1981 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO key

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine H Engine Fails To Start After Normal Starting Pr.ocedure:
1 . If you tried the cold ef1gine starting procedure and the engine did not start,
then
fully depress and release the acceleraior pedal several times. Take
your foot off the
pedal and crank the engine by turning the key to "Start."
2. If you tried the warm engine starting procedure (or the eold engine
procedure
and Step 1 above) , and the ef1gine still does not start, press the
accelerator pedal to the floor and hold it there while cranking the engine.
This should clear the engine if it is flooded. .
3. If the engine has been flooded with too much fuel, It may start to run but not have enough power to keep running, In that case, continue
cranking
with 11M! accelerator pedal aU the way to the 1100< until the
engine clears
~self of excess gascHne and runs smoothly. (But, do not
crank more than 15 seconds atatime Or you could damage the starter.)
TRANSMISSION
DESCENDING A GRADE
CAUTION : Before ,:,9C)i1l9,d ,01!Wn a steep or long grade, reduce speed and shift the transmission Into low or second gear '9 ~1p Driving on SliPPery Surfaces
Whether your vehiCle has an optional limited-slip rear axle or a standard axle ,
usecare,,¥t\1 range, whe;;1eitli'er'plt5()l!W_wIl~elS8fe..traveling over a slippery surface.
Sudden acceleration or engine braking action (due to
shilling to a lower ge,n)
could cause one or both drive wheels to spin or skid and the rear of the vehicle
to slide sideways on the crowned · surface.of a road or in a turn, Normal skid
correction is
called for at these times.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS
Automatic transmissions replace the standard cMch and transmission. After
starting
the engine with the selector lever in"P" (Park) or "N" (Neutral)
position, select the range desired
(see table) and depress . the accelerator. A
gradual start
with a steady increase in accelerator pressure will result in best
possible fuel economy . Rapid acceleration for fast startS will result in greater
fuel consumption. ..
AutomatiC transmission shift quadrants of all GM vehicles continue the uniform
sequence of
selector positions. Shift indiCators are arranged with "P"(Park)
position atone end, followed in sequElf)ce by "R"(Reverse). "N"(Neutral) and
the forward
driving , ranges .. All .automatic transmiSsions are equipped with a
starter safety switch'
design'ld to permit starting the ef1gine only when the transmission selector is in the "P"(Park) or"N"(Neutral) position. For
additional engine braking
eflact, as SOmetimes needed in mountainous driving,
place thetransmi$Sion in an intermediate or low range.
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::"

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine • without power assist. the vehicle cah stiR be 'St0ppe9 by pushing mUch harl'ler on the brake pedai.' However. the' stopping distance may be lOnger.
even though the brakes. themselves remain fully operational.
Self-Adjusting Brakes
• The brakes on this vehicle (excePt fO( the parking brake) areseli-adjusting .
They have been designed so that periodic brake adjustment is not required :
• The drum brakes.llIIj~st thelliselves when the brakes are firmly applied
while the vehicle is rIlClving backwardS . .. ..
• The disC brakes adi\lSt th!!rI'Jselves each time the'brakes are used ..
• iflhe brake pedal goes down· farther tI'",n normal. it ~y be due to a lack of adjustment. To find · out if this istheclISe •. p rive backward and forward a
few times •.. app/ying the brakes firmly wheri going each direction .
~'''''''':~-,;---.. '-:.,;r!.i-- ....... ""'~.-_ , : . __ '._ -• _ • . -• • • See your ~ealer If pepalhelghtdoes not return to normal. O(Ii there Isa rapid increase in pedartravel. This could be a sign of other brake trouble.
~. Also .eEl your dealer if the parking brake needs adjustment. .
NOTICE; "Rloirog lhe rio" by resting .y.,;., t_ on .h,;. tir ... podol when you do not intend to tWake:ciiri CauM overheated br.kes. This can we., out the brake linings fnter anci damage the brakes thamsetvas, .s w.lla.~ast."f~1. .
HEADLIGHT BEAM . CHANGER
The headlight beam charlger that controls the. head'ght high/low beam is built
into the turn signal lever. See "Turn Signal an(j Headlight , Beam Lever" in the
-'''''~''1li'OOm'l!r601umnGqpt''lls'' Section 2 of this manu~I.._ .
PARKING BRAKE
• To setthepat\(mgbrake. fully depresstheioot pedalat th~ far left side
• For better holding power.first,press&ow";'~eregular·brake pedal with your
right foot; Then
hold it wliile setting tile parking brake w'fh your leltfoot.
•
To ' releasethe parking brake. Wi' ·the "Brake Release " handle located at
the lower I.eftside of. the . instrument panel.
•
To help remind YOIJ; the brake sYStem warning light is designed to stay on
if the parking brake control is noi '\ullyreleased and the igilition key is On.
• Nev';; drive the vehicle wtlh ih~' ~I damage .
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Oil! Choke Indicator Light
This light will come on to prov~ a "bulb check", when the ignition is turnee
on, but should go out after the engine is startee. If light fails to come on with
ignition turnee on,
it could indicate a bumee -out bulb , a defective electric
choke heater circuit or a
blown instrument lamp fuse. Have system repairee if
light
does not come on during check.
Occasionally, this light may flicker . momentarily while the engine is running but
this will· not harm ,the ' system. However, if the ,light remains on during normal
engine operation , the engine shoutd be stopped until the cause of the
trouble can be Iocatee .andcorrectee. The source of the troubte could be any of the following.
•
Loss of engine oil pressure.
• Blown "Choke Heater" or Gage fuse.
• Loss of electric choke heater vo~age.
NOTICE: Continuing to run the engine with an illuminated oil/choke pressure light can cause serious damage to the engine or unusually high exhaust system temp*'ratures which could resuh in serious d8mage to the vehicte.
Choke Warning Indicator Light
On some vehicles equippec with tlie optional .Oil pressure gage, an amber
choke warning indicator
-light replaces the red oil pressure ' indicator light in the
instrument cluster. If this light comes on, indicating loss of electric choke
heater voltage , have your authorizee
Oealer locate and correct the trouble as
soon as possible.
Generator Indicator Light
The red .light VOLT is designee to come on when the ignition.key is in the "run " pos~ion,bul t>efiJrethe 'engine;;, startee. After the engine starts, the
light should go out and remain oul.
H the light remains on when engine is
running , have your Authorized Dealer locate and correct ' the trouble as soon as
possible .
Engine Temperature Indicator Light
This indicator light is providee .in the instrument cluster to. quickly warn of an
overheated engine. 'With the ignition in the START position, the ree TEMP
indicator (hot light) will light to
let you know that it is operating properly.
When the engine is starlee,
the ree light will go out immediately. tt will light up
at no other time unless for some
reason the engine reaches a dangerously
high operating temperature. Glance .at the instrument cluster freqtJentiyas you
drive, if this light is on see
"Engine Cooing System" on page 3,3.
Brake System Warning Light
The regular braking system is a dual system designee so that one part will
provide some braking action
n there is a loss of hydraulic pressure in the other
part of the system. The system has a "Brake" warning Ught Iocatee in the
instrument · panel.
• To serve as a reminder, the "6RAKE" light is designee to stay on when
the parking brake is not fully released and the ignition key is on.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine "
• The lighl is also designed to come oi, briefly during engine starting so you . can check that the bulb is okay .
• Have the system repaired ifth'e light .d~es· not .come on during engine
. starting or when th.e Parking brake is set.
•
This warning light does not do away with the heed for brake inspection and
maintenance. The brake fluid level must be checked regularly . See your
Maintenance
Schedule folder for other brake checks.
If the light 'comes on andstavson when the ignition key is on, after the brake pedal has been firmly pushed down, it may mean that there is somelhing
'
wrongwith I?"" of the br"kesyjitem.
What to do:
1. Check to see that the parking brake hec been released . If it has been ..
2. Pull off the road and stop carefully, And remember that:
" .• " Stopping ,distances may be longer.
•
You may have to push harder on the pedal.
•
The pedal may go down farther than normal.
3, Try out the brakes by starting and stopping on the road shoulder--then:
• If you judge it to be safe, drive cautiously at a safe speed to the .near,est dealer for ,repair, or
• Have vooicle t6w~ to the nearest dealer for repair.
Continued driving without getting necessary repairs could be dangerous .
"'''''''~''., ENGINE" LIGHT
All gasoline"~~gine VehiCles sold in ttwl,lnited States (aridsorne ' vehidle. sok:!
in Canada) have the Computer Command Control sYstem, (canadian owners
should
also ' read the Nole on the. inside front cover of this manual. )
If your vehicle has thElCoTP\Jter :,eommand:'ContrOI-system, ,a , "CHECK
ENGINE" light
on the instrument panel is designed to come on during engine
starting to let you know the bulb is working ; (The light will stay on a short time .
after
the engine starts,) If the light comes on while driving, service to the
Computer , Command
Control system may be required , Although. the. v.ehicle
may still be drivable, see , your Chevrolet dealer as soon as possible . for an inspection of the system , (Some vehicles sold in Canada, DO NOT HAVE the
Computer Command Controtsystem ,
ILyeur vehicle does not have a "Check
Engine " light, then it does not have the Computer Command Control system,)
Continued, driving without having the Computer Command Control system
serviced
could cause damegeto' the emission control system, It could also affect fuel economy and drivability, .
See also "Computer
Command Control' system" in "Service and Maintenance," Section: 5 of this manual.
Tachometer
The optional tachometer i. ndicates the speed of the engine in revolutions per
minute, The' indicated num,ber, times 100, gives the engine speed, Operating
the engine
with. the tachometer . reading .in the colQr-coded high-speed area could lead to seriOUS engine damage,

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When the ignition key is turned to the OFF position, the pointer may nO\". necessarily return to the 0 RPM position. For the tachometer to regster 0 RPM .
the key
must be in the RUN position and engine not running.
Engine Temperature Gage
This gage indicates coolant temperature which will vary with air temperature
and operating
cond~ions. The ignition must be on for accurate readings. Hard
driving
or prolonged idling in very hot weather will cause the pointer to move
beyond the center of the band. Should pcinter move to the line at the "H" end
of the band , see "Engine Cooling
System" on page 3-3.
Voltmeter
When the engine is operating, the voltmeter indicates the electrical system
voltage. During minimum electrical load, the pointer will read
to the right of the
center. As the electrical load is
increaSed, or in stop-and-go driving, the pointer
will rotate to the
left . A meter reading continuously in the left or right red zone
indicates an electrical system failure. Cause of the failure should be determined
and corrected.
Oil Pressure Gage
The oil pressure gage indicates the pressure at which oil is being delivered to
the various parts of the engine requiring lubrication. Pressures registered by the gage may vary according to outside air temperatures or weight of oil being
used. Oil pressure
of a cold engine being operated at a given speed will be
somewhat higher than when the engine is at normal operating temperature at
the same speed. Prolonged high speed operation on a hot day at the given
speed will result
in somewhat lower oil pressure readings. Readings of 205 to
275 kPa (30 to 40 psi) may be considered normal during moderate road
speeds of 35 to 40 mph (55 to 60 km/h) with the engine at proper operating
temperature . Gage readi'rig;rwhich are ·consistently high or low under these
conditions may indicate lubrication system and/or engine malfunction.
Windshield Wiper and Washer
The windshield wiping system operates at two speeds and is designed to wipe
clear
specijic areas of the windshield under most inclement weather conditions.
The windshield wipers work electrically and are not affected by engine
operation .
Push the control lever to the right to start
the electric windshield wiper. The
two-speed electric wiper has both a "low " and a "high " speed position .
2-19

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine The Mist feature, intended to remove incidental windshield spray such as from."
passing vehicles is activated by moving the control knob to the extreme left ,­
and holding it in this posnion. The wipers will continue to operate until tile
control knob is released and allowed to return to the OFF position . .
The washer system is operated by depressing the control knob for one or two
seconds in any position.
In the OFF position the wipers will oper,ate 3 to 5
times and then stop .
Ught Switch
The three-position light switch controls the headlights, taillights, parking ~ghts, sidemarker lights, instrument lights. and dome lights as shown. Instrument light
intensity can
be varied by turning knob clockwise or counterclockwise. Full
counterclockwise position turns on interior light An optional head lamp warning
chime sounds when the ignition key is. placed in either the OFF, ACC or LOCK
positions. , ....
. ,-"",,.
NOTICE: When the parking lamps or t)Hd1ampS .... to be operated with the key in the OFF position, the reminder-chime can be shUt-Of' by turning the light switch knob until the instrument elu.1er Ifghts are not on. '
The headlarnp circuit is protected by a circuit breaker in the light switch. An
overload on the breaker will,cau$e the lamps to "flicker" on and off. If this
condnion develops , have your ·headlamp wiring checked immediately. The
headlight beam changer is located in the Turn Signal Lever; for operation see
Section 2 under heading "Turo Signal and Headlight Beam Lever."
Headlight High ,Beam Indicator Ught
The he!).dlights of your vehicle have high and ... loW beams to provide you with
proper nighttime visibility for most driving condnions. The "low" beams are
used during most city driving . The
"high" beams are especially useful when
driving on dark roads sinCe they provide long range illumination . The headlight
beam indicator light (located on the speedometer face) will be
ON whenever
the high beams or "brights " are in use. The turn signal l headlight beams and is described in "Steering Column Controls ."
Headlamp "ON" Warning Chime
The optional headlarrl> reminder chime provides' an audible warning thai the
main
light switch is in one 0/ the "on" posnions, either parking lights or
headlights. .
2-21

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine The reminder chime is actuated only when the ignition -switch is--turned to
"OFF," "LOCK" or "ACCESSORY" position,
When the parking lamps or headlamps are
to be operated with the key in the
OFF position , the reminder chime can be shut off by turning the light switch
knob until the instrument cluster lights are not on.
Electric Clock
Reset the dock by pulling out the knOb and turning the hand s clockwise ~
slow, counterclockwise if fast. This is designed to, if the clock error is five minutes or mo"e~ -automatically --'compensate for time gain or ,lag. Several
resettings, several days apart, may be needed to properly adjust the clock
meChanism.
Cigarette Lighter
The cigarette lighter is located to the right of the heater control. To operate,
. push it in. When it becomes heated, it
automatically pops out ready for use .
Electric Trunk Release
An electric trunk release is available which permrts opening the trunk from'
inside the car. With the ignition key on, pUsh the release button located in the .
glove box.
Always
lock . the glove compartment when leaving the car unattended to prevent unauthorized entry into·tne trurik .
VENTILATION SYSTEM
.• _<, YOUf.,v.~Jc.le (air conditioned Of non -air conditioned) is equipped with a flow­through ventilation system which brings outside air into the vehicle through the
air inlet a
nd exhausts it through the valves in the rear body lock pillars. (See
illustration).
FRONT INLET GRILLE
Basic Operating Tip!!:
• Always keep the front inlet grilles clear of obstructions (leaves, ice, snow ,
etc .) .
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine OTHER CONTROLS AND FEATURES
LIMITED-SLIP REAR AXLE
On vehicles that have it. the optional limited-slip rear axle can give added
traction on snow, ice, mud, sand, gravel, etc. Normally , the limited-slip axle
unit works like a standard axle. However, when either drive wheel meets a
slippery enough surface, and the opposite wheel is on a surface with greater traction, the ,limited-slip 'unit can continue to give driving force tathe wheel
having the greater traction,instead 01 merely spinning the wheel that has the
least traction .
Whether your
vehicle has an optional limited-slip rear axle or a standard axle, take care when speeding up or, whera shifting into a lower gear or lower gear
range , when either or both rear wheels are traveling over a slippery surface .
Sudden acceleration or engine braking action (due to shifting to a lower gear)
could cause one or both drive wheels to spinorskid and the rear 01 the vehicle to slide sideways on the crowned, ·surface of a road or in a turn. Normal skid correction and cautious driving are called for at these times.
COURTJ:SY LIGHT DELAY SYSTEM
If your vehicle is equipped with this optional feature, whenever the door is opened, then closed, on entry or exit, the dome and courtesy lights stay on for thirty seconds for convenience of driver and passengers. This presumes the
ignition is in the off position . When the ignition key is turned on. the lights will
go off. When the ignition key is turned to off, the dome and courtesy lights go
",'" of>.lor. ~.R~riod 01 fifteen seconds.
SUNROOF
The optional Sunroof is a slid ing metal panel, electrically operated. controlled
by a switch on the front center area ,Qf theroof. The ignition must be in "Run" to move the panel. " .
To' open. press the control switch rearward. To close. press it forward. The
Sunroof can
be lett partly open by releasing the control switch while you are
opening or closing the panel.
The Sunrool can be closed manually il your car has an electrical power lailure.
To do this , remoVe the small round plug in the rool (near the control switch) by pulling the plug downward with your lingers . Then insert the hex end 01 the
crank handle (supplied in your glove box) into the drive gear and turn it
clockwise to close the rool panel, and counterclockwise to open it. Remove the
crank handle and replace the plug . (See illustration.)
2-30