CHEVROLET CAMARO 1996 4.G Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Warning lights come on when there may be or is a
problem with one
of your vehicle’s functions. As you
will
see in the details on the next few pages, some
warning lights come on briefly when you start the
engine just
to let you know they’re working. If you are
familiar with this section, you should not be alarmed
when this happens.
Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problem
with one of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages and
warning lights work together
to let you know when
there’s a problem with your vehicle.
When
one of the warning lights comes on and stays on
when
you are driving, or when one of the gages shows
there may be
a problem, check the section that tells you
what
to do about it. Please follow this manual’s advice.
Waiting
to do repairs can be costly -- and even
dangerous.
So please get to know your warning lights
and gages. They’re a big help.
Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to RUN or START, a tone will
come
on for about eight seconds to remind people to
fasten their safety belts, unless the driver’s safety belt is
already buckled.
~
The safety belt light will
also come on and stay
on until the driver’s belt
is buckled.
2-76

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows AIR BAG. The system checks the
air bag’s electrical system for malfunctions. The light
tells you if there is an electrical problem. The system
check includes the air bag sensors, the air bag modules,
the wiring and the crash sensing and diagnostic module.
For more information on the air bag system, see “Air
Bag” in the Index.
AIR
BAG
You will see this light flash
for a few seconds when you
turn your ignition to
RUN
or START. Then the light
should go
out. This means
the system
is ready.
If the air bag readiness light doesn’t come on when you
start your vehicle, or stays on, or comes on when you
are driving, your air bag system may not work properly.
Have your vehicle serviced right away.
Voltmeter
You can read battery
voltage
on your voltmeter.
If it reads less than 11 volts
or more than
16 volts while
your engine is running, and
it stays there, you may
have a problem with the
electrical charging system.
Have it checked right away. Driving with the voltmeter
reading in
a warning zone could drain your battery.
If you idle your engine for a while, the voltmeter reading
might move into the low voltage zone (indicated by red
dots).
If the reading stays in the low voltage zone while you
are driving, you may have a problem with the electrical
charging system. Have it checked.
While the voltmeter
reads in
the low voltage zone, your battery may not be
able
to power certain electrical accessories, like ABS. (If
this happens, your ABS INOP light will come on. See
“Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light” in this section.)
If you must drive a short distance with the voltmeter
reading in a warning zone,
turn off all your accessories,
including your air conditioning system and audio system.
2-77

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Brake System Warning Light
Your Chevrolet’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 could be a brake
problem. Have your brake system inspected right away.
BRAKE
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, or if the anti-lock brake system warning light
is flashing, have
the vehicle towed for service. (See “Anti-Lock Brake
System Warning Light” and “Towing Your Vehicle”
in
the Index.)
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 or if the
anti-lock brake system warning light is flashing
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.
2-78

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
ABS
INOP
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 flashes when you’re driving, you don’t have
anti-lock brakes and there could be
a problem with your
regular brakes. 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.
Have the vehicle towed for service. (See “Towing Your
Vehicle” in the Index.)
Your regular brake system may not be working
properly if the anti-lock brake system warning
light is flashing. Driving with the anti-lock brake
system warning light flashing can lead to an
accident. After you’ve pulled
off the road
and stopped carefully, have the vehicle towed
for service.
If the anti-lock brake system warning light stays on
longer than normal after you’ve started your engine, turn
the ignition off. Or, if the light comes on and stays 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 Chevrolet needs service.
If
the light is on but not flashing and the regular brake
system warning light isn’t on, you still have brakes,
but you don’t have anti-lock brakes.
The anti-lock brake system warning light should come
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
ready to warn you if there is a problem.
2-79

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine ASR (Acceleration Slip Regulation) System
Warning Light (Option)
ASR
OFF
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 it stays on, or comes
on when you’re driving, there
may be a problem with your ASR system and your
vehicle may need service. When this warning light is on.
the system will not limit wheel spin. Adjust your
driving accordingly.
If your brakes begin
to overheat, the brake portion of the
ASR system will shut down, but the throttle and engine
spark control will continue to work.
The warning light
will not come on when this happens. The
ASR system warning light may come on for the
following reasons:
If you turn the system off by pressing the button
located
on the console near the cigarette lighter, the
warning light will come
on and stay on. To turn the
system back on, press the button again. The warning
light should go
off. (See “ASR System” in the Index
for more information.)
e If the temperature of the throttle control begins to
rise, the system will turn off and the warning light will
come on until the system
cools down. The system does
this to prevent damage from overheating.
If the ASR system warning light comes
on and stays on
for an extended period of time when the system is
turned on, your vehicle needs service.
2-80

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Low Traction Light Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
When your anti-lock system
is adjusting brake pressure
to help avoid a braking skid,
this light will
come on.
LOW TRAC
This gage shows the engine
coolant temperature. If the
@I
‘ 260

/ 160
gage pointer moves into
the red area, your engine
is too hot! It means that
your engine coolant
has overheated.
If you have the ASR system, this light will also come on If
you have been operating your vehicle under normal
when the system is limiting wheel spin. Slippery road driving conditions,
you should pull off the road, stop
conditions may exist if the low traction light comes on, your
vehicle and turn off the engine as soon as possible.
so adjust your driving accordingly. The light will stay on In “Problems on the Road,” this manual shows what to
for a few seconds after the anti-lock system stops do. See “Engine Overheating” in the Index.
adjusting brake pressure or the ASR system stops
limiting wheel spin.
The low traction 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 anti-lock brake system or
ASR system is active.
2-81

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Low Coolant Light (VI3 Engine)
This warning light should
come on while you are
starting
your engine. If the
light doesn’t come on, have
it repaired.
Your Camaro
is equipped with a LOW COOLANT
indicator that is designed to detect when the coolant
level
drops below the set limit. If the low coolant level
sensor (on
the radiator) detects that the level drops while
the engine is running, the
LOW COOLANT indicator
will light and remain lit until the ignition switch is
turned to the
OFF position. Check the coolant level
and add coolant as needed. The
LOW COOLANT
light might stay on after filling
the radiator. Turn the ignition switch to the
OFF
position, then restart the engine to verify that the LOW
COOLANT light goes out. See “Engine Coolant” in
the Index.
1 NOTICE:
Driving with the LOW COOLANT light on could
cause your Chevrolet to overheat. See “Engine
Overheating” in the Index.
Your Chevrolet could
be damaged, and it wouldn’t be covered by
your warranty.
2-82

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Service Engine Soon
Light)
Your Chevrolet is equipped
with a computer which
monitors operation
of the
SERVICE
fuel, ignition and emission
control systems.
This system is called OBD I1 (On-Board
Diagnostics-Second Generation) and is intended
to assure that emissions are at acceptable levels for
the life of the vehicle, helping to produce a cleaner
environment. (In Canada, OBD
I1 is replaced by
Enhanced Diagnostics.) The SERVICE ENGINE SOON
light comes on to indicate that there is a problem and
service is required. Malfunctions often will be indicated
by the system before any problem is apparent, which
may prevent more serious damage to your vehicle. This
system is also designed to assist your service technician
in correctly diagnosing any malfunction.
NOTICE:
If you keep driving your vehicle with this light
on, after a while, your emission controls may not
work as well, your fuel economy may not be as
good and your engine may not run as smoothly.
This could lead to costly repairs that may not be
covered by your warranty.
This light should come on, as a check to show you it is
working, when the ignition is
on and the engine is not
running. If the light doesn’t come on, have it repaired.
This light will
also come on during a malfunction in one
of two ways:
0
0
Light Flashing -- A misfire condition has been
detected. A misfire increases vehicle emissions and
may damage the emission control system on your
vehicle. Dealer or qualified service center diagnosis
and service is required.
Light On Steady -- An emission control system
malfunction has been detected on your vehicle.
Dealer or qualified service center diagnosis and
service may be required.
2-83

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If the Light Is Flashing
The following may prevent more serious damage to
your vehicle:
Reduce vehicle speed.
0 Avoid hard accelerations.
0 Avoid steep uphill grades.
If towing a trailer, reduce the amount of cargo being
hauled as soon as it is possible.
If the light stops flashing and remains on steady, see “If
the Light Is On Steady” following.
If the light continues to flash, when it is safe
to do so,
stop the vehicle. Put your vehicle in PARK (P). Turn the
key
off, wait at least 10 seconds and restart the engine.
If the light remains on steady, see
“If the Light Is On
Steady” following. If the light is still flashing follow the
previous steps, and drive the vehicle to your dealer or
qualified service center for service.
If the Light Is On Steady
You may be able to correct the emission system
malfunction by considering the following:
Did you just put fuel into your vehicle?
If
so, reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to fully install
the cap. The diagnostic system
can determine if the fuel
cap has been left off or improperly installed. This will
allow fuel
to evaporate into the atmosphere. A few
driving trips should turn the light off.
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.
Are
you low on fuel?
As your engine starts to run out of fuel, your engine may
not run as efficiently as designed since small amounts of
air are sucked into the fuel line causing a misfire. The
system can detect this. Adding fuel should correct this
condition. Make sure to install the fuel cap properly. It
will take a few driving trips to turn the light off.
2-84

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Have you recently changed brands of fuel?
If
so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with quality fuel (see
“Fuel” in the Index). 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 this condition, 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,
have your dealer or qualified service center check the
vehicle. Your dealer has the proper test equipment and
diagnostic tools to fix any mechanical
or electrical
problems that may have developed.
Engine Oil Pressure Gage
5.7L LT1 Engine 3800 L36 Engine
This gage tells you if there could be a problem with your
engine oil pressure.
The engine oil pressure gage shows the engine oil
pressure in psi (pounds per square inch)
in the United
States, or kPa (kilopascals)
in Canada, when the engine
is running. Oil pressure should be
20 to 80 psi (140 to
550 kPa). On the 3.8L engine, the oil pressure should be
between
20 and 120 psi (140 to 827 kPa). It may vary
with engine speed, outside temperature and oil viscosity,
2-85