1973 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO check engine

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Brakes
Brake linings should be periodi­
cally inspected for wear by a quali­
fied technician. The frequency of
this inspection depends upon driv­
ing conditions such
as traffic or
terrain, and also the driving tech­
niques of individual owners. Your
Chevrolet Dealer
is best qualified
to advise you
as to how often this
inspection should be performed.
When replacement
is required,
specify GM and Delco parts.
Master
Cylinder - Every 6,000
miles or 4 months -Check fluid
level in each reservoir and maintain
~ " below lowest edge of each filler opening
with Delco, Supreme No.
11 or DOT-3 Hydraulic Brake
Fluid.
Parking Brake
Pulley, Cables
and Linkage -Every 6,000 miles
or 4 months-Apply water resistant
EP Chassis Lubricant which meets
GM Specification 6031 M, to park­
ing brake cable at cable guides and
at all operating links and levers.
Power
Steering System
Check the fluid level in the
pump reservoir at each oil change
period. Add GM Power Steering
Fluid (or
DEXRON® Automatic
Transmission Fluid)
as necessary
to bring level into proper range on
filler cap indicator depending upon
fluid temperature.
If at operating temperature (ap­
proximately
150 °F - hot to the
56
"HOT" MARK
"COLD" MARK
touch), fluid should be between
"HOT" and "COLD" marks. If at
room temperature (approximately
70°F), fluid should be between
"ADD" and "COLD" marks. Fluid
does not require periodic changing.
Hood
Latches
Every 4 months or 6,000 miles,
whichever occurs first, lubricate

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine hood latch assembly and hood
hinge assembly as follows:
1. Wipe off any accumulation of
dirt or contamination on latch
parts.
2. Apply Lubriplate or equivalent
to latch pilot bolts and latch
locking plate.
3. Apply light engine oil to all
pivot points in release mecha­
nism, as well
as primary and
secondary latch mechanisms.
4. Lubricate hood hinges.
5. Make hood hinge and latch
mechanism functional check to
assure the assembly
is working
correctly.
Air Conditioning
Have your Chevrolet Dealer
check your Air Conditioning
sys­
tem at some time during the winter
months to be sure there has been no
loss in cooling output. During
NOTE: On vehicles equipped with
a
Pour Season Air Conditioning
System, the system will not operate
below ambient temperatures of
300P. regardless of control posi­
tion.
the summer,
see your Chevrolet
Dealer immediately if you suspect
the system
is not performing as it
should .
Cooling System Care
Check the coolant level at each
engine oil change.
Engine Cooling System
The recovery type cooling sys­
tem is standard on all Chevrolet
passenger cars and
is designed to
maintain the engine at proper op-
57
erating temperatures. The recovery
tank collects coolant that expands
with rising temperature that would
otherwi se overflow from the sys­
tem. When the system temperature
drops, the coolant
is drawn from
the recovery tank back into the
radiator by the suction created by
coolant contraction. The cooling
system has been filled at the factory
with a high-quality , inhibited, year­
around coolant that meets the stan­
dards of General Motors Specifica­
tion 1899-M. This coolant solution
provides freezing protection to
-20oP (-32° P in Canada), and
it has been formulated to be used
for two full calendar years or
24,000 miles, whichever first oc­
curs, of normal operation without
replacement.
Cooling System Care
Check the coolant level in the
'see thru' coolant recovery tank

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine and in the radiator at least as fre­
quently
as engine oil changes.
NOTE: Do not remove radiator
cap when coolant
is hot and under
pressure.
Level should be at the
"FULL
COLD"
mark on the recovery tank
and at the bottom of the radiator
filler neck when the system
is cold.
During normal warm weather op­
eration the coolant should be at
the
"FULL HOT" mark on the re­
covery tank.
If the recovery tank is
empty or coolant is below the
"FULL COLD" mark the radiator
level should be checked and cool­
ant added to the radiator and re­
covery tank
as needed. Use a 50/50
mixture of high-quality ethylene gly­
col antifreeze and water for coolant
additions.
If regular additions are
required see your dealer for a cool­
ing system check.
NOTE: If recommended quaIily
antifreeze is used, supplemental in­
hibitors or additives claiming to
provide increased capability are
not necessary. They may be detri­
mental
to the efficient operation of
the system, and represent an un­
necessary operating expense.
Every year, the cooling system
should be serviced
as follows:
1 . Wash radiator cap and filler
neck with clean water.
2. Check coolant for proper
level and freeze protection.
3. Pressure test system and radi­
ator cap for proper pressure
holding capacity (15 psi).
If
replacement of cap is re­
quired, use the special AC
cap designed for coolant re­
covery systems, specified for
your car model.
4. Tighten hose clamps and in­
spect all hoses. Replace hoses
58
whenever swollen, checked or
otherwise deteriorated.
5. Clean frontal area of radiator
core and air conditioning
condenser.
Every two years or
24,000 miles,
whichever first occurs, the cooling
system should be flushed and re­
filled using the following recom­
mended procedure:
1. Run engine, with radiator cap
removed, until normal operat­
ing temperature
is reached
and upper radiator hose
is hot
(indicates thermostat
is open.)
2. Stop engine and open radiator
drain valve to drain coolant.
(To speed this operation, the
drain plugs in the block can
also be removed.)

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine • Maintain cooling system freeze
protection at
.;...200 F or below
to ensure protection against
corrosion and loss of coolant
from boiling , even though freez­
ing temperatures are not
ex­
pected.
• Add ethylene glycol base cool­
ant that meets GM Specification
1899-M when coolant additions
are required because of coolant
loss or to provide additional
protection against freezing at
temperatures lower than
_200 F
(_320 F in Canada).
NOTE: Alcohol or methanol base
coolants or plain water are not
recommended for your Monte
Carlo at any time.
Radiator Pressure Cap
The radiator cap, a 15 lb. pres­
sure type, must be installed tightly,
otherwise coolant may be lost and
damage to engine may result from
overheating. Radiator pressure caps
should be checked periodically for
proper operation.
If replacement is
required specify AC.
Thermostat
The cooling system is protected
and controlled by a thermostat in­
stalled in the engine coolant outlet
to maintain a satisfactory operating
temperature of the engine. This
thermostat
is designed for continu­
ous use through both winter and
summer and need not be changed
seasonally . When replacement
is
necessary, Delco parts are recom­
mended.
60
Tires
The factory installed tires on
your car
as shown on the following
Tire Usage chart are designed to
provide the best all around per­
formance for normal vehicle op­
eration. When inflated
as recom­
mended on the tire pressure plac­
ard, located on the left door of
your vehicle, they have the load
carrying capacity to operate satis­
factorily at all normal highway
speeds.
Tire Care
Tires should be checked regu­
larly for proper inflation pressure,
wear, and damage. The following
information will assist you in prop­
erly caring for your tires:

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine on the placard. In addition, for
those owners who prefer the
ut­
most in comfort, the reduced tire
pressures listed on the placard may
be used when loads of
(5 occu­
pants or less) are carried.
The use of improper tire
infla­
tion pressures can adversely affect
tire life and vehicle
perforrilance:
•
Too little air pressure can result
in excessive tire heat, abnormal
tire wear, adverse vehicle
han­
dling and reduced fuel economy.
• Too much air pressure can re­
sult in abnormal tire wear, ad­
verse vehicle ride and handling,
and increased susceptibility to
damage
by road impacts.
Tire pressures should be checked
when the tires are
"cold" at least
once a month (and preferably
oftener)
or before long trips or
when heavily loaded. The follow­
ing points should be observed
when checking and setting tire
pressures:
<
1. Cold tire pressure ratings are applic­
able when a vehicle has been Inopera­tive for 3 hours or more, or driven less
than 1 mile.
2. Tire inflation pressure may increase as much as 6 pounds per square inch (psi)
when hot (after vehicle has been driven
10 miles or at speeds of more than 60 miles per hour). Do not "bleed" or re­duce pressures when tires are hot from
driving.
3. For continuous high speed operation
(over 75 mph), increase tire inflation
pressure 4 psi above the fecommended
pressures up to a maximum
of 32 psi
cold pressure for load range B tires, or 40 psi for D load range tires. Sustained
speeds above 75 mph are not recom­
mended when the 4 psi adjustment
would require pressures greater than
the above maximum pressures.
4. Always use a tire pressure gauge when
checking pressures as the appearance of a tire can be deceiving. For example,
radial ply tires, in comparison with bias
ply tires at the same pressure, may have
the appearance of being under-Inflated.
62
Vehicle Loading-Do not load
your vehicle beyond the vehicle
capacity (total pounds) shown on
the tire placard. This figure
repre­
sents the design capacity of the
vehicle, not merely of the tires.
When towing trailers, the
allow­
able passenger and cargo load
must be reduced by an amount
equal to the trailer tongue load on
the trailer hitch.
(See "Trailer
Hauling" in Section 1 of this man­
ual.) Station wagon loads should
be distributed
as far forward as
possible. Vehicles equipped with
luggage racks do not have a
vehi­
cle load capacity greater than
specified on the tire placard.
Tire Wear and Rotation-Un­
even or abnormal tire wear is
usually the result of incorrect in­
flation pressure, improper wheel
alignment, wheels being
out-of­
balance, or poor driving habits.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine the complete underbody be in­
spected and flushed at least once
each year, preferably after a win­
ter's exposure. Particular attention
should be given to cleaning out
underbody members where dirt
and other foreign materials may
have collected.
If desired, your Chevrolet deal­
er can perform this service for you.
In addition, he can provide recom­
mendations on undercoating ma-terials
which will help protect
your
vehicle from corrosion.
Battery Care (Energizer)
Check fluid level monthly utiliz­
ing the level indicator cap marked
"Delco Eye". If the transparent eye
within the cap glows, fluid level
is
low. Add only colorless, odorless
drinking water or distilled water to
bring level to split ring in filler
opening.
66

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine the complete underbody be in­
spected and flushed at least once
each year, preferably after a win­
ter's exposure. Particular attention
should be given to cleaning out
underbody members where dirt
and other foreign materials may
have collected.
If desired, your Chevrolet deal­
er can perform this service for you.
In addition, he can provide recom­
mendations on undercoating ma-terials
which will help protect
your
vehicle from corrosion.
Battery Care (Energizer)
Check fluid level monthly utiliz­
ing the level indicator cap marked
"Delco Eye". If the transparent eye
within the cap glows, fluid level
is
low. Add only colorless, odorless
drinking water or distilled water to
bring level to split ring in filler
opening.
66

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 several of the most common automotive mal­functions 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 recom­mended that an Authorized Chevrolet Dealer inspect the vehicle and make whatever repairs or adjustments are necessary.
FUEL SYSTEM AND ENGINE
If the ignition switch will cause the engine to "turn over" or "crank" but the cor will not start,
check Steps A through D below. NOTE: If continual "f1ooding" of the carburetor is evidenced by a carburetor wet with fuel or black exhaust smoke, perform the operation suggested in par­agraph 0 only. (A) The first and most obvious, and one of the most frequently Checlcing Fuel Flow
68
overlooked, items to check when you have difficulty in starting your car is the amount of fuel in the tank. Make it a habit to check the FUEL GAUGE regularly and most especially at a time' when the engine will not start. (B) If the fuel tank is not empty, you may check further to see whether the fuel is reaching the carburetor_ Disconnect the fuel line at the carburetor and remove the center (ground the secondary coil
terminal or disconnect the primary wire from the coil to the dis­tributor at the coil) wire from the coil tower. Place a jar or cup under the open line and briefly "crank" the engine by means of the starter. If fuel spurts from the fitting, you may assume that the FUEL LINES are clear 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
line to the carburetor, remove the FUEL FILTER from the carburetor inlet and check its condition. If it appears to be clean, replace it and reconnect the fuel line. Re­place the filter if it appears to be plugged. (0) If the fuel seems to be reaching the carburetor properly, the problem may be: an EMPTY Fuel Filter
CARBURETOR BOWL caused by a "stuck shut" carburetor; a flOODED CARBURETOR caused by a "stuck open" condition and evidenced by gasoline seeping down and around outside of the carburetor; or a stuck CHOKE valve. Remove the air cleaner from
the carburetor. Check that the choke valve moves freely and is not
stuck. (Don't mistake normal spring tension for a stuck valve.) Tap the side of the carburetor sharply several times with a light tool such