Chevrolet 2003 Cavalier User manual

.
The 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier Owner Manual
Seats and RestraintSystems ........................... 1-1
FrontSeats
............................................... 1-2
RearSeats
............................................... 1-8
Safety Belts .............................................. 1-9
Child Restraints
....................................... 1-31
Air BagSystems ...................................... 1-51
RestraintSystemCheck
............................ 1-61
Keys
........................................................ 2-2
DoorsandLocks
....................................... 2-8
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................ 2-16
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
........... 2-18
Mirrors
.................................................... 2-33
Onstar@ System
...................................... 2-36
StorageAreas
......................................... 2-38
Sunroof
.................................................. 2-39
Instrument Panel Overview .......................... 3-2
Climate Controls
...................................... 3-1 7
Warning Lights, Gagesand Indicators ......... 3-21
Audio System(s)
....................................... 3-36
Features and Controls ..................................... 2-1
?AdilldGVd§ ................................................. 2-1 4
InstrumentPanel ............................................. 3-1
Driving YourVehicle
....................................... 4-1
Towing ..................................................... 4-2
Your Driving,the Road,andYour Vehicle ....... 4-31
Service
..................................................... 5-3
Fuel
......................................................... 5-5
CheckingThingsUnder the Hood ................. 5-10
Bulb Replacement
.................................... 5-45
Windshield WiperBladeReplacement ......... 5-50
Tires
...................................................... 5-51
Appearance Care
..................................... 5-71
Vehicle Identification
................................. 5-80
Electrical System ...................................... 5-81
Capacities and Specifications
..................... 5-85
NormalMaintenanceReplacement Parts
...... 5-86
MaintenanceSchedule
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance Information
.................... 7-1
Customer Assistance Information
.................. 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects
........................... 7-10
ServiceandAppearanceCare .......................... 5-1
MaintenanceSchedule ..................................... 6-1
INDEX
............................................................... 1

GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem,
CHEVROLET, the CHEVROLET Emblem and the name
CAVALIER are registered trademarks of General
Motors Corporation.
This manual includes the latest information at the time it
was printed. We reserve the right
to make changes
after that time without further notice. For vehicles first
sold in Canada, substitute the name “General Motors of
Canada Limited”for Chevrolet 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 leave this manual in it
so the
new owner can use it.
Litho in U.S.A.
Part
No. 22686694 A First Edition
Canadian Owners
You can obtain a French copy of this manual from your
dealer or from:
Helm, Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
How to Use This Manual
Many people read their owner’s manula1 from begin
to end when they first receive their new vehicle. If ning
you do this, it will help you learn about the features and
controls for your vehicle. In this manual, you’ll find
that pictures and words work together
to explain things.
Index
A good place to look for what you need is the Index in
back of the manual.
It’s an alphabetical list of what’s
in the manual, and the page number where you’ll find it.
‘Copyright General Motors Corporation 08/02/02
AllRightsReserved

Safety Warnings and Symbols
You will find a number of safety cautions in this book.
Weuse a box and the word CAUTION to tell you about
things that could hurt you
if you were 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 what
to do to help avoid or reduce the
hazard. Please read these cautions.
If you don’t, you
or others could be hurt.
You will also find a circle
with a slash through it in
this book.
This safety
symbol means “Don’t,’’
“Don’t do this’’ or “Don’t let
this happen.”
...
Ill

Vehicle Damage Warnings
Also, in this book you will find these notices:
Notice: These mean there is something that could
damage your vehicle.
A notice will tell you about something that can damage
your vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be
covered by your warranty, and it could be costly. But the
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.
Vehicle Symbols
Your vehicle has components and labelsthat use
symbols instead of text. Symbols, used on your vehicle,
are shown along with the text describing the operation
or information relating to a specific component, control,
message, gage or indicator.
If you need help figuring out a specific name of a
component, gage or indicator reference the following
topics:
Seats and Restraint Systems in Section
1
Features and Controls in Section 2
Instrument Panel Overview in Section 3
Climate Controls in Section 3
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators in Section 3
Audio System(s) in Section 3
Engine Compartment Overview in Section 5
iV

These are some examples of vehicle symbols you may find on your vehicle:
POSSIBLE A
CAUTION
INJURY
PROTECT
EYES BY
SHIELDING
CAUSTIC
BAlTERY
4CID COULD
CAUSE
BURNS
AVOID
SPARKS
OR
FLAMES
SPARK
OR
FLAME '\b'
COULD
EXPLODE
BATTERY
LATCH BOTH LAP AND
SHOULDER BELTSTO
PROTECTOCCUPANT
48: @
DONOTTWISTSAFETY
BELT WHEN ATTACHING
FASTEN
SEAT
BELTS
MOVE SEAT
FULLY
\&
REARWARD* /z
SECURE
CHILD SEAT
PULL BELT
COMPLETELY
rHENSECURE
CHILD SEAT
DO NOT INSTALL
A REAR-FACING
CHILD RESTRAINT
INTHIS SEATING
POSITION
DO NOT INSTALL A
'ORWARD-FACING
CHILD RESTRAINT
INTHIS SEATING
POSITION
?"OR L"CK a
UNLOCK
LIGHTING
-
MASTER SWITCH 8- 0 ,
HAZARD
WARNING
FLASHER
RUNNING
':{io
DAYTIME
LAMPS
ENGINE
COOLANT
cc
TEMP -
CHARGING
BATTERY
SYSTEM
COOLANT
d
ENGINEOIL
PRESSURE
w4
l.fJ
ACCESS
ENGINE
COOLANT
FAN
OWNERS
MANUAL
SERVICE
SERVICE a
MANUAL
IfL?I

Section Seats
and Restraint Systems
Front Seats ...................................................... 1.2
ManualSeats
................................................ 1.2
Reclining Seatbacks
........................................ 1.4
Head Restraints
............................................. 1.5
Seatback Latches
........................................... 1-6
Easy Entry Seat
............................................. 1-7
Rear Seats
....................................................... 1.8
Rear Seat Operation
....................................... 1.8
Safety Belts
..................................................... 1-9
SafetyBelts:They Are for Everyone
................. 1-9
Questions and AnswersAbout Safety Belts ......1-13
How
to WearSafety Beits Properiy ................. 1-14
Driver Position
.............................................. 1.1 4
SafetyBelt Use During Pregnancy ..................1-22
Right Front Passenger Position
....................... 1.23
RearSeatPassengers
.................................. 1-23
RearSafetyBeltComfort Guides for Children
and Small Adults ....................................... 1.27
Satety Belt Extenaer
i -;JU
Child Restraints ............................................. 1.31
Older Children
.............................................. 1.31
Infants and Young Children
............................ 1-34
Child Restraint Systems
............. ..... 1-37
--
.....................................
Where to Put the Restraint ............................. 1-40
Top Strap Anchor Location
............................. 1-42
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System)
........................... 1-43
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front
Top Strap
.................................................... 1-41
LATCH System
......................................... 1-45
Position
................................................... 1-45
Seat Position
............................................ 1-48
AirBagSystems
............................................ 1-51
Where Are the Air Bags? ............................... 1-54
When Should an
Air Bag Inflate? .................... 1-57
What Makes an Air Bag Inflate?
..................... 1-57
How Does an Air Bag Restrain?
..................... 1-58
What Will You See After an Air Bag Inflates? ......
.l -58
Restraint System Check .................................. 1-61
Checking Your Restraint Systems
................... 1-61
Replacing Restraint System Parts After a
Crash
...................................................... 1-62
Se!?.licincJ Vnllr Air B._g-Eqlrippec! \!ehic!E? ......... 1-69
1-1

Front Seats
Manual Seats
You can lose contrL, .,, ihe 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 the lever located on the front of the driver’s seat
to
unlock it. Slide the seat to where you want it and
release the lever. Then try to move the seat with your
body, to make sure the seat is locked into place.
1 -2

Your vehicle will be equipped with one of the following
passenger seat adjusters.
If your vehicle is not equipped with easy entry seats,
your passenger seat adjuster looks like this. Slide
the lever located under the passenger’s seat to the right
to unlock it. Slide the seat to where you want
it and
release the lever. Then try
to move the seat with your
body,
to make sure the seat is locked into place.
If your vehicle is equipped with easy entry seats, this is
your front passenger seat adjuster. Pull up on the
lever located at the front of the passenger’s seat up to
unlock it. Slide the seat to a comfortable position
and release the lever. Then try to move the seat with
your body, to make sure the seat is locked into place.
1 -3

Reclining Seatbacks
To adjust the seatback, lift the lever located on the
outboard side of the seat and move the seatback
to where youwantit. Release the lever and push
rearward on the seatback
to make sure it is locked. Pull
up on the lever without pushing on the seatback and
the seatback will go
to an upright position.
But don’t have a seatback reclined
if your vehicle is
moving.
1 -4

Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle
is in motion canbe dangerous. Even if you
buckle up, your safety belts can’t do their job
when you’re reclined like this.
The shoulder belt can’t do its job because
it
won’t be against your body. Instead, it will be
in front of you. In
a crash you could go into it,
receiving neck or other injuries.
The lap belt can’t do its job either. In a crash
the beit couldgo up over your abdomen. The
belt forces would be there, notat your pelvic
bones. This could cause serious internal
injuries.
For proper protection when the vehicle is in
motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit
well back in
the seat ana wear your safety beit
properly.
I
Head Restraints
Adjust your head restraint so that the top of the restraint
is ciosesi io ihe iop oi yvur ileaci. I 111s p3iiul-l
reduces the chances of a neck injury in a crash.
I, .
1 -5

Seatback Latches
If your vehicle is a two-door model, the front seatback
folds forward
to let people get into the back seat.
To fold a front seatback
forward, lift the latch
located on the lower back
side of the seatback
and push the seatback
forward.
When you return the seatback to its original position,
make sure the seatback is locked. The latch must
be down for the seat to work properly.
the seatback isn’t locked,
it could move
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could
cause injury to the person sitting there. Always
press rearwardon the seatback to be sure it is
locked.
I
1-6

Easy Entry Seat
.. .he easy entry right front seat isn’t loc..,d,it
can move. In a sudden stop or crash, the
person sitting there could be injured. After
you’ve used it, be sure to push rearward on an
easy entry seat to be sure it is locked.
I
If your vehicle has this feature, the right front seat
makes it easy to get in and out of the rear seat.
1. Lift the right front seatback latch to release the
seatback.
2. Tilt the seatback completely forward and the whole
seat will slide forward.
3. Move the right front seatback to its original position
after someone gets into the rear seat area.
4. Then move the seat rearward until it locks.
Tilt the seatback completely forward again and move
the seat to get out of the back seat.
1 -7

Rear Seats
Rear Seat Operation
Folding the Seatback
To fold the seatback, do the following:
1. Pull the release straps
located in the trunk.
The right strap
operates the
passenger’s side rear
split seat. The left
strap operates
the driver’s side rear
split seat.
2. Fold the seatback down from the inside of the
vehicle.
If the seatback isn’t locked,
it could move
forward in a sudden stop or crash.That could
cause injury to the person sittingthere. Always
press rearward on the seatback tobe sure
it is
locked.
A safety belt that is improperly routed, not
properly attached, or twisted won’t provide the
protection needed in a crash.The person
wearing the belt could be seriously injured.
After raising therear seatback, always check
to be sure that the safety belts are properly
routed and attached, andare not twisted.
To raise the seatback, push the seatback up to return it
to its original position.
Push and pull on the seatback to make sure
it is latched
securely in the fully upright position.
1 -8

Safety Belts
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone
This part of the manualtells you how to use safety
belts properly. It also tells you some things you should
not do with safety belts.
Don’t let anyone rib= where he or sheca,,
J
wear a safety belt properly. If you are in a
crash and you’re not wearing a safety belt,
your injuries can be much worse. You can hit
things inside the vehicle or be ejected from
it.
You can be seriously injured or killed. In the
same crash, you might not be, if youare
buckled up. Always fasten your safety belt,
and check that your passengers’ beirs are
fastened properly too.
It is extren.,.y dangerous to ride in a cargo
area, inside or outside of a vehicle.
In a
collision, people riding in these areas are more
likely to be seriously injured or killed.
Do not
allow people to ride
in any area of your vehicle
that is not equipped with seats and safety
belts. Be sure everyone in your vehicle
is in a
seat and using a safety belt properly.
Your vehicie has
a iignt
that comes on
as a
reminder to buckle up. See
Safety Belt Reminder
Light
on page 3-24.
In most states and in all Canadian provinces, the law
says to wear safety belts. Here’s why: They work.
1 -9

You never know if you’ll be in a crash. If you do have a
crash, you don’t know
if it will be a bad one.
A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be so
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.
Why Safety Belts Work
When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as
it goes.
After more than
30 years of safety belts in vehicles, the
facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up does
matter
... a lot!
Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it’s just a seat on
wheels.
1-10

11-1

The person keeps going until stopped by something. In
a real vehicle, it could be the windshield ...
or the instrument panel ...
1-12

Questions and Answers About
Safety Belts
Q: Won’t I be trapped in the vehicle after an
accident
if I’m wearing a safety beit?
or the safety belts!
With safety belts, you slow down as the vehicle does.
and your strongest bones take the forces. That’s why
safety belts make such good sense.
\/-a. ?.-+ -,-.r* tirnn tn ptn* Vn,, p+nn n,,nr rn*ro d;c+gnrn
I VU LjGl lllulG LIII IG tu dlvy. I vu v~vy VYUS IIIVS v UOYLUO uvv,
A: You could be - whether you’re wearing a safety
belt or not. But you can unbuckle a safety belt,
even
if you’re upside down. And your chance
of being conscious during and after an accident,
so you can unbuckle and get out, is much greater if
you are belted.
A: Air bags are in many vehiclestoday and will be in
most of them inthe future. Butthey are
!qy&m.~nt~l yst~mcon!!/; sn they work with
safety belts - not insteadof them. Every air bag
system ever offered for salehas requiredthe use
ot
safety belts. Even if you’re ina vehicle that has air
bags, you still haveto buckle up to get the most
protection.That’s true not onlyinfrontal collisions,
but especially inside and other collisions.
1-13