instrument panel CHEVROLET CAVALIER 2001 3.G Owners Manual

Table of Contents
Windows
Keys and Door Locks
Remote Keyless Entry System (If Equipped)
Trunk Release (If Equipped)
Automatic Transaxle (If Equipped)
Manual Transaxle (If Equipped)
Parking Brake
Tilt Wheel (If Equipped)
Turn Signal/Multifunction LeverWindshield Wipers
Cruise Control (If Equipped)
Exterior and Interior Lamps
Mirrors
Storage Compartments
Convenience Net (If Equipped)
Sunroof (If Equipped)
Instrument Panel, Warning Lights and Gages
Personalization Feature Seats and Seat Controls
Safety BeltsAir Bag Systems
Restraint Systems for Children
Section
1
Section
2
Seats and Restraint Systems
Features and Controls
ii

1-11
The person keeps going until stopped by something.
In a real vehicle, it could be the windshield ...or the instrument panel ...

1-23
There is an air bag readiness
light on the instrument
panel, which shows the air
bag symbol.
The system checks the air bag electrical system for
malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical
problem. See ªAir Bag Readiness Lightº in the Index
for more information.How the Air Bag System Works
Where are the air bags?
The driver's air bag is in the middle of the
steering wheel.

1-24
The right front passenger's air bag is in the instrument
panel on the passenger's side.
CAUTION:
If something is between an occupant and an air
bag, the bag might not inflate properly or it
might force the object into that person. The path
of an inflating air bag must be kept clear. Don't
put anything between an occupant and an air
bag, and don't attach or put anything on the
steering wheel hub or on or near any other air
bag covering.

1-25
When should an air bag inflate?
An air bag is designed to inflate in a moderate to severe
frontal or near
-frontal crash. The air bag will inflate
only if the impact speed is above the system's designed
ªthreshold level.º If your vehicle goes straight into a
wall that doesn't move or deform, the threshold level is
about 9 to 14 mph (14 to 23 km/h). The threshold level
can vary, however, with specific vehicle design, so that
it can be somewhat above or below this range. If your
vehicle strikes something that will move or deform,
such as a parked car, the threshold level will be higher.
The air bag is not designed to inflate in rollovers, side
impacts or rear impacts, because inflation would not
help the occupant.
In any particular crash, no one can say whether an air
bag should have inflated simply because of the damage
to a vehicle or because of what the repair costs were.
Inflation is determined by the angle of the impact and
how quickly the vehicle slows down in frontal or
near
-frontal impacts.What makes an air bag inflate?
In an impact of sufficient severity, the air bag sensing
system detects that the vehicle is in a crash. The sensing
system triggers a release of gas from the inflator, which
inflates the air bag. The inflator, air bag and related
hardware are all part of the air bag modules inside the
steering wheel and in the instrument panel in front of the
right front passenger.
How does an air bag restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or near
-frontal collisions,
even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel or
the instrument panel. Air bags supplement the protection
provided by safety belts. Air bags distribute the force of
the impact more evenly over the occupant's upper body,
stopping the occupant more gradually. But air bags
would not help you in many types of collisions,
including rollovers, rear impacts and side impacts,
primarily because an occupant's motion is not toward
those air bags. Air bags should never be regarded as
anything more than a supplement to safety belts,
and then only in moderate to severe frontal or
near
-frontal collisions.

1-26
What will you see after an air bag inflates?
After an air bag inflates, it quickly deflates, so quickly that
some people may not even realize the air bag inflated.
Some components of the air bag module
-- the steering
wheel hub for the driver's air bag, or the instrument panel
for the right front passenger's bag
-- will be hot for a short
time. The parts of the bag that come into contact with you
may be warm, but not too hot to touch. There will be
some smoke and dust coming from vents in the deflated
air bags. Air bag inflation doesn't prevent the driver from
seeing or from being able to steer the vehicle, nor does it
stop people from leaving the vehicle.
CAUTION:
When an air bag inflates, there is dust in the air.
This dust could cause breathing problems for
people with a history of asthma or other
breathing trouble. To avoid this, everyone in the
vehicle should get out as soon as it is safe to do so.
If you have breathing problems but can't get out
of the vehicle after an air bag inflates, then get
fresh air by opening a window or door.
In many crashes severe enough to inflate an air bag,
windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage may also occur from the
right front passenger air bag.

Air bags are designed to inflate only once. After they
inflate, you'll need some new parts for your air bag
system. If you don't get them, the air bag system
won't be there to help protect you in another crash.
A new system will include air bag modules and
possibly other parts. The service manual for your
vehicle covers the need to replace other parts.

Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing and
diagnostic module, which records information about
the air bag system. The module records information
about the readiness of the system, when the system
commands air bag inflation and driver's safety belt
usage at deployment.

Let only qualified technicians work on your air bag
system. Improper service can mean that your air
bag system won't work properly. See your dealer
for service.

1-27
NOTICE:
If you damage the covering for the driver's or the
right front passenger's air bag, the bag may not
work properly. You may have to replace the air
bag module in the steering wheel or both the air
bag module and the instrument panel for the
right front passenger's air bag. Do not open or
break the air bag coverings.
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle
Air bags affect how your vehicle should be serviced.
There are parts of the air bag system in several places
around your vehicle. You don't want the system to
inflate while someone is working on your vehicle. Your
dealer and the service manual have information about
servicing your vehicle and the air bag system. To
purchase a service manual, see ªService and Owner
Publicationsº in the Index.
CAUTION:
For up to 10 minutes after the ignition key is
turned off and the battery is disconnected, an air
bag can still inflate during improper service. You
can be injured if you are close to an air bag when
it inflates. Avoid yellow connectors. They are
probably part of the air bag system. Be sure to
follow proper service procedures, and make sure
the person performing work for you is qualified
to do so.
The air bag system does not need regular maintenance.

2-
2-1
Section 2 Features and Controls
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional features on your vehicle, and information on starting,
shifting and braking. Also explained are the instrument panel and the warning systems that tell you if everything is
working properly
-- and what to do if you have a problem.
2
-2 Windows
2
-4 Keys
2
-6 Door Locks
2
-8 Remote Keyless Entry (If Equipped)
2
-14 Theft
2
-16 Content Theft Security System (If Equipped)
2
-17 Passlock

2-18 New Vehicle ªBreak-Inº
2
-18 Ignition Positions
2
-20 Starting Your Engine
2
-23 Engine Coolant Heater (If Equipped)
2
-24 Automatic Transaxle Operation
2
-29 Manual Transaxle Operation
2
-31 Parking Brake
2
-32 Shifting Into PARK (P)
(Automatic Transaxle Only)
2
-34 Shifting Out of PARK (P)
(Automatic Transaxle Only)2
-34 Parking Your Vehicle
(Manual Transaxle Models Only)
2
-35 Parking Over Things That Burn
2
-35 Engine Exhaust
2
-36 Running Your Engine While You're Parked
(Automatic Transaxle)
2
-37 Tilt Wheel (If Equipped)
2
-37 Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
2
-43 Exterior Lamps
2
-46 Interior Lamps
2
-47 Mirrors
2
-49 Storage Compartments
2
-50 Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter (If Equipped)
2
-51 Sun Visors
2
-51 Sunroof (If Equipped)
2
-52 The Instrument Panel -- Your
Information System
2
-54 Instrument Panel Cluster
2
-56 Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators

2-13
Trunk
To unlock the trunk from the outside, insert the key and
turn the trunk lock cylinder or use the remote keyless
entry transmitter (if equipped).
When closing the trunk, close from the center to ensure
it fully latches.
CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to drive with the trunk lid
open because carbon monoxide (CO) gas can
come into your vehicle. You can't see or smell
CO. It can cause unconsciousness and even death.
If you must drive with the trunk lid open or if
electrical wiring or other cable connections must
pass through the seal between the body and the
trunk lid:

Make sure all other windows are shut.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)

Turn the fan on your heating or cooling
system to its highest speed with the setting
on any airflow selection except MAX. That
will force outside air into your vehicle. See
ªComfort Controlsº in the Index.

If you have air outlets on or under the
instrument panel, open them all the way.
See ªEngine Exhaustº in the Index.
Remote Trunk Release (If Equipped)
Pull upward on the remote
release handle, located on
the floor near the left side of
the driver's seat, to release
the trunk lid.

2-16
Content Theft Security System
(If Equipped)
Arming the System
With the ignition off, pressing the transmitter LOCK
button will arm the system immediately after all doors
and trunk are closed. If the transmitter LOCK button
is pressed again within five seconds, the horn will chirp
to confirm that the system had been armed.
Once the system is armed, the THEFT SYSTEM light
on your instrument panel will flash and remain flashing.
This confirms the system is armed and monitoring the
doors and trunk.
If you don't want to arm the system, lock the car
with the lock levers on the doors or with the door
lock switch.
Disarming the System
If the system is armed, pressing the UNLOCK button
on the transmitter will disarm the system. The THEFT
SYSTEM light will stop flashing.
If the system is armed, turning the key to START will
also disarm the system.If the system is armed and the trunk is opened using
the TRUNK button on the transmitter, the system will
temporarily disarm itself and rearm when the trunk has
been closed. This allows the customer to exit the
vehicle, lock the doors using the transmitter, and open
the trunk using the transmitter without having to disarm
and subsequently rearm the system.
How the System Alarm is Activated
If the system is armed, opening any door or trunk, or
using a wrong key to start the vehicle will cause a
pre
-alarm chirp for 10 seconds and then a full alarm of
horn and headlights for two minutes.
If an alarm event has finished and all doors and trunk are
closed, the content theft security system will re
-arm itself.
How to Turn Off the System Alarm
If the system alarm is active, it can be deactivated by:

Pressing the transmitter LOCK or PANIC button
to turn
-off alarm. The system will also rearm if all
doors and trunk are later closed, or

pressing the transmitter UNLOCK or TRUNK
button to turn
-off alarm and disarm system, or

putting the key in the ignition and turning it to
START to turn
-off alarm and disarm the system.