tires CHEVROLET VEGA 1976 1.G Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine BEFORE DRIVING YOUR VEGA
DRIVER CHECKLIST
Before Entering Car
1. See that windows , mirrors and
lights are clean.
2. Visually note inflation condition
of tires.
3. Check that area to rear
is clear
if about
to back up.
Before Driving Off
1. Lock all doors.
2. Position seat.
3. Adjust inside and outside
mirrors.
4. Fasten belt restraints.
5. Check that warning bulbs light
when key
is turned to start posi­
tion.
6. Release parking brake (and see
that brake warning light turns
off).
7. Be sure you understand your
car and how to operate it safely.
Keys
Two separate keys are provided
for your car. Each Key has a dif­
ferent cross section so that it can
be inserted only in certain locks.
• Key with square head
(stamped Ole") -for ignition
switch only.
• Key with oval head (stamped
"D")~for all other locks.
LOCKS
1-1
The code number of each key is
stamped on the "knock out" plug
in the key head. Your Chevrolet
dealer removed these plugs and
placed them with the spare set of
keys in the special key envelope
that was given to you at time of
delivery.
For your protection:
• Record the numbers on the key
envelope and discard the key
plugs.
• Keep the key envelope in a safe
place such
as your wallet, Not In
The Car.
In the event the original keys are
lost, duplicates can be made by
your dealer or a locksmith using
the key code information.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Trailer Hauling
Since passenger cars are designed
and intended to be used primarily
as passenger conveyances, towing
a trailer will effect handling, dura­
bility
and economy. Maximum
safety and satisfaction depends
upon proper use of correct equip­
ment and avoiding overloads and
other abusive operation.
The maximum loaded trailer
weight which you can pull with
your car depends on what special
equipment has been installed on
your car. Chevrolet does not rec- ommend
towing any trailer
over
1,000 pounds gross trailer weight.
Information on trailer haul­
ing capabilities, special equipment
required, and optional equipment
offered by Chevrolet
is available
from your Chevrolet Dealer or by
writing Chevrolet Motor Division,
Detroit, Michigan 48202
(or in
Canada by writing to General
Motors of Canada Limited,
Owner
Relations Department, Oshawa,
Ontario LlJ 5Z6).
To assist in attaining good han­
dling of the car-trailer combination,
it
is important that the trailer
1-9
tongue load be maintained at ap­
proximately 10%
of the loaded
trailer weight. Tongue loads can
be adjusted by proper distribution
of the load in the trailer, and can
be checked
by weighing separately
the loaded trailer and then the
tongue.
When towing trailers, tires should
be inflated to the highest inflation
pressures shown on the placard
affixed
to the left front door. The
allowable passenger and cargo
load, also shown on the same pla­
card,
is reduced by an amount
eq ual to the trailer tongue load on
the trailer hitch.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Interior Glass Surface
The interior glass surface should
be cleaned
on a periodic basis for
continued good visibility. A com­
mercial household glass cleaning
agent containing ammonia will re­
move normal tobacco smoke
and
dust films sometimes caused by in­
gredients used in vinyls, plastics
or
other interior trim materials.
EXTERIOR APPEARANCE
Your car is finished with General
Motors
"Magic-Mirror" acrylic lac­
quer. This
is a finish of maximum
beauty which,
in depth of color,
gloss retention
and durability is
superior to conventional lacquer
finishes.
Washing Your Car
The best way to preserve the
finish
and maintain original beauty
of appearance
is to keep it clean. Wash
the
car in lukewarm or cold • water. Never use strong soap or
chemical detergents. Cleaning
agents should be quickly flushed
from the surfaces.
Polishing and Waxing
Your Car
Although acrylic paint on your
car is durable, you may wish to
wax
or polish for added protection.
Your Chevrolet Dealer offers many
polishes
and waxes now ava,ilable
which have proven of real value in
maintaining a good
paint finish.
When using a
tar and road oil
remover, be certain
it is safe for
use
on acrylic painted surfaces.
Protection of Exterior
Bright
Metal Parts
Bright metal parts should be
cleaned regularly to maintain
luster. Washing with water is all
that
is usually required. However,
G.M. Chrome Polish may be used
4-5
on CHROME or STAINLESS
STEEL trim . if necessary.
Use special care with ALU­
MINUM trim. Never use auto
or chrome polish, stearn
or any
caustic soap to clean aluminum.
A coating of wax,
rubbed to a
high polish,
is recommended for
all bright metal parts.
Cleaning White Sidewall
Tires
Use a tire cleaner which will not
harm aluminum trim. A stiff brush
may
be used with the cleaner to
remove road grime
and dirt from
white sidewall tires.
Cleaning the Optional
Vinyl
Top
The top should be washed fre­
quently with neutral soap suds,
lukewarm water
and a brush with
soft bristles. Rinse top with suffi­
cient quantities of clear water to
remove all traces of soap.

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 Part Number Size Description Usage
1050520
16 oz. Lubriplate (White Grease) Hood, Trunk and Door Hinges and Latches •
1050729 8 oz. Vinyl Top Cleaner Cleans optional vinyl tops
1050803 1
lb. Multi-Purpose
Powdered
Cleans vinyl and cloth on door trim, Cleaner seats and carpet; also tires and mats
1051055 16 oz.
Preservatone Preserves finish on vinyl fabric
1051186
22112 oz. Gem Glo Quick clean-up and wax; for slightly dirty finishes
1051398 8 oz. Spot Lifter
Spot and stain
removal on cloth and fabric
1051515
32 oz. Optikleen Windshield Washer solvent and anti-freeze
1051516
32 oz. Washer Solvent and
Same as 1050001 Gas Line De-Icer
1051772 20 oz. Presoftened Cleaner/Wax One-step cleaner and wax
1051855
32 oz. Dexron II Automatic Transmission fluid
1051858 16 oz. G.M. Super E.O.S.
(Engine Oil Supplement) Consult your Dealer for usage
4-8

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine TIRES
The factory installed tires on
your vehicle, shown in the Tire
Usage Chart, are engineered to pro­
vide a proper balance of these per­
formance characteristics for normal
vehicle operation:
• Endurance
• Handling
• Noise
• Ride
• Road Hazard Resistance
• Rolling Resistance
• Traction
• Tread Mileage
This section contains some tips
on how you can obtain maximum
benefit from these tires and your
investment in them.
Vehicle Loading
When inflated as recommended
on the tire pressure placard, located on
the left door of your vehicle,
the
tires originally installed will operate
satisfactorily at all normal highway
loads and speeds. Do not load your
vehicle beyond the capacity shown
on the tire placard. This represents
the design capacity of the vehicle,
not merely of the tires.
Station Wagon loads should
be
distributed as far forward as pos­
sible. Luggage racks do not in­
crease the maximum vehicle load
capacity specified on the tire pla­
card.
Inflation Pressure
Tire cold inflation pressures
listed on the tire placard provide
for the best combination of tire life,
riding comfort, and vehicle hand­
ling for normal driving conditions.
Use of the highest pressures shown
on the placard will result in
im­
proved fuel economy. For those
owners who prefer the utmost in
5-14
II RECOMMENDED TIRE PRESSURES (PSI COlD) VEHICLE lOAD FRONT REAR ----UP TO VEHICLE CAPACITY
1 OCCUPANT + 500 lBS CARGO (650 lBS)
RECOMMENDED TIRE SIZE(S) (USE ONLY IN SETS) LOAD RANGE
BECAUSE OF POSSIBLE ADVERSE EFFECTS ON VEHICLE HANDLING, DO NOT MIX RADIAL TIRES WITH OTHER TYPE TIRES ON THE SAME VEHICLE.
VEHICLE CAPACITY STANDARD SEAT OPTIONAL SEAT
1 OCCUPANT 2 OCCUPANTS 1 fRONT 2 FRONT 710 lBS CARGO LOAD 560 LBS CARGO LOAD TOTAL 860 lBS TOTAL 860 lBS SEE OWNERS MANUAL FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
c::J PRINTED IN USA

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine comfort, the reduced tire pressures
listed on the placard may
be used
when reduced loads of 5 occupants
or less are carried. Improper tire
inflation pressures can adversely
affect tire life and vehicle perform­
ance. Too
Iowan air pressure results
in increased tire flexing and heat
ENGINE AND BODY STYLE
All except GT Model
GT Coupe
RPO Z29
build up, weakening the tire and
increasing susceptibility to damage
or failure. In addition, low air
pressure reduces fuel economy and
may result in abnormal tire wear
and adverse vehicle handling. Too
high an air pressure can result in
harsh ride, increased susceptibility
to damage from road hazards, and
STANDARD TIRES
A78-13 (Bias)
A70-13 White letters
All standard tires are blackwall with whitewall optional.
f'"
5-15
abnormal wear.
Tire inflation pressures should
be checked at least monthly when
the tires are "cold" and when
changing the load you plan to carry
in your vehicle.
1. The cold tire inflation pressure
applies to the tire pressure when
a vehicle has not been driven for
OPTIONAL TIRES
A78-13 (Bias) White wall
A78-13, B/W and White wall,
BR78-13, White letters
and White wall
BR78-13 White letters
and White wall

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine for 3 hours or more, or driven
less than 1 mile.
2 .
It is normal for tire pressures to
increase 4-8
PSI when the tires
become hot from driving. Do not
"bleed" (reduce tire inflation
pressures) after driving your
vehicle. Bleeding serves to in­
crease tire flexing and heat build­
up which can result in tire dam­
age and failure.
3. For sustained driving at turn­
pike speeds, cold inflation
pressures should be increased 4
PSI above the recommended
cold inflation pressures on the
tire placard up to a maximum of
32
PSI for load range Btires, 36
PSI for load range C, and 40 PSI
for load range D. Sustained
speeds above 75 mph are not
recommended when the 4
PSI
adjustment would require pres­
sures greater than the maximum
pressures above.
4. Always use a tire pressure gauge
(a pocket type gauge is recom­
mended) when checking
infla~
tion pressures. Underinflated
radial tires may have the same
appearance
as a properly inflated
radial tire.
Visual inspection of
tires for inflaton is totally inade­
quate especially in the case
of
radial tires. If inflation pressure
of an individual tire
is found to be
consistently low, have your
dealer find and correct the cause.
5. Be sure to re-install the tire in­
flation valve caps, if
so equipped,
to prevent dirt and moisture
from entering the valve core
which could cause air leakage.
Inspection and Rotation
Your tires perform different jobs
(front tires are involved with steer­
ing and rear tires normally with
propelling the vehicle) and can
wear differently depending on the
type of roads driven, individual
5-16
1\ II(
" I I ,t " I' ,I
I' I I j , I I I
I I , I I I I
I I I I I I
I 1
PROPERL Y INFLATED
BIAS OR
BIAS-BEL TED TIRE
PROPERL Y INFLATED
RADIAL TIRE

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine LF
5 WHEEL ROTATION 4 WHEEL ROTATION
RADIAL TIRES
BIAS PLY TIRE BIAS PLY TIRE 4 WHEEL ROTATION 5 WHEEL ROTATION
BIAS. BELTED TIRES
driving habits, etc. To obtain maxi­
mum tire life you should inspect
and rotate your tires regularly.
Many car
and tire dealers will per­
form a free tire inspection
and
assist you in identifying uneven
or abnormal tire wear which is
usually the result of incorrect infla­
tion pressure, lack
of regular rota­
tion, improper wheel alignment,
out-of-1?alance, or poor driving
habits.
Bias
and bias-'belted tires shOUld
be rotated at least every 7,500
miles. Radial tires should be ro­
tated at least at the first 7,500 miles
and then at least at 15,000 mile in­
tervals thereafter or whenever un­
even tire wear is noticed.
Alignment and Balance
Proper front-end alignment mini­
mizestire tread wear.
To minimize
tire wear, your front-end suspen­
sion
componentS should be in-
5-17
NOTE: It is recommended that the
brakes be inspected for wear when­
ever the tires are rotated.
spected regularly.
See the Main~e­
nance Schedule folder for more m­
formation. Some ball-joints have
built-in wear indicators and some
movement in the joints
is normal.
Improper front -end alignment will
.
not cause vibration. Improper toe
alignment
may cause your. fro~t
tires to drag at an angle resultmg m
excessive wear. Improper camber
alignment may cause your front
tires to wear more
on one side than
on the other and can cause the
vehicle to
"pull" to the left or right.
Proper tire balancing provides
the best riding comfort and helps
to minimize tire tread wear.
Out-of­
balance tires can cause annoying
vehicle vibration and irregular tire
wear such
as cupping, fiat spots,
etc.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine a~~~
DO NOT DO NOT
w~ ~"" "." !d'"
REPAIR AREA RADIAL TIRES
Tire Repair
Temporary repair patches or any
repairs made from the outside of
the tire are not recommended ex­
cept in emergencies. Such "stop­
gap"
devices as plugs and aerosol­
type sealants are not recommended
for more than
100 miles of driving
at speeds not over
50 mph. A per­
manent vulcanized repair (plug
and patch) applied from inside the
tire should be made
as soon as pos­
sible. The installation of an inner
tube in a damaged tubeless tire
is not a recommended repair pro­
cedure.
If an air loss occurs while
driving, do not attempt
to drive on
the deflated tire more than neces­
sary to stop safely. Driving even a
short distance on a deflated tire can
damage a tire beyond repair.
The tire industry recommends
that punctures
on passenger car type
radial tires up to
%" diameter can
usually be repaired if they occur
5-18
between the major outer tread
grooves.
Traction and Snow Tires
A decrease in driving, cornering,
and braking traction occurs when
water , snow, ice, gravel,
or other
material
is on on the road surface.
Driving practices and vehicle speed
should be adjusted to the road
conditions. When driving on wet or slushy
roads , it
is possible for a wedge of
water to build up between the tire
and road surface. This phenome­
non, known
as hydroplaning, may
cause partial or complete loss of
traction, which adversely affects
vehicle
control and stopping
ability. To reduce the possibility of
traction loss, the following pre­
cautions should
be observed:
1 .
Slow down during rainstorms or
when
roads are slushy.
2. Slow down if road has standing
water or
pUddles.