1976 CHEVROLET VEGA maintenance

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine • The light is also designed to come
on during engine starting to
verify that the bulb
is operating
properly.
• Have system repaired if light does
not come
on during check.
• This warning light is not a substi­
tute for the visual check of brake
fluid level required
as part of
normal maintenance.
If the light comes on:
• The parking brake control is not
fully released, or,
• The service brake system is par­
tially inoperative.
What to do:
1. Check that parking brake is re­
leased.
If it is . . .
2.
Pull off the road and stop, care­
fully-remembering that:
• Stopping distances may be
greater.
• Greater pedal effort may be re­
quired.
• Pedal travel may be greater. 3.
Try out brake operation by start­
ing and s,topping on road shoul­
der-then:
• If you judge such operation to
be safe, proceed cautiously at
a safe speed to nearest dealer
for repair.
• Or have car towed to dealer for
repair.
Continued operation of the car in this
condition
is dangerous.
Headlight Beam Indicator
Light
The headlights of your car have
high and
low beams to provide you
with proper night-time visibility
for most driving conditions. The
"low" beams are used during most
city driving. The
"high" beams are
PARKING LAMPS MARKER LAMPS TAIL AND INSTRUMENT LIGHTS
TURN KNOB TO VARY INSTRUMENT LIGHTS FULLY COUNTER CLOCKWISE FOR DOME LIGHTS
2-16
HEADLIGHTS PARKING LAMPS MARKER LAMPS

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 SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE
The time or mileage intervals on
the following pages are intended
as a guide for establishing regular
maintenance and lubrication per­
iods for your car. Sustained heavy
duty or high speed operations
or
operation under adverse conditions
may necessitate more frequent ser­
vicing .
To determine specific rec­
ommendations for conditions un-
Fuel
Requirements
Your Chevrolet engine is de­
signed to operate only on unleaded
gasoline. Unleaded gasoline
is essen­
tial for proper emission control
system operation, and it will mini­
mize spark plug fouling. The
use of der
which you
.use your car, con­
sult your authorized Chevrolet
Dealer.
Maintenance Schedule
For owner convenience, a sepa­
rate maintenance folder has been
provided with your car which con­
tains a complete schedule
and brief
explanation of the safety , emission
"-leaded gasoline can damage or
severely reduce the effectiveness of
the emission control system and
re­
sult in loss of warranty coverage.
Use unleaded gasoline meeting
the minimum octane specifications
established
by the Federal govern­
ment. In compliance with Federal
regulations, pumps dispensing such
gasoline are labeled with the word
5-1
control, lubrication and general
maintenance it requires. The main­
tenance folder information
is sup­
plemented
by this section of the
Owner's Manual, as well as a
Warranty Information folder also
furnished with your car. Read all
three publications for a full under­
standing of vehicle maintenance
requirements.
UNLEADED and are equipped
with dispensing nozzles which
fit
the filler neck of your car's gaso­
line tank.
Supplementary gasoline addi­
tives which contain lead and or
phosphorus should not
be used
under any circumstances: Such
additives can severely reduce the
effectiveness of your catalytic con­
verter.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Front Wheel Bearings
Every 30,000 miles-clean and
repack with a high melting point
wheel bearing lubricant.
Use wheel
bearing lubricant GM
Part No.
1051344 or equivalent. This
is a
premium high melting point lubri­
cant. When replacement
is neces­
sary specify Delco parts.
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.
REMINDER: The front disc
brakes have a built-in wear indica­
tor that
is designed to make a high
frequency, squealing or cricket-like
warning sound when the linings are
worn to where replacement
is re­
quired. The sound will occur inter­
mittently or continuously when
wheels are rolling, but will dis­
appear when the brake pedal
is
firmly applied. Also see the brake
checks listed in the Maintenance
Schedule folder.
5-11
Master Cylinder-Every 6 months
or
7,500 miles -Check fluid level
in each reservoir and maintain
~ /I below lowest edge of e.ach filler
opening with Delco
Supreme No.
11 or DOT -3 hydraulic brake fluid.
~" BELOW
TOP EDGE
Parking Brake Pulley, Cables
and Linkage-Every 6 months or
7
,500 miles -Apply water resis­
tant EP Chassis Lubricant which
meets GM Specification
6031M, to
parking brake cable at cable guides
and at all operating links and levers.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine UNDERBODY
MAINTENANCE
The effects of salt and other cor­
rosive materials used for ice and
snow removal and dust control can
result in accelerated rusting and
deterioration of underbody com­
ponents such
as brake and fuel
lines, frame, underbody floor pan,
exhaust system, brackets, parking
brake cables, etc. These corrosive
effects, however, can be reduced
by periodic flushing of the under­
body with plain water.
In geographic areas having a
heavy concentration of such cor­
rosive materials, it
is recommended
that the complete underbody be
inspected and flushed at least once
each year, preferably after a win­
ter's exposure. Particular atten­
tion should
be given to cleaning
out underbody members where dirt and
other foreign materials may
have collected.
If desired, your Chevrolet dealer
can perform this service for you.
In addition ,
he can provide recom­
mendations
on undercoating mate­
rials which will help protect your
vehicle from corrosion.
BATTERY CARE
5-13
O. K. TO JUMP START
DO NOT JUMP START
o DARKENED .... DICATOR
WITH GREEN DOT
• FULLY CHARGED
•. 11 DARKENED .... DICATOR NO GREEN DOT
• NEEDS CHARGING
•
REPLACE BATTERY

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine IMPORTANT FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT GASOLINE MILEAGE
How you drive, where you drive,
and when you drive all have an
effect on how many miles you can
get from a gallon of gasoline. The
careful attention you give your car
as far as maintenance and repairs
are concerned will also contribute
importantly to fuel economy.
Fuel Selection
Your vehicle is designed to op­
erate
only on unleaded gasoline of
at least 87 average octane num­
ber (Research octane plus Motor
octane divided by two). This gaso­
line should have a Research octane
number of at least 91, and a
Motor octane number of
at least
83. Unleaded gasoline
is essential
for proper emission control system
operation, and it will minimize
spark plug fouling. The use of
... AND HOW TO IMPROVE IT
leaded gasoline can damage or
severely reduce the effectiveness of
the emission control system and re­
sult in loss of warranty coverage.
"Jackrabbit" Starts
Gasoline can be conserved (and
engine and tire life prolonged) by
avoiding unnecessarily rapid accel­
eration away from lights and stop
signs.
Stop-And-Start Driving
Frequent stops and starts during
a trip really cut down on your miles
per gallon.
Plan even your short
shopping trips to take advantage of
through streets to avoid traffic
lights.
Pace your driving like the
professional drivers to avoid
un­
necessary stops.
5-21
Excessive Idling
An idling engine uses gasoline,
too.
If you're faced with more than
a
few minutes wait and you're not
in traffic, it may be better to
"turn
off"
and start again later.
Sudden Stops
Sudden stops themselves don't
waste gasoline , but energy
is
wasted as heat in braking . Energy
in the form of gasoline
is also
needed to accelerate back to driv­
ing speed.
Lubricants
A properly lubricated vehicle
means less friction between moving
parts. Consult this manual and the
maintenance schedule for the
proper lubricants to use and the
lubrication intervals.