electrical CHEVROLET OPTRA 2004 1.G User Guide

{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 inate in a crash, or they
could even inate 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 to ON. If the light
does not 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 your accessories, such as the radio
and air conditioner.
3-29

Did you just drive through a deep puddle of water?
If so, your electrical system may be wet. The condition
will usually be corrected when the electrical system
dries out. A few driving trips should turn the light off.
Have you recently changed brands of fuel?
If so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with quality fuel. See
Gasoline Octane on page 5-5. Poor fuel quality will
cause your engine not to run as efficiently as designed.
You may notice this as stalling after start-up, stalling
when you put the vehicle into gear, misfiring, hesitation
on acceleration or stumbling on acceleration. (These
conditions may go away once the engine is warmed up.)
This will be detected by the system and cause the
light to turn on.
If you experience one or more of these conditions,
change the fuel brand you use. It will require at least
one full tank of the proper fuel to turn the light off.
If none of the above steps have made the light turn off,
your dealer can check the vehicle. Your dealer has
the proper test equipment and diagnostic tools to fix any
mechanical or electrical problems that may have
developed.Emissions Inspection and Maintenance
Programs
Some state/provincial and local governments have or
may begin programs to inspect the emission control
equipment on your vehicle. Failure to pass this
inspection could prevent you from getting a vehicle
registration.
Here are some things you need to know to help your
vehicle pass an inspection:
Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the Check
Engine light is on or not working properly.
Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the OBD
(on-board diagnostic) system determines that critical
emission control systems have not been completely
diagnosed by the system. The vehicle would be
considered not ready for inspection. This can happen if
you have recently replaced your battery or if your
battery has run down. The diagnostic system is
designed to evaluate critical emission control systems
during normal driving. This may take several days
of routine driving. If you have done this and your vehicle
still does not pass the inspection for lack of OBD
system readiness, your GM dealer can prepare the
vehicle for inspection.
3-35

Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance..................5-62
Wheel Replacement......................................5-62
Tire Chains..................................................5-63
If a Tire Goes Flat........................................5-63
Changing a Flat Tire.....................................5-64
Compact Spare Tire......................................5-72
Appearance Care............................................5-73
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle.................5-73
Care of Safety Belts......................................5-76
Weatherstrips...............................................5-76
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle.................5-76
Sheet Metal Damage.....................................5-78
Finish Damage.............................................5-78
Underbody Maintenance................................5-79Chemical Paint Spotting.................................5-79
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials..................5-79
Vehicle Identication......................................5-81
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).................5-81
Service Parts Identification Label.....................5-81
Electrical System............................................5-82
Add-On Electrical Equipment..........................5-82
Headlamp Wiring..........................................5-82
Windshield Wiper Fuses................................5-82
Power Windows and Other Power Options.......5-82
Fuses and Circuit Breakers............................5-83
Capacities and Specications..........................5-90
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts..........5-91
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-2

Jump Starting
If your battery has run down, you may want to use
another vehicle and some jumper cables to start your
vehicle. Be sure to follow the steps below to do it safely.
{CAUTION:
Batteries can hurt you. They can be dangerous
because:
They contain acid that can burn you.
They contain gas that can explode or ignite.
They contain enough electricity to
burn you.
If you do not follow these steps exactly, some or
all of these things can hurt you.Notice:Ignoring these steps could result in costly
damage to your vehicle that would not be covered
by your warranty.
Trying to start your vehicle by pushing or pulling it
will not work, and it could damage your vehicle.
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt
battery with a negative ground system.
Notice:If the other vehicle’s system is not a 12-volt
system with a negative ground, both vehicles can
be damaged. Only use vehicles with 12-volt systems
with negative grounds to jump start your vehicle.
2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables
can reach, but be sure the vehicles are not touching
each other. If they are, it could cause a ground
connection you do not want. You would not be able
to start your vehicle, and the bad grounding
could damage the electrical systems.
To avoid the possibility of the vehicles rolling, set
the parking brake firmly on both vehicles involved in
the jump start procedure. Put an automatic
transaxle in PARK (P) or a manual transaxle in
NEUTRAL before setting the parking brake.
5-39

7. Do not let the other end
touch metal. Connect it
to the positive (+)
terminal of the good
battery. Use a remote
positive (+) terminal if
the vehicle has one.
8. Now connect the black
negative (−) cable to
the negative (−)
terminal of the good
battery. Use a remote
negative (−) terminal
if the vehicle has one.Do not let the other end touch anything until the
next step. The other end of the negative (−) cable
does not go to the dead battery. It goes to a
heavy, unpainted metal engine part or to a remote
negative (−) terminal on the vehicle with the
dead battery.
9. Connect the other end
of the negative (−)
cable at least 18 inches
(45 cm) away from
the dead battery,
but not near engine
parts that move.
The electrical
connection is just as
good there, and
the chance of sparks
getting back to the
battery is much less.
10. Now start the vehicle with the good battery and run
the engine for a while.
11. Try to start the vehicle that had the dead battery.
If it will not start after a few tries, it probably needs
service.
5-42

Notice:If the jumper cables are removed in the
wrong order, electrical shorting may occur and
damage the vehicle. The repairs would not be
covered by your warranty. Remove the jumper
cables in the correct order, making sure that the
cables do not touch each other or other metal.
A. Heavy, Unpainted Metal Engine Part or Remote
Negative (–) Terminal
B. Good Battery or Remote Positive (+) and Remote
Negative (–) Terminals
C. Dead Battery or Remote Positive (+) TerminalTo disconnect the jumper cables from both vehicles,
do the following:
1. Disconnect the black negative (−) cable from the
vehicle that had the dead battery.
2. Disconnect the black negative (−) cable from the
vehicle with the good battery.
3. Disconnect the red positive (+) cable from the
vehicle with the good battery.
4. Disconnect the red positive (+) cable from the other
vehicle.
5. Return the caps over the positive (+) and
negative (–) terminals to their original positions.
Jumper Cable Removal
5-43

Electrical System
Add-On Electrical Equipment
Notice:Don’t add anything electrical to your
vehicle unless you check with your dealer rst.
Some electrical equipment can damage your vehicle
and the damage wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty. Some add-on electrical equipment can
keep other components from working as they
should.
Your vehicle has an air bag system. Before attempting
to add anything electrical to your vehicle, see
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle on page 1-60.
Headlamp Wiring
The headlamp wiring is protected by fuses, one for each
headlamp, in the fuse block. An electrical overload
will cause the lamps to turn off. If this happens, have
your headlamp wiring checked right away.
Windshield Wiper Fuses
The windshield wiper motor is protected by an internal
circuit breaker and a fuse. If the motor overheats due to
heavy snow, etc., the wiper will stop until the motor
cools. If the overload is caused by some electrical
problem and not snow, etc., be sure to get it fixed.
Power Windows and Other Power
Options
Circuit breakers in the fuse block protect the power
windows and other power accessories. When the current
load is too heavy, the circuit breaker opens and
closes, protecting the circuit until the problem is fixed or
goes away.
5-82

Reporting Safety Defects to the
Canadian Government
If you live in Canada, and you believe that your vehicle
has a safety defect, you should immediately notify
Transport Canada, in addition to notifying General
Motors of Canada Limited. You may write to:
Transport Canada
330 Sparks Street
Tower C
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N5
Reporting Safety Defects to General
Motors
In addition to notifying NHTSA (or Transport Canada) in
a situation like this, we certainly hope you’ll notify us.
Please call us at 1-800-222-1020, or write:
Chevrolet Motor Division
Chevrolet Customer Assistance Center
P.O. Box 33170
Detroit, MI 48232-5170In Canada, please call us at 1-800-263-3777 (English)
or 1-800-263-7854 (French). Or, write:
General Motors of Canada Limited
Customer Communication Centre, 163-005
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7
Service Publications Ordering
Information
Service Manuals
Service Manuals have the diagnosis and repair
information on engines, transmission, axle, suspension,
brakes, electrical, steering, body, etc.
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $120.00
Transmission, Transaxle, Transfer
Case Unit Repair Manual
This manual provides information on unit repair service
procedures, adjustments, and specifications for GM
transmissions, transaxles, and transfer cases.
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $50.00
7-12

A
Accessory Power Outlets.................................3-16
Adding Washer Fluid.......................................5-34
Additional Program Information........................... 7-9
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-6
Add-On Electrical Equipment............................5-82
Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)......3-42, 3-46
Air Bag
Readiness Light..........................................3-28
Air Bag Systems.............................................1-51
How Does an Air Bag Restrain?....................1-57
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle.........1-60
What Makes an Air Bag Inflate?....................1-57
What Will You See After an Air Bag Inflates?......1-58
When Should an Air Bag Inflate?...................1-56
Where Are the Air Bags?..............................1-54
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-18
Airbag Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM).......7-10
AM ...............................................................3-51
Antenna, Backglass.........................................3-52
Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)............................ 4-6
Anti-Lock Brake, System Warning Light..............3-31
Appearance Care............................................5-73
Care of Safety Belts....................................5-76
Chemical Paint Spotting...............................5-79
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle................5-73
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle..............5-76
Finish Damage............................................5-78Appearance Care (cont.)
Sheet Metal Damage...................................5-78
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-79
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials................5-79
Weatherstrips..............................................5-76
Arming the System.........................................2-16
Ashtrays........................................................3-17
Audio System(s).............................................3-40
Backglass Antenna......................................3-52
Care of Your CD Player...............................3-52
Care of Your CDs........................................3-52
Radio with CD....................................3-40, 3-44
Theft-Deterrent Feature................................3-51
Understanding Radio Reception.....................3-51
Automatic Transaxle........................................2-19
Fluid..........................................................5-20
Operation...................................................2-23
Automatic Transaxle Check..............................6-19
Automatic Transaxle Shift Lock Control
System Check.............................................6-21
B
Backglass Antenna..........................................3-52
Battery..........................................................5-38
Battery Replacement......................................... 2-6
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.........................4-22
Body Lubrication Service..................................6-20
1

D
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL).........................3-13
Daytime Running Lamps Indicator Light.............3-38
Defensive Driving............................................. 4-2
Defogging and Defrosting.................................3-21
Dinghy Towing................................................4-32
Disarming the System.....................................2-17
Doing Your Own Service Work........................... 5-4
Dolly Towing..................................................4-32
Dome Lamp...................................................3-15
Door
Ajar Light...................................................3-38
Central Door Unlocking System....................... 2-8
Door Ajar Reminder....................................... 2-9
Locks.......................................................... 2-7
Power Door Locks......................................... 2-9
Rear Door Security Locks............................... 2-9
Driver
Position, Safety Belt.....................................1-15
Seat Height Adjuster...................................... 1-4
Driving
At Night.....................................................4-14
City...........................................................4-19
Defensive..................................................... 4-2
Drunken....................................................... 4-2
Freeway.....................................................4-20Driving (cont.)
Hill and Mountain Roads..............................4-23
In Rain and on Wet Roads...........................4-16
Winter........................................................4-25
Driving on Snow or Ice....................................4-26
Driving Through Deep Standing Water...............4-18
Driving Through Flowing Water.........................4-18
E
Electrical System
Add-On Equipment......................................5-82
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...........................5-83
Headlamp Wiring.........................................5-82
Power Windows and Other Power Options......5-82
Windshield Wiper Fuses...............................5-82
Emergency Trunk Release Handle.....................2-12
Emissions Inspection and Maintenance
Programs...................................................3-35
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter.........................................5-18
Battery.......................................................5-38
Check and Service Engine Soon Light............3-33
Coolant......................................................5-21
Coolant Heater............................................2-21
Coolant Temperature Gage...........................3-32
Cooling System Inspection............................6-23
4