CHEVROLET CAMARO 1974 2.G Repair Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine listed on the placard may be used
when loads of
4 occupants or less
are carried.
The use of improper tire
infla­
tion pressures can adversely affect
tire life and vehicle performance:
• Too little air pressure can result
in excessive tire heat, abnormal
tire wear, adverse handling and
reduced fuel economy.
• Too much air pressure can re­
sult in abnormal tire wear, ad­
verse vehicle ride and handling,
and increased susceptibility to
damage by road impacts.
Tire pressures should be
checked when the tires are "cold"
at least once a month (and pref­
erably oftener) or before long
trips or when heavily loaded. The
following points should
be ob­
served when checking and setting
tire pressures:
1. Cold tire pressure ratings are appli­cable when a vehicle has been Inopera­tive for 3 hours or more, or driven less
than 1 mile.
2. Tire Inflation pressure may Increase as
much as 6 pounds per square inch (psi)
when hot (aHer vehicle has been driven
10 miles or at speeds of more than 60 miles per hour). Do not "bleed" or re­duce pressures when tires are hot from
driving.
3. For continuous high speed operation
(over 75 mph), Increase tire inflation
pressure 4 psi above the recommended
pressures up
to a maximum of 32 psi
cold pressure for load range B tires, 36
psi for load range C tires, or 40 psi for D load range tires. Sustained speeds
above 75 mph are not recommended
when the 4 psi adjustment would re­quire pressures greater than the above
maximum pressures.
4. Always use a tire pressure gauge when
checking pressures as the appearance
of a tire can be deceiving. For example,
radial ply fires, In comparison with bias
ply tires at the same pressure, may have
the appearance of being under-inflated.
Vehicle Loading -Do not load
your vehicle beyond the vehicle
capacity (total pounds) shown on
the tire placard. This figure
repre­
sents the design capacity of the ve­
hicle, not merely of the tires.
58
When towmg trailers, the allow­
able pasenger and cargo load
must be reduced by an amount
equal to the trailer tongue load on
the trailer hitch.
(See "Trailer
Hauling"
in Section 1 of this man­
ual.) Station wagon loads should
be distributed
as far forward as
possible. Vehicles equipped with
luggage racks do not have a
ve­
hicle load capacity greater than
specified on the tire placard.
Tire Wear and Rotation -Un­
even or abnormal tire wear is usu­
ally the result of incorrect inflation
pressure, improper wheel
align­
ment, wheels being out-of-balance,
or poor driving habits.
Underin­
flation, incorrect toe or camber
and fast cornering produce
differ­
ent types of abnormal wear which
can be diagnosed by your dealer.
The original equipment tires
in­
corporate built-in tread wear in­
dicators to assist you in determin-

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine ing when your tires have been
worn to the point of needing re­
placement. These indicators ap­
pear as
lh inch wide bands when
tire tread depth
is 1/16 inch or
less. When the indicators appear
in two
or more adjacent grooves,
at 3 locations around the tire
or
when cord or fabric is exposed,
tire replacement due to tread wear
is recommended.
To equalize wear, it is recom­
mended that bias-belted tires be ro­
tated every
6,000 miles (or sooner
if irregular wear develops) as indi­
cated in bias-belted diagram.
BIAS-BEL TED OR BIAS-PlY TIRES
4· WHEELS 5 WHEELS
Radial tires should be inspected for
any irregular wear
and rotated at
least every
12,000 miles and more
often if uneven wear
is noted earlier
according to the radial tire diagram.
Upon rotation, tire pressures must
be adjusted in accordance with the
recommendations
on the tire infla­
tion placard.
NOTE: It is recommended that
disc brake pads be inspected for
wear whenever tires are rotated.
59
RADIAL TIRES
SPARE 4 WHEELS 5 WHEELS
Tire Damage and Repair-Tires
with cuts, splits or cracks deep
enough to expose the fabric,
should be removed from service.
Bulges usually
indi~ate internal
damage, and the tire should be
removed. Tires with questionable
damage should be removed from
the.
wheel and examined by an expert.
If an air loss occurs while driv­
ing, do not attempt to drive on
the deflated tire more than
is nec­
essary to stop safely. Driving even

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine a short distance can damage a tire
beyond repair.
Temporary repairs, such
as
"blowout" patches or any repair
made from the outside of the tire
should not be made except in
emergencies.
Such "stop-gap" de­
vices
as plugs and aerosol-type
sealants are good for no more than
100 miles of driving at speeds not
over
50 mph. A permanent vul­
canized repair, plug or patch ap­
plied from inside the tire, should
be made
as soon as possible. Also,
the installation of an inner tube in
a damaged tubeless tire
is not a
recommended repair procedure.
Replacement Tires
When replacing tires, only the
size, load range, and construction
type (bias, bias-belted,
or radial)
originally installed on your vehi­
cle are recommended. Use of any
other tire size or type tire may seriously
affect ride, handling,
speedometer/odometer calibration
vehicle ground clearance and tire
clearance to the body and chassis.
The following also should be con­
sidered when replacing tires:
• To achieve best all around ve­
hicle performance, belted-bias
tires and bias tires should not
be mixed on the same car.
• Because of possible adverse ef­
fects on vehicle handling, do
not mix radial ply tires with
other type tires on the same
vehicle (such as bias
or bias­
belted snow tires).
• It is recommended that new
tires be installed in pairs on the
same axle.
• When replacing only one tire, it
should be paired with the tire
having the least wear, to equal­
ize braking traction.
• When replacing original tires
with an optional recommended
60
size of different diameter, the
speedometer must be recali­
brated by installing the correct
speedometer driven gear.
Snow Tires
If you equip your vehicle with
snow tires, they should be inflated
4 psi above the recommended
pressures shown on the tire pla­
card up to a maximum of 32 psi
( cold) for load range B tires and
40 psi for load range D tires. It is
recommended that vehicle speeds
be limited to a maximum of 75
mph if snow tires are installed.
If
your car is equipped with radial
tires, use only radial snow tires.
Replacement Wheels
When replacing wheels for any
reason, care should be taken to in­
sure that the wheels are equiva­
lent to those removed in diameter,
rim width and off-set.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Warranty
Tires are warranted by the tire
manufacturers as covered in the
New Vehicle Warranty and
Policy
on Owner Service folder furnished
with your vehicle. However, for
the added convenience of owners,
many Chevrolet dealers are
equipped to handle tire warranty
adjustments
on certain makes of
tires provided
on 1974 Chevrolet
cars.
Tire Traction
A decrease in driving, corner­
ing, and braking traction occurs
when water, snow, ice, gravel,
or
other material is on the road sur­
face. Driving practices and
car
speed should be adjusted to the
road conditions.
When driving
on wet or slushy
roads, it is possible for a wedge of
water to build up between the tire and
road surface. This phenom­
enon, known
as hydroplaning,
may cause partial
or complete loss
of traction, which adversely affects
vehicle control and stopping abil­
ity.
To reduce the possiblity of
traction loss, the following precau­
tions should be observed:
1. Slow down during rainstorms or
when roads are slushy.
2. Slow down if road has standing
water
or puddles.
3. Replace tires when tread wear
indicators are visible.
4. Keep tires properly inflated.
For temporary assistance when
traction
is lost on ice or snow, the
use of
AC Liquid Tire Chain is
recommended.
REMINDER: Cars equipped with
front disc brakes have a built-in
61
wear indicator that is designed to
make a high frequency, squealing
or cricket-like warning sound when
the linings are worn to where re­
placement
is required. The sound
will occur intermittently
or con­
tinuously when wheels are rolling,
but will disappear when the brake
pedal
is applied firmly. See also the
various brake checks listed in the
Chevrolet maintenance schedule
folder.
Space Saver Spare Tire
The Space Saver Spare tire is
designed for emergency purposes
only. Continuous use
or operation
at speeds in excess of
50 mph is not
recommended. The Space Saver
Spare tire warranty
is void if any
inflation device containing sealants
is used. Approved inflation gases
are air, carbon dioxide, nitrogen,
and Freon 22.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Inflation Instructions with
Canister
(Inflator)
1. Install deflated Space Saver Spare
on car with valve stem at the bot­
tom and tighten all
five lug nuts.
2. Remove valve cap and make sure
valve core
is screwed tight in
valve stem.
3. Remove plastic cap from can­
ister.
*
4. Place canister over valve stem
and push squarely onto stem
until gas entering tire can be
heard.
*If temperature is below 20°F,
Canister should be warmed on left hand
defroster outlet for
10 min­
utes to provide adequate tire in­
flation. Heater should be on de­
frost and fan on high.
S. To ensure complete draining of
fluid, hold the canister in posi­
tion for one minute after sound
stops. Then remove canister for
disposal in proper receptacle.
6. Replace valve cap.
NOTE: Inflation pressure should
be checked and adjusted to the rec­
ommended pressure shown on tire
placard
as soon as possible after
installing tire on car.
Inflation Instructions at a
Service Station
1. Mount wheel on car, or place on
center-post tire changer with
lock-down mechanism engaged.
62
2. If beads have become unseated,
lubricate wheel and beads with
soapy water
or tire mO,unting lub­
ricant before inflation .
3.
To seat beads, inflate tire to a
maximum of 35 psi.
4. Adjust inflation to recommended
pressure shown on tire placard.
5.
On assemblies so equipped,
check that dust cover is pressed
firmly into un threaded relief stem
before road use.
Deflation Instructions
Remove valve core using slotted
end of valve cap.
Flatten tire and replace core and
cap. Store tire in trunk compart­
ment.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Tire Replacement
Mounting of the Space Saver
Spare Tire by other than authorized
tire dealers
is not recommended.
Improper mounting can cause
vio­
lent bursting of the tire away from
the wheel which can result in serious
personal injury.
Underbody Maintenance
The effects of salt and other
corrosive materials used for ice
and snow removal and dust
con­
trol can result in accelerated rust­
ing and deterioration of under­
body components such
as brake
and fuel lines, frame, underbody
floor pan, exhaust system, brac­
kets , parking brake cables. These
corrosive effects, however, can be
reduced by periodic flushing of the underbody
with plain water. In
geographic areas having a heavy
concentration of such corrosive
materials,
it is recommended that
the complete underbody be
in­
spected and flushed at least once
each year, preferably after a
win­
ter's exposure. Particular attention
should be given to cleaning out
underbody members where dirt
and other foreign materials may
have collected.
If desired, your Chevrolet deal­
er can perform this service for
you.
In addition, he can provide
recommendations on undercoat­
ing materials which will help
pro­
tect your vehicle from corrosion.
Battery Care (Energizer)
Check fluid level monthly. If the
fluid level
is low, add only color-
63
less, odorless drinking water or dis­
tilled water to bring level to split
ring in filler opening.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Important Facts You Should
Know About Gasoline
Mileage and How to
Improve It
How you drive, where you drive,
and when you drive
all have an
effect on how many miles you can
get from a gallon of gasoline. The
careful attention you give your car
as far as maintenance and repairs
are concerned will also contribute
importantly to fuel economy.
Fuel Selection
Your vehicle is designed to op­
erate on unleaded or low-lead fuels
>of at least 91 Research Octane.
These fuels minimize spark plug
fouling and emission system
de­
terioration. Your engine does not
require premium fuel. Therefore,
its use would be an unnecessary
additional expense.
If the service
station gas pump has a symbol similar
to the following, use
un­
leaded or low-lead gasoline with a
symbol of 2. A higher number
is
satisfactory but not required.
"Jackrabbit" Starts
Gasoline can be conserved (and
engine and tire life prolonged) by
avoiding unnecessarily rapid
ac­
celeration away from lights and
stop signs.
Stop-And-Start Driving
Frequent stops and starts during
a. trip really cut down on your
64
miles per gallon. Plan even your
short shopping trips to take
advan­
tage of through streets to avoid
traffic lights.
Pace your driving like
the professional drivers to avoid
unnecessary stops.
Speed Versus Mileage
Excessive speed on the highway
raises your gas consumption
dras­
tically. Statistics prove that you
might save
as much as 19% on
your fuel bill by driving
50 MPH
instead of 70 MPH.
Excessive Idling
An idling engine uses gasoline,
too, (especially after a cold engine
start).
If you're faced with more
than a
few minutes wait you're
better
off to "turn off" and start
again later.
Sudden Stops
Sudden stops themselves don't

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine waste gasoline, but energy is wasted
as heat in braking. Energy in the
form of gasoline
is also needed to
accelerate back to driving speed.
Lubricants
A properly lubricated vehicle
means less friction between moving
parts. Consult this manual and the
maintenance schedule for the
proper lubricants to use and the
lubrication intervals.
Automatic Choke
Your automatic choke should be
checked periodically
as it regulates
the gasoline/air mixture used in
starting and warming the engine.
Properly Tuned Engine
Overall tuning (a check on tim­
ing, distributor points, spark plugs,
emission control· devices , etc.) can
improve your car's gas mileage.
You just can't expect an
"out-of­
tune"
engine to give you good gas
mileage and cleaner air.
Excess Weight
Fuel economy is related to the
work the engine
must do. The
heavier the load, the more power
it takes. Keep excess weight to a
minimum by removing . any per­
sonal effects or luggage from the
65
car or trunk when they are not
needed.
Tire Inflation
Under inflation not only causes
needless wear of the tires, but can
also waste gasoline. It's a good
idea to check tire pressures regu­
larly.
Wheel Alignment
"Toe in" or "toe out" has the
effect of dragging your front tires
sideways and causes premature tire
wear.
It takes power to carry this
extra load and that takes gas from
your tank.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine MINOR TROUBLE SHOOTING GUIDE
FUEL SYSTEM AND ENGINE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM COOLING SYSTEM
IMPORTANT: For maximum performance and economy, keep your GM car I I I I all GM. Specify General Motors parts identified by one of these trademarks. liM Q ~
66

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 insp~ct the vehicle and make whatever repairs or adjustments are necessary.
;iA~>~I/~,~.#Y'T~~hiri~~:e~It.;ne;CC2i'~6p'4~cl~.;.'Ii~;~;,;(i '~i.. . .....•.. l'for",;tlgC;(lnY;tlspec';o~;1J1 ainfenCJn.c:~ .. 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 "flooding" of the carburetor is evidenced by a carburetor wet with
fuel or black exhaust smoke,
perform the operation sug­
gested in paragraph D only .
(A) The first and most obvious, and one of the most frequently Checking Fuel Flow
67
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.
(B) If the fuel tank is not empty, you may check further to see 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 carbu retor
inlet and check its condition . If it
appears to be clean, replace it
and reconnect the fuel line. Re­
place the filter if it appears to be plugged.
(0) 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
•