flat tire CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO 1981 4.G Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine SEcnON 1
BEFORE DRIVING YOUR MONTE
CARLO
DRIVER DAILY CHECKLIST
Be sure you know your vehicle and its equipment and how to use it safely .
Before Entering the Vehicle '
1. See that windows, mirrors and lights are clean and unobstructed.
2. Check whether any tire is low or flat (H any tire ,looks different from
normal,
we recommend you check it with a tire pressure gage.)
3. Look for fluid leaks.
4. Be sure everything is properly stowed.
5. Check the area behind the vehicle ~ you are about to back up.
Before Driving Off
1. Lock all doors .
2. Adjust the seat and movable head restraints, if so equipped .
3. Adjust inside and outside mirrors.
4. Fasten seat belts.
5. Check that all the warning lights work as the ,key is turned to "Start."
6. Check all gages (including the fuel gage).
7 . Release the parking brake
(and see that the "Brake" light turns off).
See related topics in this manual , or the Maintenance Schedule folder, il
~" problems are found.
Guard Against Theft
For tips on how to protect your vehicle and its contents, see "'Starting and
Operating," Section 2 of this manual.
KEYS
Two different keys are provided for the locks on your vehicle. The key code is
stamped
on the "knock-out" plug in each key head.
• Key withsquar, head -for ignition lock only .
'IDENTIFYING
IGNITION LOCK DOOR LOCKS & ALL OTHER LOCKS
• Key with oval head -for all other locks.
1-1

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 2, Never leta child stand ,or kneel on any seat Children who can sit up by
themselves should
be placed on a sealand restrained with the seat belts
provided, When children ride in a rear seat, .they should be restrained with
a lap
belt, When child(en ride in the front seat, they should wear both lap
and shoulder belt If the .shoulder beH irritates the neck or face due to .the child's size, this may be r.educed by placing the child closer to the center
of the
vehicle , If irritalior Is not reduced, place the child in the rear seat
3, General Motors ~iseS that childr"", be restrained properly when riding ,
However. unusual cond~ions may prevent use of restraints. and require
that a small child
stand, If that ~s.lhe'Child should stand on the floor , behind the'driver's seat This will help reduce the chance and/or \he
severity of injury in case of a frontal collision, --'-'-'''"''''''''i''':>' ~7','" ,,.' ;.,,~"".'. _ .. .. ,
TRAILER TOWING
This car is designed and intended to be used mainly to carry people, Towing a
trailer will affect handling , durability and economy , Your safety and satisfaction
depend :,upoQ proper use of correct llqUipmenl. Also , you should avoiq
overloads
and other abusive use,
' The '
!1'lIiximum 1000000trailet: weight youe;mpull with your vehicle depends ,on what special equipffienrfi'as been installed on il,. We do not recommend towing
any
trailer more than 450 kilograms (1.000 pounds) gross trailer weight unless your vehicle has the required 'equipment
.. .... ~ ' °' -"""''1111'''.''-'' .. J~._ .. _ '."'-:,_, :" .,', .... ,,', , ,'" :', : ' . .. ....... :.' .... " ..... : .. , :"',' "'." ,: ",' ,i,.:." .... __ .. -:,:· .. ,,' .. _." . .'~:.,:;.,~')ff';:.' CAUTION: Do not .. try to tow .. • nv:,,. tr-I.-'r ,mqrtt:,_lt)arr ' 2 '2., Idfogranl( (5,000 Pounds) WPU trliler,we~t IlC) 'In.tter what trailer toWing -'equiprrient is instelled. Trai" over iMM maximum-~_iir:nlt.,-c:OuId teriously affect ~ __ vehk:"'. pertormence ; -_durability and
handling, ~_~kf l'esuh. in personal i~~;_-_, ;""_~ ':~.,,:.:.
Information ,on trailer towing ability, speciateq(Jipn1ent required, and optional
equipment available should.be obtained from your dealer . Ask for the trailering
~rocliure, Or, write: Consum~r Helations Department Chevrolet Motor Divfsion,
Warren , Michigan 48090. (In Canada, write to General Motors of Canada
limited , Customer Services Department, Oshilwa , Ontario L IJ 5Z6),
Tires
When towing trailers be sure your tires areprope,ly inflated'to 'the inflation
,
pressure shown 'on the .. Tire Placard on \he driver's door , The allowable
passenger . and cargo load for this vehicle, also.shown on the Tire Placard , is
reduced by the traiter tongue weight whenever . the trailer is attached to the
'v~hicle, See "Service arid Maintenance," Section 5, for more tire informatlon ,
Maintenance
More' frequent service is required when using your vehicle to pull a traileL See
Section A of the Maintenance Schedule folder for Automatic Transmission Fluid , Engine Oil, and Hear Axle Ltibricantchange requirements for. trailering ,
Now and \hen, check that all trailer hitch bolts and nuts are tight Also see the
Maintenance Schedule
foider, and the Index in this manual, for important facts
on belts, cooling system care and brake adjustment.
1-12

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Tire Inflation
Underinflation not only causes needless wear 01 the tires, but can also waste ' fuel. It's a good idea to check tire pressures often and, fO( the best fuel
eccnomy, keep your tires inflated to the highest pressures shown on the Tire
Placard on the left front door of your vehicle .
Wheel Alignment
Improper toe alignment will cause the tires to roll at an angle, which will result in faster tire wear. It takes' power to overcome this improper alignment which.
in turn, wastes fuel.
STEERING COLUMN CONTROLS
ANTI-THEFT STEERING COLUMN LOCK
The anti-theft lock (ignition) on the right side of the steering column has five
-""'positions: .
• Accessory-You can use SO the top of the key toward you.
• Lock -Normal parking position. It locks the ignition and prevents normal use
of the steering
wheel and shift controls. The ignition key cannot be turned
to "Lock" and removed until the shift lever is moved to "P"(Park).
• Off-You
can turn off the engine without locking the steering wheel and shift controls.
• Run-Normal operating position.
• Start-Cranks the engine.
If you have trouble turning the key to uniock the ignition, first be sure the key is
pushed in
all the way . Then , try to turn the steering wheel as hard as you can
in the direction the
wheels are turned. At the same time, turn the ignition key
with as much effort as you can apply with your hand; Do not try to use a tool of
any kind to
apply more force on the lock knob, as this could break the knob .
NOncE: Do not drive through, idle or park your vehicle over combustible marla Is, .uch •• grass or leaves. They could touch the hot eJlhauat .ystem .-.cIlgnite.
Parking
When leaving your vehicle unattended :
2-6

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine JACKING
CAUTION
To help avoid personal injury:
• Follow air jacking and stowage instructions.
• Use jack only for lifting this vehicle during wheel change.
• Never get . beneath the vehicle, start or run engine while vehicle is supported by jack.
• Always securely restol" sp!.re tire (orflattire) and all jac king equipment.
Wheel Nut Torque .
CAUTION: As soon as possible atter installing a wheel -AND at the intervals stated
In Section 'S of the Maintenanc," Schedule folder --have a technician tighten wheel nuts with a torque wrench to the specifications shown in "Specifications," Section 7 of this manual.
Wheel nuts should be tightened alternately and evenly to the correct torque.
Never use oil or grease on studs Of nuts.. Jrnproperty tightened wheel nuts could eventually aUow the whee! to come off while the veNeta Is moving, -po$$rbty causing
personal injury , damage and/or klss of c_ontrol. (Also see the "Replacement Fasteners" Caution In "Service and Maintenance ," Section 5 01 this m8nu81 regarding the danger of mixing metric and custom,sry fasteners. And, see the "Replacement Fasteners " Caution
under "Tires" in the same seclion regarding the importance of obtaining good metal-to­
metsl contact.)
Stowage ·of. Tire . and .!aC;.k,. . .
CAUTION: Always securely restow the spare tire assembfy (or nat tire), all jacking equipm ent, any tire inflator, and any covers or doors, using the means provided. This will help keep such things from being thrown about-and injuring people In the vehicta d.Ufing a sudden maneuver or an accident.
Before stowing
the tire, be sure:to clean the tire well 01 anything that would keep the tlr. from resting on the bOttom of the well. To stow the jack, place its lever in the "UP" position and. move the handle back and forth until the column is ·secure in the receiver (see Illustration). If these steps are not taken, the tire or lack may push against the trunk lid so thai the trunk lid cannot seal tightly. This _ may allOw carbon monoxide from the '. exhaust system -to get _inside tiMt c • . ttvougtl the trunk. (See "Engine -Exhaust Gas Caution (CaroonMonoxkle) " al the beginning of "Starting and Operating,'; Section 2 of this manual .)
Extended Vehicle Storage
If you plan to store your vehicle over an extended periOd of time, certain steps
should be taken to give it maximum protection.
It is recommended that you
write the Chevrolet Motor Division , General Motors Corporation, Consumer
Relations Dept., Warren , Michigan
48090, for detailed instructions on how to
prepare your vehicle for storage .
3-7

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Compact Spare
The-compact spare tire is designed to.save-space in your trunk, and its lighter
weight makes it easier to install if a flat tire occurs. The lighter weight also
helps
improve fuel economy.
If you have a flat tire, follow the japking .instructions in this manual, while keeping these points in mind:
• Check the tire inflation pressure as soon as practical after installing the
spare (we suggest you use a pOcket-type high-pressure inflation gage) and
adjust to 415
kPa (60 psi). The tire pressure should be checked at least
monthly and kept at 415 kPa (60 psi) while the tire is stored.
c"""'.M~llijIW.9u~ use at speeds over 50 mph (80 km/h) is not recommended.
NOTICE: -Bec~us~ this tire is, smaller than the standard tire,-vehicle ground clearance is reduced. Avoid driving over obstacles, -and do 'not take your car through an automatic car wash -while _ the spare is installed. The car may catch on the equipment, possibly resulting in property damage.
• You can expect tread ,life up to 3,660 rhiles(4800 kilometers), depending onJqact~ondi~ions and your driving ~~bits. To conserve tire tread life, returri the -spare to _ the storage area as soon as the standard tire _ can be
repaired or replaced.
•
Because the compact spare was specifically designed for your car, it should not be used on any.other vehicle.
• The
compact spare tire and wheel are cfesigned for use with each other.
The comp,,:ct spare tire should not be mounted on any other type of wheel,
and the compact spare wheel should not have any other type of tire mounted on it. Also, do not try to use wheel covers or trim rings on the
compact spare wheel since they will not fit. If such use is attempted,
damage to these items or other vehicle components may occur.
• Do not use tire chains with your compact spare tire. Because of the smaller
tire size, a tire ChaiR will not fit properly. This could cause damage to the car and result in loss of the chain.
3-8

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Air Conditioning
Your vehicle's air conditioning system will not operate below ambient
temperatures of 4'C (40"F) regardless of control position. .
See your
dealer immediately H you suspect the system is not performing as it
should.
TIRES
CAUTION: T~\'reduce the 'risk of lose ~VehiCIe control and Person.1 injury:
• TTres MUST BE prOperly Inflated, .nd your vehicle MUST NOT BE overkMtded (see 1M r.e PtacM'.d _1Oc_.c:t on the driver's door).
• Voui" vehicle MUST NOT BE operated cti, lpeedsfaster than 85 mph (140 ~m/h) unless it Is equipped with poIi~ pursuit tires or equivalent high-speed capability ti,es.-regardhtss 01 the ~ speed lmtt.
For more Safety InfOrmation. ~ the rest or this " TIre" section.
The tires installed on your vehicle are engineered to provide a proper balance
of these performance characteristics under normal driving conditions.
• Endurance
• Handling
• Noise
• Ride
• Road Hazard Resistance
• Rolling Resi.stance
• Traction
• Tread Mile'age"' •... .... <.
This section has some tips on how you can get the most benem from these tires. '
Vehicle Loading
The tires on your vehicle will perform well at all normal loads when inflated as
recommended on the . Tire Placard (located on the driver's door of your vehicle) . Do not load your vehicle beyond the load Umits (total kilograms or
pounds) shown
on the·TIre Placard . The placard. tells you the design limits of
the vehicle, not
Just of the tires.
VEt«:lf CAP.l.CIl" DCGuI' ... " ,COLO Tff\E ffiESSURE ... _, ,., " •... 10'" ,_, "' ...
SPAR{ HR£
",,! " 1-::.:::(' 1 • SEE O~ S ~ANu ... i. FOR "'OI)IJ lQtjA,l INf-QAMATioN
5·11

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If the tires are other than standard load range (or load range B for metric size
tires). the
load range will appear after the tire size stated on the Tire Placard.
Inflation Pressure
The Cold inflation pressures listed on the Tire Placard provide for the best
balance of fuel economy. tire life. riding comfort. and vehicle handling under
normal driving conditions.
These pressures
should be used for all vehicle loading conditions. except When towing a trailer. See. "Trailer Towing in "Belore Driving Your Monte
Carlo." Section 1 of this manuaL
Incorrect tire inflation pressures can. have adverse effects on tire. lije and
vehicle performance. Too low an air preS$urecaul>eS incre f~lure,. It can result in tire overloading, abnormal tire wear, adverse vehicle handling. and reduced fuel~nomy .. Too high an air pressure can result in
abnormal wear. harsh ride. an.d can increase the chance of damage from road
hazards.
LUGGAGE/CARGO LOAD CAPACITY
Maximum Luggage Compartment Load
Coupe 72 Kilograms (160 Pounds)
"'"~~\"'_"~"""_'","",' NOTICE: Total combined weight of luggage _compartment 16ad •. ·.luggage rack load (when equipped). trailer tongue load and passengers must not exceed the vehicle capacity
weight (shown on the Tire Placard located on the left front door).
· ·' .L' Check tire inflation pressures at least monthly (this includes the spare tire) and whenever your _ vehicle is serviced. When -possible, check tire inflation pressures when'the tires are "cold."
1. The "cold" ttr~inflation pressure is the tire pressure when a vehicle has
not been driven more than one mile. (1.6 kilometers) after Sitting for three
hours or more. This is the most accurate setting.
2. It is normal for tire pressures to increase 30 to 60 kilopascals (4 to 8
pounds per square inch) or more when the tires become hot from driving. If you must set inflation pressures when the tires are not "cold," add 30
kilopascals
(4 pounds per square inch) to the recommended cold pressures on the Tire Placard.
3. For sustained driving at speeds of 75 mph to 85 mph (120 km/h to
140 km/h), in countries where such speeds are allowed by law, cold
inflation
pressures must be increased 20 kPa (3 psi) above the cold
inflation pressures stated on the tire placard up to the maximum for
each load range as listed in the Chart below. Sustained speeds of 75 mph to 85 mph (120 km/h to 140km/h) ar!! not allow!!d when the 20
kPa (3 psi) adjustment Would require the pressures of either the front or
the rear tiles to be greater than the maximum pressure for each load
range listed on the chart below. For speeds faster than 85 mph (140 km/h) follow Caution at th!! beginning of this "tire" section.
5-12

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine STANDARD EXTRA B C o
TIRE-LOAD AND INFLATION PRESSURES
TIRE lOAO RAlliGE
-{METRIC SIZE TIRE) " -{METRIC SIZE T!RE) -(ALPKA-NUMIiRIC SJZETIRE) -(ALPHA-NUMERIC SIZE TIRE) -(ALPHA-NUMERIC SIZE TIRE)
MAXIMUM COLO INHATtoN "'E$SURE
2
40 kPI 280 kPa 220 kPa 2M! kPt 27S kP.
t 35 psi J (41 psi) (32 psi) (36 psi) (40 p.JiI
TIRE LOAD RANGE IS MOLDED Off TIRE. !SEE I UUSTRATIOff ON PAGE ,So11 fOR lOCATION ON THE TIRE S IDEWALl! .
4. Always use a tire pressure gage when checking inflation pressures (we
suggest
you purchase a quality pocket-type gage). Simply looking at the
tires to check inftation pressures is not enough , especially with radia l tires .
Underinflated radial tires may
look like correctly inflated radial tires. H the.
inflation pressure on a tire is often low , have your d9aler correct the cause.
) , I" , "
,
~ , ~ , , , , ) ,
,
,
'"
,
~
'"
,
0:: ~ , , ~ :0 , ,
PROPERLY INFlATED IMPROPERLV INRATED
l ___ ~_~)
y IlADIAL TIRE
5. Be sure to put the tire inflation valve caps back on, if so equipped. This
will help keep dirt · and moisture from getting into the valve core which
could cause a leak.
6. If an air loss occurs while driving, do not drive on the flat tire more than is
needed to stop safely. Driving even a short distance
ona flat tire can
damage a tire and wheel beyond repair.
Inspection and Rotation
Front and rear tires perlorm different jobs and can wear differently depending
on the types of roads driven , your driving habits, etc .
For longer tire
life, you should inspect and rotate your tires as recommended in
Section A of the Maintenance Schedule folder. Many car and tire dealers will perform a free tire inspection to look for uneven or abnormal tire wear (usually
caused
by wrong inflation pressures, lack of regular rotation, improper wheel
alignment, out
of balance tires, or poor driving habits).
After rotation , adjust the front
and. rear tire pressures (see the Tire Placard)
and be sure to check wheel nut tightness . (Wheel nuts should also be
tightened at certain intervals; see the Wheel Nut Torque Caution in "In Case of
Emergency" section,
page 3·7, for further information.)
5-13

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine CAUTION: Before installing wheels, remove any· buildup of corrosion on the wheel mounting surface .and brake drum or brakedilic mounting surface, by scraping and wire
brushing. Installing wheels without good metaHo-metal contact at the mounting surfaces
can cause wheel nuts to loosen, which can . later allow a wheel to come off while the vehicle is moving, possibly causing loss of control. (Also see the "Wheel Nut Torque"
Caution in "In Case of Emergency," Section 3 of this manual, on page 3·7.)
-'-:'O'rt-
P<1 ~ELRo:t 4 WHEHROTATION PREFERRED ·OPTIONAl
DO NOT INCLUDE "TEMPORARY USE ONLY· SPARE TIRE IN ROTATION
• THE OPTIONAL 'X' ROTATION PATTERN FOR RADIALS IS ACCEPTABLE WHEN REQUIRED FOR MORE UNIFORM TIRE WEAR
Alignment and Balance
Proper wheel alignment· improves tire tread. mileage. Your vehicle's suspension
parts should be inspected often and aligned when needed. (See the Maintenance Schedule Folder for more information.) Ball joints have built-in wear indicators and some movement in the joints is normal. Improper
alignrnentwill not cause the vehicle to vibrate. However, improper ~Iignment can cause:
• the tires to roll at an angle, which will result in faster tire wear;
• your tires to wear unevenly;
• your vehicle to "pull" to the left or right. .
Proper tire balancing provides the best riding comfort and helps reduce tire
tread· wear. Out-of-balance tires can cause annoying vibration and uneven tire wear such as cupping and flat spots.
Traction
Driving, cornering, and braking traction are reduced when water, snow, ice,
gravel, or other material is on the road. Adjust driving practices and vehicle speed to road conditions.
When driving on wet or slushy roads,a wedge of water can build up between
the tire and road. This is known as hydroplaning, and may cause partial or complete loss of traction, vehicle control, and stopping ability.
To reduce
the chance of traction loss, follow these tips:
1. Slowdown during rainstorms or when roads are slushy.
2. Slow down if the road has standing water or puddles.
3. Replace the tires when the tread wear indicators are showing.
4. Keep the tires properly inflated.
5-14

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When replacing tires with those not having a TPC Spec. No., you should use
the same size,
load range, and constructiontype (bias, bias-bened, or radial)
as the original tires on your
vehicle . Although ~ is not generaly recommended ,
some alpha-size and metric-size tires can be interchanged. (For size
equivalency, contact your Chevrolet
dealer or a tire dealer) . A different size or
type of tire may affect ride,
handling, speedometer /odometer calibration,
vehicle ground clearance , and tire or tire chain clearance to the body or
chassis .
II replacing only a single tire, it should be paired on the same axle with the least worn tire of the other three.
UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY GRADING
The following information relates to the tire grading system developed by the
National Highway Traffic Safety' Adminlslration which will grade tires by
treadwear, traction and temperature performance.
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, the tire graded 150 would wear one and a haij (1-1/2)
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 significanlly from the norm due to variations in driving habits , service practices and. differences in road characteristics and climate.
TRACTION -A, B,C
. T~~tr~ction grades, from highest to lowest are: A, B, and C. They represent
the ' fiie'sability 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: Thetr.ction grade assigned to this tire is based on braking (straight-ahead) traction tests and· doellnot include cornerillg (turning) tractlon.
TEMPERATURE -A, B, C
The ·temperature grades are A (the highest), B, andC, representing the tire's
resistance to the generation of heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested under controlled conditio 'ns on a specified indoor laboratory test wheel.
Sustained 'high temperature can cause the material of the tire to degenerate
and reduce tire
life, and excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire failure .
The grade C corresponds to a level of performance which all passenger car
tires must meet under the Federat Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No.
109 . Grades B and A represent higher levels of performance on the laboratory test
wheel than the minimum required by law.
Warning: The
temperature grade for Ihis tire is established for a tire that
is properly inflated and not overloaded. Excessive speed, underinllaiion, or excessive loading, either separately or in combination, can cause heat
buildup and possible lire failure.
5-16