steering CHEVROLET VEGA 1976 1.G Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine ------------------------:----------~ ... --,;,.._J,,; ......,.-~ ....
1976 VEGA 2'300
OWNER'S
MANUAL
This manual should be considered a perma­
nent part of the vehicle, and must remain
with the vehicle at time of resale.
CHEVROLET MOTOR
DIVISION
GENERAL MOTORS
CORPORATION
DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48202
All information, illustrations and specifications con­
tained in this manual are based on the latest product
information available at the time of publication. The right is reserved to make changes at any time without
notice.
For vehicles sold in Canada, substitute the name
General Motors of Canada Limited, wherever the name
Chevrolet Motor Car Division appears in this manual.
ST 303-76
"'General Motors Corporation 1976
Section
1
2
3
4
5
Table of Contents
Page
Before Driving Your Vega ............................. 1-1
Starting and Operating .. ;-............................ 2-1
Steering
Column Controls .......................... , 2-2
Floor Controls ...................................... 2-10
Instrument PaneL .................................. 2-13
Other Controls and Features ........................ , 2-27
In Case of Emergency ................................. 3-1
Appearance
Care... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 4-1 I
Service and Maintenance....... ...... . . . . ............ 5-1
6 Specifications,
Owner Assistance, Service
Manuals, Index, Gas Station
Information
........................................ 6-1
Applicable to CALIFORNIA Sales Only This vehicle as delivered by ,6 M Chevrolet Division is equipped with a bumper energy
absorption system meeting California S.B.42 (1971) as set forth in Sec. 34715 Vehicle Code.
Applicable to FLORIDA Sales Only This vehicle as delivered by GM Chevrolet Division is equipped with a bumper energy
absorption system meeting section 501.125, Florida Statutes, as amended June 10, 1974.
i

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Operation Foreign Countries • In
Your car is designed to operate
on unleaded fuel of approximately
91 research octane number.
If you plan to operate your car
outside the Continental limits of
the United
States or Canada, there
is a possibility that the best fuels
available in some countries are so
low in octane rating that excessive
knocking and serious engine
dam­
age may result from their use. Also ,
if leaded fuels are used in vehicles
designed for unleaded fuels, it may result
in the deactivation of the
catalytic converter, if the vehicle
is
so equipped, and possibly other
related problems.
The use of leaded
fuel in a vehicle designed
for un­
leaded fuel will require different
maintenance intervals.
To obtain in­
formation on the octane rating and
availability of non-leaded fuels
available in the countries in which
you plan to travel, and a mainte­
nance schedule to be used when
operating on leaded fuel, write to
Chevrolet Motor Division,
Service
Department, Detroit, Michigan
48202, (or in Canada write to
General Motors of Canada Limited,
Owner Relations Department,
Oshawa, Ontario LlJ 5Z6), giving:
1-11
• The vehicle identification num­
ber (on plate on instrument
panel ahead of the steering wheel
and visible through the wind­
shield,
or from registration slip
or title),.
• The country or countries in which
you plan to travel.
It is recommended that you not
operate your car in any country not
having fuels meeting the require­
ments of your car's engine
as these
may cause engine damage for which
Chevrolet
is not responsible under
the terms of the Chevrolet New
Vehicle Warranty or Emission
Control Systems Warranty.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine STEERING COLUMN CONTROLS
Anti-Theft Steering
Column Lock
The anti-theft lock, located on
the right side of the steering col­
umn, has five positions:
• Accessory -Permits operation
of electrical accessories when
en­
gine is not running. To engage,
push
key in and turn toward you
( counterclockwise) .
• Lock -Normal parking posi­
tion. Locks ignition and provides
added theft protection
by pre­
venting normal operation of
Key Removal Note:
To remove key from ignitionjdepress key release lever, . turn Ignition to LOCK po­sition, then remove key.
steering wheel. Key cannot be
returned to
"lock" position with­
out depressing the key release
lever.
• Off -Permits turning engine off
without locking steering wheel
and shift controls.
• Run -Normal operating posi­
tion.
• Start -Permits engagement of. :
starter.
2-2
IMPORTANT: Donot park your
car over combustible materials, such
as grass or leaves, which can come
into contact with the hot exhaust
system and cause such materials to
ignite under certain wind and
weath­
er conditions.
. Parking
When leaving your car
unattended,
• Set parking brake first.
• Place automatic transmission
selector in
Park (Reverse for
manual transmission).
• Depress key release lever and
turn key to
LOCK position.
• Remove key (the buzzer will re­
mind you).
• Lock all doors.
NOTICE: Do not leave your car un­
attended with the engine running. If
the engine should overheat while
your
caris unattended, the temper­
ature warning light or gauge would
go unheeded which could result in
extensive damage to your car.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine is reduced below 5 MPH.
The shift speeds chart indicates
the speeds at which each upshift of
the transmission should be
per­
formed to produce the best com­
promise between vehicle perform­
anceand fuel economy.
Turn Signals and Lane
Change Feature
The tum signal lever is located on
the left side of the steering column
iIllmediately under the steering
wheel. The lever
is moved upward
to signal a right turn and downward
to signal a left tum. Lamps on the
front and rear of the car transmit
this signal to other motorists and
pedestrians. The ignition switch
must be in the
"ON" position in
order for the tum signals to be
operational. This feature prevents
battery drain if the lever
is left in
an
"ON" position when your car is
not in use. In
a normal turning situation such
as turning a comer, the tum signal
is cancelled automatically after the
tum
is completed. However, in
some driving maneuvers such
as
changing lanes on an expressway,
the steering wheel
is not turned back
sufficiently after completing the
tum to automatically cancel the
2-8
tum signal. For convenience in such
maneuvers, the driver can flash the
tum signals
by moving the tum
signal lever part way (to the first
stop) and holding it there . The
lever returns
tq the neutral or can­
celed position when the driver re­
leases his hold on the lever.
A green light on the instrument

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine cluster flashes to indicate proper
operation of the front and rear turn
signal lamps.
If the indicator lamp
remains on and does not flash,
check for a defective lamp bulb.
If
the indicator fails to light when the
lever
is moved, check the fuse and
indicator bulb.
NOTE: For operation of hazard
flasher, see page 3-1, in
Section "In
Case of Emergency."
Horn
The horn on your car is actuated
by firmly pressing on the pad in the
center of the steering wheel.
As a good motorist,
~se of the
horn should be kept at a minimum.
However, acquaint yourself
as soon
as possible with this function of
your car, should it ever become
necessary to give a warning to a
pedestrian
or another motorist.
Power Steering
If the steering system power as­
sist fails due to some malfunction,
or because the engine has stalled,
the vehicle can still be steered.
However, much greater effort
is re­
quired, particularly in sharp turns.
Tilt Steering Wheel
The tilt steering wheel (optional
equipment) can be tilted up above
normal position to provide addi­
tional room for entrance and exit
2-9
as well as selected driving· posi­
tions below normal height. This
permits individual selection of the
most natural position for
all driv­
ing conditions.
On long trips the
steering wheel position can be
changed to minimize tension and
fatigue.
The tilt mechanism
is operated
by lifting up on the small control
lever on the left side of the steering
column just below the directional
signal, moving the steering wheel
to the selected position, and re­
leasing the lever.
Holding Car on an Upgrade
When stopped on an upgrade,
maintain your position by applying
the brakes. Never hold the car
in
place by accelerating engine with
transmission in gear. This could
cause damage by overheating
the
. transmission (automatic) or clutch
(manual) .

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Parking Your Car
Always engage the parking brake
and place the automatic transmis­
sion selector lever in
"Park" posi- tion
when leaving your
car un­
attended. Also with automatic
transmissions, never park for pro­
longed periods with engine idling
and transmission in gear, especially
FLOOR CONTROLS
Braking System
The service brake system is de­
signed for braking performance
under a wide range of driving con­
ditions even when the vehicle
is
loaded to its full rated vehicle load.
NOTE: Operation of the brake
system warning light
is covered on
page 2-15 in the section on
"In­
strument Panel."
Power Brakes
• On cars with power brakes, if
power assist to the brakes
is in­
terrupted due to a stalled engine
or some malfunction, two or
more brake applications nor­
mally can be made using reserve
power.
• If the brake pedal is held down,
2-10
if your car is equipped with air
conditioning. This practice
is detri­
mental to the transmission, due
to
overheating.
the system
is designed to bring
the car to a full stop on reserve
power. However, the reserve
power
is partially depleted each
time the brake pedal
is applied
and released. Do not pump
brakes when brake power assist
has been interrupted, except
when necessary in order to main­
tain steering control on slippery
surfaces.
• When reserve power is exhausted,
the vehicle can still be stopped
by applying greater force to the
pedal.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine In Case of Emergency
Four Way Hazard
Warning
Flasher
• Use the warning flasher to warn
other drivers any time your
ve­
hicle becomes a traffic hazard,
day or night.
• A void stopping on the roadway
if possible.
• Turn on the hazard warning
flasher by pushing
in on the but­
ton located on the column just
below the steering wheel. Flasher
can
be actuated with
engine ignition either
off or on.
• Turn signals do not work with
hazard flashers operating.
• If the brake pedal is depressed,
the lights will not flash but
re­
main continuously lit.
• To cancel the flasher, pull the
button out.
Freeing Car from Sand, etc.
If it becomes necessary to rock
the car to free it from sand, mud
or snow, move the selector lever
on automatic transmission models
from
"D" to "R" in a repeat pat­
tern while simultaneously applying
moderate pressure
to the accelera­
tor.
(On standard transmission
models, move gear shift lever from
second to reverse gear.) Do not
race engine. For best possible trac­
tion, avoid· spinning wheels when
3-1
trying to free the car. The use of
AC Liquid Tire Chain
is recom­
mended for temporary assistance
when traction
is lost on ice or
snow.
Towing
Proper lifting and towing equip­
ment
is necessary to prevent dam­
age to the vehicle during any tow­
ing operation. State (Provincial in
Canada) and local laws applicable
to vehicles in tow must be
fol­
lowed. Detailed towing instructions
are available at your Chevrolet
dealer. Your Vega may be towed on
all
four wheels, at speeds of less · than

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 35 mph, for distances up to 50
miles, provided the driveline, axle,
transmission, and steering system
are otherwise normally operable.
Use only towing equipment specifi­
cally designed for
this purpose
following the instructions of the
towing equipment manufacturer.
A separate safety chain system
must
be used for such towing and
steering must be unlocked, trans­
mission in neutral and the parking
brake released. Attachments must
be made to main structural mem­
bers of the car. Do not attach to
bumpers or associated brackets.
Remember that power brake and
power steering assist will not be
available when engine
is inopera­
tive.
Recreational Towing
Vega models with a manual 3-
or 4-speed transmission may be
towed (with propshaft installed) be-hind
another vehicle
as a "dinghy"
at freeway speeds if additional SAE
80
or SAE 90 Gear Lubricant is
added to the transmission. This can
be accomplished · by removing the
filler plug and installing a
900-;.2
inch pipe street elbow fitting and
adding one quart
(2 lbs.) of SAE
80
or 90 Gear Lubricant. Use the
filler plug to cap the elbow fitting.
The additional lubricant will have
no adverse affect to the transmis­
sion during normal use of the
ve­
hicle and may be left in the trans­
mission.
EMERGENCY STARTING
A car with a discharged battery
may
be started by using energy
3-2
from a battery in another car­
called "jump starting".
NOTICE: Do not push or tow this
vehicle
to start. Damage to the cata­
lytic converter and/or to other parts
of the vehicle may result.
Jump Starting
Jump starting may be dangerous
and should
be attempted only if, the
following three conditions are met.
If they are not,we strongly recom­
mend that you leave the starting to
a competent mechanic.
• The battery in the OTHER vehi­
cle must
be 12 volt and nega­
tively grounded,
like the one in
THIS car. (Check the other car's
owner's manual to
see if it is.)
• The battery in THIS car must be
equipped with flame arrestor
vents (like the original-equip­
ment Delco Freedom battery)

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine APPEARANCE CARE AND MAINTENANCE MATERIALS • Available from your Chevrolet Dealer
Part Number Size Description Usage
1050001 16 oz. Washer Solvent and
Gas Prevents windshield solvent and
Line
De-leer gas lines from freezing
1050017 32 oz. Power
Steering Fluid Power Steering Pump
1050019 16 oz. Spray-A-Squeak Stops metal-to-metal squeaks and
metal-to-rubber squeaks
1050027 32 oz. Permanent
Type Coolant Year-around coolant and anti-freeze
and Anti-Freeze
for your radiator
1050028 1 gal. Permanent Type Coolant Same as above
and Anti-Freeze
1050172 16 oz. Tar and Road Oil Remover Removes old wax, polish, tar and road oil
1050173
16 oz. Chrome Cleaner and Polish Removes rust and corrosion from
chrome
or stainless steel
1050174
16 oz.
White Sidewall Tire Cleaner Cleans whitewall and blackwall tires
1050223 16 oz. Finish Guard Cleaner One-step cleaner and wax
1050422 12 oz. Heat Valve Lubricant
Frees up sticky heat risers;
general-purpose penetrating oil
1050427 23 oz. Glass Cleaner
Cleans glass and vinyl
4 -7

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Front Suspension
Every 6 months or 7,500 miles
Lubricate fittings with water
re­
sistant EP Chassis Lubricant which
meets GM Specification
6031M.
NOTE:
Ball joints should not be
lubricated unless their temperature
is +10°F (-12°C), or higher.
During cold weather, they should
be allowed to warm up as necessary
before being lubricated.
Steering Linkage
Every 6 months or 7,500 miles,
lubricate fittings with water resist­
ant
EP Chassis Lubricant which
meets GM Specification
6031M.
Power Steering System
Check the fluid level in the pump
reservoir at each oil change period.
Add GM Power Steering Fluid
(or Automatic Transmission Fluid
DEXRON®-II) as necessary to bring
level into proper range
on
filler cap indicator depending upon
fluid temperature.
If at operating temperature (ap­
proximately 150°F, 66°C-hot to
the touch), fluid should be between
"HOT" and "COLD" marks. If at
room temperature (approximately
70°F, 22°C), fluid should be bet­
ween "ADD" and "COLD" marks.
Fluid does not require periodic
changing.
Standard Steering Gear
The steering gear is factory-
l-t.. __ "AOO"
5-10
filled with steering gear lubricant.
Seasonal change of this lubricant
should not be performed and the
housing should not be
drained-no
lubrication is required for the life
of the steering gear.
Every 30,000 miles, the gear
should be inspected for seal leak­
age (actual solid grease-not just
oily film).
If a seal is replaced or
the gear
is overhauled, the gear
housing sould be refilled only with
the proper Steering Gear Lubricant
as noted below.
NOTE: Use only #1051052 (13
oz. container) Steering Gear
Lubri­
cant which meets GM Specification
GM 4673M, or its equivalent.
Do not use
EP Chassis Lube,
meeting GM Specification GM
6031M, to lubricate the gear. DO
NOT
OVER-FILL the gear hous­
ing.