warning light CHEVROLET CLASSIC 2005 Owner's Manual

Checking Coolant
The coolant surge tank is located in the engine
compartment on the passenger’s side of the vehicle.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 5-12
for more information on location.The vehicle must be on a level surface. When your
engine is cold, the coolant level should be at the
FULL COLD mark or slightly higher.
If the low coolant light on
the instrument panel
cluster comes on and stays
on, it means you are low
on engine coolant.
SeeLow Coolant Warning Light on page 3-29for more
information.
5-20

Engine Overheating
You will find a coolant temperature gage and a low
coolant level warning light on your vehicle’s instrument
panel. SeeEngine Coolant Temperature Gage on
page 3-29andLow Coolant Warning Light on page 3-29.
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
{CAUTION:
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 you open the hood.
If you keep driving when your engine is
overheated, the liquids in it can catch re. You
or others could be badly burned. Stop your
engine if it overheats, and get out of the
vehicle until the engine is cool.
Notice:If your engine catches re because you
keep driving with no coolant, your vehicle can
be badly damaged. The costly repairs would not be
covered by your warranty.
5-22

If No Steam Is Coming From Your
Engine
An overheat warning, along with a low coolant light, can
indicate a serious problem. SeeLow Coolant Warning
Light on page 3-29.
If you get an engine overheat warning with no low
coolant light, but see or hear no steam, the problem may
not be too serious. Sometimes the engine can get a
little too hot when you:
•Climb a long hill on a hot day.
•Stop after high-speed driving.
•Idle for long periods in traffic.
•Tow a trailer.
If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam,
try this for a minute or so:
1. In heavy traffic, let the engine idle in NEUTRAL (N)
while stopped. If it is safe to do so, pull off the road,
shift to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) and let the
engine idle.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan
speed and open the windows as necessary.If you no longer have the overheat warning, you can
drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for about 10 minutes.
If the warning does not come back on, you can drive
normally.
If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and park your
vehicle right away.
If there is still no sign of steam, idle the engine for
three minutes while you are parked. If you still have the
warning,turn off the engine and get everyone out of
the vehicleuntil it cools down.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service
help right away.
5-23

Brakes
Brake Fluid
Your brake master cylinder
reservoir is filled with
DOT-3 brake fluid. See
Engine Compartment
Overview on page 5-12
for the location of the
reservoir.
There are only two reasons why the brake fluid level in
the reservoir might go down. The first is that the
brake fluid goes down to an acceptable level during
normal brake lining wear. When new linings are put in,
the fluid level goes back up. The other reason is
that fluid is leaking out of the brake system. If it is, you
should have your brake system fixed, since a leak
means that sooner or later your brakes will not work
well, or will not work at all.So, it is not a good idea to top off your brake fluid.
Adding brake fluid will not correct a leak. If you add fluid
when your linings are worn, then you will have too
much fluid when you get new brake linings. You should
add or remove brake fluid, as necessary, only when
work is done on the brake hydraulic system.
{CAUTION:
If you have too much brake uid, it can spill on
the engine. The uid will burn if the engine is
hot enough. You or others could be burned,
and your vehicle could be damaged. Add brake
uid only when work is done on the brake
hydraulic system.
When your brake fluid falls to a low level, your brake
warning light will come on. SeeBrake System Warning
Light on page 3-27.
What to Add
When you do need brake fluid, use only DOT-3 brake
fluid. Use new brake fluid from a sealed container
only. SeePart D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
on page 6-22.
5-31

Always clean the brake fluid reservoir cap and the
area around the cap before removing it. This will help
keep dirt from entering the reservoir.
{CAUTION:
With the wrong kind of uid in your brake
system, your brakes may not work well, or they
may not even work at all. This could cause a
crash. Always use the proper brake uid.
Notice:
Using the wrong uid can badly damage brake
system parts. For example, just a few drops of
mineral-based oil, such as engine oil, in your
brake system can damage brake system
parts so badly that they will have to be replaced.
Do not let someone put in the wrong kind
of uid.
If you spill brake uid on your vehicle’s painted
surfaces, the paint nish can be damaged.
Be careful not to spill brake uid on your
vehicle. If you do, wash it off immediately.
SeeAppearance Care on page 5-71.
Brake Wear
Your vehicle has front disc brakes and rear drum
brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that make
a high-pitched warning sound when the brake pads
are worn and new pads are needed. The sound
may come and go or be heard all the time your vehicle
is moving, except when you are pushing on the
brake pedal firmly.
{CAUTION:
The brake wear warning sound means that
soon your brakes will not work well. That
could lead to an accident. When you hear the
brake wear warning sound, have your vehicle
serviced.
Notice:Continuing to drive with worn-out brake
pads could result in costly brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake
squeal when the brakes are first applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean something is wrong with
your brakes.
5-32

Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable on the
tire sidewall between tread shoulder and maximum
section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
The following information relates to the system
developed by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, which grades tires by
treadwear, traction and temperature performance. (This
applies only to vehicles sold in the United States.)
The grades are molded on the sidewalls of most
passenger car tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading
system does not apply to deep tread, winter-type
snow tires, space-saver or temporary use spare tires,
tires with nominal rim diameters of 10 to 12 inches
(25 to 30 cm), or to some limited-production tires.
While the tires available on General Motors passenger
cars and light trucks may vary with respect to these
grades, they must also conform to federal safety
requirements and additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC) standards.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on
the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and
a half (1.5) times as well on the government course as
a tire graded 100. The relative performance of tires
depends upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart significantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits, service practices and
differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction – AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A,
B, and C. Those grades represent the tire’s ability
to stop on wet pavement as measured under controlled
conditions on specified government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor
traction performance. Warning: The traction grade
assigned to this tire is based on straight-ahead braking
traction tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction characteristics.
5-57

A
Accessory Power Outlets.................................3-17
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-6
Add-On Electrical Equipment............................5-79
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-17
Air Conditioning..............................................3-18
Airbag
Readiness Light..........................................3-26
Airbag Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM)...... 7-8
Airbag System................................................1-46
How Does an Airbag Restrain?......................1-51
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle..........1-52
What Makes an Airbag Inflate?......................1-50
What Will You See After an Airbag Inflates?....1-51
When Should an Airbag Inflate?....................1-50
Where Are the Airbags?...............................1-48
Antenna, Fixed Mast.......................................3-53
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)........................... 4-6
Anti-Lock Brake, System Warning Light..............3-28
Appearance Care............................................5-71
Aluminum Wheels........................................5-75
Care of Safety Belts....................................5-73
Chemical Paint Spotting...............................5-77
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses....................5-74
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-71
Finish Care.................................................5-74
Finish Damage............................................5-76
Glass Surfaces............................................5-73
Instrument Panel.........................................5-73Appearance Care (cont.)
Interior Plastic Components...........................5-73
Sheet Metal Damage...................................5-76
Tires..........................................................5-76
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-76
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials................5-77
Vinyl..........................................................5-73
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-74
Weatherstrips..............................................5-74
Windshield and Wiper Blades........................5-75
Ashtrays........................................................3-18
Audio System(s).............................................3-36
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player................3-51
Care of Your CD Player...............................3-53
Care of Your CDs........................................3-53
Chime Level Adjustment...............................3-53
Fixed Mast Antenna.....................................3-53
Radio with Cassette and CD.........................3-41
Radio with CD............................................3-37
Setting the Time for Radios with Radio
Data Systems (RDS)................................3-36
Setting the Time for Radios without Radio
Data Systems (RDS)................................3-36
Theft-Deterrent Feature................................3-51
Understanding Radio Reception.....................3-51
Automatic Headlamp System............................3-15
Automatic Transaxle
Fluid..........................................................5-18
Operation...................................................2-19
1

B
Battery..........................................................5-34
Run-Down Protection...................................3-16
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.........................4-19
Brake
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)........................ 4-6
Emergencies................................................ 4-7
Parking......................................................2-22
System Inspection.......................................6-21
System Warning Light..................................3-27
Brakes..........................................................5-31
Braking........................................................... 4-5
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 4-7
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-15
Bulb Replacement...........................................5-40
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)........5-42
Front Turn Signal Lamps..............................5-42
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-40
Headlamps.................................................5-40
Replacement Bulbs......................................5-45
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Back-up Lamps........................................5-43
Buying New Tires...........................................5-56
C
California Fuel.................................................. 5-5
Capacities and Specifications............................5-85
Carbon Monoxide...................2-11, 2-25, 4-22, 4-35Care of
Safety Belts................................................5-73
Your Cassette Tape Player............................3-51
Your CD Player...........................................3-53
Your CDs ...................................................3-53
Center Console Storage Area...........................2-28
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)...........5-42
Center Rear Passenger Position,
Safety Belts................................................1-22
Chains, Tire...................................................5-59
Charging System Light....................................3-27
Check
Engine Light...............................................3-30
Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-10
Chemical Paint Spotting...................................5-77
Child Restraints
Child Restraint Systems...............................1-32
Infants and Young Children...........................1-28
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System)..........................1-38
Older Children.............................................1-26
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for
the LATCH System...................................1-40
Securing a Child Restraint in a Center
Rear Seat Position...................................1-42
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear
Outside Seat Position...............................1-40
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right
Front Seat Position...................................1-44
Top Strap...................................................1-36
2

Child Restraints (cont.)
Top Strap Anchor Location............................1-37
Where to Put the Restraint...........................1-35
Chime Level Adjustment..................................3-53
Cigarette Lighter.............................................3-18
Cleaning
Aluminum Wheels........................................5-75
Exterior Lamps/Lenses.................................5-74
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-71
Finish Care.................................................5-74
Glass Surfaces............................................5-73
Instrument Panel.........................................5-73
Interior Plastic Components...........................5-73
Tires..........................................................5-76
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-76
Vinyl..........................................................5-73
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-74
Weatherstrips..............................................5-74
Windshield and Wiper Blades........................5-75
Climate Control System...................................3-18
Outlet Adjustment........................................3-21
Comfort Guides, Rear Safety Belt.....................1-23
Compact Spare Tire........................................5-70
Control of a Vehicle.......................................... 4-5
Coolant
Engine Temperature Gage............................3-29
Heater, Engine............................................2-18Coolant (cont.)
Low Warning Light.......................................3-29
Surge Tank Pressure Cap.............................5-21
Cooling System..............................................5-24
Cruise Control................................................3-10
Cupholder(s)..................................................2-28
Customer Assistance Information
Courtesy Transportation.................................. 7-6
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone (TTY)
Users....................................................... 7-4
Customer Assistance Offices........................... 7-4
Customer Satisfaction Procedure..................... 7-2
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program............... 7-5
Reporting Safety Defects to
General Motors........................................7-10
Reporting Safety Defects to the
United States Government.........................7-10
Roadside Assistance Program......................... 7-5
Service Publications Ordering Information........7-10
D
Daytime Running Lamps..................................3-14
Defensive Driving............................................. 4-2
Delayed Headlamps........................................3-14
Delayed Locking............................................... 2-8
Doing Your Own Service Work........................... 5-4
Dome Lamp...................................................3-16
3

Flat Tire, Changing.........................................5-60
Flat Tire, Storing.............................................5-69
Fluid
Automatic Transaxle.....................................5-18
Power Steering...........................................5-29
Windshield Washer......................................5-30
Fuel............................................................... 5-5
Additives...................................................... 5-6
California Fuel.............................................. 5-5
Filling a Portable Fuel Container..................... 5-9
Filling Your Tank........................................... 5-7
Fuels in Foreign Countries.............................. 5-6
Gage.........................................................3-35
Gasoline Octane........................................... 5-5
Gasoline Specifications.................................. 5-5
System Inspection.......................................6-20
Fuses
Engine Compartment Fuse Block...................5-83
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...........................5-80
Instrument Panel Fuse Block.........................5-80
Windshield Wiper.........................................5-79
G
Gage
Engine Coolant Temperature.........................3-29
Fuel..........................................................3-35
Speedometer..............................................3-24
Tachometer.................................................3-25Gasoline
Octane........................................................ 5-5
Specifications............................................... 5-5
Glove Box.....................................................2-28
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program.................. 7-5
H
Hazard Warning Flashers................................... 3-6
Head Restraints............................................... 1-5
Headlamp Wiring............................................5-79
Headlamps............................................3-13, 5-40
Automatic Headlamp System.........................3-15
Bulb Replacement.......................................5-40
Daytime Running Lamps...............................3-14
Delayed.....................................................3-14
Flash-to-Pass............................................... 3-8
Front Turn Signal Lamps..............................5-42
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-40
High/Low Beam Changer................................ 3-8
On Reminder..............................................3-14
Headlamps Off in Park (P)...............................3-14
Heater...........................................................3-18
Highbeam On Light.........................................3-34
Highway Hypnosis...........................................4-20
Hill and Mountain Roads..................................4-20
Hood
Checking Things Under................................5-10
Release.....................................................5-10
5