CHEVROLET CAVALIER 1998 3.G Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Fuel
You can be injureu and pur vehicle could be
damaged if you
try to do service work on a
vehicle without knowing enough about it.
Be sure you have suffkient knowledge,
experience, the proper replacement parts
and tools before you attempt any vehicle
maintenance task.
0 Be sure to use the proper nuts, bolts and
other fasteners. “English” and 6Lmetric’’
fasteners can be easily confused,
If you use
the wrong fasteners, parts can later break
or fall off. You could
be hurt.
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle
Things you might add to the outside of your vehicle can
affect the airflow around it. This may cause wind noise
and affect windshield washer performance. Check with
your dealer before adding equipment to the outside of
your vehicle. Use regular unleaded gasoline rated at
87 octane or
higher. At a minimum, it should meet specifications
ASTM
D4814 in the United States and CGSB 3.5-M93
in Canada. Improved gasoline specifications have been
developed by the American Automobile Manufacturers
Association (AAMA) for better vehicle performance
and engine protection. Gasolines meeting the
AAMA
specification could provide improved driveability and
emission control system protection compared to
other gasolines.
Be sure the posted octane is at least
87. If the octane is
less than
87, you may get a heavy knocking noise when
you drive. If it’s bad enough, it can damage your engine.
If you’re using fuel rated at 87 octane or higher and you
hear heavy knocking, your engine needs service. But
don’t worry
if you hear a little pinging noise when
you’re accelerating or driving up a hill. That’s normal,
and you don’t have to buy a higher octane fuel to get
rid
of pinging. It’s the heavy, constant knock that means
you have a problem.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If your vehicle is certified to meet California Emission
Standards (indicated on the underhood emission control
label), it is designed to operate on fuels that meet
California specifications. If such fuels are not available
in states adopting California emissions standards, your
vehicle will operate satisfactorily on fuels meeting
federal specifications, but emission control system
performance may be affected. The malfunction indicator
lamp
on your instrument panel may turn on and/or your
vehicle may fail
a smog-check test. If this occurs, return
to your authorized Chevrolet dealer for diagnosis to
determine the cause
of failure. In the event it is
determined that the cause
of the condition is the type of
fuels used, repairs may not be covered by your warranty.
Some gasolines that
are not reformulated for low
emissions contain an octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT); ask your service station operator whether or not his fuel
contains
MMT. General Motors does not recommend the
use of such gasolines.
If fuels containing MMT are used,
spark plug
life may be reduced and your emission
control system performance may be affected. The
malfunction indicator lamp on your instrument panel may turn on. If this occurs, return to your authorized
Chevrolet dealer for service.
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines in the United States
are now required to contain additives that will help
prevent deposits from forming in your engine and fuel system, allowing your emission control system
to
function properly. Therefore, you should not have to add anything to the fuel.
In addition, gasolines containing
oxygenates, such as ethers and ethanol, and
reformulated gasolines may be available in your
area to
help clean the air. General Motors recommends that you
use these gasolines if they comply with the specifications described earlier.
NOTICE:
Your vehicle was not designed for fuel that
contains methanol. Don’t use it. It can corrode
metal parts in your fuel system and also damage
plastic and rubber parts. That damage wouldn’t
be covered under your warranty.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Fuels in Foreign Countries Filli~ : Your Tank
If you plan
on driving in another country outside the
United States or Canada, the proper fuel may be hard to
find. Never use leaded gasoline or any other fuel not
recommended in the previous text on fuel. Costly repairs
caused by use
of improper fuel wouldn’t be covered by
your warranty.
To check on fuel availability, ask an auto club, or
contact a major oil company that does business in the
country where you’ll be driving.
You can also write us at the following address for
advice. Just tell us where you’re going and give your
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN).
General Motors Overseas Distribution Corporation
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario
LlH 8P7
Gasoline vapor is highly flammable. It burns
violently, and that can cause
very bad injuries.
Don’t smoke if you’re near
gasoline or refueling
your vehicle. Keep sparks, flames and smoking
materials away from gasoline.
I
6-5

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If you get gasoline on yourself and then
something ignites it, you could be badly burned.
Gasoline can spray out on you
if you open the
fuel filler cap too quickly.
This spray can happen
if your tank is nearly full, and is more likely in
hot weather. Open the fuel filler cap slowly and
wait for any “hiss” noise to stop. Then unscrew
the cap all the
way.
~~ ~ ~ ~~~~ ~ ~ ~~ ~~~~ ~~
The cap is behind a hinged door on the right side of
your vehicle.
While refueling, hang the tethered cap inside the fuel door by placing the fuel cap strap in the strap hanger.
To remove the cap, turn it slowly to the left
(counterclockwise). The cap has a spring in it; if
you let
go
of the cap too soon, it will spring back to the right. Be
careful
not to spill gasoline. Clean gasoline from
painted surfaces as soon as possible. See “Cleaning the
Outside of Your Vehicle” in the Index.
6-6

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When you put the cap back on, turn it to the right
(clockwise) until
you hear a clicking sound. Make sure
you fully install
the cap. The diagnostic system can
determine
if the he1 cap has been left off or improperly
installed.
This would allow fuel to evaporate into the
atmosphere.
See “Malfunction Indicator Lamp” in
the
Index.
NOTICE:
If you need a new cap, be sure to get the right
type. Your dealer can get one for you.
If you get
the wrong type, it may not
fit properly. This may
cause your malfunction indicator lamp to light
and your fuel
tank and emissions system may be
damaged. See “Malfunction Indicator Lamp” in
the Index.
Filling a Portable Fuel Container
Never fill a portable fuel container while it is in
your vehicle. Static electricity discharge from the
container can ignite the gasoline vapor.
You can
be badly burned and your vehicle damaged if this
occurs.
To help avoid injury to you and others:
Dispense gasoline only into approved
containers.
Do not fill a container while it is inside a
vehicle, in
a vehicle’s trunk, pickup bed or
on any surface other than the ground.
inside
of the fill opening before operating
the nozzle. Contact should be maintained
until the filling is complete.
Bring the fill nozzle in contact with the
Don’t smoke while pumping gasoline.
6-7

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Zhecking Things Under the Hood
A CAUTION:
An electric fan under the hood can start up and
injure you even when the engine is not running.
Keep hands, clothing and tools
away from any
underhood electric fan.
The following sections tell you how to check fluids,
lubricants and important parts underhood.
Hood Release
A CAUTION:
I
Things that burn can get on hot engine parts and
start a fire. These include liquids like gasoline,
oil, coolant, brake fluid, windshield washer and
other fluids, and plastic or rubber. You or others
could be burned.
Be careful not to drop or spill
things that will burn onto
a hot engine.
To open the hood, first pull
the handle inside the vehicle
on the driver’s side under
the instrument panel.
6-8

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Then go to the front of the vehicle and lift the secondary
hood release handle.
To make sure that the secondary hood release handle
works properly, lubricate the hood latch at least once
a year. Before closing the hood, be sure all
the filler caps
are on
properly. Then lift the hood to relieve pressure on the
hood prop. Remove the hood prop from the slot in the
hood and return the prop to its retainer. Lower the hood
8 to 10 inches (20 to 25 cm) above the vehicle and
release
so that it will latch fully. Check to make sure the
hood is closed and repeat if necessary.
6-9

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 2.2L Engine (Code 4)
When you open the hood, you'll see:
A. Coolant Surge Tank
B. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
C. Engine Oil Fill CapDipstick
D. Brake Fluid Reservoir
E. Hydraulic Clutch Fluid
Reservoir
(If Equipped)
F. Automatic Transaxle Fluid
Dipstick
(If Equipped)
G. Air Cleaner
H. Battery
1. Windshield Washer
Fluid Reservoir
6-10

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 2.4L Engine (Code T)
When you open the hood, you'll see:
A. Coolant Surge Tank
B. Engine Oil Fill Cap
C. Engine Oil Dipstick
D. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
E. Brake Fluid Reservoir
F. Hydraulic Clutch Fluid
Reservoir
(If Equipped)
G. Battery
H. Air Cleaner
I. Windshield Washer
Fluid Reservoir
6-11

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Engine Oil
It's a good idea to check your engine oil every time you
get fuel. In order to get
an accurate reading, the oil must
be warm and the vehicle must
be on level ground.
Check the oil here if you
have
a 2.2L engine.
Check the oil here if you have a 2.4L engine. The
dipstick's handle will be a yellow ring.
Turn off the engine and give the oil a few minutes to
drain back into the oil pan. If you don't, the oil dipstick
might not show the actual level.
6-12