engine overheat CHEVROLET CAVALIER 1996 3.G Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 0 The 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier Owner’s Manual
SeatsandRestraintSystems ............................................................. 1-1
This section tells you how to use your seats and safety belts prop\
erly. It also explains the “SRS” system.
.. FeaturesandControls ................................................................... 2-1
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems ..................................................... 3-1
This section explains how to start and operate your Chevrolet. \
This section tells
you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort controls and how to \
operate your
audio system.
YourDrivingandtheRoad .............................................................. 4-1
Here you’ll find helpful information and tips about the road\
and how to drive under different conditions.
ProblemsontheRoad .................................................................. 5-1
This section tells you what to do if you have a problem whil\
e driving, such as a flat tire or overheated
engine, etc.
ServiceandAppearanceCare ............................................................ 6-1
Here the manual tells you how to keep your Chevrolet running \
properly and looking good.
Maintenance Schedule .................................................................. 7-1
This section tells you when to perform vehicle maintenance and \
what fluids and lubricants to use.
Customer Assistance Information ........................................................ 8-1
This section tells you how to contact Chevrolet for assistance and how to get service\
and owner publications.
It also gives
you information on “Reporting Safety Defects” on page 8-8.
Here’s an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual. You can use it to quickly find
something you want to read.
Index ........................................................................\
........ 9-1
i

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet
could cause an electrical shock. Also, the wrong
kind
of extension cord could overheat and cause
a fire. You could be seriously injured. Plug the
cord into
a properly grounded three-prong
110-volt AC outlet.
If the cord won’t reach, use a
heavy-duty three-prong extension cord rated for
at least 15 amps.
2.4L Engine
In very cold weather,
0°F (- 18 O C) or colder, the engine
coolant heater can help. You’ll get easier starting and
better fuel economy during engine warm-up.
Usually,
the coolant heater should be plugged in a minimum of
four hours prior to starting your vehicle.
To use the coolant heater:
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC outlet.
4. After you’ve used the coolant heater, be sure to store
the cord as it was before to keep it away from moving
engine parts. If you don’t, it could be damaged.
How long should
you keep the coolant heater plugged
in? The answer depends on the outside temperature, the
kind of oil you have, and some other things. Instead
of
trying to list everything here, we ask that you contact
your Chevrolet dealer in the area where you’ll be
parking your vehicle. The dealer can give you the best
advice for that particular area.
2-15

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine lever is put in FIRST (l), the transaxle won’t shift into
first gear until the vehicle is going slowly enough.
NOTICE:
If your front wheels can’t rotate, don’t try to
drive. This might happen if you were stuck in
very deep sand or mud or were up against a solid
object.
You could damage your transaxle. Also, if
you stop when going uphill, don’t hold your
vehicle there with only the accelerator pedal.
This could overheat and damage the transaxle.
Use your brakes or shift into PARK (P) to hold
your vehicle in position
on a hill.
Forward Gears (4-Speed)
AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D): This position is for
normal driving with the fourspeed automatic transaxle.
If you need more power for passing, and you’re:
Going less than about 35 mph (56 km/h), push your
accelerator pedal about halfway down.
Going about 35 mph (56 km/h), push your
accelerator
all the way down. THIRD
(3): This position is also used for normal
driving, however, it offers more power and lower fuel
economy than AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE
(D). Here
are some times you might choose
THIRD (3) instead of
AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D):
When driving on hilly, winding roads.
0 When going down a steep hill.
SECOND
(2): This position gives you more power but
lower fuel economy.
You can use SECOND (2) on hills.
It can help control your speed as you go down steep
mountain roads, but then you would
also want to use
your brakes
off and on.
NOTICE:
Don’t drive in SECOND (2) for more than
25 miles (41 km), or at speeds over 55 mph
(88 km/h), or you can damage your transaxle.
Use AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D) or
THIRD
(3) as much as possible. Don’t shift
into
SECOND (2) unless you are going slower
than
65 mph (105 km/h), or you can damage
your engine.
2-19

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine FIRST (1): This position gives you even more power (but
lower fuel economy) than
SECOND (2). You can use it on
very
steep hills, or in deep snow or mud. If the selector
lever
is put in FIRST (1)’ the transaxle won’t shift into
first gear until the vehicle is going slowly enough.
NOTICE:
If your front wheels can’t rotate, don’t try to
drive. This might happen
if you were stuck in
very deep sand or mud or were
up against a solid
object.
You could damage your transaxle. Also, if
you stop when going uphill, don’t hold your
vehicle there with only the accelerator pedal. This
could overheat and damage the transaxle. Use
your brakes or shift into PARK (P) to hold your
vehicle in position on
a hill.
Manual Transaxle
2-20
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Parking Brake To set the parking brake, hold the brake pedal down and
pull up on the parking brake lever. If the ignition is on,
the brake system
warning light will come on.
To release the
parking brake, hold the brake pedal down.
Pull the parking brake lever up until you can press the
release button. Hold the release button in as you move
the brake lever all the way down.
NOTICE:
-
Driving with the parking brake on can cause
your rear brakes to overheat.
You may have to
replace them, and you could also damage other
parts
of your vehicle.
The parking brake lever is located between the bucket seats.
2-23

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine
Running (Auton~
~ tic Transaxle “del 3nly)
It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with
the engine running. Your vehicle could move-
suddenly if the shift lever
is not fully in PARK (P)
with the parking brake firmly set. And, if you
leave the vehicle with the engine running, it could
overheat and even catch fire.
You or others could
be injured. Don’t leave your vehicle with the
engine running unless you have to.
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your vehicle
is in PARK (P) and your
parking brake is firmly set before you leave
it. After
you’ve moved the shift lever into the
PARK (P)
position, hold the regular brake pedal down. Then, see if
you can move the shift lever away from PARK
(P)
without first pushing the button.
If you can, it means that the shift
lever wasn’t fully
locked into PARK
(P).
Torque Lock (Automatic Transaxle)
If you are parking on a hill and you don’t shift your
transaxle into PARK
(P) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl in
the transaxle.
You may find it difficult to pull the shift
lever out of PARK (P). This is called “torque lock.’’
To
prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and then shift
into PARK
(P) properly before you leave the driver’s
seat.
To find out how, see “Shifting Into PARK (P)” in
the Index.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out of
PARK (P)
before you release the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to have another
vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some of the
pressure from the transaxle,
so you can pull the shift
lever out
of PARK (P).
2-25

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter
To use the lighter, just push
it in all the way
and let go.
When it’s ready, it will pop
back out by itself.
I NOTICE:
Don’t hold a cigarette lighter in with your hand
while it
is heating. If you do, it won’t be able to
back away from the heating element when it’s
ready. That can make it overheat, damaging the
lighter and the heating element.
To clean the front ashtray, push down on the snuffer
plate and lift the ashtray
out.
2-47

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Engine Coolant Temperature Gage

100
9
H
TEMP
Low Coolant Warning Light
1,1
If this light comes on and
stays on, your system is low
on coolant and the engine
may overheat.
Your vehicle
is equipped with one of these gages. With
the ignition in the
RUN position, this gage shows the
engine coolant temperature.
If the gage pointer moves into the red area, your engine
is too hot! It means that your engine coolant has
overheated.
If you have been operating your vehicle
under normal driving conditions,
you should pull off the
road, stop your vehicle and turn
off the engine as soon
as possible.
In “Problems on the Road,” this manual shows what
to
do. See “Engine Overheating” in the Index. See
the Index under “Engine Coolant” and have your
vehicle serviced
as soon as you can.
2-70

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine firn Signals When Towing a Trailer
The green arrows on your instrument panel will flash
whenever you signal a turn or lane change. Properly
hooked up, the trailer lamps will also flash, telling other
drivers you’re about to turn, change lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the green arrows on your
instrument panel will flash for turns even if the bulbs on
the trailer are burned out. Thus, you may think drivers
behind you are seeing your signal when they are not.
It’s important to check occasionally to be sure the trailer
bulbs are still working.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you start
down
a long or steep downgrade. If you don’t shift
down, you might have to use your brakes
so much that
they would get hot and no longer work well.
On a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce your
speed to around
45 mph (70 km/h) to reduce the
possibility of engine and transaxle overheating.
Parking on Hills
You really should not park your vehicle, with a trailer
attached, on a hill. If something goes wrong, your
rig
could start to move. People can be injured, and both
your vehicle and the trailer can be damaged.
But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here’s
how to do
it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels. PARK
(P) yet.
3. When the wheel
chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your parking
brake, and then shift to PARK
(P).
5. Release the regular brakes.
4-39

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Engine Overheating
You will find a coolant temperature gage and a
low coolant warning light on your Chevrolet’s
instrument panel. Steam
from an overheated engine can burn you
badly, even if you just open the hood. Stay away
from the engine if you
see or hear steam coming
from it. Just turn it
off and get everyone away
from the vehicle until it cools down. Wait until
there is no sign of steam or coolant before
opening the hood.
If you keep driving when your engine
is
overheated, the liquids in it can catch fire. You or
others could be badly burned. Stop your engine
if
it overheats, and get out of the vehicle until the
engine is cool.
I NOTICE:
If your engine catches fire because you keep
driving with no coolant, your vehicle can be
badly damaged. The costly repairs would not be
covered by your warranty.
5-13