
GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 148
ARMING SENSOR  
The arming sensor is a protective switch
 located in the power feed side of the 
deployment loop. It is calibrated to clos e at low level velocity changes (lower 
than the discriminating sens ors). This assures that the inflator module is 
connected directly to the  36 volt output of the DERM  or battery voltage feed 
when either of the discrim inating sensors close.  
DISCRIMINATING SENSORS  
The discriminating sensors are wired in  parallel on the ground side of the 
deployment loop. These sensors are calib rated to close with velocity changes 
which are severe enough to warrant deployment.  
SIR COIL ASSEMBLY  
The SIR coil assembly consists of two cu rrent carrying coils. They are attached 
to the steering column and allow rotation  of the steering wheel while maintaining 
continuous contact of the deployment  loop to the inflator module.  
INFLATOR MODULES  
Each inflator module consists of an inflat able bag and an inflator (a canister of 
gas generating material with an initiati ng device). When the vehicle is in a 
frontal crash of sufficient force, current  flows through the deployment loops. 
Current flowing through the initiator ignite s the material in the inflator module. 
The gas produced from this reaction  rapidly inflates the air bag.  
 
Fig. 2: Forward discriminating se nsor location on 1990-1992 models  
  

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 206
Headlight adjustment may 
be temporarily made using a wall, as described 
below, or on the rear of  another vehicle. When adjust ed, the lights should not 
glare in oncoming car or truck windshi elds, nor should they illuminate the 
passenger compartment of vehi cles driving in front of you. These adjustments 
are rough and should always be fine-t uned by a repair shop which is equipped 
with headlight aiming t ools. Improper adjustments  may be both dangerous and 
illegal.  
For most of the vehicles covered by th is information, horizontal and vertical 
aiming of each sealed beam unit is  provided by two adjusting screws which 
move the retaining ring and adjusting plat e against the tension of a coil spring. 
There is no adjustment for focus; this  is done during headlight manufacturing.  
Because the composite headlight asse mbly is bolted into position, no 
adjustment should be necessary or possibl e. Some applications, however, may 
be bolted to an adjuster plate or may  be retained by adjusting screws. If so, 
follow this procedure when adjusti ng the lights, BUT always have the 
adjustment checked by a reputable shop.   
Before removing the headlight bulb or di sturbing the headlamp in any way, note 
the current settings in order to ease  headlight adjustment upon reassembly. If 
the high or low beam setting of the old la mp still works, this can be done using 
the wall of a garage or a building:  
1.  Park the vehicle on a level su rface, with the fuel tank about 
1/2 full and 
with the vehicle empty of all extra  cargo (unless normally carried). The 
vehicle should be facing a wall whic h is no less than 6 feet (1.8m) high 
and 12 feet (3.7m) wide. The front of  the vehicle should be about 25 feet 
from the wall.  
 
Fig. 5: Location of the aiming screw s on most vehicles with sealed beam 
headlights  

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 317
1.  Place the shifter lever in the 
P position. Remove the negative battery 
cable.  
2.  Turn the key to  RUN.  
3.  Remove the left side instrument  panel sound insulator and kick panels.  
4.  Remove the floor console.  
5.  Remove the cable nut and clip. Remove the cable from the bracket,  move the button to the  UP position and unsnap the cable end from the 
lever lock pin.  
6.  Lower the steering column. Remove the cable clips.  
To install:   7.  Place the shifter lever into the  P position and the ignition key to the  RUN 
position.  
8.  After installing the cable ends, push the cable connector nose toward th\
e  connector as far as possible and push down the lock button.  
9.  Complete the installation by  reversing the removal procedure.  
EXTENSION HOUSING SEAL (IN VEHICLE) 
REMOVAL & INSTALLATION  
This seal controls transmission oil  leakage around the driveshaft. Continued 
failure of this seal usually indicates a  worn output shaft bushing. If so, there will 
be signs of the same wear  on the driveshaft where it contacts the seal and 
bushing. The seal is available and is fairly  simple to install, with the proper tool.  
1.  Raise and safely support rear of t he vehicle to minimize transmission oil 
loss when the driveshaft is removed.  
2.  Unbolt the driveshaft fr om the differential and center support bearing, if 
equipped. Wrap tape around the bearing cu ps to keep them in place on 
the universal joint and slide the sh aft out of the transmission.  
3.  Use a small pry tool to carefully pr y out the old seal. Be careful not to 
insert the tool too far into the hous ing or the bushing will be damaged.  
4.  Use an oil seal installation tool  to evenly drive the new seal into the 
housing. Make sure the tool only cont acts the outer metal portion of the 
seal.  
5.  Install the driveshaft. Torque the uni versal bearing cup retainer bolts to 
15 ft. lbs. (20 Nm). Recheck fluid level.  
TRANSMISSION 
REMOVAL & INSTALLATION   1.  Disconnect the negative batte ry cable at the battery.  
2.  Remove the air cleaner assembly.  
3.  Disconnect the throttle valve (TV)  control cable at the carburetor.   

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 322
 
CAUTION  - The transmission must be secu red to the transmission jack 
17. Remove the transmission from the vehicle. Be careful not to damage the  oil cooler lines, throttle valve cable, or  the shift control cable. Also, keep 
the rear of the transmissi on lower than the front to  avoid the possibility of 
the torque converter disengagi ng from the transmission.  
To install:   18. Position the transmission  and converter into place.  
19. Install the transmission -to-engine mounting bolts.  
20. Connect the throttle valve cable and oil cooler lines to the transmissio\
n.  
21. Install the transmission cro ssmember and secure with bolts.  
22. Install the transmission mount bolt.  
23. Matchmark the torque converter-to-f lywheel. Install the torque converter-
to-flywheel attaching bolts.  
Before installing the converter-to-flywheel  bolts, be sure that the weld nuts on 
the converter are flush with  the flywheel, and that the converter rotates freely by 
hand in this position.   
24. Install the flywheel cover.  
25. Install the torque arm-to-transmission bolts.  
26. Connect the speedometer cable, el ectrical connectors and the shift 
control cable from the transmission.  
27. Connect the catalytic converter s upport bracket at the transmission.  
28. Align the matchmark m ade earlier, then install the driveshaft to the axle 
pinion. Bolt the universal joint  straps to the pinion flange.  
29. Lower the vehicle.  
30. Install the dipstick tube using a ne w dipstick tube O-ring and secure with 
the bolt. Install the tran smission oil dipstick.  
31. Connect the throttle valve (TV) c ontrol cable at the carburetor.  
32. Install the air cleaner assembly.  
33. Connect the negative battery cable at the battery.  
DRIVELINE 
 
DRIVESHAFT AND U-JOINTS 
The U-joint is secured to the yoke in  one of two ways. Dana and Cleveland 
shafts use a conventional snapring to ho ld each bearing cup in the yoke. The 
snapring fits into a groove located in eac h yoke end just on top of each bearing 
cup. The Saginaw design shaft secures  its U-joints in another way. Nylon 
material is injected through a small hole  in the yoke and flows along a circular 
groove between the U-joint and the yoke , creating a synthetic snapring. 
Disassembly of the Saginaw U-joint requi res the joint to be pressed from the 
yoke. This results in damage to the be aring cups and destruction of the nylon 
rings.   

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 323
Replacement kits include new bearing 
cups and conventional snaprings to 
replace the original nylon rings. These  replacement rings must go inboard of the 
yoke in contrast to outboard mounting  of the Dana and Cleveland designs. 
Previous service to the Saginaw U-joints  can be recognized by the presence of 
snaprings inboard of the yoke.  
Bad U-joints, requiring replacement, will  produce a clunking sound when the car 
is put into gear. This is due to worn  needle bearings or a scored trunnion end 
possibly caused by improper lubricati on during assembly. Camaro U-joints 
require no periodic maintenance and theref ore have no lubrication fittings.  
DRIVESHAFT 
REMOVAL & INSTALLATION   1.  Raise the vehicle and safely su pport it on jackstands. Paint a reference 
line from the rear end of the drives haft to the companion flange so that 
they can be reassembled in the same position.  
2.  Disconnect the rear universal join t by removing the U-bolts, retaining 
straps, or the flange bolts.  
3.  To prevent loss of the needle bear ings, tape the bearing caps to the 
trunnion.  
 
Fig. 1: Driveshaft 
4.  Remove the driveshaft from the tr ansmission by sliding it rearward.  
Do not be alarmed by oil l eakage at the transmission  output shaft. This oil is 
there to lubricate the sp lines of the front yoke.  
To install:   5.  Check the yoke seal in the transmi ssion case extension and replace it if 
necessary. See the transmission sect ion for replacement procedures.  
6.  Position the driveshaft and insert t he front yoke into the transmission so 
the splines mesh with the transmission shaft splines.  
7.  Using reference marks made during re moval, align the driveshaft with the 
companion flange and secure it with  U-bolts or, retaining straps.  
U-JOINT REPLACEMENT   1.  Support the driveshaft horizontally in  line with the base plate of a press.   

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 365
31. Connect the bulkhead harness connec
tor, wires and hoses. Reroute the 
ECM harness in its original location.  Install the hush panel and fenderwell 
splash panel.  
32. Install the radiator, fan and fan sh roud. Connect the radiator and heater 
hoses, along with the transmission cooler lines.  
33. Connect the vacuum brake booster li ne, the throttle linkage and cruise 
control cable. Install  the distributor cap.  
34. Fill the cooling system with the  proper type and amount of coolant and 
the crankcase with the proper type of  oil to the correct level.  
35. Install the water pump drive bel t, the air cleaner duct and the hood.  
36. Connect the negative battery cable, st art the engine and check for leaks.  
2.8L AND 3.1L ENGINES  
 
Fig. 2: Engine mountin g points for the V6 
1.  Disconnect the negative battery cable.  
2.  Remove the air cleaner duct.  
3.  Mark the hood location on the hood supports and remove the hood.  
4.  Remove the water pump drive belt.  
5.  Drain the radiator and remove t he radiator hoses. Disconnect the heater 
hoses and the transmission cooler lines.  
6.  Remove the fan shroud, fan and radiator.  
7.  Disconnect the throttle linkage, includi ng the cruise control detent cable.   

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 366
8.  Remove the air conditioning co
mpressor and lay aside. Remove the 
power steering pump and lay aside.  
Do not disconnect the air conditioning or power steering lines.   
9.  Remove the vacuum brake booster line.  
10. Remove the distributor cap and spark plug wires.  
11. Disconnect the necessary elec trical connections and hoses.  
12. Raise and safely support the vehicle.  
13. Disconnect the exhaust pipes  at the exhaust manifolds.  
14. Remove the flywheel cover and  remove the converter bolts.  
15. Disconnect the star ter wire connections.  
16. Remove the bellhousing and t he motor mount through-bolts.  
17. Lower the vehicle.  
18. Relieve the fuel system pressu re. Disconnect the fuel lines.  
19. Support the transmission with a suit able jack. Attach an engine lifting 
device.  
20. Remove the engine assembly.  
To install:   21. Position the engine assembly in the vehicle.  
22. Attach the motor mount to engine br ackets and lower the engine in place. 
Remove the engine lifting device and the transmission jack.  
23. Raise and support the vehicle safely.  
24. Install the motor mount through-bolts and tighten the nuts to 50 ft. lbs.  (68 Nm). Install the bellhousing bolts  and tighten to 35 ft. lbs. (47 Nm).  
25. On vehicles with automatic transmissi on, install the converter to flywheel 
attaching bolts to 46 ft. lbs. (63 Nm).  
26. Install the flywheel splash shield  and tighten to 89 inch lbs. (10 Nm).  
27. Connect the starter wires and the fuel lines.  
28. Install the exhaust pipe  on the exhaust manifold.  
29. Lower the vehicle.  
30. Install the power steering pump and  the air conditioning compressor.  
31. Connect the necessary wires and hoses.  
32. Install the radiator, fan and fan sh roud. Connect the radiator and heater 
hoses and the transmission cooler lines.  
33. Connect the vacuum brake booster li ne, the throttle linkage and cruise 
control cable. Install  the distributor cap.  
34. Fill the cooling system with the  proper type and amount of coolant and 
the crankcase with the proper type of  oil to the correct level.  
35. Install the water pump drive bel t, the air cleaner duct and the hood.  
36. Connect the negative battery cable, st art the engine and check for leaks.  
 
 
  

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 368
23. Remove the AIR/converter bracket 
and ground wires from the rear of the 
cylinder head.  
24. Attach a suitable lifting devic e and remove the engine assembly.  
To install:   25. Position the engine assembly in the vehicle.  
26. Attach the motor mount to engine  brackets and lower the engine into 
place.  
27. Remove the engine lifting device and the transmission jack.  
28. Raise and safely support the vehicle.  
29. Install the motor mount through-bolts  and tighten to 50 ft. lbs. (68 (Nm).  
30. Install the bellhousing bolts and  tighten to 35 ft. lbs. (47 Nm).  
31. On vehicles with automatic transmissi on, install the converter to flywheel 
bolts. Tighten the bolts to 46 ft. lbs. ( 63 Nm). Install the flywheel cover.  
32. Connect the starter wires and the fuel lines.  
33. Connect the exhaust pipe at  the exhaust manifold.  
34. Lower the vehicle.  
35. Connect the necessary wires and hoses.  
36. Install the power steering pump and  air conditioning compressor in their 
respective brackets.  
37. Install the radiator, fan and fan sh roud, radiator hoses and heater hoses.  
38. Connect the transmission cooler  lines and cooling fan electrical 
connectors.  
39. Install the distributor.  
40. Install the plenum ex tension, if equipped.  
41. Fill the cooling system with the  proper type and quantity of coolant and 
the crankcase with the proper type of  oil to the correct level.  
42. Install the air cleaner and the hood.  
43. Connect the negative battery cable,  start the engine, check for leaks and 
check timing.