check engine CHEVROLET CAVALIER 1995 3.G User Guide

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Check Oil Light
CHECK
OIL
This light should come on
briefly while you are
starting your engine.
If the
light doesn’t come
on, have
it repaired. If the light
comes
on while starting and
stays
on, your engine oil
level should be checked.
Charging System Light
The charging system light
will come
on briefly when
you turn on the ignition, and
the engine is not running, as
a check to show you
it is
working. Then it should
go
out.
Prior to checking your oil level, be sure your vehicle is
on
a level surface and has been shut off for several
minutes to allow the oil
to drain back into the oil pan.
Check your oil level and bring
it to the proper level.
See “Engine Oil” in
the Index.
The oil level monitoring system
only checks the oil
during the brief period between turning the key on and
when the engine starts.
It does not check the oil level
while the engine is running.
Parking
on steep grades may cause the light to come
on even when the oil level is correct. If this happens,
park the vehicle on a level surface and check the oil
level.
If it stays on, or comes on while you are driving, you
may have
a problem with the electrical charging system.
It could indicate that you have a loose generator drive
belt, or another electrical problem. Have
it checked right
away. Driving while this light
is on could drain your
battery.
If you must drive a short distance with the light on, be
certain
to turn off all your accessories, such as the radio
and air conditioner.
2-66

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine i Shift Light (Manual Transaxle)
SHIFT
This light comes on when
you need to shift
to the next
higher gear. See “Manual
Transaxle” in the Index.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Check Engine Light)
r A computer monitors
operation
of your fuel,
ignition and emission
control systems. This light
should come
on when the
ignition
is on, but the
engine is not running,
as a
check to show
you it is
working.
If it does not come on at all, have it fixed right away. If
it stays on, or it comes on while you are driving, the
computer is indicating that you have a problem. You
should take your vehicle in for service soon.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine NOTICE:
If you keep driving your vehicle with this light
on, after a while the emission controls won’t
work as well, your fuel economy won’t
be as good
and your engine may not run as smoothly. This
could lead to costly repairs not covered by your
warranty.
If Your Vehicle
Is Equipped with OBD I1
(2.3L Code D Engine Only)
Certain vehicles are equipped with a new emission
diagnostic system. You can tell whether your vehicle has
this system by reading your tune-up label located under
the hood. If the label says
“OBD 11” on it. the following
instructions apply.
Your Chevrolet
is equipped with an onboard computer
which monitors operation
of the emission control
system. 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. The
CHECK ENGINE light comes on to
indicate when service is require.d. Malfunctions often
will be indicated by the system before any problem is apparent,
which may prevent more serious damage
tc,
your vehicle. This system is also designed to assist your
service technician
in correctly diagnosing any
malfunction.
The
CHECK ENGINE light should come on, as a check
to show
you it is working, when the ignition is on and
the engine is
not running. This light will also come on
during a malfunction in one of two ways:
Light On Steady: This indicates a system
malfunction has been detected. Drive the vehicle
to
the dealer for service at your first opportunity.
Light Flashing: This indicates a misfire has been
detected which may damage the emission control
system. The damage may be reduced by Iowering the
vehicle speed, reducing the amount
of cargo being
hauled or trailered, avoiding hard acceleration,
or by
avoiding steep uphill grades.
If these actions are
effective,
the light will stop flashing and remain on
steady. Drive the vehicle to a dealer for service. If
the light continues to flash, stop the vehicle. Wait for
a steady light to come on, then drive the vehicle to
a
dealer for service.
2-69

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine These following conditions also may cause the CHECK
ENGINE light to come
on:
0
0
Low Fuel/Out of Fuel: As the vehicle starts to run
out of fuel, the CHECK ENGINE light may come on
as a result of an engine misfire. Filling your fuel tank
should correct this condition. Make sure to install
the
gas cap fully. It will require a few driving trips to
turn the light off.
Poor Quality Fuel: Be sure to fuel your vehicle with
quality fuel. Your engine may
not run efficiently on
poor fuel. Poor fuel may cause stalling, hesitation or
misfire. These conditions may
go away when the
engine
is warmed-up. However, poor quality fuel
may cause the
CHECK ENGINE light to come on.
Have a dealer check the vehicle. If no problems are
found, you may want
to change to another brand of
fuel.
Driving Through Standing Water: Driving your
vehicle through puddles
of deep standing water may
result in
a temporary misfire condition. This
condition will usually correct itself shortly after
the
electrical system dries out. it will require a few
driving trips
to turn the light off.
Passlock Warning Light
THEFT
SYSTEM
This light will come on
when you turn the key
towards the
START
position. The light will stay
on until the vehicle starts.
If the light flashes, the Passlock system has entered a
tamper mode.
If the vehicle fails to start, see “Passlock”
in the Index.
If
the light comes on continuously while driving and
stays
on, there may be a problem with the Passlock
system. Your vehicle will not be protected
by Passlock,
and
you should see your dealer.
2-70

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine AM
The range for most AM stations is greater than for FM,
especially at night. The longer range, however, can
cause stations to interfere with each other. AM can also
pick up noise from things like storms and power lines.
To lower this noise, try reducing the treble level.
,*ps for Using Your Audio System
Hearing damage from loud noise is almost undetectable
until
it is too late. Your hearing can adapt to higher
volumes
of sound. Sound that seems normal can be loud
and harmful to your hearing. Take precautions by
adjusting the volume control
on your radio to a safe
sound level before your hearing adapts to it.
To help avoid hearing loss or damage:
Adjust the volume control to the lowest setting.
Increase volume slowly until you hear comfortably
and clearly.
’ NOTICE:
Before you add any sound equipment to your
vehicle
-- like a tape player, CB radio, mobile
telephone or two-way radio
-- be sure you can
add what you want. If you can, it’s very
important to do it properly. Added sound
equipment may interfere with the operation of
your vehicle’s engine, Delco@ radio or other
systems, and even damage them. And, your
vehicle’s systems may interfere with the
operation
of sound equipment that has been
added improperly.
So, before adding sound equipment, check with
your dealer and be sure to check Federal rules covering mobile radio and telephone units.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Care of Your Compact Discs
! Handle discs carefully. Store them in their original cases
or other protective cases and away from direct sunlight
and dust. If the surface of a disc is soiled, dampen a
clean, soft cloth in a mild, neutral detergent solution and
clean it, wiping from the center to the edge.
Be sure never
to touch the signal surface when handling
discs. Pick up discs by grasping the outer edges
or the
edge
of the hole and the outer edge.
I
Fixed Mast Antenna
The fixed mast antenna can withstand most car washes
without being damaged. If the mast should ever become
slightly bent,
you can straighten it out by hand. If the
mast is badly bent, as it might be by vandals,
you should
replace it.
Check every once in a while
to be sure the mast is still
tightened to the fender.
3-14

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Do not get too close to the vehicle you want to pass
while you’re awaiting an opportunity. For one thing,
following too closely reduces your area of vision,
especially if you’re following a larger vehicle. Also,
you won’t have adequate space if the vehicle ahead
suddenly slows or stops. Keep back a reasonable
distance.
When it looks like a chance to pass is coming up,
start to accelerate but stay in the right lane and don’t
get too close. Time your move
so you will be
increasing speed as the time comes
to move into the
other lane. If the way is clear
to pass, you will have a
“running start” that more than makes up for the
distance
you would lose by dropping back. And if
something happens to cause you
to cancel your pass,
you need only slow down and drop back again and
wait for another opportunity.
If other cars are lined up to pass a slow vehicle, wait
your turn. But take care that someone isn’t trying
to
pass you as you pull out to pass the slow vehicle.
Remember to glance over your shoulder and check
the blind spot.
Check your mirrors, glance over your shoulder, and
start your left lane change signal before moving
out
of the right lane to pass. When you are far enough
ahead
of the passed vehicle to see its front in your
inside mirror, activate your right lane change signal
and move back
into the right lane. (Remember that
your right outside mirror is convex. The vehicle
you
just passed may seem to be farther away from you
than it really is.)
Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time on
two-lane roads. Reconsider before passing the next
vehicle.
Don’t overtake a slowly moving vehicle too rapidly.
Even though the brake lamps are
not flashing, it may
be slowing down or starting
to turn.
If you’re being passed, make it easy for the
following driver
to get ahead of you. Perhaps you
can ease a little to the right.
4-11

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine sunshine you are wise to wear sunglasses. Your eyes will
have less trouble adjusting to night. But if you’re
driving, don’t wear sunglasses
at night. They may cut
down on glare from headlamps, but they also make a lot
of things invisible.
You can be temporarily blinded by approaching
headlamps.
It can take a second or two, or even several
seconds, for your eyes
to readjust to the dark. When you
are faced with severe glare
(as from a driver who
doesn’t lower the high beams, or a vehicle with
misaimed headlamps), slow down a little. Avoid staring
directly into the approaching headlamps.
Keep your windshield and all the glass on your vehicle
clean
-- inside and out. Glare at night is made much
worse by dirt on the glass. Even the inside of the glass
can build up
a film caused by dust. Dirty glass makes
lights dazzle and flash more than clean glass would,
making
the pupils of your eyes contract repeatedly.
Remember that
your headlamps light up far less of a
roadway when
you are in a turn or curve. Keep your
eyes moving; that way, it’s easier
to pick out dimly
lighted objects. Just as your headlamps should be
checked regularly for proper aim,
so should your eyes
be examined regularly. Some drivers suffer from night
blindness
-- the inability to see in dim light -- and aren’t
even aware of it.
Driving in the Rain
Rain and wet roads can mean driving trouble. On a wet
road you can’t stop, accelerate or turn as well because
your tire-to-road traction
isn’t as good as on dry roads.
And,
if your tires don‘t have much tread left, you’ll get
even less traction. It‘s always wise to
go slower and be
cautious
if rain starts to fall while you are driving. The
surfxe may get wet suddenly when your reflexes are
tuned for driving
on dry pavement.
4-14

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine City Driving
One of the biggest problems with city streets is the
amount of traffic
on them. You’ll want to watch out for
what the other drivers are doing and pay attention
to
traffic signals. Here
are ways to increase your safety
in city driving:
Know the best way to get to where you are going.
Get
a city map and plan your trip into an unknown
part of the city just as you would for a cross-country
trip.
Try to use the freeways that rim and crisscross most
large cities.
You’ll save time and energy. (See the
next part, “Freeway Driving.”)
Treat a green light as a warning signal. A traffic light
is there because the corner is busy enough to need
it.
When a light turns green, and just before you start to
move, check both ways for vehicles that have
not
cleared the intersection or may be running the red
light.
4-17

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Freeway Driving
Mile for mile, freeways (also called thruways, parkways,
expressways, turnpikes, or superhighways) are
the safest
of all roads. But they have their own special rules. The
most important advice
on freeway driving is: Keep
up with traffic and keep to the right. Drive at the same
speed most
of the other drivers are driving. Too-fast or
too-slow driving breaks a smooth traffic flow. Treat the
left lane
on a freeway as a passing lane.
At the entrance there
is usually a ramp that leads to the
freeway. If you have a clear view of the freeway as you
drive along
the entrance ramp, you should begin to
check traffic. Try to determine where you expect to
blend with the flow. Try to merge into the gap at close to
the prevailing speed. Switch on your turn signal, check
your mirrors and glance over your shoulder as often as
necessary. Try to blend smoothly with the traffic
flow.
Once you are on the freeway, adjust your speed to the
posted limit or to the prevailing rate if it’s slower. Stay
in the right lane unless you want to pass.
Before changing lanes, check your mirrors. Then use
your turn signal.
Just before you leave the lane, glance quickly over your
shoulder
to make sure there isn’t another vehicle in your
“blind” spot.
4-18