0 The 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier Owner's Manual 1-1 Seats and Restraint Systems This section tells you how to your seats and safety belts properly. It also explains the use "SRS" system. 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 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 how to operate your audio system. Your Driving and the Road Here you'll find helpful information and tips about the road and to drive under different conditions. how Problems on the Road This section tells what to do you have a problem while driving, such as a flat tire or overheated engine, etc. if 6-1 7-1 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 lubricants to use. and 8-1 9- 1 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 "Reporting Safety Defects" on page 10. on 8- Index Here's an alphabetical listing almost every subject in this manual. can use it to quickly find of You something you wantto read. i GM GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the Emblem, GM 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 changesin the product after that time without further notice. For vehicles first sold in Canada, substitute the name "General Motorsof Canada Limited" for Chevrolet it Motor Division whenever appears in this manual. in Please keep this manual your Chevrolet, so it will be If there if you ever need when you're on the road. you it sell the vehicle, please leave this manual it so the new in owner can use it. WE SUPPORT VOLUNTARY TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION THROUGH National Institute for We support voluntary technician certification. AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE EXCELLENCE For Canadian OwnersWho Prefer a French Language Manual: Aux propribtaires canadiens:Vous pouvez vous procurer un exemplaire de ce guide en fraqais chez votre concessionaire ou au: DGN Marketing Services Ltd. 1500 Bonhill Rd. Mississauga, Ontario L5T IC7 Litho in U.S.A. Part No. 10273366 3 _,t Edition 1996 @Copyright General Motors Corporation All Rights Reserved ii The dynamic William C. "Billy" Durant shified gears frommaking carriages to making cars, forming half the team that gave birth to Chevrolet. .. :. ' +,-;.p 3:: ...? : ..- . .LY,. I . Louis Chevrolet, the other half of the team, at the wheel of his experimental "Classic Six, '' which entered production in 1912. That year 2999 vehicles were produced. :. , ': .yr% , I .. : I -- In 1932 Chevrolet introduced the Synchro-Mesh transmission and ofleered a host of accessories -- including such niceties as a clock! I I I 1 ) b!! 1L I, The legacy o America's favorite f sportscar began in 1953, when 319 hand-assembled white Corvettes launched the first use of a fiberglass body in .q a production car. I I I I I I iv I I I I I I I I I I I I I I The 1957 Chevy started a romance with the American public -- and was powered by an available fuel-injected V8. . ., ... .. .,. .. .. l -. and we are pledged to make ownership of your Chevrolet an enjoyable and rewarding experience. .... ., L .. 60's automotive excitement included Chevrolet landmarks like the Corvette Sting Ray, the sporty Camaro, and powerplants like the legendary 327 V8. Your new Chevrolet continues a tradition of quality and value. V How to Use this Manual Many people read their owner's manualfrom beginning to end when they first receive their new vehicle. If you do this, it will help you learn about features and the controls for your vehicle. Inthis manual, you'll find that pictures and words worktogether to explain things quickly. These mean there something thatcould hurt is you or other people. In the cautionarea, we tell you whatthe hazard is. Then we tell you what to do 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 slash through it in this book. This safety symbol means "Don't,'' "Don't do this," or "Don't let this happen." A good place to lookfor what you needis the Index in the back of the manual. It's an alphabetical list of what's in the manual, andthe page number where you'll find it. Safety Warnings and Symbols You will find a number of safety cautions in this book. We use a box and the word CAUTION to you tell about things that could hurt you if you wereto ignore the warning. vi Vehicle Damage Warnings Also, this you find in book will NOTICE: the area, notice In we tell something you about that can damage your vehicle. Many times, this damage these notices: would be not covered by your warranty, and it could be costly. But the notice will tell you whatdo to help to avoid the damage. These mean thereis something that could damage your vehicle. When you read other manuals, you might see CAUTION and NOTICE warnings n different colors i or in different words. You'll also see warning labels onyour vehicle. They use the same words, CAUTION NOTICE. or vii Vehicle Symbols These are some of the symbolsyou may find on your vehicle. For example, these symbols are used on an original battery: CAUTION POSSIBLE INJURY PROTECT EYES BY SHIELDING CAUSTIC FASTEN SEAT BELTS BURNS COOLANT AVOID SPARKS OR FLAMES SPARK OR FLAME COULD EXPLODE BATTERY POWER WINDOW WINDOW DEFOGGER ENGINE OIL PRESSURE A These symbols are important for you and your passengers whenever your vehicle is driven: These symbols have to do with your lamps: These symbols are on some of your controls: These symbols are used on warning and indicator lights: Here are some other symbols you may see: Q ,\I/, n UNLOCK la TURN SIGNALS e WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER ENGINE COOLANT TEMP BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM BRAKE k t h FUSE I-1 ' LIGHTER t )a( (a) R HORN SPEAKER b AIR BAG 0p p \ e , p3 FOG LAMPS #0 ANTI-LOCK BRAKES () e FUEL Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems Here you'll find information about the seats in your Chevrolet and how to use your safety belts properly. You can also learn about some things you should nut do with air bags and safetybelts. 1-2 1-7 1-12 1-13 1-13 1-21 1-22 1-22 1-28 Seats and Seat Controls Safety Belts: They're forEveryone Here Are Questions Many People Ask About Safety Belts -- and the Answers How to Wear Safety Belts Properly Driver Position Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy Right Front Passenger Position Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Rear Seat Passengers 1-31 1-33 1-35 1-37 1-45 1-48 1-48 1-48 Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children and Small Adults Center Passenger Position Children Child Restraints Larger Children Safety Belt Extender Checking Your Restraint Systems Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash 1-1 Seats r---d Seat Controls This section tells you about the seats-- how to adjust them -- 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 the vehicle is moving. The suddenmovement could startle and confuse you, or make you push a pedal whenyou don't want to. Adjust thedriver's seat only when the vehicle is not moving. Lift the lever on the front of the driver's seat to unlock it. Slide the seat to where you want it. Then release the lever and try to move the seat with your body, make to sure the seat is locked into place. Your Cavalier will be equipped with one of the following passenger seat adjusters. Slide the lever under the passenger's to the right to seat unlock it. Slide the seat to where you want it.Then release the lever and try move the seat with your to body, to make sure the seat is locked place. into If your Cavalier is equipped with easy-entryseats, this is your front passenger 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. Then release the lever and try to move the seat with your body,to make sure the seat is locked into place. Manual Lumbar Support (If Equipped) The manual lumbar support controlis located at the front of the driver's seat, toward the right. Turn the knob clockwise or counterclockwiseto increase or decrease the amount of support your lower back. to 1-3 Reclining Front Seatbacks I To adjust the seatback,lift the lever on the outer of side the seat andmove the seatback to where want it. you Release the lever to lock the seatback. up on the Pull lever and the seat will to an upright position. go But don't have a seatback reclined if your vehicle is moving. Sitting ina reclined position when your vehicle is in motion can be dangerous. Evenyou buckle if CAUTION: (Continued) 1-4 . . Seatback Latches (2-Door Models) up, your safety belts can't their jobwhen do you're reclined like this. its The shoulder belt can't do 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 neckor other injuries. The lap belt can'tdo its job either. In a crash the belt could go up over your abdomen. The belt forces would be there, not at your pelvic bones. This could causeserious internal injuries. For proper protection when the vehicle in is motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit well back in the seat and wear your safety belt properly. The front seatback folds forward to let people get into the back seat. To fold a front seatback forward, lift thelatch located on the lower back side of the seatback. Then the seat will fold forward. Head Restraints Slide the headrestraint up or down that the top of the so restraint is closest to the topof your ears. This position reduces the chance of a neck injury in a crash. When you return the seatback to its original position, make sure the seatback islocked. The latch must be down for the seat to work properly. 1-5 Easy Entry Seat (If Equipped) Rear Seats Folding theRear Seat If an easy entry right front seat isn't locked, it can move. In a sudden or crash, the person stop sitting there could injured. After you've used be it, be sure to push rearward on an easy entry seat to be sure it is locked. On some two-door models, the right front seatyour of vehicle makesit easy to get in and out the rear seat. of Tilt the right front seatback completely forward and the whole seat will slide forward. Move the right front seatback to its original position seat, pull forwardon the after someone gets into the rear seat area. Then move To open the fold-down rear seat tab. the seat rearward until locks. it Tilt the seatback completely forward again to get out. Safety Belts: They're for Everyone This part of the manual tells you how use safety belts to properly. It also tells you some things you shouldnot do with safety belts. And it explains the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS), or air bag system. I A CAUTION: Don't let anyone ride where heor she can't wear a safety belt properly.If you are in acrash and your you're not wearing a safety belt, injuries can bemuch worse. You can hit things insidethe vehicle or be ejected from it. can be seriously You injured or killed. In the same crash, you might not be if you are buckled up. Always fasten your safety belt,and check that your passengers' belts are fastened properly too. To close the seat, push the seatback up to its original position. Check to ensure the seatback is in its original position and securelylatched by pulling forward on the top of the seatback. Move any obstructions in the trunk compartment. 1-7 In most states and Canadian provinces, the law says to wear safety belts. Here's why: They work. It is extremely dangerous to ride incargo area, a inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people riding in these areas are more likely to be to seriously injured orkilled. Do not allow people ride in any areaof your vehicle that isnot equipped with seats and safety belts. Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat andusing a safety belt properly. You never knowif you'll be in a crash. If you have a do crash, you don't know it will be a bad one. if A few crashesare 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. After more than25 years of safety belts in vehicles, the facts are clear. In most crashes buckling does up matter ... a lot! Your vehicle has a light that comes on as a reminder to buckle up. (See "Safety Belt Reminder Light" in the Index.) Why Safety Belts Work When you ride inor ...