ESP CHEVROLET CAMARO 1973 2.G Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine YOUR CAR'S FIRST
FEW HUNDRED MILES OF DRIVING
You can operate your new car from
its very first mile without adhering
to a formal
"break-in" schedule.
However, during the first
few hun­
dred miles of driving you can, by
observing a few simple precautions,
add to the future performance and
economy of your car.
It is recommended that your speed
during the first
500 miles
be confined to a maximum of
60
M.P.H., but do not drive for ex­
tended periods at
anyone constant
speed, either fast
or slow. Dur­
ing this period, avoid full throttle
starts and, if possible, avoid hard
stops especially during the first
200
miles of operation since brake mis-
2 use
during this period will destroy
much future brake efficiency.
Always drive
at moderate speed
until the engine has completely
warmed up.
If you plan to use your new car
for trailer hauling see additional
information on page
10.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Break-in Schedule
In addition to the new car
break-in instructions in this man­
ual, it
is recommended that your
new Camaro be operated for
500
miles before trailer towing. If it is
necessary to tow during this period,
avoid speeds over
50 MPH and full
throttle starts. The same precau­
tions should be observed whenever
a new engine, transmission
or axle
is installed in your car.
Operation in Foreign Countries
Your Camaro is designed to op­
erate on fuel of approximately
91
research octane number or higher,
sold in the United
States and Can­
ada.
If you plan to operate your
Camaro outside the continental
limits of the United
States or Can­
ada, there
is a possibility that the
best fuels available in some coun­
tries are
so low in anti-knock
quality that excessive knocking
and serious engine damage may
result from their
use. To minimize
this possibility, write to Chevrolet
Motor Division, Service Depart- ment,
Detroit, Michigan 48202
(or in Canada write to General
Motors of Canada Limited,
Owner
Relations Department, Oshawa,
Ontario),
giving:
• The vehicle identification num­
ber ( on plate on instrument
panel ahead of the steering
wheel and visible through the
windshield, or from registration
slip or title).
• The country or countries in
which you plan to travel.
You
will be furnished informa-
11
tion on the quality of fuels avail­
able in the countries in which you
plan to travel.
It is recommended
that you not operate your Camaro
in any country not having fuels
meeting the requirements
of your
Camaro engine. Engine modifica­
tions are not available to compen­
sate for low anti-knock quality
fuels. Operation of your car under
conditions of continuous
or exces­
sive knocking constitutes misuse
of the engine for which the Chev­
rolet Division
is not responsible
under the terms of the Chevrolet
New Vehicle Warranty.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine proper gear position before re­
leasing the clutch pedal.)
3.
Operate accelerator pedal and
starter
as outlined in step 3
(under Automatic Transmission
Models).
Engine Flooded
Depress accelerator pedal and
hold to floor while starting until
engine
is cleared of excess fuel and
is
running smoothly. Never
"pump" the accelerator pedal.
Warm-Up
Always let the engine idle for 20
to 30 seconds after starting and
drive at moderate speeds for several
miles, especially during cold
weather.
Driving with the Chevrolet Automatic Transmissions
The Turbo Hydra-Matic 350
and 400 are completely automatic
transmISSIons. All replace the
standard clutch and transmission.
Turbo Hydra-Malic 350
and 400
After starting the engine with the
selector lever in N (Neutral) or P
(Park) position select the range de­
sired (see table) and depress the accelerator.
A gradual start with a
steady increase in accelerator pres­
sure will result in best possible fuel
economy. Rapid acceleration for
fast starts will result in greater
fuel consumption.
Automatic transmission shift
quadrants of all GM cars continue
the uniform sequence of selector
positions. This particularly benefits
multicar families and those who
occasionally drive other cars. Shift
15
indicators are arranged with "Park"
position at one end, followed in se­
quence by "Reverse", "Neutral"
and the forward driving ranges.
All automatic transmissions are
equipped with a starter safety
switch designed to permit starting
the engine only when the trans­
mission
is in the "Park" or "Neu­
tral"
position. For additional
engine braking effect,
as sometimes
needed in mountainous driving,

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Parking Your Car
Always engage the parking brake
and place the automatic transmis­
sion selector lever in
"Park" posi­
tion when leaving your
car unat­
tended. Also with automatic trans­
missions, never park for prolonged
periods with engine idling and
transmission in gear, especially if
your car
is equipped with air con­
ditioning. This practice
is detri­
mental to the transmission, due to
overheating.
Horn
The horn on your Camaro is
actuated by firmly pressing on the
horn button in the center of the
steering wheel.
Tilt Steering Wheel
The optional tilt steering wheel
can be tilted up above normal posi­
tion to provide additional room for
entrance and exit as well as selected
driving positions below normal
height. This permits individual
se­
lection of the most natural position
for all driving conditions.
On long
trips the steering wheel position can
be changed to minimize tension and
fatigue.
The
tilt mechanism is operated
by lifting up on the small control
As a good motorist, use of the
horn should be kept at a minimum.
However, acquaint yourself as soon
as possible with this function of lever
on the left side of the steering
column just below the directional
signal, moving the steering wheel to
the selected position, and releasing
the lever.
your car, should it ever become
necessary to give a warning to a
pedestrian or another motorist.
NOTE: For operation of hazard flasher, see page 36 in, Section "In Case of Emergency."
19

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine • Stopping distances may be
greater.
• Greater pedal effort may be re­
quired .
• Pedal travel may be greater.
3.
Tryout brake operation by
starting and stopping on road
shoulder-then:
• If you judge such operation to
be safe, proceed cautiously at a
safe speed to nearest dealer for
repair.
• Or have car towed to dealer for
repair.
Continued operation of the car
in this condition
is dangerous.
Headlight Beam Indicator
Light
The headlights of your car have
high and low
beams to provide you with
proper night-time visibility
for most driving conditions. The
"low" beams are used during most
city driving. The
"high" beams are
especially useful when driving on
dark roads since
they' provide ex­
cellent long range illumination.
The headlight beam indicator will
be on whenever the high beams
or
"brights" are in use. The Headlight
Beam Switch controls the headlight
beams (see Page
21).
Light Switch
The three position light switch
controls the headlights, taillights,
parking lights, side marker lights,
instrument lights and dome lights
as shown. The headlamp circuit is
protected by a circuit breaker in the
light switch.
An overload on the
breaker will cause the lamps to
"flicker" on and off. If this condi­
tion develops, have your headlamp
wiring checked immediately.
PARKING LAMPS MARKER LAMPS TAIL AND INSTRUMENT LIGHTS
TURN KN08 TO VARY INSTRUMENT LIGHTS FUll Y COUNTER CLOCKWISE FOR DOME LIGHTS
25
HEADLIGHTS
PARKING LAMPS MARKER LAMPS

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE
The time or mileage intervals on
the following pages are intended
as
a guide for establishing regular
maintenance and lubrication
periods for your car. Sustained
heavy duty
or high speed operations
or operation under adverse condi­
tions may necessitate more frequent
servicing. To determine specific
recommendations for conditions
under which you use your car, con-
Fuel
Requirements
Your Camaro is designed to op­
erate on a good quality fuel of
ap­
proximately 91 Research Octane
Number or higher, commonly sold
in the United
States and Canada.
Use of a fuel which is too low in
suIt your Authorized Chevrolet
Dealer.
Maintenance Schedule
For owner convenience, a sep­
arate maintenance folder has been
provided with your car which con­
tains a complete schedule and
brief explanation of the safety,
emission control, lubrication and
anti-knock quality will result
in
"spark knock", a metallic rapping
noise generated during the
com­
bustion process. It should be noted
that Research
Octane Number
does not completely describe fuel
octane quality. Therefore ,
if you
hear knock in your engine you
may wish
to try a different gaso­
line.
If knocking persists consult
45
general maintenance it requires.
The maintenance folder informa­
tion
is supplemented by this sec­
tion of the
Owner's Manual, as
well as the separate emission con­
trol systems folder also furnished
with your car. Read all three
pub­
lications for a full understanding
of vehicle maintenance require­
ments.
your authorized Chevrolet dealer.
In any case, continuous
or exces-
sive knocking may result in engine
.1
damage and constitutes misuse of
the engine for which Chevrolet
Motor Division
is not responsible
under the terms of the
New Vehi-
cle Warranty.
General Motors recommends
the
use of unleaded or low-lead (0

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine It is the owner's responsibility
to keep the freeze protection at a
level commensurate with the tem­
peratures which may occur
in the
area of vehicle operation.
• Maintain cooling system freeze
protection at
_200 F or below
to ensure protection against cor­
rosion and loss of coolant from
boiling, even though freezing
temperatures are not expected.
• Add ethylene glycol base cool­
ant that meets GM Specification
1899-M when coolant additions
are required because of coolant
loss or to provide additional
protection against freezing at
temperatures lower than
_200
F (_320 F in Canada).
NOTE: Alcohol or methanol base
coolants
or plain water are not
recommended for your Camaro at
any time.
Radiator Pressure Cap
The radiator cap, a 15 lb. pres­
sure type, must be installed tightly,
otherwise coolant may be lost and
damage to engine may result from
overheating. Radiator pressure
caps should be checked periodi­
cally for proper operation.
If re­
placement
is required specify AC.
Thermostat
The cooling system is protected
and controlled by a thennostat
in­
stalled in the engine coolant outlet
to maintain a satisfactory operat­
ing temperature of the engine. This
thermostat
is designed forcontinu­
ous use through both winter and summer
and need not be changed
seasonally . When replacement
is
necessary, Delco parts are recom~
mended.
Tires
The factory installed tires on
your car
as shown in the Tire
Usage chart below are designed to
provide the best all around per­
formance for normal vehicle oper­
ation. When inflated
as recom­
mended on the tire pressure plac­
ard, located
on the left door of
your vehicle, they have the load
carrying capacity to operate satis­
factorily at all normal highway
speeds.
CAMARO TIRE USAGE
ENGINE AND BODY STANDARD OPTIONAL
All (Except Type l T or Z28 Models) E78·14 F70·14 G70·14
Type lT Space Saver Tire E78·14 F70·14
Z28 F60·15 White letters Space Saver Tire -
All standard tires are blackwall with whitewall optional. All tires are bias-belted, load
range B unless otherwise specified. .
55

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine The chart on the previous page, and the, information on the pages
which follow, contains information designed to aid the average
driver to discover, and possibly correct, conditions resulting in minor
mechanical difficulties
in his car. The chart, designed to point out
possible solutions to several
of the most common automotive mal­functions and point out a logical checking sequence, will lead step
by step to the most
likely causes and corrective procedures. If, after
making the checks and adjustments suggested, the source of the
trouble
has not been found and corrected, it is strongly recom­
mended that an Authorized Chevrolet Dealer inspect the vehicle and make whatever repairs or adjustments are necessary.
FUEL SYSTEM AND ENGINE
If the ignition switch will cause the engine to "turn over" or
"crank" but the car will not start, check Steps A through 0 below.
NOTE: If continual ··f1ooding··, of the carburetor is evidenced by a
carburetor wet with fuel or black exhaust smoke, perform the
operation suggested in paragraph D only.
(A) The first and most obvious, and one of the most frequently
overlooked, items to check when
you have difficulty in starting your car is the amount of fuel in the
tank. Make it a habit to check the
FUEL GAUGE regularly and most
especially at a time when the en­gine will "turn over" but will not
start.
(8)
If the fuel tank is not empty,
you may check further to see
Checking Fuel Flow
63
whether the fuel is reaching the carburetor. Disconnect .the fuel line at the carburetor and remove the center wire (ground the secondary coil terminal or disconnect the primary wire from the coil to the
distributor at the coil) from the coil tower. Place a jar or cup under
the open line and briefly "crank" the engine by means of the
starter. If fuel spurts from the fitting, you may assume that the FUEL LINES are clear and the FUEL PUMP is operating properly. If no
fuel leaves the line, either the fuel
lines
or fuel pump are at fault.
See your Authorized Chevrolet
Dealer.
(C) Before reconnecting the fuel
line to the carburetor, remove
the
FUEL FILTER from the carburetor
inlet and check its condition. If it
appears to be clean, replace it
and recorinect the fuel line. Re­
place the filter if it appears to be
plugged.
(D) If the fuel seems to be
reaching the carburetor properly, Fuel Filter
the problem may be: an EMPTY CARBURETOR BOWL caused by a "stuck shut" carburetor; a FLOODED CARBURETOR caused by a "stuck open" condition and evidenced by gasoline seeping around and down the outside of the carburetor; or a stuck CHOKE valve.
Remove the air cleaner from the carburetor. Check that the choke
valve moves freely and is not stuck. (Don't mistake normal spring
tension for a stuck valve.) Tap the side of the carburetor sharply
several times with a light tool such as a screwdriver handle or pliers. Replace the air cleaner and attempt to start the engine in the normal manner.
I

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine IE) If the car will start but stalls when hot or has a rough idle,
you can suspect a faulty IDLE ADJUSTMENT, a malfunctioning AUTOMATIC CHOKE or an extremely dirty and blocked AIR CLEANER ELEMENT. Replace paper element air cleaner if neces­sary. Idle adjustment or automatic choke service (other than that outlined in paragraph 0 above) should be performed by your
Chevrolet Dealer.
If the above Fuel System checks and the checks suggested under the Electrical System following do not correct the malfunction, it is recommended that you return to your Authorized Chevrolet Dealer
for further checks, adjustments or repairs.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM If, when the ignition key is turned to "Start", the engine will not
turn over, you have good reason to suspect electrical trouble. NOTE: Never remove Delcotron bat lead without first disconnecting
battery ground cable.
IF) When there is no response at all to attempts to start the car, check the obvious-your AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SELECTOR LEVER must be in Neutral or Park position (manual transmission
must have clutch depressed all the way to floor) before the engine can be started. Turning the IGNITION SWITCH rapidly back and forth several times will sometimes correct a poor internal switch
contact.
IG) The BATIERY may be discharged. If so, lights will be dim and the horn will have a poor tone if it will blow at all.
Usually a garage recharge will be necessary to return the battery to operation. Occasionally, however, a long drive will recharge the battery. NOTE: If the battery is determined to be dead, and for no apparent reason, have your Authorized Chevrolet Dealer check the
battery, the GENERATOR and the VOLTAGE REGULATOR.
GENERATOR trouble should already have been indicated by the generator indicator light on the instrument panel.
64
POOR BATIERY CONNECTIONS may be suspected if the car has operated properly a short time before and now not even the horn
will operate. Check both ends of both battery cables. If the con­nections are corroded, a car may sometimes be restored to opera­tion by removing all cable ends, scraping all contacting surfaces
clean with a pen knife, and reassembling. If the cables are broken,
they must be replaced. The power supply should now be restored
unless the battery is dead.
IH) If, however, the lights and horn work properly but the starter will still not turn over, check the STARTER connections. A "click" from the starter solenoid indicates that the wiring to the starter is properly installed. If the wiring seems to be clean and tightly in­
stalled, the trouble is probably in the starter itself and should be referred to your Authorized Chevrolet Dealer.
When the engine will
"turn over" but will not start, the foilowing
items may be checked along with the Fuel Systems Checks listed
previously.
II) With a clean dry cloth, wipe the ceramic portions of the spark plugs dry. In particularly damp or rainy weather dampness may be
the cause of not sta rting, especi­
ally when the engine is cold.
IJ) Check the cables at the top of the distributor and coil as well as each spark plug cable for
tightness.
IK) If the co r will still not sta rt,
check for spark at the spark plugs in the following manner:
Pull one of the spark plug
wires off its spark plug. Insert a
short piece of bare wire (such as Di.,ribu'or and Coil Cab I ••

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine OWNER
ASSISTANCE
The satisfaction and goodwill of
the owners of Chevrolet products
are of primary concern to your
dealer and the Chevrolet Motor
Division. Normally, any problems
that arise in connection with the
sales transaction
or the operation
of your car will be handled by your
dealer's
Sales or Service Depart­
ments.
It is recognized, however,
that despite the best intentions
of everyone concerned, misunder­
standings will sometimes occur.
If
you have a problem that has not
been handled to your satisfaction
through normal channels,
we sug­
gest that you take the following
steps:
STEP ONE-Discuss your prob­
lem with a member of dealer­
ship management. Frequently,
70
complaints are the result of a break­
down in communications and can
quickly be resolved by a member of
the dealership management.
If the
problem already has been reviewed
with the
Sales Manager or Service
Manager, contact the Dealer him­
self or the General Manager.
STEP TWO-Contact the Chev­
rolt Zone Office (or in Canada
contact
the General Motors
Zone
Office) closest to you
listed on the following pages.
When it appears that your prob­
lem cannot be readily resolved by
the dealership without additional
assistance, the matter should be
called to the attention of the Zone's
Owner Relations Department and
the following information pro­
vided: