service CHEVROLET CAMARO 1982 Repair Guide

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 774
FLUIDS AND LUBRICANTS

FLUID DISPOSAL
Used fluids such as engine
oil, transmission fluid, antifreeze and brake fluid are
hazardous wastes and must be disposed of properly. Befo re draining any fluids,
consult with your local authorities; in many areas waste oil, etc. is being
accepted as a part of recycling programs. A number of service stations and auto
parts stores are also accepti ng waste fluids for recycling.
Be sure of the recycling cent er's policies before draining any fluids, as many will
not accept different fluids that have been mixed together.
FUEL RECOMMENDATIONS
The engine is designed to operate on unleaded gasoline ONLY and is essential
for the proper operation of the emissi on control system. The use of unleaded
fuel will reduce spark plug fouling, exhaust system corrosion and engine oil
deterioration.
In most parts of the United States, f uel with an octane rating of 87 should be
used; in high altitude areas, fuel wit h an octane rating as low as 85 may be
used.
In some areas, fuel consisting of a blen d of alcohol may be used; this blend of
gasoline and alcohol is known as gaso hol. When using gasohol, never use
blends exceeding 10% ethanol (e thyl or grain alcohol) or 5% methanol (methyl
or wood alcohol).
The use of fuel with excessive amounts of alcohol may jeopardize the new car
and emission control system warranties.

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ENGINE OIL AND FILTER CHANGE
Under normal operating conditions, the oi
l is to be changed every 7,500 miles
(12,000km) or 12 months, whichever occurs first.
Although the manufacturer recommends changing the f ilter at the first oil
change and then at every other oil c hange, (unless 12 months pass between
changes), The editors of this informat ion recommend changing the filter with
each service. It is a small price to pay for extra protection.
When driving conditions frequently include dusty or polluted areas, trailer
towing, idling for long periods of ti me, or low speed operation, or when
operating at temperatures below freezing or driving short distances (under 4
miles or 6.4km), change t he oil and filter more frequently. Under these
circumstances, oil has a greater chance of building up sludge and contaminants
which could damage your engine. If your v ehicle use fits into one or more of
these categories, (as it does for most vehicles), it is suggested that the oil and
filter be changed every 3, 000 miles (1361km) or 3 months, whichever comes
first.
The oil should be disposed of properly after it is drained from the vehicle. Store
the oil in a suitable container and take the container to an official oil recycling
station. Most gas stations or oil and lube facilities will take the used oil at little or
no expense to you.
Oil should always be changed after the engine has been running long enough to
bring it up to normal operating temperature. Hot oil will flow more easily and will
carry more contaminants than will cold oi l. The oil drain plug is located on the
bottom of the oil pan (bottom of the engi ne, underneath the car). The oil filter is
located on the left side of most engines covered by this information. To change
the oil and filter:
1. Run the engine until it reaches normal operating temperature.
2. Raise the front of the vehicle and s upport it safely using a suitable pair of
jackstands.
3. Slide a drain pan of a least 6 quar ts capacity under the oil pan. Wipe the
drain plug and surrounding area clean using an old rag.
CAUTION - The EPA warns that prolonged contact with used engine oil may
cause a number of skin disorders, incl uding cancer! You should make every
effort to minimize your exposure to used engine oil. Pr otective gloves should be
worn when changing the oil. Wash y our hands and any other exposed skin
areas as soon as possible after exposure to used engine oil. Soap and water, or
waterless hand cleaner should be used.
4. Loosen the drain plug using a ratc het, short extension and socket or a
box-wrench. Turn the plug out by hand, using a rag to shield your fingers
from the hot oil. By keeping an in ward pressure on the plug as you
unscrew it, oil won't escape past the threads and you can remove it
without being burned by hot oil.

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b. If fluid is warm, the le
vel should be close to the ADD mark, either
above or below.
c. If fluid is too hot to touc h, the level should be at the FULL mark.
3. If the fluid level is low, add Dexr on®II automatic transmission fluid (ATF)
through the dipstick tube. This is eas ily done with the aid of a funnel.
Check the level often as you are f illing the transmission. Be extremely
careful not to overfill it. Overfilling will cause slippage, seal damage and
overheating. Approximately 1 pint (0.473L) of ATF will raise the fluid level
from one notch/line to the other.
If the fluid on the dipstick appears discolored (brown or black), or smells burnt,
serious transmission troubles, probably due to overheating, should be
suspected. The transmission should be inspected by a qualified technician to
locate the cause of the burnt fluid.
DRAIN AND REFILL
Please refer to the "PAN AND FILTER SERVICE" procedure listed in this
section.
PAN AND FILTER SERVICE

Fig. 2: Typical automatic transmiss ion oil pan and oil filter assembly.

Fig. 3: Automatic transmission oil pan bolt and conical washer assembly

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The automatic transmission fluid and fi
lter should be changed every 15,000
miles (24,000km) if your Camaro is driven in heavy city traffic in hot weather, in
hilly or mountainous terrain, frequent trailer pulling, or uses such as found in
taxi, police car or delivery service. If your Camaro is driven under other than
listed above conditions, change the fl uid and filter every 30,000 miles
(48,300km).
1. Raise and support the car on jackst ands. Place an oil catch pan under
the transmission.
2. Remove the oil pan bolts fr om the front and sides only.
3. Loosen rear oil pan bolts approximately 4 turns.
WARNING - Do not damage the transmission case or oil pan sealing surfaces.
4. Lightly tap the oil pan with a rubber mallet or gently pry it downward to
allow fluid to drain.
5. Remove the remaining oil pan bolt s, then remove the oil pan and pan
gasket.
6. Remove the filter and seal.
7. Clean the transmission case and oi l pan gasket surfaces with suitable
solvent and air dry. Make sure to re move all traces of the old gasket.
To install: 8. Coat the seal with a sm all amount of Transjel®.
9. Install the new s eal onto the filter.
10. Install the new filter into the case.
11. Install the oil pan and new gasket.
On 1991 and later vehicles, inspect t he oil pan screws and washer assemblies.
The screws must not be used if the coni cal washer is reversed. Failure to
replace the screw and washer assembly may result in improper fastening of
system components.
12. Install the oil pan bolts and tighten them to 12 ft. lbs. (16 Nm).
13. Lower the car.
14. Fill the transmission to proper level with Dexron®II fluid.
15. Check cold fluid level reading fo r initial fill. Do not overfill the
transmission.
16. Follow the fluid level che ck procedure described before.
17. Check the oil pan gasket for leaks.

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3. Clean all dirt from
the area around the cover. Re move the bolts retaining
the cover to the housing. Pry the co ver from the differential housing and
allow the fluid to drain into the catch pan.
To install: 4. With the cover and housing washed free of oil and gasket material, apply sealer to the mating surfaces.
5. Using a new gasket, install the cove r and torque the bolts to 20 ft. lbs.
(27 Nm) in a clockwise pattern to in sure uniform draw on the gasket. Fill
the differential with fluid through the fi ll plug and add limited slip additive,
as required.
6. Install the parking brake cable guides, if removed.
7. The fluid level shou ld reached a level within
3/8 in. (10mm) of the filler
plug hole. Replace the filler plug. Low er the car and inspect for leaks.
COOLING SYSTEM

CAUTION - When draining the c oolant, keep in mind that cats and dogs are
attracted by the ethylene gl ycol antifreeze, and are quite likely to drink any that
is left in an uncovered container or in puddles on the ground. This will prove
fatal in sufficient quantity. Always drai n the coolant into a sealable container.
Coolant should be reused unless it is c ontaminated or several years old (in
which case it should be taken to a recycli ng facility such as a service station).
FLUID RECOMMENDATIONS
When adding or changing the fluid in the system, create a 50/50 mixture of high
quality ethylene glycol antifreeze and water.
LEVEL CHECK

Fig. 1: Fluid level marks on the cool ant recovery tank. With a warm system,
coolant level should be just below the FULL HOT mark on tank.

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CAUTION
- NEVER hook the batteries up in a series circuit or the entire
electrical system will go up in smoke, including the starter!
Vehicles equipped with a diesel engine may utilize two 12 volt batteries. If so,
the batteries are connected in a parallel circuit (positive terminal to positive
terminal, negative terminal to negative te rminal). Hooking the batteries up in
parallel circuit increases battery cranki ng power without increasing total battery
voltage output. Output remains at 12 vo lts. On the other hand, hooking two 12
volt batteries up in a series circuit (positive terminal to negative terminal,
positive terminal to negative terminal) incr eases total battery output to 24 volts
(12 volts plus 12 volts).
JUMP STARTING PRECAUTIONS
• Be sure that both batteries are of t he same voltage. Vehicles covered by
this information and most vehicles on the road today utilize a 12 volt
charging system.
• Be sure that both batteries are of the same polarity (have the same
terminal, in most cases NEGATIVE grounded).
• Be sure that the vehicles are not touching or a short could occur.
• On serviceable batteries, be sure the v ent cap holes are not obstructed.
• Do not smoke or allow sparks anywhere near the batteries.
• In cold weather, make sure the battery electrolyte is not frozen. This can
occur more readily in a battery that has been in a state of discharge.
• Do not allow electrolyte to c ontact your skin or clothing.
JUMP STARTING PROCEDURE 1. Make sure that the voltages of the 2 batteries are the same. Most
batteries and charging systems are of the 12 volt variety.
2. Pull the jumping vehicle (with t he good battery) into a position so the
jumper cables can reach the dead battery and that vehicle's engine.
Make sure that the ve hicles do NOT touch.
3. Place the transmissions of both vehicles in Neutral (MT) or P (AT), as
applicable, then firmly set their parking brakes.
If necessary for safety reasons, the hazard lights on both vehicles may be
operated throughout the entir e procedure without significantly increasing the
difficulty of jumping the dead battery.
4. Turn all lights and accessories OFF on both vehicles. Make sure the ignition switches on both vehicles are turned to the OFF position.
5. Cover the battery cell caps with a rag, but do not cover the terminals.
6. Make sure the terminals on both batte ries are clean and free of corrosion
or proper electrical connection wil l be impeded. If necessary, clean the
battery terminals before proceeding.
7. Identify the positive (+) and negat ive (-) terminals on both batteries.
8. Connect the first jumper cable to the positive (+) terminal of the dead
battery, then connect the other end of that cable to the positive (+)
terminal of the booster (good) battery.

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SUSPENSION & STEERING

SUSPENSION AND STEERING WHEELS
REMOVAL & INSTALLATION
• Park the vehicle on a level surface.
• Remove the jack, tire iron and, if nec essary, the spare tire from their
storage compartments.
• Check the owner's manual or refer to General Information & Maintenance
of this repair guide for the jacking poi nts on your vehicle. Then, place the
jack in the proper position.
• If equipped with lug nut trim caps, remo ve them by either unscrewing or
pulling them off the lug nuts, as appr opriate. Consult the owner's manual,
if necessary.
• If equipped with a wheel cover or hub c ap, insert the tapered end of the
tire iron in the groove and pry off the cover.
1. Apply the parking brake and block the diagonally opposite wheel with a
wheel chock or two.
Wheel chocks may be purchased at your lo cal auto parts store, or a block of
wood cut into wedges may be used. If possi ble, keep one or two of the chocks
in your tire storage compartment, in case any of the tires has to be removed on
the side of the road.
2. If equipped with an automatic transmi ssion, place the selector lever in P
or Park; with a manual transmission, place the shifter in Reverse.
3. With the tires still on the ground, use the tire iron/wrench to break the lug
nuts loose.
If a nut is stuck, never use heat to loosen it or damage to the wheel and
bearings may occur. If the nuts are seized, one or two heavy hammer blows
directly on the end of the bol t usually loosens the rust. Be careful, as continued
pounding will likely damage the brake drum or rotor.
3. Using the jack, raise the vehicle unt il the tire is clear of the ground.
Support the vehicle safely using jackstands.
4. Remove the lug nuts, then remove the tire and wheel assembly.
To install:
5. Make sure the wheel and hub mating su rfaces, as well as the wheel lug
studs, are clean and free of all foreign material. Always remove rust from
the wheel mounting surfac e and the brake rotor or drum. Failure to do so
may cause the lug nuts to loosen in service.
6. Install the tire and wheel asse mbly and hand-tighten the lug nuts.
7. Using the tire wrench, tighten all the lug nuts, in a crisscross pattern, until
they are snug.
8. Raise the vehicle and withdraw the jackstand, then lower the vehicle.

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12. Fully tighten the lower bolts onl
y when the front suspension is on the
ground. Torque the steering knuckle-to-strut nuts to 125 ft. lbs. (170 Nm)
followed by a 120 degree turn. Do not exceed a final torque of 148 Ft.
lbs. (200 Nm).
13. Install the brake caliper
14. Install the wheel and tire assembly.
15. Lower the front of the vehicle.
16. From inside the engine compartm ent, tighten the upper strut to upper
mount nut to 44 ft. lbs. (60 Nm).
17. Have the front end aligned.
OVERHAUL
The OEM domestic struts are serviced by replacement of the entire unit. There
is no strut cartridge to replace.
LOWER BALL JOINT
INSPECTION
Before performing this inspection, make sure the wheel bearings are adjusted
correctly and that the control arm bushings are in good condition.
1. Jack the car up under the front lower control arm at the spring seat.
2. Raise the car until t here is 1-2 in. (25-51mm) of clearance under the
wheel.
3. Insert a bar under the wheel and pr y upward. If the wheel raises more
than
1/8 in. (3mm), the ball joints are worn. Determine if the lower ball
joint is worn by visual inspec tion while prying on the wheel.
REMOVAL & INSTALLATION

Fig. 1: Lower ball joint replacement