Chevrolet 1998 Prizm User manual

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0 The 1998 Chevrolet Prizrn 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 air bag system.
Features and Controls
This section explains how to start and operate your vehicle.
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
This sectiontells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort controls and how to operate your audio system.
Your Driving and the Road
Here you’ll find helpful information and tips about the road and howto drive under different conditions.
Problems on the Road
This section tells what todo if you havea problem while driving, such as a flat tire or overheated engine, etc,
Service and Appearance Care
Here the manualtells you how to keep your vehicle running properly and looking good.
Maintenance Schedule
This section tells you when to perform vehicle maintenance and whatfluids 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 information on “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 want toread.
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CHEVROLET
GENERALMOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem,
CHEVROLET, the CHEVROLET Emblem and the
name PRIZMare registered trademarks of
General Motors Corporation.
Thismanual includes the latest information atthe time it
was printed.We reserve the right to make changes in the
product after thattime without further notice. For
vehicles first sold inCanada, substitutethe name
“General Motors of Canada Limited” forChevrolet
Motor Division whenever it appears in this manual.
Please keep this manual in your vehicle,
so it will be
there if you ever need it when you’re on the road. If
you
sell the vehicle,please leavethis manual init so the new
owner can use it.
Litho in
U.S.A.
Part No. 10296056 B First Edition
WE SUPPORT
VOLUNTARY TECHNICIAN
CERTIFICATION THROUGH
National Institute for
AUTOMOTIVE
SERVICE
EXCELLENCE
We supportvoluntary
technician certification.
@CopyrightGeneral Motors Corporation
1997
All Rights Reserved

The dynamic WilliamC. “Billy”
Durant shijied gears frommaking
carriages tomaking cars,
forming half the team that gave
birth to Chevrolet.
Louis Chevrolet, the other half
of the team,
at the wheel
of his experimental “Classic
Six,
” which enteredproduction in 191 2.
Thatyear 2999 vehicles were produced.
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In I932 Chevrolet
introduced the
Synchro-Mesh
transmission and
offered ahost
of
accessories -- including
such niceties as a
clock!
white Corvettes
launchedthe I
first use of a
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and we are pledged to
make ownership of your
Chevrolet an enjoyable
and rewarding experience.
60's automotive excitement
included Chevrolet landmarks
like the Corvette Sting Ray,
the sporty Camaro, and
powerplants like the
legendary
327 V8.
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I The 1957 Chevy started a romance with the American
I public -- and was powered byan available fuel-injected V8.
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Your new Chevrolet continues a tradition of quality and value.
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How to Use this Manual
Many people read their owner’s manual from beginning
to end when they first receive their new vehicle. If you
dothis,
it will help you learn about the features and
controls for
your vehicle. In this manual, you’ll find
that pictures and wordswork togetherto explain
things quickly.
Index
A good place to look for what you need is the Index in
back of the manual.It’s an alphabeticallist of what’s in
the manual, and the page number where you’ll find it.
Safety Warnings and Symbols
You will find a number of safety cautionsin this book.
We use a box andthe word
CAUTION to tell you
aboutthings that couldhurt you if youwere to ignore
the warning.
These mean there is something that could hurt
you or other people.
In the caution area, we tell you what the hazard is. Then
we tell you whatto do
to help avoid or reduce the
hazard. Pleaseread these cautions.
If you don’t,you or
others could be hurt.
dl You will alsofind a circle
1 with a slash through it in
this book. This safety
symbolmeans “Don’t,’’
“Don’t
do this” or “Don’t
let this happen.’’
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Vehicle Damage Warnings
Also,in this book youwill find these notices:
I NOTICE:
These mean there is something that could
damage
your vehicle.
In the notice area, we tell youabout somethingthat
can damage your vehicle. Many times,this damage
would not be coveredby your warranty, and it could
be costly. Butthe notice will tell you what
to 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 also see warning labels on your vehicle.They use
the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.
vii

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
ACID COULD
BATTERY
CAUSE
BURNS
AVOID
SPARKS
OR
FLAMES
SPARK
OR ,111,
COULD
FLAME
EXPLODE
BATTERY
These symbols
are important
for you and
your passengers
whenever your
vehicle
is
driven:
DOOR LOCK
UNLOCK
FASTEN
SEAT
BELTS
These symbols
have to do with
your lamps:
SIGNALS e e
TURN
FOG LAMPS
$0
These symbols
are
on some of
your controls:
WINDSHIELD
WIPER
WINDSHIELD
DEFROSTER
WINDOW
DEFOGGER
VENTILATING
FAN
These symbols
are used on
warning and
indicator lights:
ENGINE
t
COOLANT
t-
TEMP
-
CHARGING I-1
BATTERY
SYSTEM
BRAKE (0)
COOLANT
a
ENGINE OIL w,
PRESSURE
ANTI-LOCK
(8)
BRAKES
Here are some
other symbols
you may see:
FUSE
LIGHTER
a
HORN )tr
SPEAKER
b
FUEL p3
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a Section 1
Seats and Restraint Systems
Here you’ll find information about the seats in yourChevrolet and how to use your safetybelts properly. You can also
learn about some things you should
not do with airbags andsafety belts.
1-2
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1-12
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1-20
1-21
1-21
Seats and SeatControls
Safety Belts: They’re forEveryone
Here Are Questions Many People Ask About
SafetyBelts
-- and the Answers
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly
Driver Position
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy
Right Front Passenger Position
Air Bag Systems
1-30
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1-36
1-48
1-58
1-61
1-61
1-62
Rear SeatPassengers
Children
Built-in Child Restraint (Option)
ChildRestraints
Larger Children
Safety Belt Extender
CheckingYour Restraint Systems
Replacing Restraint System Parts After
a Crash

Seats and Seat Controls
This part tells youaboutthe seats -- how to adjustthem,
and alsoabout reclining front seatbacks, head restraints
and rear folding seatbacks.
Manual Front Seats
You canlose control of the vehicle if you try to
adjust a manual driver’s seat while the vehicle is
moving. The sudden movement could startle and
confuse
you, or make you push a pedal when you
don’t want to. Adjust the driver’s seat only when
the vehicle is not moving.
Lift thelever under thefront seat to unlock it. Slidethe
seat to where you want it.Release the lever and tryto
move the seat with your body,
to make sure the seatis
locked into place.
Don’t put anything underthe front seats. Items under
the seatscould keep theseatsfrom locking
into
place properly.
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Reclining Front Seatbacks
To adjust the seatback, lift the leveron the outer side of
the seat. Release the lever to
lock the seatback where
you want it. Push on
the seat to make sure it’s locked
intoposition. Pull
up on the lever, and the seatwill go
to itsoriginal upright position.
But don’t haveaseatback reclined
if your vehicle is moving
A CAUTION:
I-
Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle is
in motion can be dangerous. Even
if you buckle
up, your safety belts can’t do theirjob when
you’re reclined like this.
CAUTION: (Continued)
1-3

The shoulderbelt can’tdo its job because it
won’t beagainstyour body. Instead,it
will be in
front of you. In
a crashyou could gointo it,
receiving neckor other injuries.
Thelapbelt can’tdo its jobeither. In a crash the
belt could
go up over your abdomen. The belt
forces would bethere, not atyour pelvic bones.
This could causeseriousinternal injuries.
For properprotection whenthe vehicle isin
motion, havethe seatbackupright. Then sit
well back
in the seat and wear your safety
belt properly.
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Head Restraints
Slide the head restraint up or down so that the top of the
restraint is closest to the top
of your ears. This position
reduces the chance
of a neck injury in a crash.
Pull up to raise the restraint. To lowerit,push the
release button and push down.
Make sure the head restraint is locked in place after
you adjust it.
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If a headrestraint is not installed onthe seatback
or stored in the vehicle properly,it could be
thrown about the vehicle in
a crash or sudden
maneuver. People inthe vehicle could beinjured.
Remove the head restraints only when you need
to fold the seat,and be sure thatthe head
restraints arestoredsecurely inthe trunk. When
the seat
is returned to the passenger position, be
surethe head restraints are installed properly.
1-4

Rear Head Restraint Removal
To remove the rear head restraints:
1. Press the release button located under the leftside
of the head restraint.
2. Lift the head restraint upward.
3. Securethe head restraints in the trunk using the
tie-down straps located
on each sideof the
trunk floor.
To reinstall the rear head restraints:
1. Remove thehead restraints from the trunk.
2. Press and holdthe release button on the seatback
while inserting the head restraint.
3. Push the head restraint down. After releasing
the button, pull on the head restraint to make sure
it issecure.
Rear Folding Seatback (If Equipped)
You can fold either sideof the seatback down in your
vehicle formore cargo space. On vehicles with
a built-in
child restraint system,only the driver’s siderear
passenger seatbackcan be folded down. Make surethe
front seat isn’treclined. If it is, the rear seatbackwon’t
fold down all the way.
A safety beltthat is twistedor not properly
attachedwon’t providethe protectionneeded
in a crash.
A person wearing a twisted or not
properly attachedbelt could be seriouslyinjured.
After raisingthe rear seatback,always checkto
be sure thatthe safety belt is not twisted and is
properly attached.
1-5

To fold either seatback down:
1. Remove the head restraints.See “Rear Head
Restraint Removal”earlierin this section.
2. Removethe rear centerlap-shoulderbelt latchby
using a key to press the release button.
3. Pull the release on the
driver’s sidein the
trunk. (Repeat the
procedure forthe other
side if
you do not have a
built-in child restraint.)
4. Fold the seatback down.