CHEVROLET CAVALIER 1998 3.G Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Here’s how to operate your transaxle:
FIRST (1): Press the clutch pedal and shift into
FIRST
(1). Then, slowly let up on the clutch pedal as
you press the accelerator pedal.
You can shift into FIRST
(1) when you’re going less
than
20 mph (32 km/h). If you’ve come to a complete
stop and it’s hard to shift into FIRST
(I), put the shift
lever in NEUTRAL
(N) and let up on the clutch. Press
the clutch pedal back down. Then shift into FIRST
(1).
SECOND (2): Press the clutch pedal as you let up on
the accelerator pedal and shift into SECOND
(2). Then,
slowly let up on the clutch pedal
as you press the
accelerator pedal.
THIRD (3), FOURTH (4) and FIFTH (5): Shift into
THIRD
(3), FOURTH (4) AND FIFTH (3, the same
way you do for
SECOND (2). Slowly let up on the
clutch pedal as you press the accelerator pedal.
To stop, let up on the accelerator pedal and press the
brake pedal. Just before the vehicle stops, press the
clutch pedal and the brake pedal, and shift to
NEUTRAL (N).
REVERSE (R): To back up, press down the clutch
pedal and shift into REVERSE
(R). Let up on the clutch
pedal slowly while pressing the accelerator pedal.
I I
NOTICE:
Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is
stopped. Shifting to REVERSE
(R) while your
vehicle
is moving could damage your transaxle.
NEUTRAL (N):
Use this position when you start or
idle your engine. Also,
use REVERSE (R), along with
the parking brake,
for parking your vehicle.
Shift Speeds
If you skip more than one gear when you
downshift, you could lose control of your vehicle.
And you could injure yourself or others. Don’t
shift from FIFTH
(5) to SECOND (2) or
FOURTH
(4) to FIRST (1).
2-25

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Up Shift Light (Manual Transaxle)
I SHIFT 1
If you have a manual
transaxle, you
have an
SHIFT light. This light
will show you when to shift
to the next higher gear for
the best fuel economy.
When this light comes on, you can shift to the next
higher gear if weather, road and traffic conditions let
you. For the best fuel economy, accelerate slowly and
shift when the light comes on.
While you accelerate, it i! ~ ormal for the light to
go
on and off if you quickly change the position
of the accelerator. Ignore the SHIFT light when
you downshift.
Parking Brake
The parking brake lever is located between the
bucket seats.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine To set the parking brake, hold the brake pedal down and
pull up
on the parhng 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.
Shifting Into PARK (P)
(Automatic Transaxle Only)
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake
firmly set. Your vehicle can roll. If
you have left the engine running, the vehicle can
move suddenly. You or others could be injured.
To be sure your vehicle won’t move, even when
you’re on fairly level ground, use the
steps that
follow.
If you’re pulling a trailer, see “Towing a
Trailer” in the Index.
1. Hold the brake pedal down and set the
parking brake.
.
2-27

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 2. Move the shift lever into the PARK (P) position like
this: Hold in the button on the lever, and push the
lever all the way toward the front
of your vehicle.
3. Move the ignition key to LOCK.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave your vehicle with the ignition key in your
hand, your vehicle
is in PARK (P).
Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine
Running (Automatic Transaxle Only)
L
I
AUTION:
--
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 PARK
(P), 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).
2-28

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 parking pawl in the transaxle,
so you
can pull the shift lever out
of PARK (P).
Shifting Out of PARK (P)
(Automatic Transaxle)
Your vehicle has a brake-transaxle shift interlock. You
have
to fully apply your regular brakes before you can
shift from PARK
(P) when the ignition is in the RUN
position. See “Automatic Transaxle” in the Index. If
you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever
-- push the shift lever all the way into
PARK
(P), as you maintain brake application. Then
move the shift lever into the gear you wish. (Press the
shift lever button before moving the shift lever.)
If you ever hold the brake pedal down but still can’t
shift out of PARK
(P), try this:
1. Turn the key to OFF.
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.
3. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the vehicle and then shift to the drive gear
you want.
5. Have the vehicle fixed as soon as you can.
Parking Your Vehicle
(Manual Transaxle Models Only)
Before you get out of your vehicle, put your manual
transaxle in REVERSE (R) and firmly apply the
parking brake.
2-29

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Parking Over Things That Burn
Engine Exhaust
Engine exhaust can kill. It contains the gas
carbon monoxide
(CO), which you can't see or
smell.
It can cause unconsciousness and death.
You might have exhaust coming in if:
0 Your exhaust system sounds strange
Your vehicle gets rusty underneath.
0 Your vehicle was damaged in a collision.
0 Your vehicle was damaged when driving over
high
points on the road or over road debris.
Repairs weren't done correctly.
0 Your vehicle or exhaust system had been
If you ever suspect exhaust is coming into
your vehicle:
0 Drive it only with all the windows down to
0 Have your vehicle fixed immediately. or
different.
modified improperly.
blow out any
CO; and

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Running Your Engine While You’re
Parked (Automatic Transaxle)
It’s better not to park with the engine running. But if yo\
u
ever have to, here are
some things to know.
I
Idling the engine with the climate control
system
off could allow dangerous exhaust into
your vehicle (see the earlier Caution under
“Engine Exhaust”).
Also, idling in
a closed-in place can let deadly
carbon monoxide
(CO) into your vehicle even if
the fan switch is at the highest setting. One place
this can happen
is a garage. Exhaust -- with
CO -- can come in easily. NEVER park in a
garage with the engine running.
Another closed-in place can be
a blizzard.
(See “Blizzard” in the Index.)
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly
set. Your vehicle can roll.
Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to.
If you’ve left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured.
To be sure your
vehicle won’t move, even when you’re on fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever to PARK
(P).
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle won’t
move. See “Shifting Into
PARK (P)” in the Index.
If you are parking on a hill and if you’re pulling a
trailer,
also see “Towing a Trailer” in the Index.
2-31

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Windows
On a vehicle with manual windows, use the window
crank to open and close each window.
Power Windows (If Equipped)
The driver’s window switch has an auto-down feature.
The driver’s window can be opened to the desired
amount by pushing the rear of the switch to the first
detent.
For the auto-down feature, push the rear of the
switch all the way down. The window will continue
going down until fully opened.
With power windows, switches
on the center console
control each
of the windows when the ignition is on. In
addition, in four-door models, each rear passenger door
has a control switch for its own window.
To stop the window while it is lowering, briefly press
the switch forward, then release.
To raise the window, press and hold the switch forward.
Jmkout Switch
fiour-door moclels also have a lockout switch. Press it to
disable the rear passenger’s power window switches.
This will prevent rear passengers from opening and
closing the windows. The driver can still control all
windows with the switch in the lock position.
Press the lockout button again to enable the passenger’s
window switches.
Horn
You can sound the horn by pressing the center of your
steering wheel near the horn symbols.
2-32

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Tilt Wheel (If Equipped) lhrn SignaVMultifunction Lever
.. :. . . ..._. ..
A tilt steering wheel allows you to adjust the steering
wheel before
you drive. You can also raise it to the
highest level
to give your legs more room when you exit
and enter the vehicle.
To tilt the wheel, hold the steering wheel and pull the
lever. Move the steering wheel to a comfortable level,
then release the lever to lock the wheel in place. The lever
on the left side
of the steering column
includes your:
0 Turn Signal and Lane Change Indicator
0 Headlamp High/Low Beam Changer
0 Cruise Control (If Equipped)
2-33

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine lhrn Signal and Lane Change Indicator
The turn signal has two upward (for right) and two
downward (for left) positions. These positions allow
you
to signal a turn or a lane change.
To signal a turn, move the lever all the way up or down.
When the turn is finished, the lever will return
automatically.
I I
Q
An arrow on the instrument
panel will flash in the
direction of the turn or
lane change.
To signal a lane change, just raise or lower the lever
until the arrow starts to flash. Hold it there until you
complete your lane change. The lever will return by
itself when you release it.
As you signal a turn or a lane change, if the arrows don’t
flash rapidly, a signal bulb may be burned out and other
drivers won’t see your turn signal.
If a bulb is burned out, replace it to help avoid an
accident. If the arrows don’t go on at all when you
signal a
turn, check the fuse (see “Fuses and Circuit
Breakers” in the Index) and
for burned-out bulbs.
Headlamp High/Low Beam Changer
To change the headlamps from low beam to high or high
beam to low, pull the turn signal lever all the way
toward you. Then release it.
When the high beams
are on, this light on the
instrument panel will
also be on.
Flash-To-Pass
This feature lets you use your high-beam headlamps to
signal a driver in front of
you that you want to pass.
To use it, pull the turn signal/multifunction lever toward
you until the high-beam headlamps come on, then
release the lever to turn them off.
2-34