1973 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO trailer

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine YOUR CAR'S FIRST
FEW HUNDRED MILES OF DRIVING
You can operate your new car
from its very first mile without ad­
hering to a formal
"break-in" sched­
ule. However, during the first
few
hundred miles of driving you can,
by observing a
few simple precau­
tions, add to the future performance
and economy of your car.
It is recommended that your
speed during the first 500 miles
be confined to a maximum of
60
M.P.H., but do not drive for ex­
tended periods at
anyone constant
speed, either fast
or slow. Dur­
ing this period, avoid full throttle
starts and, if possible, avoid hard
stops especially during the first
200
miles of operation since brake mis-
2
use during this period will destroy
much future brake efficiency.
Always drive at moderate speed
until the engine has completely
warmed up.
If you plan to use your new car
for trailer hauling see additional
information on page 11.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine safe infant or child restraint sys­
tem, the following precautions
should be taken:
1. Infants unable to sit up by them­
selves should be restrained by
placing them in a covered,
padded bassinet which is placed
crossways in the vehicle (width­
wise) on the rear seat. The
bassinet should be securely
restrained with the regular
ve­
hicle seat belts. An alternate
method
is to position the bas­
sinet so that it rests against the
front seat, again crossways in
Trailer Hauling
Since passenger cars are de­
signed and intended to be used pri­
marily as passenger conveyances,
towing a trailer will affect handling,
durability
and economy. Maximum
safety and satisfaction depends the
vehicle.
2. Children able to sit up by them­
selves should be placed on a
seat and lap belted, preferably
in the rear seat. Never allow a
child to stand
or kneel on any
seat.
If the child cannot see out
the car windows he should sit
on a firm cushion with the regu­
lar lap belt restraining him at
the hips. The cushion should be
as firm as practical and just high
enough to enable the child to
look horizontally out of the car
windows. The use of the cush-
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 Monte Carlo depends on what
special equipment has been in­
stalled on your car. Chevrolet does
11
ion should be discontinued as
soon as the child is old enough
to see out of the car windows
without it.
3. General Motors recommends
that children be restrained prop­
erly when riding. However, if
unusual conditions prohibit use
of restraints and require that a
child must stand, he should
stand on the floor directly be­
hind the front seat. This will
help minimize the possibility of
injury from frontal impacts
III
the event of an accident.
not recommend towing any trailer
unless the car
is properly equipped.
Information on trailer hauling
capabilities, special equipment re­
quired, and optional equipment
offered by Chevrolet
is available
from your Chevrolet Dealer
or by
writing Chevrolet Motor Division,

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Detroit, Michigan 48202 (or in
Canada by writing to General
Moto rs of Canada Limited,
Owner
Relations Department , Oshawa,
Ontario) .
To assist in attaining good han­
dling of the car-trailer combina­
tion, it
is important that the trailer
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
placard ,
is reduced by an amount
equal to
the trailer tongue load on
the trailer hitch.
Maintenance
More frequent vehicle mainte­
nance
is required when using your
car to pull a trailer. Change the:
• Automatic transmission fluid
each
12 ,000 miles ,
• Rear axle fluid each 12,000
miles,
• Engine oil each 60 days or 3,000
12
miles , whichever occurs first.
• Positive crankcase ventilation
valve each 12 months or
12,000
miles, whichever occurs first.
Break-in Schedule
In addition to the new ca r
break-in instructions in this man­
ual, it
is recommended that your
new Monte Carlo be operated for
500 miles before trailer towing. If
it is necessary to tow during this
period , avoid speeds over
50 MPH
and full throttle starts. The same
precautions should be observed
whenever a new engine, transmis­
sion or axle
is installed in your car.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine STARTING AND OPERATING
Engine Exhaust Gas Caution (Carbon Monoxide)
Allold inhaling exhaust gases because
they contain carbon monoxide, which by
Itsell is colorless and odorless. Carbon
monoxide is a dangerous gas that can cause unconsciousness and is potentially
lethal.
II at any time you suspect that exhaust fumes are entering the passenger com­partment, have the cause determined and corrected as soon as possible. II you must
drive under these conditions, drive only
with
all windows fully open.
The best protection against carbon
mon­oxide entry into the car body is a properly
maintained exhaust system, car body and body ventilation system. It is recom­mended that the exhaust system and body
be inspected by a competent mechanic:
• Each time the IIehicie is raised for oil change. > •
Wheneller a change
is noticed In the
sound of the exhaust system.
• Wheneller the exhaust system, under­
body or rear of the vehicle is damaged.
See your Maintenance Schedule folder
for inspection procedure.
To allow proper operation of the car's
IIentilation system, keep front ventilation
inlet
grille clear of snow, leaves or other obstruction at all times.
SITTING IN A PARKED CAR WITH
ENGINE RUNNING FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD IS NOT RECOMMENDED.
Do
not run engine in confined areas such as garages any more than needed to mOlle IIehicle In or out of area. When IIe­hlcle is stopped In an UNCONFINED area with the engine running for any more than a short period, adJust heating or cooling system to force outside air Into car as follows:
14
1. On cars not equipped with air condi­
tioning, set fan to medium or high
speed and upper control leller to any
position except OFF.
2. On cars equipped with manual air conditioning, set fan to medium or high speed, upper control lever to any
position except OFF, and lower con­trol lever to any position except ex­treme left COLD.
The trunk lid should be closed while
drilling to help prellent inadllertently draw­Ing exhaust gases Into the car. If Is unwise to drive at high speeds for long durations
with the trunk lid open. Howeller, If lor some reason the trunk must remain open lor a period while mOiling, or electrical wiring or other cable connections to a trailer must pass through the seal between
trunk lid and body, the lol/owlng precau­
tions should be observed:
• Close all windows.
• Ad/ust heating or cooling system to
force outside air into car as described In items 1 and 2 abolle but with Ian set at high speed.
• On cars equipped with outside aIr IIents In or under Instrument panel, open IIents lully.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine leaded or low-lead gasolines are
not available, gasolines containing
more than 0.5 grams per gallon
may be used.
In states using the Gasoline Per­
formance and Information
System
of fuel designation, unleaded or
low-lead fuels having an anti-knock
designation of
"2" or higher are
recommended.
Gas Cap-The fuel tank filler cap
has a new two-step removal and
installation procedure plus a
pressure-vacuum safety relief.
valve. It is equipped with a double
set of locking tangs.
To remove:
• Rotate cap one-half tum coun­
terclockwise to clear the first set
of tangs from the slots inside
the filler neck.
This, will allow
any residual pressure to escape.
• Pull the cap outward and rotate
one-quarter
tum counterclock­
wise to clear second set of tangs
and remove the cap.
• To install, reverse this pro­
cedure.
NOTE: If this cap requires a re­
placement, only a cap with these
same features should be used. Fail­
ure to use the correct cap can
result in a serious malfunction of
the system. Correct replacement
caps may be obtained from
your
authorized Chevrolet Dealer.
Engine Oil and Filter
Recommendations
• Use only SE engine oil.
• Change oil each 4 months or
6,000 miles. If more than 6,000
miles are driven in a 4-month
period, change oil each
6,000
miles.
• Change oil each 2 months or
3,000 miles, whichever occurs
51
first, under the following con­
ditions:
- driving in dusty conditions
- trailer pulling
- extensive idling
- short-trip operation
at freez-
ing temperatures (engine not
thoroughly warmed-up).
• Operation in dust storms may
require an immediate oil change.
• Replace the oil filter at the first
oil change, and every second oil
change thereafter.
AC oil filters
provide excellent engine pro­
tection.
See your Chevrolet dealer for
advice
on the frequency of oil and
filter changes under unusual driv­
ing conditions.
The above recommendations
apply to the first change as well as
subsequent oil changes. The oil
change interval for your Monte
Carlo engine
is based on the use of

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine same as standard axle but use only
the special positraction lubricant
available from your Chevrolet
Dealer.
Manual Transmissions
3-Speed -Every 6,000 miles or
4 months-Check at operating tem­
perature and
fill as necessary to
level of filler plug hole with SAE
80
or SAE 90 GL-5 Gear Lubri­
cant.
(For vehicles normally operated in
Canada use
SAE 80 GL-5 Gear
Lubricant.)
If temperatures below 32°F. are
expected, use
SAE 80 GL-5 Gear
Lubricant only.
Clutch Cross-Shaft -Every
36,000 miles or sooner if necessary
-Remove the plug, install a lubri­
cation fitting and lubricate with
water resistant
EP Chassis Lubri­
cant which meets GM Specific
a-
tion 6031M.
Automatic Transmissions
Fluid Recommendations
Use only automatic transmission
fluids identified with the mark
DEXRON ®. These fluids have been
specially formulated and tested for
use in your automatic transmission,
and are available from your Chev­
rolet dealer or local service station.
Check the fluid level at each
engine oil change period. To make
an accurate fluid level check:
1. Drive car several miles, making
frequent starts and stops,
to
bring transmission up to normal
operating temperature (approxi­
mately
180-190° F).
2. Park car on a level surface.
3. Place selector level in "PARK"
and leave engine running.
4. Remove dipstick and wipe clean.
54
5. Reinsert dipstick until cap seats.
6. Remove dipstick and note read­
ing.
If fluid level is at or below the
ADD mark, add sufficient fluid
to
raise the level to the FULL mark.
One pint raises the level from ADD
to FULL.
Do not overfill.
Under normal driving condi­
tions, the transmission fluid should
be changed every
24,000 miles.
If your car is driven extensively
in heavy city traffic during hot
weather, or
is used to pull a
trailer, {change fluid every
12,000
miles. Likewise, operators of cars
in commercial use (such
as taxicab,
limousine or patrol car service)
where the engine idles for long
periods, should change fluid every
12,000 miles.
Changing Fluid -Remove fluid
from the transmission sump and

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 INDEX
Accessory Drive Belts ............ , .... 53 Accessory Position, Steering Column Lock ...................... 15 Acrylic Lacquer ..................... , 49
Adjusters, Automatic Brake. . . . . . . . . . .. 38 Air Circulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 3
Air Cleaner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 53 Air Conditioning
Operation 4 Season. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 35 Maintenance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 57 Air Inlets, Ventilating System .......... 32 Ammeter ............................ 30 Antenna ............................. 39 Anti-freeze (See Cooling System) ........ 57 Anti-Spin Differential. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 40 Anti-Theft Key Buzzer System . . . . . . . . .. 15 Anti-Theft Steering Column Lock ....... 15 Appearance Care. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 46 Automatic Brake Adjusters. . . . . . . . . . .. 24 Automatic Transmissions
Fluid Check ........................ 54 Fluid Recommendations. . . . . . . . . . . .. 54 Maintenance ...................... , 54 Operation.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 17 Starter Safety Switch ............... , 15 Axle Rear
Fluid Level. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 53 Maintenance ...................... , 53 Backup Lights ........................ 73 Ball Joints .......................... , 55 Bassinet Placement. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 10 Battery
Emergency Starting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 42 Fluid Level. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 66
Gas Caution ...................... , 42
Specifications. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 71 Bearings, Front Wheel. ............... , 55 Before Driving Your Monte Carlo. . .. .. 3
Belted Tires. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 62
Belts
Engine Drive ...................... , 53 Lap ............................... 6 Shoulder ...... , .. . . .. .. . . . . .. . . .. .. 8
Blower, Ventilating ................... 32 Body Identification Number. ........... 71 Brakes
Driving Through Deep Water ........ 23 Linings ............................ 56
Master Cylinder Level. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 56
Parking Brake. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 23 Pedal Travel ...................... , 23 Power ............................. 23 Self-Adjusting.. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . .. .. 24 Trailer ................. ........... 11 Warning Light. .................... 27 Break-In Period
Cars Pulling Trailers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 11 New Car .......................... 2
Bright Metal Cleaning ................ . "Brights" Headlamp Indicator ......... , 28 Buckles, Seat Belt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 7
Bulbs and Fuses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 73 Bumper Jack
Operation .......................... 44 Stowage .................... ....... 44 Buzzer
Key Reminder. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 15 Cap, Filter
Engine Oil ............ Inside Back Cover
Gasoline ....................... .... 50 Radiator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 42
78
Capacities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 71 Carbon Monoxide Caution ............. 14
Cargo or Luggage Caution. . . . . . . . . . . .. 14 Carpet Care ................... , .... " 46
Carrier, Infant Safety .................. 10 Changing Wheels and Tires. . . . . . . . . . .. 43 Charging System Indicator Light. ..... " 27 Chassis Maintenance .................. 55 Child Restraint
Cars Not Equipped With
Special Child Restraints. . . . . . . . .. 10 Child Safety Seat ............... .. " 10 Infant Safety Carrier. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 10 Chrome Protection.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 49 Cigarette Ligh ter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 31 Circuit Breakers, Headlamps ......... " 73 Cleaning
Carpet Care ...................... " 46
Exterior Finish and Trim. . . . . . . . . . .. 47 Fabric and Interior Trim. . . . . . . . . . .. 46 Solvents Recommended .............. 46 Spot Removal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 46 Vinyl Top. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 49
Clock ............................... 31 Clutch Maintenance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 54 Pedal Adjustment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 23 Coat Hooks... . .. .. . . .... .. . . .... . ... 4
Cold Weather Starting ................. 16 Compartment
Glove ............................. 25 Complaint Procedure .................. 74 Conditioner, Air ... , .................. 35 Controlled Differential .............. " 40 Controls ............................. 25 Cooling System Care .............................. 57 Coolant Recommendation. . . . . . . . . .. 57