Chevrolet 1997 Cavalier User manual

0 The 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier Owner’s Manual
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Seats and Restraint Systems
This section tells you how to use your seats and safety belts properly. It also explains the “SRS” system.
Features and Controls
This section explains howto start and operate your Chevrolet.
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
This section tells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort controls and howto operate your audio system.
Your Driving and the Road
Here you’ll find helpful information and tips about the road andhow to drive under different conditions.
Problems on the Road
This section tells what to doif you have a problem while driving, such as a flat tire or overheated engine, etc.
Service and Appearance Care
Here the manual tellsyou how to keep your Chevrolet running properly and looking good.
Maintenance Schedule
This section tells you when to perform vehicle maintenance and what fluids and lubricants to use.
Customer Assistance Information
This section tells you how to contact Chevrolet for assistance and how to get service and owner publications.
It also gives you informationon “Reporting Safety Defects” on page
8- 10.
Index
Here’s an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual. You can use it to quickly find
something you wantto read.
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GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem,
CHEVROLET, the CHEVROLET Emblem and the
name CAVALIER are registered trademarksof
General Motors Corporation.
This manual includes the latest information at the time it
was printed.We reserve the rightto make changes
in the
product after that time without further notice. For
vehicles first sold in Canada, substitute the name
“General Motorsof Canada Limited” for Chevrolet
Motor Division whenever
it appears in this manual.
Please keep this manual
in your Chevrolet,so it will be
there if you ever needit when you’re on the road.
If you
sell the vehicle, please leave this manual init
so the new
owner can use it.
Litho in U.S.A.
Part
No. 10273366 €3 €_,t Edition
ii
GM
-
WE SUPPORT
VOLUNTARY TECHNICIAN
CERTIFICATION THROUGH
National Institute for
AUTOMOTIVE
SERVICE
EXCELLENCE
We support voluntary
technician certification.
For Canadian Owners Who Prefer a
French Language Manual:
Aux propribtaires canadiens: Vous pouvez vous
procurer
un exemplaire de ce guide en fraqaischez
votre concessionaire ou au:
DGN Marketing Services Ltd.
1500 Bonhill Rd.
Mississauga, Ontario
L5T IC7
@Copyright General Motors Corporation
1996
All Rights Reserved

The dynamic William C. “Billy”
Durant shified gears frommaking
carriages tomaking cars,
forming half the team that gave
birth to Chevrolet.
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Louis Chevrolet, the other half of the team,
at the wheel
of his experimental “Classic
Six,
’’ which enteredproduction in 1912.
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Thatyear 2999 vehicles wereproduced.
.. :

--
I
iv
In 1932 Chevrolet
introduced the
Synchro-Mesh
transmission and
ofleered a
host of
accessories -- including
such niceties as
a clock!
I The legacy of America'sfavoritesportscar
I began in 1953,when319 hand-assembled I
I
white Corvettes
launched
the I
first use of a
fiberglass
body in I
aproduction car.
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I
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b!!
I

I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
l
and we are pledged to
make ownership of your
Chevrolet an enjoyable
and rewarding experience.
. . .-
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..
60's automotive excitement
included Chevrolet landmarks
like the Corvette Sting Ray,
the sporty Camaro,and
powerplants like the
legendary
327 V8.
.. ..
-
.,. -.
... .
..
, .
I
I The 1957 Chevy started a romance with the American
I public -- and waspowered by an availablefuel-injected V8.
I
Your new Chevrolet continues a tradition of quality and value.
V

How to Use this Manual
Many peopleread their owner’s manualfrombeginning
to end when they firstreceive their new vehicle. If you
do this, it will help you learn aboutthe features and
controlsfor your vehicle. Inthis manual, you’llfind
that pictures and words worktogetherto explain
thingsquickly.
A good place to lookfor what you needis the Index in
the back
of the manual. It’san alphabeticallist of what’s
in the manual, andthe page number where you’llfind it.
Safety Warnings and Symbols
You will find a number of safety cautions inthis book.
We use a
box and the word CAUTION totell you
aboutthings that could hurt you if you wereto ignore
the warning.
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These mean thereissomething that could hurt
you or other people.
In the cautionarea,we tell you whatthe hazard is. Then
we tell you what todo to help avoid or reduce the
hazard.Please read thesecautions.If you don’t,you or
others could be hurt.
You will also find a circle
with a slashthrough it in
this book. This safety
symbolmeans “Don’t,’’
“Don’t
do this,” or “Don’t
let this happen.”

Vehicle Damage Warnings Inthenoticearea, we tellyouaboutsomethingthat
can damage your vehicle. Many times, this damage
be costly. But the notice will tell you whatto 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.
You’ll alsosee warning labels on
your vehicle. They use
the same words, CAUTIONor NOTICE.
Also,inthisbookyouwillfind these notices:wouldnotbecovered by yourwarranty,and it could
NOTICE:
These mean there is something that could
damage your vehicle.
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Vehicle Symbols
These are some of the symbolsyou may find on your vehicle.
For example,
these symbols
are used on an
original battery:
POSSIBLE A
CAUTION
INJURY
PROTECT
EYES
BY
SHIELDING Q
CAUSTIC
BURNS
AVOID
SPARKS
OR
FLAMES
SPARK
OR ,\I/,
COULD
FLAME
EXPLODE
BATTERY
These symbols
are important
for you
and
your passengers
whenever your
vehicle
is
driven:
n
UNLOCK la
FASTEN
SEAT
BELTS
POWER
WINDOW
0p
AIR BAG p\
These symbols
have to do with
your lamps:
SIGNALS e
TURN
FOG LAMPS # 0
These symbols
are
on some of
your controls:
WINDSHIELD
DEFROSTER
WINDOW
DEFOGGER
These symbols
are used
on
warning and
indicator lights:
ENGINE k
COOLANT - th
TEMP -
CHARGING I-1
BATTERY
SYSTEM
'
BRAKE (a)
R
COOLANT
ENGINEOIL
e,
PRESSURE
ANTI-LOCK
(e)
BRAKES
Here are some
other symbols
you may see:
FUSE
t
LIGHTER
HORN
)a(
SPEAKER
b
FUEL p3

Section 1
Seats and Restraint Systems
Here you’ll find informationaboutthe seats in yourChevrolet and howto use yoursafety belts properly. You can also
learn about some things you should nut do with air bags and safetybelts.
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Seatsand SeatControls
SafetyBelts: They’re forEveryone
Here Are QuestionsMany People Ask About
SafetyBelts
-- and the Answers
How to Wear SafetyBeltsProperly
Driver Position
Safety Belt UseDuring Pregnancy
Right Front Passenger Position
SupplementalRestraint System (SRS)
Rear SeatPassengers
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Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children
and SmallAdults
CenterPassenger Position
Children
ChildRestraints
LargerChildren
SafetyBelt Extender
CheckingYour Restraint Systems
ReplacingRestraint System Parts After
a Crash
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Seats r---d Seat Controls
This section tells you about the seats-- how to
adjustthem
-- and also about reclining seatbacks and
head restraints.
Manual Front Seats
A CAUTION:
You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to
adjust a manual driver’s seat while thevehicle is
moving. The suddenmovement couldstartle and
confuse you,
or make you push a pedal whenyou
don’t want to. Adjust thedriver’s seatonly when
the vehicle is not moving.
Lift the lever on the front of the driver’s seat to unlock
it. Slidethe seat to where you want it. Thenreleasethe
lever and tryto move the seat with your body,to make
surethe seat is locked intoplace.

Your Cavalier will be equipped with one of the
following passengerseat adjusters.
Slidethe lever under the passenger'sseat
to the right to
unlock it. Slidethe seat to where you want it.Then
release the lever and try
to move the seat with your
body, to make sure the seat is lockedinto place.
If your Cavalier is equipped with easy-entryseats,this is
your frontpassenger seat adjuster. Pull up on the lever at
the front of the passenger's seat to unlock it. Slide the
seat to a comfortable position. Thenrelease the lever
and try
to move the seat with your body,to make sure
the seat is lockedinto place.
Manual Lumbar Support (If Equipped)
The manual lumbar support controlis located at the
front
of the driver's seat,toward theright. Turn the knob
clockwise or counterclockwise to increase or decrease
the amount of supportto your lower back.
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Reclining Front Seatbacks
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To adjust the seatback,lift the lever on the outersideof
the seat andmove the seatback to where
you want it.
Release thelever to lock the seatback.Pull
up on the
lever and the seat willgo to an upright position.
But don't have a seatback reclined if your vehicle is moving.
Sitting in a reclined position whenyour vehicle is
in motion can be dangerous. Even if you buckle
CAUTION: (Continued)
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up, your safety belts can’tdotheir jobwhen
you’re reclined like this.
Theshoulderbelt can’t do
its job because it
won’t beagainstyour body. Instead, itwill bein
front of you. In
a crash you could go intoit,
receiving neckorother injuries.
Thelapbelt can’tdoitsjob either.
In a crash the
belt could
go up over your abdomen. Thebelt
forces would bethere, not
at your pelvic bones.
Thiscould causeseriousinternalinjuries.
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.
Head Restraints
Slidethe headrestraint up or down so that the top of the
restraint is closestto the top
of your ears. This position
reduces the chance
of a neck injury in a crash.
Seatback Latches (2-Door Models)
The front seatbackfolds
forward to let peopleget
into the back seat.
To fold a front seatbackforward,lift thelatch located on
the lower back side of the seatback.Then the seat will
fold forward.
When you return the seatbackto its originalposition,
make sure the seatback islocked.The latch must be
down for the seatto work properly.
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Easy Entry Seat (If Equipped)
If an easy entry right front seat isn’t locked,it
can move. In a suddenstopor crash, the person
sitting there couldbe injured. After you’ve used
it, be sure to push rearward on an easy entry seat
to be sure it is locked.
Rear Seats
Folding the Rear Seat
On some two-door models, the right front seatof your
vehicle makes
it easy to get in and out of the rear seat.
Tilt the right front seatback completely forward and
the whole seat will slide forward.
Move the right front seatback to its original position
after someone gets into the rear seat area. Then move
the seat rearward untilit locks.
Tilt the seatback completely forward again to get out.
To open the fold-down rearseat,pull forwardon the
seat tab.

To close the seat,push the seatbackup to its
originalposition.
Check toensurethe seatbackis in itsoriginalposition
and securelylatchedby pulling forward
on the top
of the seatback. Move any obstructionsin the
trunk compartment.
Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone
This part of the manual tells you how to use safety belts
properly.
It also tells you somethings you shouldnot do
with safetybelts.
And it explains the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS),
or
air bag system.
I A CAUTION:
Don’t letanyone ride where heor she can’t wear
a safety belt properly. If you arein acrash and
you’re not wearing a safety belt,
your injuries
can be
much worse. You can hit things insidethe
vehicle or be ejected from it.
You can be seriously
injured
or killed. In the samecrash, you might
not be if you arebuckled up. Always fastenyour
safety belt,and check that your passengers’ belts
are fastened properly too.
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Itis extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area,
inside
or outside of a vehicle. In a collision,
people riding in these areas are morelikely to be
seriously injured orkilled.
Do not allow peopleto
ride in any area
of your vehicle that isnot
equipped with seats and safetybelts. Be sure
everyone in yourvehicle is in
a seat andusing a
safety belt properly.
Your vehicle has a light that
comes on as a reminder to
buckle up. (See “Safety
Belt Reminder Light”
in the Index.)
In most states and Canadian provinces, the law saysto
wear safety belts. Here’s why:
They work.
You never knowif you’ll be in a crash. If you do have a
crash, you don’t knowif it will be a bad one.
A few crashesare mild, and some crashes can beso
serious that even buckled up a person wouldn’t survive.
But most crashes are in between. In many
of them,
people who buckle up can survive and sometimes walk
away. Without belts they could have been badly hurt
or killed.
After more than
25 years of safety belts in vehicles,
the facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up
does
matter ... a lot!
Why Safety Belts Work
When you ride inor on anything, you go as fast as
it goes.

Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it’s just a seat on wheels. Put someone on it.
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Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle. The rider
doesn't stop. The person keeps going until stopped
by something.
In a real vehicle,
it could be the windshield ...
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