1965 CHEVROLET CORVAIR Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Corvair passenger cars are designed primarily for
passenger conveyance. However, it is well known that
many owners do use the Corvair to pull trailers, and
when available trailer hauling options have been used,
the owners
have experienced very satisfactory service.
When a trailer is attached to a car, the car becomes
not only a load-carrying vehicle, but a load-pulling
vehicle. The demands of this type of operation are very
different from those for which the automobile is pri­
marily designed and may present problems, such as
spring
and tire loading, braking, cooling, lighting, and
steering. However, careful driving practices and the use
of factory-recommended options will better satisfy the
requirements
of trailer hauling.
If in the opinion of the manufacturer a part or com­
ponent of a motor vehicle has been adversely affected
46
by misuse of the vehicle with trailer loads, such part or
component will not be covered by the manufacturer's
warranty.
The size of and equipment for trailers, including
such items as hitches and safety chains, brakes, lights,
power-weight ratios and over-all length, are generally
subject to safety regulations in all states, and it is the
responsibility of the user to make certain that he is in
full
compliance with the regulations of the states in
which he plans to operate with a trailer of the Interstate
Commerce Commission,
if applicable, before doing so.
Further, when
operating a car with a trailer attached,
the driver must realize that the performance, steering
characteristics,
and braking distance of his car have
been altered, and that he must exercise greater caution
to safely handle his car and trailer.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine MINOR TROUBLE SHOOTING GUIDE
FUEl SYSTEM AND ENGINE ElECTRICAL SYSTEM COOLING SYSTEM
"i ... I/) -0 If your car acts .. .. ..c * c+, 0 ... > 0)0 -0* in the following III * ::s .. cu·-... I/) c CUc c-o ... ...J +,+' 0
0 c .. .. I/) -I) C
-0 cu$ manner: .. 0 ... I/) J,5 +' ;E .2 E 0) +' 0 >, * ~ .. 0" ::s 0 ~ .. * ~I/) ::s .. +' a. ... +' cu ... ... ~ >c J:l '.jj iii -0 O)+' +,+' E g8> ... .. c > c.. :.;: 0)1) C+, -05 I) ::s.!:! .-I/) cu ::s ... 0.0 .. C+' CUI) .;: "-0 .~ en C 0'" -o::s .. Cl J:l ::s E 'c'i ..... I/) +'
0 c· .... +' ~g ... ::s+' .. -0 ..... 1--~ -oC co .!!! c·-"'c 0 ... +' 0-0 I/)
~ J:l (/)f +' ~ C
0 .. ... cu ... cO to ~I/) >, o(/) Qj cu ... I/) 0 cu O(/)
.!:!(/) cu c.2 C OC ... I-~ 0« (/) ::s 0 cu -::s ::s ~ Cl/) '';:; t: 0. CU+' "'0 O.!! Q)'.-0 ~c. 0 "J:l Qj 0'" +'c O+' iii~ ~ .. +'c 0) Check here in sequence LL. -0 ::S ... :ti' 0 .-.. , 1)0 CUo (/) >,g +'CU -0 ~c& +' -0 O)::S .. >, LL.cu > .~ c: C._ E·-cu-Cl/) cu Oc ... -C ::s, shown for possible causes. ~ « .. ::s.~ ~ "'c "'::s c.C ... III I/) 0" I) -0 +' ... 0 ~ ...J -oCU oll! I) $c: "0) cu-o
1::-0 EC .. r;:'c, "0 "'c 0. I) :::C _cu C .. 0 00 .!! C.!! +"-.. +'0 C .. C ... c c .. 0 O::s
0 E ::s -CUO) ~E .-.. cuc CUO .. ~ ~+' -0 +' (5 80 ~ ~o ~a:: 8...J t)cu CO :.;:LIJ ~I-0 ~I-..... 0 r;: LIJ (/) :::-0 Cl
On the following pages, see paragraph: A
B D B·C-D E D L E F F K G G J H I G M N 0
See information on page number: 8 9-32 39 3-6 42 9
CAR WILL NOT START:
Engine Will Turn Over 1 4 3 6
2 5 7
Engine Will Not Turn Over 2 1 3 4
CAR WILL START -BUT:
Only After Repeated Tries 1
Stalls in a Few Seconds 2 1 3
Stalls When Hot 1 2 3 4
Idles Rough 1 2 3
Engine Overheats 1 2 3
"Oil" Indicator Comes On 1
"Gen" Indicator Comes On 3 2 4 1
*See Your AuthOrized Chevrolet Dealer 47

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine MINOR TROUBLE SHOOTING PROCEDURES
The chart on the previous page, and the information on the pages
which follow, contains information designed to aid the average
driver to discover, and possibly correct, conditions resulting in minor
mechanical difficulties
in his cor. The chart, designed to point out
possible solutions to severol of the most common automotive mal­
functions and point out a logical checking sequence, will lead step
by step to the most
likely causes and corrective procedures. If, after
making the checks and adjustments suggested, the source of the
trouble has not been found and corrected, it is strongly recom.
mended that on Authorized Chevrolet Dealer inspect the vehicle and
make whatever repairs or adjustments are necessary.
FUEL SYSTEM AND ENGINE
If the ignition switch will couse the engine to "turn over" or
"cronk" but the cor will not start, check Steps A through D below.
NOTE: If continual "flooding" of the carburetor is evidenced by a
carburetor wet with fuel or black exhaust smoke, perform the
operation suggested in paragraph D only.
(A) The first and most obvious,
and one of the most frequently overlooked, items to check when
you
have difficulty in starting your
cor is the amount of fuel in the
tonk.
Make it a habit to check the
FUEL GAUGE regularly and most especially at a time when the en­
gine will "turn over" but will not
start.
(8) If the fuel tank is not empty, Checking Fuel Flow
48
you may check further to see whether the fuel is reaching the
engine. Disconnect the fuel lines at the carburetor. Place a jar or CliP
under open line and briefly "crank" the engine by means of the
starter. If fuel spurts from the line, you may assume that the FUEL
LINES are dear and the FUEL PUMP is operating properly. If no fuel
leaves the line, either the fuel lines or fuel pump are at fault. See
your Authorized Chevrolet Dealer.
(C) Before reconnecting the fuel lines to the carburetor, remove
the
FUEL FILTER from carburetor inlet and check its condition.
If it appears to be clean, replace it.and reconnect the fuel lines. If
the filter appears to be plugged, clean it as well as possible by
scraping out the foreign material and cleaning in a solvent. Then
r~install the filter and repeat the procedure with the second carbu­
r~ior. Replace the filters with new ones as soon as possible .
(0) If the fuel seems to be reaching the carburetors properly, the
problem may
be: an EMPTY CARBURETOR BOWL caused by a
"stuck shut" float valve or a FLOODED CARBURETOR caused by a
"stuck open" condition and evidenced by gasoline flowing down
the outside of the carburetor; or a stuck CHOKE valve. Remove the
air cleaners from the carburetors. Check that the choke valves move
freely and are not stuck. Tap the side of the carburetors sharply
several times with a light tool such as a screwdriver handle or pliers.
Replace the air cleaners and attempt to start the engine in the
normal manner.
(E) If the car will start but stalls when hot or has a rough idle,
you can suspect a faulty IDLE ADJUSTMENT, or extremely dirty

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine and blocked AIR CLEANER ELEMENTS. Clean and reoil the air
cleaner elements if necessary. Idle adjustment should be performed
by your Chevrolet Dealer.
If the above Fuel System checks and the checks suggested under
the Electrical System following do not correct the malfunction, it is
recommended that you turn to your Authorized Chevrolet Dealer
for further checks , adjustments or repairs.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
If, when the ignition key is turned to START, the engine will not
turn
over, you have good reason to suspect electrical trouble.
(F) When there .is no response at all to attempts to start the car,
check the obvious-your AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SElECTOR
LEVER must be in neutral position before the engine can be started.
Turning the IGNITION SWITCH rapidly back and forth several
times will sometimes correct a poor internal switch contact.
(G) The
BATTERY may be discharged. If so, lights will be dim and
the horn will have a poor tone if it will blow at all.
Usually a
garage recharge will be necessary to return the battery
to operation. Occasionally, however , a push start and a long drive
will
recharge the battery.
NOTE : If the battery is determined to be dead, and for no apparent
reason , have your Authorized Chevrolet Dealer check the
battery, the GENERATOR and the VOLTAGE REGULATOR .
GENERA TOR trouble should already have been indicated by
the indicator on the instrument panel. Never remove generator
"BAT" lead without first disconnecting battery ground cable.
49
POOR BATTERY CONNECTIONS may be suspected if the car has operated properly a short time before and now not even the horn
will operate. Check both ends of both battery cables. If the con­
nections are corroded, a car may sometimes be restored to opera­
tion by removing all cable ends, scraping all contacting surfaces clean with a pen knife , and reassembling . If the cables are broken, they must be replaced. The power supply should now be restored unless the battery is dead.
(H) If, however, the lights and horn work properly but the starter will still not turn over, check the STARTER connections. A "click" from the starter solenoid indicates that the wiring to the starter is properly installed . If the wiring seems to be clean and tightly in­stalled, the trouble is probably in the starter itself and should be referred to your Authorized Chevrolet Dealer.
When the engine will "turn over" but will not start, the following
items may be checked along with Fuel System Checks listed
previously .
(I) With a clean dry cloth wipe the ceramic portions of the spark plugs dry. In particularly damp or rainy wellthe'r dampness may be the cause of not starting, especi-: . ally when the engine is cold.
(J) Check the cables at the top of the distributor and coil as well as each spark plug cable for tightness.
(K) If the car will still not start, check for spark at the spark plugs in the following manner:
Pull
one of the spark plug
wires off its spark plug. Insert a
short piece of bare wire (such as a bobby pin) between the rubber Oislribulor and Coil Leads

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine cup at the end of the spark plug
wire
and the tubular metal con­
nector inside of it. If the spark
plug wire is wet or oily, wipe it
dry. Wrap a dry handkerchief or
facial tissue, folded several thick­
nesses, around the wire at least
three inches back from the end
and grasp wire at this point. Hold the bare wire about 1,4 inch
from the.
bare tip of the spark
plug from which you removed the
wir,e. When the engine is "turned Checking 'or Spark
over" a spark should jump across the 1,4 inch space, indicating
ample current supply. If no spark jumps, the difficulty is probably
caused by a defective ignition part and should be corrected by
your Authorized Chevrolet
Dealer.
COOLING SYSTEM
When the car will run but evidences serious overheating on the
temperature gauge in the instrument panel, there are several items
which may
be checked.
(L) Engine overheating will occur when the OIL LEVEL falls danger­
ouslylow. Check the oil level as a malter of course.
CAUTION: Never drive the car when the TEMP-PRESS indicator in
the instrument panel is lighted. (See Page 9.)
50
(M) Check the air intake louvers . Clean them if they are plugged
with leaves or other foreign material.
(N) Condition of the FAN BELT
is very important, not only for en­
gine cooling but
also for proper
generator operation. Check the
condit ion of the belt. Replace
it
if it is worn or frayed. Loosen the
idler
bracket bolts and move the
bracket toward the engine to
remove and replace the belt.
Tighten the belt, whether new or
old, by loosening the idler bracket nuts, prying with a bar on the Checking Fan Bel' Tension
bracket until the belt is tensioned properly, then retighten the
bracket bolts. Proper belt tension is such that, when belt is de­
flected downward with moderate thumb pressure at a point midway
between the
generator and fan pulleys, the belt will deflect about
%" to X6". Do not overtighten the belt.
(0) Another cause of engine overheating may be an inoperative
COOLING SYSTEM THERMOSTAT. If the thermostat should fail
i n the closed position, it will not permit
air to circulate through the
engine. See your Authorized Chevrolet Dealer.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine INDEX
Page
Air Cleaner .............................. 39
Air Conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 15 & 40
Air Recirculating Cover Plate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 15
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 17
Ash Tray ............................ 17 & 26
Battery .............................. 33 & 42
Body Lubrication .......................... 43
Brake Main Cylinder. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 40
Brake-Parking ........................... 12
Brakes
.................................. 12
Bright Metal Parts
Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.. 30
Type and Location .................... 31
Chassis Lubrication. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 38
Cigarette Lighter ............... . . . . . . . . . .. 17
Circuit Breaker ........................... , 45
Cleaning Hints
Exterior
Appearance ................... 30
Interior Appearance ................... 31
Clutch Adjustment ......................... , 12
Clutch Cross
Shaft......... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 38
Clutch Pedal ............................. 12
Clutch Pulleys
& Cables .................... , 40
Cooling System ........................... 33
Crankcase Ventilation ...................... 37
51
Page
Cylinder Head Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . .. 23
Dimmer Switch ........................... 11
Distributor ............................... 39
Doors and Locks ..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 18 & 26
Rear ........................... 19 & 27
Side ................................ 27
Driving for Economy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 2
Engine
Oil Cooler ......................... 40
Engine Compartment ................... 21 & 26
Engine Lubrication ......................... 32
Front Suspension .......................... 38
Front Wheel Bearings ...................... 40
Fuel Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 42
Fuel Gauge .............................. 8
Fuses ................................... 45
Gas Cap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 21 & 29
Generator ............................... 39
Gen-Fan Indicator ...................... 9 & 23
Heater
Direct
Air. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 14
Gasoline
.......................... . .
Ignition
Switch ........................... .
Jacking the
Car .......................... .
Keys
.................................. .
Light Control Knob
........................ .
Lighting
System Trouble Checks ............... .
24
3
36
18
10
11

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Page
luggage Compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 21
Maintenance and lubrication (Periodic) ........ 37
Manifold Pressure Gauge ................... 23
Octane Requirements ....................... 32.
Oil Filter ................................. 37
Parking Brake
Operation ........................... 12
Service
..... ......................... 40
Polishing Your Corvair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 30
Positraction Axle .......................... 7
Pushing to
Start
Manual Transmission ............. .... .. 5
Powerglide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.. 6
Radios
................................ 16
Rear Axle ............................... 42
Rocking Car-Powerglide . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .. 7
Seats
......................... " .... 19 & 28
Front Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 19 & 28
Rear
Seat-Folding .................... 20
Second Seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 29
Service Brakes ............. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 12
Serial
and Unit Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 44
Spare Tire ............................... 35
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .. 44 & 45
52
Page
Speedometer ......................... 8 & 23
Starting the Engine ....... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Steering
linkage .......................... 38
Steering Gear .... ' ................. ' .' . . . .. 37
Switching Tires .................•......... 34
Tachometer .............................. 23
Telescoping Steering Column ............... , 17
Temp-Press Indicator .................... 9 & 23
Tire
Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 34
Towing-Powerglide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 7
Transmission Manual
Operation ..................... ,. 4-5
Service .......................... 41
Powerglide
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 5-7
Service ........................ " 41
Trouble Shooting Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 47
Trouble Checks
lighting System
...................... .11
Turn Signal .............................. 11
Warm-up. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . .. 4
Washing Your Corvair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 30
White Sidewall Tires ....................... 31
Windshield Wipers and Washers ........... 13 & 25

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine CHEVROLET OWNER PROTECTION PLAN
The Chevrolet Motor Division considers it a most important obligation to offer
each
owner a recommended maintenance service guide which will relieve him
of any anxiety and insure that his vehicle is regularly inspected and maintained.
Your Chevrolet
dealer has presented you with.a Chevrolet Owner Protection
Plan Booklet. The Recommended Maintenance
and Lubrication Service items in
this booklet have been worked out by Chevrolet service personnel and cover
items which
are the owner's responsibility to have checked, inspected, adjusted
and lubricated at recommended time or mileage intervals.
If the services are carried out at the prescribed time or mileage intervals,
wear and owner expense will be kept to a minimum. Additiona .I services may
become necessary
as mileage accrues, however, the regular visit that you make
to your Chevrolet
dealer in following this Plan will point out desirable services
as they become necessary.
In the event warranty repair is required on your Corvair, the Chevrolet
Protect-O-Plate affixed to the back cover of your Protection Plan booklet
will
assist in identifying you and your Corvair to your Chevrolet dealer.