service CHEVROLET CAVALIER 1994 1.G Owner's Manual

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.I I.
Service
Your Chevrolet dealer knows your
vehicle best and wants you to be happy
with it. We hope you’ll go to your dealer
for all your service needs. You’ll get
genuine GM parts and GM-trained and
supported service people.
We hope you’ll want to keep your GM
vehicle all GM. Genuine GM parts have
one of these marks.
Doing Your Own Service Work
If you want to do some of your own
service work, you’ll want to get the
proper Chevrolet Service Manual. It
tells you much more about how to
service your Chevrolet than this manual
can. To order the proper service manual,
see
Service Publications in the Index.
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You should keep a record with all parts
receipts and list the mileage and the
date of any service work you perform.
See
Maintenance Record in the Index.
NOTICE:
If you try to do your own service
work without knowing enough about
it, your vehicle could be damaged.
Fuel
Use regular unleaded gasoline rated at
87 octane or higher. It should meet
specifications ASTM D4814 in the
U.S.
and CGSB 3.5-92 in Canada. These
fuels should have the proper additives,
so you should not have to add anything
to the fuel.
In the
U.S. and Canada, it’s easy to be
sure you get the right kind of gasoline
(unleaded). You’ll see “UNLEADED”
right on the pump. And only unleaded
nozzles will fit into your vehicle’s filler
neck.
Be sure the posted octane is at least
87.
If the octane is less than 87, you may
get a heavy knocking noise when you
drive.
If it’s bad enough, it can damage
your engine.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If you’re using fuel rated at 87 octane or
higher and you still hear heavy
knocking, your engine needs service.
But don’t worry
if you hear a little
pinging noise when you’re accelerating
or driving up a hill. That’s normal, and
you don’t have to buy a higher octane
fuel to get rid of pinging. It’s the heavy,
constant knock that means you have a
problem.
What about gasoline with blending
materials that contain oxygen
(oxygenates), such as MTBE or
alcohol?
MTBE is “methyl tertiary-butyl ether.”
Fuel that is no more than
15% MTBE is
fine for your vehicle.
Ethanol is ethyl or grain alcohol.
Properly-blended fuel that is no more
than
10% ethanol is fine for your
vehicle.
Methanol is methyl or wood alcohol. Fuel
that is more than
5%
methanol is bad for your vehicle.
Don’t use it. It can corrode metal
parts in your fuel system and also
damage plastic and rubber parts.
That damage wouldn’t be covered
under your warranty. And even at
5% or less, there must be
“cosolvents” and corrosion
preventers in this fuel to help avoid
these problems.
Gasolines for Cleaner Air
Your use of gasoline with deposit
control additives will help prevent
deposits from forming in your engine
and fuel system. That helps keep your
engine in tune and your emission
control system working properly. It’s
good for your vehicle, and you’ll be
doing your part for cleaner air.
Many gasolines are now blended with
oxygenates. General Motors
recommends that you use gasolines
with these blending materials, such as
MTBE and ethanol. By doing so, you
can help clean the air, especially in
those parts of the country that have
high carbon monoxide levels.
In addition, some gasoline suppliers are
now producing reformulated gasolines.
These gasolines are specially designed
to reduce vehicle emissions. General
Motors recommends that you use
reformulated gasoline. By doing
so, you
can help clean the air, especially in
those parts of the country that have
high ozone levels.
You should ask your service station
operators if their gasolines contain
deposit control additives and oxygenates,
and if they have been reformulated to
reduce vehicle emissions.

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Service & Appearance Care
Fuels in Foreign Countries
If you plan on driving in another
country outside the
U.S. or Canada,
unleaded fuel may be hard to find. Do
not use leaded gasoline.
If you use even
one tankful, your emission controls
won’t work well or at all. With
continuous use, spark plugs can get
fouled, the exhaust system can corrode,
and your engine oil can deteriorate
quickly. Your vehicle’s oxygen sensor
will be damaged. All
of that means
costly repairs that wouldn’t be covered
by your warranty.
To check on fuel availability, ask an
auto club, or contact a major oil
company that does business in the
country where you’ll be driving.
You can also write us at the following
address for advice. Just tell us where
you’re going and give your Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN).
General Motors Overseas Distribution
North American Export Sales (NAES)
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario
L1H 8P7
Corporation Filling Your Tank
“el Capacity: 15.2 U.S. Gallons
77.5 L). Use unleaded fuel only.
The cap
is behind a hinged door on the
sight side
of your vehicle.
To take off the cap, turn it slowly to the
eft (counterclockwise).

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Hood Release
To open the hood, first pull the hood
release handle inside the vehicle. Then
go to the front
of the vehicle and
push the secondary hood release handle
to the right.
t
Lift the hood, release the hood prop
from its retainer and put the hood prop
into the slot in the hood. Use the prop
rod sleeve when handling the prop rod.

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2.21 L4 Engine CODE^)
When you open the hood, you’ll see:
1. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank
2. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
3. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick
4. Brake Fluid Reservoir
5. Hydraulic Clutch Fluid Reservoir (if
6. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir
7. Battery
8. Air Cleaner
9. Engine Oil Dipstick, Engine Oil Fill
(if equipped)
equipped)
Cap
IO. Thermostat Housing Pressure Cap

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Engine Oil
If the oil warning light on the
instrument panel comes on, it means
you need to check your engine oil level
right away. For more information, see
Engine Oil Warning Light in the Index.
You should check your engine oil level
regularly; this is an added reminder.
It’s a good idea to check your engine oil
every time you get fuel. In order to get
an accurate reading, the oil must be
warm and the vehicle must be on level
ground.
Turn
off the engine and give the oil a
few minutes to drain back into the oil
pan. If you don’t, the oil dipstick might
not show the actual level.
To Check Engine Oil
Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a
paper towel or cloth, then push it back
in all the way. Remove it again, keeping
the tip lower, and check the level.
2.2L L4: Checking Engine Oil
3.1 L V6: Checking Engine Oil
When to Add Oi/
If the oil is at or below the ADD line,
then you’ll need to add some oil. But
you must use the right kind. This
section explains what kind of oil to use.
For crankcase capacity, see
Capacities
and Specifications
in the Index.
NOTICE:
Don’t add too much oil. If your
engine has
so much oil that the oil
level gets above the cross-hatched
area that shows the proper
operating range, your engine could
be damaged.
Just
fill it enough to put the level
somewhere in the proper operating
range. Push the dipstick all the way
back in when you’re through.

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Service & Appearance Care
use SAE 1OW-30 if it’s going to be 0°F
(-18°C) or above. These numbers on an
oil container show its viscosity, or
thickness. Do not use other viscosity oils,
such as SAE 1OW-40 or SAE 20W-50.
If you cannot find oils with the new
“starburst” symbol on the front of the
container, you should look for and use
oils containing the following three things:
SH or SG
“SH” or “SG” must be on the oil
container, either by itself or combined
with other quality designations, such
as “SWCD,” “SH,SG,CD,” “SG/CD,” etc.
These letters show American Petroleum Institute (API) levels of quality.
SAE 5W-30
Energy Conserving I1
Oils with these words on the
container will help you save fuel.
These three things are usually included
in a doughnut shaped logo (symbol) on
most containers.
If you cannot find oils
with the “starburst” symbol, you should
look for oils with the doughnut shaped
symbol, containing the three things
noted above.
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NOTICE:
’ If you use oils that do not have
either the “starburst” symbol or an
API
SH or SG designation, you can
cause engine damage not covered
by your warranty.
GM Goodwrench@ oil (in Canada, GM
Engine Oil) meets all the requirements
for your vehicle.
€ngine Oil Additives
Don’t add anything to your oil. Your
Chevrolet dealer is ready to advise
if
you think something should be added.
When to Change Engine Oi/
See if any one of these is true for you:
Most trips are less than 4 miles (6 km).
It’s below freezing outside and most
trips are less than 10 miles (16
km) .
The engine is at low speed most of the
time (as in door-to-door delivery, or in
stop-and-go traffic).
Most trips are through dusty places.
If any one of these is true for your
vehicle, then you need to change your
oil and filter every 3,000 miles (5 000
km) or 3 months - whichever comes
first.
If none of them is true, change the oil
every
7,500 miles (12 500 km) or 12
months
- whichever comes first.
Change the filter at the first oil change
and at every other oil change after that.

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An engine coolant heater can be a big
help if you have to park outside in very
cold weather,
0°F (-18°C) or colder. If
your vehicle has this option, see
Engine
Coolant Heater
in the Index.
What to Do with Used Oil
Did you know that used engine oil
contains certain elements that may be
unhealthy for your
skin and could even
cause cancer? Don’t let used oil stay on
your skin for very long. Clean your
skin
and nails with soap and water, or a
good hand cleaner. Wash or properly
throw away clothing or rags containing
used engine oil. (See the manufacturer’s
warnings about the use and disposal of
oil products.) Used oil
can be a real threat.,t.o the
environment. If you change your
own
oil, be sure to drain all free-flowing oil
from the filter before disposal. Don’t
ever dispose of oil by putting it in the
trash, pouring it
on the ground, into
sewers, or into streams or bodies of
water. Instead, recycle it by taking it to
a place that collects used oil.
If you
have a problem properly disposing of
your used oil, ask your dealer, a service
station or a local recycling center for
help.
Air Cleaner
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to
determine when to replace the air filter.
See
Scheduled Maintenance Services in
the
Index.
-
NOTICE:
If the air cleaner is off, a backfire
can cause a damaging engine fire.
And,
dirt can easily get into your
engine, which will damage
it.
Always have the air cleaner in place
when you’re driving.
I

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2.2L L4: Air Filter Replacement
To check or replace the filter, remove
the two wing nuts and lift the cover.
Be sure to reinstall the air cleaner filter
and replace the cover tightly.
3.1 L V6 (Except 2-24): Air Filter
Replacement
To check or replace the filter, remove
the three wing nuts and lift the cover.
Be sure
to reinstali the air cleaner filter
and replace the cover tightly.
3.1 L V6 (2-24): Air Filter Replacement
To check or replace the filter, unclip the
three clips and remove the cover.
Be sure
to reinstall the air cleaner filter
and replace the cover tightly.

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1 When to Check and Change
A good time to check your automatic
transaxle fluid level is when the engine
oil is changed. Refer to the Maintenance
Schedule to determine when to change
your fluid. See
Scheduled Maintenance
Services
in the Index.
How to Check
Because this operation can be a little
difficult, you may choose to have this
done at your Chevrolet dealership
Service Department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow
all the instructions here, or
you could
get a false reading on the dipstick.
NOTICE:
~. , ,'
Too much or too little fluid can
damage your transaxle.
Too much can
mean that some of the fluid could
come out and fall on hot engine parts
or exhaust system, starting a fire.
Be sure to get an accurate reading
if
you check your transaxle fluid.
Wait at least
30 minutes before
checking the transaxle fluid level
if you
have been driving:
When outside temperatures are above
At high speed for quite a while.
In heavy traffic - especially in hot
To get the right reading, the fluid
should be at normal operating
temperature, which is 180°F to 200°F
(82°C to 93°C).
Get the vehicle warmed up by driving
about 15 miles (24 lun) when outside
temperatures are above
50°F (10.C). If
it's colder than 50°F (lOOC), you may
have to drive longer.
90°F
(32°C).
weather.
To check the fluid level
Park your vehicle on a level place.
With the parking brake applied, place
With your foot on the brake pedal,
the
shift lever in
P (Park).
move the shift lever through each gear
range, pausing for about three
seconds in each range. Then, position
the shift lever in
P (Park).
Let the engine run at idle for three to
five minutes.
Then, without shutting off the engine,
follow these steps:
1. Pull out the dipstick and wipe it with
2. Push it back in all the way, wait three
a clean rag or
paper towel.
seconds and then pull it back out
again.
3. Check both sides of the dipstick, and
read the lower level. The fluid level
must be in the cross-hatched area.
4. If the fluid level is in the acceptable
range, push the dipstick back in all
the way.