U.S., the Plan is also available at extra cost for a total of 36 months
or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first See your dealer for the full details. The Plan
is available for up to 60 days after you take delivery of your new vehicle.
To help dealers handle your needs, Chevrolet has a number of Zone Offices through-
out the country. If you have a problem that has not been handled to your satisfaction,
follow the steps in "Owner Assistance," Section 6 of this manual.
We thank you for choosing a Chevrolet product, and wantto assure you of our continuing
interest in your motoring pleasure and satisfaction.
CHEVROLET MOTOR DIVISION
FOR CONTINUING SATISFACTION, KEEP
YOUR GM CAR ALL GM.
GENERAL MOTORS PARTS ARE IDENTIFIED
BY ONE OF THESE
TRADEMARKS:
NOTE TO CANADIAN OWNERS:
If preferred, a French Owner's Manual can be obtained either from your Dealer or by
writing to General Motors of Canada Limited, Technical Publications Department,
Oshawa, Ontario L1J 5Z6.
Aux propriehaires canadiens
On peut se procurer un exemplaire de ce guide en francais aupres du concessionnaire
ou du service des publications techniques, General Motors of Canada Limited, Oshawa,
Ontario L 1J 5Z6.

1980 CHEVROLET CITATION
OWNER'S
MANUAL
rHIS "lANUAL SHOULDSE CONSIDERED A PERMANENT PART OF THIS CAR. IT
3HOULD STAY WITH THE CAR WHEN SOLD. TO PROVIDE THE NEXT OWNER WITH
"lPORTANT OPERATING. SAFETY. AND MAINTENANCE INFORMATION.
CHEVROLET MOTOR DIVISION
GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
DETROIT, MICHIGAN48202
4lrinformatlon , illustrations and specifications in thisma 'n'ual are'based on the latest t.
)roduct information available at the time of printing. The right is reserved to make
~hanges at any time without notice.
Co" cars sol d in Canada, subs titute the name General Motors of Canada Limited
",herever the name Chevro-'et Motor D;vision appears in this manu al.
Table of Contents
Section
.1 Before Driving Your ·Citation ... ..
,-,
- __ 2 Starti ng and Operating ..
. ..... 2- '
Steering Co lumn Contr~!s
2-5
.
Floor Controls
.. 2-13
Instrument Panel 2-15
Other Controls and Features . 2-26
3 --' ln Case of Emergency .
3-1
4 Appearance Care
.. .... . 4-'
: '5 Service and Maintenance
5-'
6 Owner Assistance.
6-1
7 Specifications , service Manuals, Index,
Service Station Information .... ". _ .. . . , . .. . ... ... .. ....... 7 ~ 1

SECTION 1
BEFORE DRIVING YOUR
CHEVROLET
DRIVER DAILY CHECKLIST
Be sure you know your vehicle and its, equipment and how to use it safely.
Before Entering the Vehicle
1. See that windows, mirrors, and lights are clean and unobstructed.
2. Check whether any tire is low or flat. (If any tire looks different from nonnal,
we recommend you check it with a tire pressure gage.)
3. Check that all lights work.
4. Look for fluid leaks.
5. Be sure everything is properly stowed.
6. Check the area behind the vehicle if you are about to back up.
Before Driving Off
1. Lock all doors.
2. Adjust seat.
3. Adjust inside and outside mirrors.
4. Fasten seat belts.
5. Check that all the warning lights work as the key is turned to "'Start."
6. Check all gages (including the fuel gage).
7. Release the parking brake (and see that the "Brake" light turns om.
Seerelated topics in this manual, or the MaintenanceSchedule folder, if problems
are found.
Guard Against Theft
For tips on how to protect your vehicle and its contents, see "Starting and
Operating" in section 2 of this manuaL
KEYS
Two different keys are· provided for the locks on your vehicle. The key code is
stamped on the "knock out" plug in each key head.
• Key with square head (letter "A" or "e") - for ignition lock only.
• Key with oval head (letter "8" or "0") ~ for all other locks.,
For vehicle security:
• Record the key code numbers; then knock the plugs out of the keys.
• Keep the key codes in a safe place (such as your wallet), NOT IN THE
VEHICLE.
If the originalkeys are lost, duplicates can
be made using the key codes. Contact
any
OM dealer or a locksmith.
If yO~i park in an attended lot, leave only your square-head ignition key.
1-1

DOOR LOCKS
ALL OTHER
LOCKS
Front and rear side doo rs can be locked from the inside by sliding rearward the
passenger guard
door loc k. lever located just below the inside d oor handle. If the
red tab
on the door lock lev er is visible the door is unlocked. All do ors can be
locked from the outside by first sliding the
door lock lever rearward and closing
the dooL
The front doors can a ls o be locked by using the key.
All models have as a stan
dard safety feature ov err iding door lock s. When the doors
are locked, the door latch mechanism is inoperative, preventing inadvertant
opening
of the door by movement of the inside handle.
Power Door Locks
The op tionally available power d oo r lock s aHow you to unlock or l oc k your
door s by ope ratin g the switch mar ked LOCK locat ed on e ither front door
arm rest. The automatic locking m ec han ism doe s n ot int erfere wi th manu al
oper at ion of any d oor lock lever. The d oors will not unl oc k or open wi th
the inside d oo r ha ndl e when th e l oc -k lever is in the lock positi on. but c an
be unl oc ked individually by sli din g the lock lev l!r forw ard .
1-2

CAUTION: For safety's s~ke, always lock the doors and any hatchback when
driving. Along with using the seat belts properly, locking the doors, etc. helps prevent
occupants from being thrown from the vehicl~ during accidents. It also helps prevent
unintended opening of the doors and helps keep out intruders when stopped.
STOWING THINGS IN (OR ON) THE CAR
CAUTION: luggage or other cargo should not be piled higher than the seatbacks.
When at all possible. luggage or cargo should be carried in the trunk area. The filler
panel or cargo cover, betWeen the rear seatback and the rear window should not
be used to carry objects-.even those that are small and light. All items should be
secured in place. This will help keep such things from being thrown about and
iniurying people in the car during an accident. Cargo weight. whether inside or on
the roof, should be positioned as evenly as possible from front to rear.
INSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR
The mirror can be adjusted up, down, or sideways to obtain the best view to the
front
and rear. Move the optional mirror lever to the night position to reduce glare
from headlights
of vehicles behind you.
OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR
Adjust the outside mirror so you can just see the side of your vehicle in the portion
of the mirror closest to the vehicle; This helps you determine your relation to
objects seen
in the mirror.
CONVEX MIRROR
Your vehicle may have an optional convex outsiderearview mirror. (A convex
mirror has a curved surface.) Adjust the convex mirror so you can
just see the
side
of your vehicle in the portion of the mirror closest to the vehicle. This type
of mirror is designed to give a much wider view to the rear, and especially of the
lane next to your vehicle. This may· be most helpful when you want to change
lanes, or in some cases when
you want to back up. However, cars and other objects
seen in a convex mirror
willLOOK smaller and farther away than when seen in
a flat mirror. Therefore, use care when Judging the size
or distance of a car or
object seen in this convex
.. mirror. Use your inside mirror.(or ·glance .rearward)
to determine the size and distance
of objects seen in the convex mirror.
1-3

SEAT CONTROLS
ADJUSTMENT OF SEAT POSITION
Manually Operated Front Seats
The front seats may be adjusted forward or rearward by moving the control lever
at the front of the seat and exerting slight body pressure in the direction desired.
The seat
is locked in position when the lever is released.
After adjusting a manually operated seat. push forward and rearwardon the scal
to be sure the seat adjusters have latched. Take the vehicle 10 Y(lur dealer for
service
if you find that either seat adjuster does IIi)! lakh.
NOTICE: Do not adjust a manually operated driver's seat while the car is moving.
The seat could move suddenly and unexpectedly and could cause the driver to
lose control of thecaf.
Bucket Seats ,
The front seats may be adjusted forward or rearward by moving the control lever
at the front of the seat. Move the control lever to release the locking mechanism;
then exert slight body pressure to. move seat to desired position. Release lever to
lock seat into position.
After adjusting a manually operated seat. push forward and rearward Oil the scat
to be sure the seat adjusters have latched. Take the vehicle to your dealer fo!
service if you find that either seat adjuster docs not latch.
NOTICE: Do not adjust a manually operated driver's seat while the car is moving.
The seat could move suddenly and unexpectedly and could cause the driver to lose
control of the car.
MULTI-POSITION RECLINING SEAT
The optional reclining seatback can be tilted forward or rearward of the
normal position by first pushing on the seatback. then lifting the control
lever O!l the outer side of the seat. Release the lever to lock the seat back
in place.
To return the seatback to an upright position. push rearward slightly on
the seatback, then move the control lever. Release the seatba.:k to allow
it
to move forward. If you do not first push on the seat back before moving
the lever, the seatback may jam. To release it. you must push firmly rear-
ward
on the seat back before moving the lever, then move the control lever.
CAUTION: For the optional reclining seat. to reduce the risk of sliding under the
belt during an accident, do not recline any more than needed for comfort while the
vehicle is moving. The seats and seat belts provide best restraint only when the
rider is Sitting up straight and well back in the seat and, General .Motors urges that
people riding in the vahicle be properly restrained at all times. In the event of a
1-4

frontal collision, the chance and/or severity of injury may increase with increasing
recline
of the saatbeck. The -lap belt is d .. ignad to spread the force of a collision
over the strong hlp bone instead of across the abdomen. However, if the hips are
reclined,
the lap bett may slide past the hips and ilpply restraint forceS directly to
the abdominal region.
Front Seatback Latches
Vehicles with folding front seats have inertial seatback latches. The latches are
designed to prevent forward movement
of the front seatback only during a sudden
slowing
of the vehicle. Normally, the seatback can be tilted forward without
unlatching, to get in
or out of the rear seat. But when the vehicle is ""nose down"
such as on a very steep hill, the inertial latch may keep the seatback from being
moved forward.
If this happens, there is a latch release lever at the bottom, in
the center rear
of each front seatback. pun rearward slightly on the seatback while
pulling up on the seatback latch release lever .. This will release the latch and alJow
the seatback to be moved forward.
The latch release lever must.
be in the "down" position for the inertial latch to
work properly during a sudden slowing
of the vehicle. Checkrtow and then to
see
if each seatback latch release lever moves up and down freely. If the lever does
not move freely, take the vehicle to your dealer for service. There
is no convenient
owner test of the inertial seatback latch.
If you suspect the latch is not working,
ask the dealer to inspect it.
Keep seat belt webbing and hardware clear of seat parts when you tilt folding seats
forward or rearward. This helps prevent damage to these belt systems.
Manual Window Controls
Crank type handles located in the door panels anow the side windows to be
manually raised
or lowered.
Power Windows (Optional)
Power windows have an ignition interlock so the windows cannot be operated
unless the ignition switch is in the
"run" position.
A master control for all windows
is provided at the driver's position. Individual
switches are provided under each window for passenger use.
1-5

SEAT BELTS
1'0 help lessen the chalice of injury and/or the severity of injury in accidents or
sudden,'stops, General Motors urges that people riding in the- car be properly
restrained at aU times" using the seat belts provided. This includes women who
are pregnant, and children
of all ages. (See the following pages for· the use of
restraints by children and pregnant women). General Motors provides a seat belt
at each position designed for occupant seating. Thus the front seat
of this vehicle
isequipped
with seat beltsfor two occupants, and the rearseat for three occupants.
Front S",at Lap-Shoulder Belt
• Close the front door fully (this activates the tension reliever).
• Adjust the front seat as needed and sit up straight and well back in the seat.
• There are a number of ways the lap-shoulder belt may be put on easily. For
example...
• The lap-shoulder belt may be put on using one hand by: (1) Holding the
latch plate
and pulling the belt as far as it will reach across your waist
(see illustration). (2) Then, hold the latch plate
at a right angle to the
webbing.
At the sametimesJide itup the belt by raising it toward the
upper outside corner
of the windshield. (3) Finally, pull the latch plate
down across your body and push it into the buckle until it clicks.
o
• One easy two-handed tm:thod is to hold the webbing just behind the latch
plate using the hand nearest the belt. Then bring it down across your
body. While holding the webbing taut with one hand, slide the latch plate
up the belt with the other hand. Finally, hold the latch plate and push
it into the buckle until it clicks.
• Position the "lap" portion of the belt across your lap as LOW ON THE HIPS
as possible. If the lap portion did not snug itself to your satisfaction, adjust
it
to a SNUG FIT by grasping the "shoulder" portion of the belt and pulling
it
UPWARD through the latch plate, until the lap portion is snug across your
lap. This reduces the
risk of sliding under the belt during an·accident.
CAUTION: A snug fit with the lap beilt positioned low on the hips is necessary to
help lessen the chance and/or saverity of injury in an accident. This spreads the
force of the lap belt over the strong hip bone instead of across the soft: abdomen.
To help lessen the chance and/or severity of injury in an accident never use the
same belt for more than one person at 8 time; do not wear belts twisted; and do not
let belts or belt hardware become damaged by pinching them in the seat or door.
1-6

• The shoulder portion of the front seat belt is designed to lock only during
a sudden stop or impact. At ot her times it
is designed to'move freely with
the person,
• For those who find the.shoulder belt too snug, belt pressure against the chest
can
be reduced by using the tension reliever built into the retractor, To u se
this feature: (A) Start by pulling the should er belt outward far enough so that
when you let go, it returns to the chest (Step
"A" in the figure). (B) Then
adjust the belt tension by pulling down slightly on the shoulder portion
of
the belt and letting go (Step "B" in the figure), The least amount of belt
pos
si bl eshouldbe pulled from the retractor (about 25 millimeters or one inch)
to minimize belt pressure,
• To release the tension reliever and get rid
of slack, puB the shoulder belt out
and let it retract.
Or lean far forward and then back.
CAUTION: Us. the least amount of shoulder belt slack to minimize belt pressure.
Too much bett slack could reduce the emount of protection because the bett may
not be able to property restnlin you in an accident.
00 not wur the shoulder portion of the Mit under your .rm nurest the door or
otherwl .. out , of position. Such u .. could incr .... the chance and/or the severity
of injury In an accident.
1-7

• To unfasten the belt,. push in the button in the center of the buckle.
• To stow the belt, pull it out about 150 millimeters (six incbt::s) and let go.
Hold the latch plate as it retracts to keep it from possibly striking people
or
things nearby. If you forget, the-retractor is designed to rewind the_belt when
the front door
is opened. If needed, slide the latch plate down the webbing
to let the belt retract fully. Be sure that the belt is fully retracted and the
latch plate is
out of the way before closing the door to help prevent damage
to interior trim and the seat belt assembly.
Restreint Of Pregnant Women
General Motors urges that-pregnant women lise a lap-shoulder belt whenever one
is present. This will help lessen the chance of a pregnant woman and her unborn
child being injured
and/or will help reduce the severitYClf their injury in an
accident. The lap belt should be used alone
if a shoulder belt is not present. In
either case, the lap belt should be worn as low and snug over the hips as possible,
as advised for regular seat belt ·use (see the preceding instructions).
Seat Belt Light/Buzzer Reminder
• When the key is turned to "Run" or "Start," a reminder light is designed
to come on for four to eight seconds.
It is to remind riders to fasten their
seat belts.
• .Ifthe driver's seat belt has not been buckled before turning the key to "Run"
or "Start," a buzzer is designed to sound for four to eight seconds (or until
buckled) as a reminder.
If the seat belt or reminder system does not work as de~cribed. see your dealer
for service.
LAP BELTS For Rear Seat Passengers
• To enter the rear seat area in 2-door cars:
• Pushthe front seat belt "sleeve" rearward out of the door opening, and
enter the vehicle.
• After entering, push the sleeve forward so it wiil be easy for the person
in the front seat to reach the belt.-
• Rear seat lap belts next to side windows have retractors which are designed
to take up extra webbing automatically.
1-8

• In a single motion, pull the rear seat outboard lap belt across your lap far
enough to-push the latch plate into the buckle. un
Iii it clicks._If the belt is
not pulled out far enough to rcadi the-buckle, let the lap bell rewind fully
into its retractor. This unlocks
it so the belt can be puBed.out to the proper
length.
• These beltsshould be positioned, worn, and released as described above under
"Front Seat Lap~ShouJder Belt." After fastening, check that the belt is SNUG
by pulling the belt firmly across ', your lap toward the Jap belt retractor. This
will allow the retractor to take up slack.
• The lap belt at the center seat also should be positioned, worn, and released
as described abov
e- however, it does not have a retractor. It should be
adjusted 10 a SNUG FIT by pulling on the end of the belt coming from the
adjustable latch plate.
• To lengthen the center seat lap belt. place the latch plate at a right angle to
the belt webbing and pull on the latch plate. The belt should then slide easily.
Additional Rear Seat Shoulder Belts-Offerad as an
Accessory by Your Dealer
• When properly worn with a lap beh,- -a-shoulder belt can give riders added
protection.
II can prevent or reduce impact with the insides of the vehicle
' by restraining the upper body in a collision. This is especially true in a frontal
impact.
• To use the detachable shoulder belt. place the ' knob on the shoulder
belt end .in the "keyhole"on . the lap belt latch plate (before fastening
the lap belt.) Tilt the knob as needed
to pass it through the slot. Pull
the knob firmly upward to seat it at the narrow end of the keyhole.
Then fasten the lap belt. Do this in reverse when taking off- the shoulder
belt and putting it away.
• The detachable shoulder belts can be made shorter and longer in the same
way as center seat lap belts.
• The detachable shoulder belt should have enough slack to put a fist's width
between your chest and the belt. This can be checked by putting a clenched
fist between the belt and your chest. (Place the thumb side
of your fist against
your chest with
the back of your hand facing up.)
1-9

CAUTION: Use the least amount of shoulder belt slack to minimize belt pressure.
Too much belt slack could reduce the amount of protection because the belt may
not be able to· properly restrain you in an accident.
Do not wear the shoulder belt under your arm nearest the door or otherwise out of
position. Such use could increase the chance and/or the severity of injury in an
accident.
Seat Belt Inspection
• Now and then check that belts. buckles, :latch plates, retractors,reminder
systems, and guide loops work properly. Also check for loose parts ordamage
that could keep the restraint system from doing its job.
• Keep sharp edges and damaging objects away from the belts and other parts
of the restraint system.
• Do not put anything into the opening where the seat belt webbing
passes through the trim panel. This may jam the· retractor and/or
damage the belt.
• Replace belts if they are cut, weakened, or frayed. Also have belts·replaced
if they have been worn ina collision.
• If there is any' question; have parts replaced.
• Keep belts dean and dry.
• Clean only with mild soap and lukewarm water.
• Do not bleach or dye _belts sinCe this may greatly weaken them.
Child Restraint
Children in cars should be restrained to help lessen the chance and/or severity
of injury in accidents·· or sudden stops. General Motors dealers offer restraint
systems designed by
GMfor use with infants and small children. For babies up
to 9 kilograms (20 pounds), General Motors recommends use
of the GM "Infant
Love Seat." For children weighing 9 to 18 kilograms (20 to 40 pounds), up to 1
meter(3 feet-4 inches) in height, and who are able to sit up alone, General Motors
recommends use
of the GM "Child Love Seat...
In using any infant or child restraint system, be sure to
read and follow all
instructions on installation
and uSe that come with the restraint system.
If a child is riding in the car without a General Motors (or other) infant or child
restraint system, take care as
foHows:
1-10

L Infants who cannot sit up by themselves should be r estr~ ined by placing them
in a bassinet, preferably
cove~ed and padded.-Place il crossways in the car
(widthwise) on-the rear seat.
The bassinet should bi! .sec ur ely restrained with
the car's regular seat belt
s. Another method is to place the bassinet so that
it rests aga,inst the back
of the driver's seat, again crossways in the car.
2. Never let a child sta~d or kneel on any seat. Children who can sit up by
themselves should
be placed on a seat and restrained with the seat belts
provided. When children ride in a rear se:at, they should be restrained with
a lap belt. When children ride in the fronf seat, they.,should wear both lap
and shou'lder belt.
If the shoulder bell irritates the neck or face due to the
child's size, this may be reduced by placing the child closer to the center
of
the car. If irritation is not reduced, place the child in the rear seat.
3. General Motors advises that children should be restrained properly when
riding. However,
unusual '~ conditions 'may prevent use of restraints, and
require that a small child,
sland. If that happens, the child should stand on
the
fl oor behind the driver's seat. This will help reduce the chance of being
hurt
by a frontal force impact in case of an accident.
TRAILER TOWING
This car is designed and intended to be used mainly to carry people. Towing a
trailer will a
ffect handling, durability and economy_ Your '" safcty and satisfaction
depend upon,proper use
of correct equipment. Also. you should avoid overloads
and other abusive use.
The maximum loaded trailer weight you can pull with your car depends
on what
special equipment has-been installed on it. We do -not recommend towing any
trailer more than 450 kilograms (1,000 pounds) -gross trail
er weight unless your
'car has .he required equipment.
CAUTION: Do not try to tow any trailer more than 900 kilograms (2.000 pounds)
gross trailer
weight (450 kilograms (' .000 pounds) for California emission equipped
cars
with air conditioning) no matter what trailer towing equipment is installed.;This
,could .eriously affect your car'S performance. durability or handling. which could
result in personel injury.
Infonnation on trailer towing ability, special equipment required, and optional
equipme
nf available should be o~ l a ined from your dealer. (Ask for the trailering
brochure.) Or, write: Consumer Relatio
ns Department, Chevrolet Motor Division,
Detroit, Michigan 48202. (In Canada, write to General Motors ofCanadaLimited.
Custom
er Services Department, Oshawa. Ontario LlJ 5Z6.)

Tir,s
When lowing trailers using a dead-weight hitch, inflate tires to the "Cold Tire
Pressure" for ·'Max. Load" shown on the Tire Placard on the left front door.
The allowable passenger and cargo load for this car,
also shown on· the Tire
Placard, is reduced by the tr ailer tongue weight whenever the trailer is attached
to the car.
Maintenance
More frequen.t service is required when using your car to pull a trailer. See Section
A of the Maintenance Schedule folder for Transax le Fluid and Engine Oil change
requirement ~ f or traitering.
Now and then. check that all trailer hitch bolts and nuts are tight. Also see
"the
Maintenance Schedule rol _def, and the Index in this manual, for important facts
on belts, cooling system care and brake adjustment.
Break-In Schedule
See the new car break~in instructions in this manual. Also,. we recommend you
drive your new car for
500 miles (800 kilometers) before trailer tOwing. At the
"end
of this 500 mile (800 kil ometer) break-in period, avoid speeds over 50 mph
(80 km/h) and full throttle starts during the first 500 miles (800 kilometers) of
trailer towing.
If a new engine or transaxle is installed in your car, observe the
same
care.
CAUTIONS:
Brakes - To help avoid personal injury due to poor braking action:
• Trailer brakes of adequate size are required on trailers over 450 kilograms
(1,000 pounds) loaded weight.
• If you use trailer brakes with this car, follow the installation and balance
instructions
of the trailer brake maker.
• Do nol lap into the car's brake system if the trailer brake system uses more
than 0.3 cubic centimet er (0.02 cubic inch) of nuid from the car 's master
cylinder. In this case,
the car's brake fluid capacity will not be enough to
operate
both the car and trailer brakes under all kinds, of use.
• All brake fluid parts must be able to stand 20 685 kPa (3,000 psi). The brake
fluid tap must be made al the
upper rear master cylinder po rt . Copper tubing
is subject to fatigue failure and must not be used.
• Before going down a sleep or long grade, reduce speed and shift the transaxle
into a lower gear to control your car's speed.
Try not to hold the brake pedal
down too long
or too often. This could cause the brakes to get hot and not
work
as well.
Hitches -To h el p avoid personal injury due to sway caused by such thin gs as
crosswind
s, big trucks passing or road roughness, or due to separation of the
trailer:
• Keep the trailer tongue load at 10% of the loaded trailer weight for
dead-weight hitches. Tongue loads can be adjusted by
pr oper distribution of
the load in the trailer. Thi s can be checked by weighing separately the loaded
trailer and then the tongue,
• When you remove a frailer hitch, be sure to seal any mounting h'oles in the
body. This will help prevent entry of exhaust fumes, dirt or water. (See
"Engine Exhaust Gas Caution (Carbon Monoxide)" at the beginning
of
"Starting and Operating," Section 2 of this manual.)
1-12

NOTICE: Use only trailer hitches which permit normal operation of the Energy
Absorbing Bumper System. if so equipped. For example. a rigid fore and . iUt
connection between the bumper and any other part .of. the car may increase. damage
in the event of II collision.
TRAILER TOWING TIPS
Getting Started
Before entering traffic with a frailer that has electric brakes, start the car and
trailer moving and apply the trailer brakes
by hand to be sure the trailer brakes
are working and the trailer electrical system
is connected.
. Engine Cooling
:<If your engine overheats. see "Engine Cooling System" in "In Ca'ie of
,:Emergency," Section 3 of this manual.
long \.Jphill Grades
When going up long grades, you,can reduce the chance ' of engine overheating by
turning off the air conditioner,
if so equipped.
Transaxle
,See the method for checking the transaxle fluid level. in "Service and
,.; .Maintenance," Section 5 of this manual.
Parking
You should not park cars with trailers on a grade (hill). However, if you must
park on a grade, these steps must
be followed:
1. Apply the regular brakes.
2. Have someone place wheel'chocks under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the regular brakes until the
chocks absorb the load.
4; Apply Ihe parking brake.
S. Shift Ihe transaxle 10 ··P"(Park).
If the car is parked on a grade. don't shift the transaxle 10 "P"(Park) until the
trailer wheels are chocked and the parkinghrake,
is set ~ If you do, the weight of
.the car and trailer may put so much force on the parking pawl in the transaxle
.
that it may be hard to shift oul of "P"(Park).
When starting, after being parked'on a grade:
(; Apply the regular brakes and hold.
2.
Stan the engine in ··P"(Park).
- 3. Shift into gear and release the parking brake.
4. Release the regular brakes and drive until the chocks are free.
5. Apply the regular brakes and have your helper remove the chocks.
J.]3

SECTION 2
STARTING AND OPERATING
ENGINE EXHAUST GAS CAUTION
(CARBON MONOXIDE)
Do not breathe exhaust gas becau~ it contains carbon monoxide, which by itself
-has no color
or odor. Carbon monoxide is a dangerous gas. .It can cause
unconsciousness and can be lethal.
Ifat any time you think that exhaust fumes are entering the vehicle. have the cause
determined and corrected as soon·as possible. If you must drive under these
conditi<:ms, drive only with ALL windows fully OPEN .
Prptect against carbon monoxide entry ihtp the vehicle body. The best way
is to
keep the engine-exhaust system, vehicle body. and
body ventilation system
properly maintained. We recommend that the exhaust system and body be
" inspected by a competent mechani c: '
• each time the vehicle is raised for an oil change;
• whenever a change is noticed in the ', sound ofthe ~ exhaust system;
• whenever the exhaust sys.tem. underbody. or rear of the vehicle is damaged.
See your Maintenance Schedule fo . ~4er for parts requiring inspection.
To allow proper operation of the vehicle's ventilation system, keep the air inlet
grille
in front of the win(fshield clear of snow, leaves or other obstruc ti ons at all
times.
SITTING IN A PARKED VEI:iICLE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING FOR
A LONG TIME IS NOT RECOMMENDED.
Do not fun ,the engine in confined areas (such as garages or next to a building)
any mo
re than needed to move the vehicle. When the,vehicle is stopped in an
UNCONFINED area with the engine running for any,more than a short time,
take the following steps:
A. Adjust the heating or cooling system to force outside air into the vehicle as
follow s:
1. On cars not equipped with air conditioning. set the fan to medium or
high speed.
2. On cars equipped with air conditioning, serthe fan to medium or high
speed
a!1;d right hand control lever 'to any position except "orr' or
·'Max."
-B. Keep the exhaust tailpipe-area cl ear of snow and other material to help"reduce
the buildup
of exhaust gases 'under the vehicle.
The ,trunk lid or hatchback should be closed while driving to help prevent drawing
exhaust gas into the car.
If the trunk lid or hatchback must' remain open for some
reason while moving, or
if electrical wiring or other cable conn_ections to a trail er
_must pass through the seal between the trunk lid or hatchback and-the body. fo ll ow
these precautions:
• Close all windows.
2-1

• Adjust the heating or cooling system to force outside air into the car as
.described above bUI set the fan to high speed.
• On cars with outside air vents in or under the instrument panel, open the
vents fully.
New. Car "Break-In" Period
You can drive your new car from its very first mile/kilometer without following .
a
formal"break~in" schedul e. However, there' are things you can do during the
first
few hundred mile s/ kilometers of driving that will add to the future
performance and econo my of your car.
We recommend you limit your speed during the first 500 miles (800 kiJ ometers) ~
to a maximum of 55 mph (90 km /h); but do not drive for long periods al any '
one constant speed, eitherJ ast
or slow. During this time, avoid fulllhronJe starts _
and, if possible, avoid h"ard stops especially during the first 200 miles (320
kilometers) of driving.
Always drive at moderate speed until the engine has completely warmed up.
If you plan to use your new car for trailer towing, see additional information in
Section 1 under "Trailer Towing."
GUARD AGAINST THEFT
Your new Citation has many features to help prevent theft of the c ar itself, its
equipment,
and its contents. But these ami-theft features depend upon you to
work.
THE TIME TO BE MOST ON GUARD IS WHEN LEAVING THE CAR ...
• PARK IN A LIGHTED SPOT WHEN YOU CAN.
• LOCK THE STEERING COLUMN AND TAKE THE KEYS ,
•
Turn the key to "Lock ," and remove the key. This locks the ignition and
both steering and shift connols unless your car has a manual tr ansaxle.
In that case, the shift control- is not locked.
• If you must leave a key with the car, leave the square-head key .only.
Take the oval-Read key with you. This will help prevent unwanted entry
into your car at a later date, or into your -trunk.
•
FULLY CLOSE ALL WINDOWS AND ANY ROOF PANELS. AND
LOCK ALL DOORS .
• KEEP COSTLY ITEMS OUT OF SIGHT AND LOCKED UP,
• Never leave things
of value in plain sight on seats or noor.
• The glove box offers a place- to hide small items.
• Lock larger items in the trunk or place them in the rear storage.
FUEL REQUIREMENTS
Your engine is designed to use only unleaded gasoline. Unleaded gasoline must
be 'used for the emission control $ystem to operate pr operly. Its use will also reduce
spark plug fouling,-exhaust system corrosion
and engine oil deterionition.
Using leaded gasoline can damage the emiS5ion control system and could result
in loss
of warranty coverage. This is especially true on cars that have the C-4
System. Leaded gasoline will damage tbe oxygen sensor, which may affect
emission control, fuel economy
and drivabiJity. See "C-4 (Computer Controlled
Catalytic Converter) System" in "Service
and Maintenance" Section 5 of this
manual for more information.
2-2

Federa1 regulations require that pumps delivering unleaded gasoline be labeled
with the word UNLEADED. Only these pumps have nozzles which fit the filler
neck
of your vehicle gasoline tank.
In-the United States, Federal law also requires that gasoline octane ratings
be
posted on the pumps. The octane rating shown-is an average of Research octa!1e
(R) and Motor octane(M). In most parts of the United States, you should use
unleaded gasoline with an octane rating
of at least 87. However, you may use
unleaded gaSOline with an octane rating as low as 85 in thes:e high-altitude areas:
Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Utah. Wyoming. northeastern Nevada.
southern Idaho, western South Dakota, and that part
of Texas which is directly
south of New Mexico.
Using unleaded gasoline with an octane rating lower _than staled above can cause
persistent, heavy "spark knock." (''Spark knock" is a metallic rapping noise.) This
can lead to engine damage. If you detect heavy spark knock even when using
gasoline of the stated octane rating, or if you hear steady spark knock while
holding a steady speed on level roads, have your dealer correct the problem.
However. now and then you may
notice light spark knock for a short time while
accelerating or driving up hills. This is no cause for concern, because you get the
greatest fuel economy benefit from the gasoline's octane rating when there is
occasional light spark knock ~ Using gasoline with a higher octane rating than that
which allows occasional spark knock is an unneceSsary expense.
Gasohol
Gasohol, a mixture of unleaded gasoline and ethanol (grain alcohol), is
available in some areas. You may use gasohol in your vehicle, provided it
is
no more than 10% ethanol. ' Be :sure the gasohol has the same octane
ratings as stated above for unleaded gasoline. If drivability problems are
encountered because _ of the use of gasohol, you should switch back to
unleaded gasoline.
NOTICE : Take care to not spill gasohol on painted surfaces . Gasohol can cause
paint damage, which may not be covered under the New Vehicle Warranty.
OPERATION IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES
Your engin~ is designed to run on unleaded gasoline with the octane ratings given
under '''Fuel Requirements" above.
If you plan to drive your vehicle outside the United States and its jurisdictions
or Canada, there is a chance the gasolines available in some count,ries will not meet
the needs of your engine. Low octane rated gasolines may cause engine knocking
or serious engine damage,: for which Chevrolet is not responsible.
Using leaded gasoline in -a vehicle equipped with a catalytic converter may cause
the converter to lose its effectiveness as an emission control. It could also affect
the emission warranty.
If you must use leaded gasoline in a vehicle designed for
unleaded fuel, converter modification and different maintenance intervals will be
required. For gasoline information and a maintenance schedule for the countries
in which you plan to travel, write to: Chevrolet Motor Division, Consumer
Relations Department, Detroit, Michigan 48202, (in Canada, write to General
Motors of Canada Limited. Customer Service Department, Oshawa, Ontario LlJ
5Z6).
When writing, please include:
• the Vehicle Identification Number and
• the countries in which you plan to travel.
2-3