ignition CHEVROLET CAVALIER 2000 3.G Owner's Manual

2-43
After you exit the vehicle and all of the doors have
been closed, the lamps will stay on for an additional
20 seconds before fading off. The lamps will also fade
to off when the key is inserted and turned to RUN
of ACCESSORY, or the lock button on the key fob
is pressed.
Front Reading Lamps (If Equipped)
These lamps are located on the rearview mirror.
Turn each one on and off by pressing its switch.
Map Lamps (If Equipped)
These lamps are located forward of the dome lamp.
To turn the lamps on, press the switch. Press the
switch again to turn them off.
Battery Saver
Your vehicle is equipped with a battery saver feature
designed to protect your vehicle's battery.
When any interior lamp (trunk, reading, dome, etc.)
is left on and the ignition is turned off, the battery
rundown protection system will automatically turn the
lamp off after 20 minutes. This will avoid draining the
battery. This system does not protect against leaving on
the headlamps or parking lamps.
To reactivate the interior lamps, either:

The ignition must be turned on,

the activated lamp switch must be turned off,
then on, or

a front door must be opened.
The battery rundown protection feature will also be
activated when any door is left open.

2-48
Convertible Top (If Equipped)
The following steps explain the proper operation of your
convertible top.
NOTICE:

Remove any items from the convertible top
storage area before you lower the top. Even
small items in the storage area can damage
the top or other parts of the system.

Don't raise or lower the convertible top
when the temperature is below 20F (
-7C).
The cold can cause cracks and other damage
to the top as it is being lowered or raised.

Don't raise or lower the convertible top
while the vehicle is moving. The wind could
damage the top. Bring the vehicle to a
complete stop before attempting to raise or
lower the top. Always make sure that the top
is securely latched before driving the vehicle.
Lowering Your Convertible Top
1. Set the parking brake and shift your automatic
transaxle to PARK (P) or your manual transaxle to
NEUTRAL (N).
2. Turn the ignition to RUN.
3. Lower the side door windows completely to avoid
wear to the weatherstrips.
4. Push the button in the latch handle and turn the
handle down to unhook the latch pins from the holes
over the windshield.

2-56 Removing the One Piece Boot
1. Set the parking brake and shift your automatic
transaxle to PARK (P) or your manual transaxle to
NEUTRAL (N).
2. Open the trunk and leave it open.
3. From inside the vehicle, fold down the rear seatback.
See ªFold
-Down Rear Seatº in the Index.
4. Gently pull the boot flap away from the rear
seat striker.
The one piece boot is detached the same as the
three piece boot at the quarter trim panel and the
trunk lid opening.
5. Store boot in the trunk.
6. Close the trunk.
7. Raise the rear seatback to the up position. Push the
seat back to make sure it is latched. Ensure that the
rear safety belts do not become trapped behind the
rear seats.
Raising the Convertible Top
1. Set the parking brake and shift your automatic
transaxle to PARK (P) or your manual transaxle to
NEUTRAL (N).
2. Turn the ignition to RUN.
3. Lower the door windows completely to avoid wear
to the weatherstrips.
4. Push the button in the latch handle and rotate the
handle down.

2-61
The main components of your instrument panel are:
A. Instrument Panel Intensity Control
B. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
C. Hazard Warning Flashers Switch
D. Ignition Switch
E. Windshield Wiper/Washer Controls
F. Cigarette Lighter/Accessory Power Outlet
G. Audio SystemH. Climate Controls and Rear Window Defogger
I. Shift Lever
J. Parking Brake Lever
K. Tilt Steering Wheel Lever (If Equipped)
L. Hood Release Lever
M. Fuse Panel

2-63 Speedometer and Odometer
Your speedometer lets you see your speed in both miles
per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour (km/h). Your
odometer shows how far your vehicle has been driven,
in either miles (used in the United States) or kilometers
(used in Canada).
Your odometer can be seen when the vehicle is running.
To view it when the ignition is off, press the trip
odometer button located near the display. The mileage
will display for about 5 seconds.
You may wonder what happens if your vehicle needs a
new odometer installed.
If the new one can be set to the mileage total of the old
odometer, then it must be. But if it can't, then it's set
at zero and a label must be put on the driver's door to
show the old mileage reading when the new odometer
was installed.Trip Odometer
The trip odometer can tell you how far your vehicle
has been driven since you last reset the trip odometer
to zero.
Your trip odometer can be seen when the vehicle is
running. To view it when the ignition is off, press the
trip odometer button located near the display. You
will first see the total miles your vehicle has traveled.
Press it again to see the mileage since the trip odometer
was last reset. The display will show the mileage for
about 5 seconds.
The trip odometer reset button is located next to the
odometer. By pressing the reset button, you can alternate
between the season odometer and the trip odometer.
To reset the trip odometer, press and hold the reset
button for one to two seconds.
The odometer and trip odometer can be displayed with
the ignition off by pressing the trip odometer reset
button. The display will remain on for 5 seconds
after the last time the reset button is pressed.

2-66
CAUTION:
If the air bag readiness light stays on after you
start your vehicle, it means the air bag system
may not be working properly. The air bags in
your vehicle may not inflate in a crash, or they
could even inflate without a crash. To help avoid
injury to yourself or others, have your vehicle
serviced right away if the air bag readiness light
stays on after you start your vehicle.
The air bag readiness light should flash for a few seconds
when you turn the ignition key to RUN. If the light
doesn't come on then, have it fixed so it will be ready
to warn you if there is a problem.
Charging System Light
The charging system light
will come on briefly when
you turn on the ignition, and
the engine is not running,
as a check to show you
it is working.
Then it should go out when the engine is started.
If it stays on, or comes on while you are driving, you
may have a problem with the electrical charging system.
It could indicate that you have a loose generator drive
belt, or another electrical problem. Have it checked
right away. Driving while this light is on could drain
your battery.
If you must drive a short distance with the light on, be
certain to turn off all you accessories, such as the radio
and air conditioner.

2-67 Brake System Warning Light
Your vehicle's hydraulic brake system is divided into
two parts. If one part isn't working, the other part can
still work and stop you. For good braking, though, you
need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there is a brake problem.
Have your brake system inspected right away.
United States Canada
This light should come on briefly when you turn the
ignition key to RUN. If it doesn't come on then, have it
fixed so it will be ready to warn you if there's a problem.If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off the
road and stop carefully. You may notice that the pedal is
harder to push. Or, the pedal may go closer to the floor.
It may take longer to stop. If the light is still on, have the
vehicle towed for service. (See ªTowing Your Vehicleº
in the Index.)
CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working properly
if the brake system warning light is on. Driving
with the brake system warning light on can lead
to an accident. If the light is still on after you've
pulled off the road and stopped carefully, have
the vehicle towed for service.
When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will also come on when you set your parking brake. The
light will stay on if your parking brake doesn't release
fully. If it stays on after your parking brake is fully
released, it means you have a brake problem.

2-68 Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
With the anti-lock brake
system, this light will
come on when you start
your engine and it will
stay on for three seconds.
That's normal.
If the light stays on, turn the ignition to OFF. Or, if
the light comes on when you're driving, stop as soon as
possible and turn the ignition off. Then start the engine
again to reset the system. If the light still stays on, or
comes on again while you're driving, your vehicle needs
service. If the regular brake system warning light isn't
on, you still have brakes, but you don't have anti
-lock
brakes. If the regular brake system warning light is
also on, you don't have anti
-lock brakes and there's a
problem with your regular brakes. See ªBrake System
Warning Lightº earlier in this section.
The anti
-lock brake system warning light should come
on briefly when you turn the ignition key to ON. If the
light doesn't come on then, have it fixed so it will be
ready to warn you if there is a problem.
Enhanced Traction System Warning Light
(If Equipped)
United States Canada
With the Enhanced Traction System (ETS), this warning
light should come on briefly as you start the engine.
If the warning light doesn't come on then, have it fixed
so it will be ready to warn you if there's a problem.
If the warning light stays on, or comes on when you're
driving, there may be a problem with your Enhanced
Traction System and your vehicle may need service.
When this warning light is on, the system will not limit
wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.

2-69
The Enhanced Traction System warning light may come
on for the following reasons:

If you turn the system off by moving the shift lever
to FIRST (1) or SECOND (2), the warning light will
come on and stay on. To turn the system back on,
move the shift lever back to a position other than
FIRST (1) or SECOND (2). The warning light
should go off. (See ªEnhanced Traction Systemº
in the Index for more information.)

The warning light will come on when you set your
parking brake with the engine running, and it will
stay on if your parking brake doesn't release fully.
If the transaxle shift lever is in any position other
than FIRST (1) or SECOND (2) and the warning
light stays on after your parking brake is fully
released, it means there's a problem with the system.

If the traction control system is affected by an
engine
-related problem, the system will turn off
and the warning light will come on.
If the Enhanced Traction System warning light comes
on and stays on for an extended period of time when the
transaxle shift lever is in any position other than FIRST
(1) or SECOND (2) your vehicle needs service.
Enhanced Traction System Active Light
United States Canada
When your Enhanced Traction System is limiting wheel
spin, this light will come on. Slippery road conditions
may exist if the Enhanced Traction System active light
comes on, so adjust your driving accordingly.
The light will stay on for a few seconds after the
Enhanced Traction System stops limiting wheel spin.
The Enhanced Traction System active light also comes
on briefly when you turn the ignition key to RUN.
If the light doesn't come on then, have it fixed so it
will be there to tell you when the system is active.

2-70 Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
United States Canada
Your vehicle is equipped with one of these gages.
With the ignition in RUN, this gage shows the engine
coolant temperature.If the gage pointer moves into the red area, your
engine is too hot! It means that your engine coolant has
overheated. The CHECK GAGES light should come on
if this condition exists. See ªCheck Gages Lightº later
in this section for more information. If you have been
operating your vehicle under normal conditions, you
should pull off the road, stop your vehicle and turn off
the engine as soon as possible.
In ªProblems on the Road,º this manual shows what
to do. See ªEngine Overheatingº in the Index.
Low Coolant Warning Light
If this light comes on and
stays on, your system is
low on coolant and the
engine may overheat.
See ªEngine Coolantº in the Index and have your
vehicle serviced as soon as you can.