Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Starting Engine
Automatic Transmission
Models
1. Apply the foot brake.
2. Place transmission selector
in "P" or "N" (UP" preferred).
A starter safety switch prevents
starter operation while the trans
mission selector
is in any drive
position.
(If it is necessary to
re-start the engine with the car
moving, place the selector lever
in
"N".)
3. Depress accelerator pedal and
activate starter
as outlined be
low for different conditions.
• Cold Engine -Fully de
press
accelerator pedal and
slowly release.
With foot off
the pedal,
crank the engine
by turning the ignition key
to the Start position-release
when engine starts.
If engine starts, but fails to
run, repeat this procedure.
When engine is running
smoothly, the idle speed may
be reduced by slightly de
pressing the accelerator pedal
and then slowly releasing.
• Warm Engine -Depress ac
celerator
pedal about halfway
and hold while cranking the
engine.
• Extremely Cold Weather
(Below
0° F.) Or After Car
Has Been Standing Idle
Several
Days-
Fully depress and release
accelerator pedal two
or three
times before cranking the
engine.
With foot off the ac
celerator pedal,
crank the
engine by turning the key to
the Start position and release
when engine starts.
13
Manual Transmission Models
1. Apply parking brake and shift
transmission to neutral.
2.
Hold clutch pedal to floor
throughout the starting proce
dure. A starter interlock pre
vents starter operation when
clutch
is not fully depressed.
3.
Operate accelerator pedal and
starter
as outlined in step 3
(under Automatic Transmission
Models).
Engine Flooded
Depress accelerator pedal and
hold to floor while starting until
engine
is cleared of excess fuel
and
is running smoothly. Never
"pump" the accelerator pedal.
Warm-Up
Always let the engine idle for
20 to 30 seconds after starting
and drive at moderate speeds for
several miles, especially during
cold weather.
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine motorists and pedestrians. The ig
nition switch must be in the "ON"
position in order for the turn sig
nals 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 corner, the turn
signal is cancelled automatically
after the turn
is completed. How
ever, in some driving maneuvers
such
as changing lanes on an ex
pressway, the steering wheel
is not
turned back sufficiently after com
pleting the turn to automatically
cancel the turn signal. For con
venience in such maneuvers, the
driver can flash the turn signals by
moving the turn signal lever part
way (to the first stop) and holding
it there. The lever returns to the neutral
or cancelled position when
the driver releases his hold on the
lever.
A green light on the instrument
cluster flashes to indicate proper
operation of the front and rear
tum
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
17
lever is moved, check the fuse and
indicator bulb.
Power Steering
Power steering assist is provided
by a hydraulic pump driven by the
engine. When the engine
is not run
ning
or if the power steering pump
drive belt breaks, the car can still
be steered, but much greater steer
ing effort will be required.
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 Instruments
The instruments, gauges and in
dicator lights conveniently grouped
in the instrument cluster are de
signed to tell you at a glance many
important things about the per
formance of your car. The follow
ing information will enable you to
more quickly understand and prop
erly interpret these instruments.
Fuel Gauge
This electrically operated gauge
registers correctly when the igni
tion switch
is in the "on" position.
When the ignition switch
is turned
BRAKE WARNING liGHT
"off", the needle will not necessar
ily return to the empty mark but
may stop at any point on the dial.
Oil Pressure Indicator Light
This light will be on when the
ignition switch
is turned on and
should go out after the engine
is
started. Occasionally the light may
be seen to flicker momentarily, but
this will do no harm. However, if
the light remains on during normal
driving speeds the engine should be
stopped until the cause of the trou
ble can be located and corrected.
20
Driving the car with low oil pres
sure can cause serious engine
damage.
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Generator Indicator Light
This light provides a quick check
on the generating system of your
car. The red light will go on when
the ignition key
is in the "on" posi
tion, but before the engine is
started. After the engine starts, the
light should go out and remain out.
If the light remains on when engine
is running, have your Authorized
Chevrolet Dealer locate and correct
the trouble
as soon as possible.
Engine Temperature
Indicator Light
This indicator light is provided
in the instrument cluster to quickly
warn of an overheated engine. With
the ignition
switGh in the START
position, the red TEMP indicator
will light to let you know that it
is
operating properly.
When the engine
is started, the
red light will go out immediately.
It will light up at no other time
unless for some reason the engine
reaches a dangerously high
oper
ating temperature. If the red light
should come on, the engine must be
stopped until the cause of the
over
heating is corrected. Glance at in
strument cluster frequently as you
drive to see if this light
is on.
Brake System Warning
Light
The service brake system is de
signed so that half of the brake sys
tem will provide some braking ac
tion in the event of a hydraulic leak
in the other half of the system.
When the brake apply system
is not
operating properly, a warning light
located at lower left of instrument
cluster (speedometer face) will
glow continuously when the
igni
tion is on after the brakes have been
firmly applied.
On cars equipped
with drum brakes, the light will go
21
out when foot is removed from
brake pedal.
• As a check on bulb condition the
light should glow with the
park
ing brake applied and the igni
tion on. (Light is also a reminder
to release parking brake.)
• Have system repaired if light
does not come on during check.
• This warning light is nota sub
stitute for the visual check of
brake fluid level required
as part
of normal maintenance.
If the light glows red:
• The parking brake is not fully re
leased or,
• The service brake system is par
tially inoperative.
What to do:
1. Check that the parking brake is
released.
2. Pull off the road and stop, care
fully-remembering that:
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine • Drum brake adjustment is made
automatically
as the brakes are
applied while car
is moving back
wards.
• Disc brake adjustment is made
automatically with each brake
application.
• If excess brake pedal travel de
velops, drive alternately back
ward and forward (several
times) and apply brakes firmly
in each direction.
• See your dealer if normal pedal
travel
is not restored, or if there
is a
rapid increase in pedal
travel, which could be a sign of
other brake trouble.
Clutch Adjustment
Clutch adjustment should be
checked and adjusted periodically
as necessary to compensate for
clutch facing wear. To check,
de
press pedal by hand until resistance
is felt. Free travel of pedal should
be approximately one inch; if very little
or no free travel
is evident,
clutch adjustment
is required.
Headlight Beam Switch
"High" and "low" headlight
beams are controlled by the floor
button at your left foot. The
indi
cator, located in the speedometer
dial, will light up when the high
beams are in use.
OTHER CONTROLS AND FEATURES
Positraction Rear Axle
The optional Positraction pro
vides additional traction on snow,
ice, mud, sand, and gravel,
par
ticularly when one rear wheel is on
a surface providing poor traction.
During normal driving and
cor
nering, the Positraction unit func
tions as a standard differential.
32
When one wheel encounters a slip
pery surface, however, the Positrac
tion directs driving force to the rear
wheel having the better traction.
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine SAFETY CHECKS
Your Camaro not only conforms to all U.S. Fed
eral Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards applicable at
time of manufacture, but also incorporates other im
portant General Motors safety features. Even with
these safety features, however, continued safe and
dependable operation depends greatly upon regular
vehicle maintenance.
This section discusses the various components and
systems of your vehicle that should be checked regu-
CHECK OFF EACH ITEM UNDER MIlEAGE AS SERVICE IS PERFORMED. Brakes and Power Steering -Check all lines and hoses. Check condition of brake linings and parking brake adjustment. Chassis lube and check all fluid levels,· Check condition of front and rear suspension and steerine system. Exhaust System -Check condition of system and underbody. Tires and Wheels-Check condition. (Check tire pressure at least monthly.) Engine -Change oil.· Check condition 01 all belts. -Replace oil filter (at 1st oil change and tllen every 2nd chanie). -Check air cleaner every 12,000 miles; replace every 24,000 miles. .-Replace PCV valve. -Service exhaust emission control systems (see Owner's Manual). -Change toolanl every Iwo years. Throttle linkage -Check operation and condition . Headlights -Aim. Transmission (Automatic)-Change fluid and service filter. 0 ,', III · 0
33
larly to help maintain continued safe and dependable
vehicle operation.
Some checks should be made by
your dealer or service station, and can be done con
veniently while your vehicle
is in the shop for other
regular maintenance services.
Other checks can be
made easily by owners.
CHECKS TO BE PERFORMED BY YOUR
DEALER OR SERVICE STATION
As a service reminder to owners, all 1971 General
Motors passenger cars are equipped with a
"Vehicle
6000 12000 18000 24000 30000 36000 41000 48000 )4000
• •
• •
• • • •
• • •
• •
• • • • • • •
• • • • • • • • • • •
• • • •
• • •
• •
• • • •
• • • • • • •
• • • • •
• •
• •
• • •
• •
• • • • •
• • • • • •
•
• • •
· • · •
• • • • •
• 0 o· 00 0 ·
0
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine TREAD STILL GOOD
-
TREAD
WORN OUT
• The original equipment tires on your Camaro in
corporate built-in tread wear indicators to assist
you in detennining when your tires have been worn
to the point of needing replacement. These indi
cators will appear
as V2 inch wide bands when tire
tread depth
is 1;16 inch or less. When the indicators
appear in two or more adjacent grooves, tire re
placement due to tread wear
is recommended.
35
• Drive Belts-Check fan and accessory drive belts
for cracks, wear and tension. Adjust or replace
as
necessary.
Checks To Be Made at 12 Months
or
12,000 Miles (Whichever occurs first)
• Brake Linings and Parking Brake-Check drum
brake linings or disc brake pads,
as well as the other
internal brake components at each wheel (drums,
rotors, wheel cylinders, etc.) . More frequent
checks should be made if driving conditions and
habits result in frequent brake application. Park
ing brake adjustment should also be checked when
ever brake linings are checked.
• Throttle Linkage-Check for damaged or missing
parts, interference or binding. Any deficiencies
should be corrected without delay by a competent
mechanic.
• Headlights -Check for proper aim. Correct as
necessary. More frequent checks should be made if
on-coming motorists signal when you are already
using your low beams, or if illumination of the road
ahead seems inadequate.
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine For further details on the engine and transmission
items listed on the
"Vehicle Safety Maintenance
Schedule," and for other recommended maintenance,
refer
to the "Service and Maintenance" and "Air
Pollution. Control" Sections of this manual.
CHECKS lOBE PERFORMED
BY OWNER
Listed below are the safety checks that should be
made by the owner . These checks should be made at
least every 4 months or
6,000 miles, whichever occurs
first , or more often when so indicated . Any
deficien
cies should be brought to the attention of your dealer
or service station, so the advice of a qualified mech
anic is available regarding the need for repairs or
replacements.
• Anti-Theft Lock-Check for proper operation by
attempting to turn key to
LOCK position in the
various transmission gears with
car stationary. Key
should
tum to LOCK position only when trans
mission control is in PARK on automatic trans
mission models or in REVERSE on manual trans
mission models.
• Seat Belts-Check lap and shoulder belts as well
as buckles, retractors and anchors for loose con-
36
nections, damage and positive latching action.
• Windshield Wipers and Washers-Check con
dition and alignment of wiper blades. Check
amount and direction of fluid sprayed by washers
during use.
• Defrosters-Check performance by turning con
trols to "de-ice" and "Hi" fan speed and noting
amount of air directed against the windshield.
• Wheel Alignment and Balance-In addition to
abnormal tire wear the need for wheel alignment
service may be indicated by a pull to the right or
left when driving on a straight level road. The need
for wheel balancing may be indicated by a
vibra
tion at the steering wheel while driving.
• Parking Brake and "Park" Mechanism-Check
parking brake holding ability by parking on a fairly
steep hill and restraining the vehicle with the
parking brake only.
On cars with automatic trans
missions, check the holding ability of the "Park"
mechanism by releasing all brakes after the trans
mission selector lever has been placed in the "P"
position.
• Lights -Check license plate lights, side marker
lights , headlamps, parking lamps, tail lamps , brake