1986 CHEVROLET CORVAIR check engine

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine AIR CONDITIONING
Have your Chevrolet Dealer check your air conditioning
system
at some time during the winter months to be
sure there has been no loss in cooling output. Dur­
ing
the summer, see your Chevrolet Dealer immedi­
ately if you suspect the system is not performing as
it should.
BRAKE LININGS
Brake linings should be periodically inspected for wear.
The frequency of this inspection depends upon driv­
ing conditions such
as traffic or terrain, and also
the driving techniques of individual owners. Your
Chevrolet Dealer is best qualified to advise you as
to how often this inspection should be performed.
When brakes require relining use genuine General
Motors Parts or equivalent.
BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER
Every 6,000 miles-Check fluid level in each reservoir
and maintain % II below lowest edge of each open­
ing with G.M. Hydraulic Brake Fluid Supreme No. 11
PARKING BRAKE AND CLUTCH PULLEYS
AND CABLES
Every 12,000 miles-lubricate pulleys under dash. Re­
move. the tunnel cover under vehicle and lubricate
pulleys
and cable bearing points with a water resist­
ant EP chassis grease which meets General Motors
43
Specification #GM 6031 M. Lubricate gearshift lever
ball and socket (see page 38) at the same time.
FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS
Clean, repack with high melting point wheel bearing
lubricant, and adjust whenever the wheels and hub
are removed. Replace grease seals at the same time.
ENGINE OIL COOLER
Every 12,000 miles (more often under prolonged dusty
driving
conditionsl-Remove cover and brush or
blowout accumulated dirt.
NOTE: Material usually found in the oil cooler
consists primarily
of twigs, straw, chaff, and
leaves.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine MINOR TROUBLE SHOOTING PROCEDURES
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 car. The chart, designed to point out
possible solutions to
several of the most common automotive mal­
functions
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 recom­
mended
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 car will not start, check Steps A through D below.
NOTE:
If continual "flooding" 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
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 en­
gine will "turn over" but will not
start.
(8)
If the fuel tank is not empty, Checking Fuel Flow
47
you may check further to see whether the fuel is reaching the
engine. Disconnect the fuel lines
at the carburetor. Place a jar or cup
under open line and briefly "crank" the engine by means of the
starter. If fuel spurts from the line, 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 lines to the carburetor, remove
the
FUel FilTER from carburetor inlet and check its condition.
If it appears to be clean, replace it and reconnect the fuel lines. If
the filter appears to be plugged, clean it as well as possible by
scraping out the foreign material and cleaning in a solvent. Then
reinstall the filter
and repeat the procedure with the second carbu­
retor. Replace the filters with new ones as soon as possible .
(0) If the fuel seems to be reaching the carburetors properly, the
problem may
be: an EMPTY CARBURETOR BOWL caused by a
"stuck shut" float valve or a flOODED CARBURETOR caused by a
"stuck open" condition and evidenced by gasoline flowing down
the outside
of the carburetor; or a stuck CHOKE valve. Remove the
air cleaners from the carburetors. Check that the choke valves move
freely and are not stuck. Tap the side of the carburetors sharply
several times with a light tool such as a screwdriver handle or pliers.
Replace the
air deaners and attempt to start the engine in the
normal manner.
(E) If the car will start but stalls when hot or has a rough idle,
you
can suspect a faulty IDLE ADJUSTMENT, or extremely dirty

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine and blocked AIR CLEANER ELEMENTS. Replace the air cleaner ele­
ments
if necessary. Idle adjustment should be performed by your
Chevrolet Dealer.
If the above Fuel System checks and the checks suggested under
the Electrical System following do not correct the malfunction, it is
recommended that you turn to your Authorized Chevrolet Dealer
for further checks, adjustments
or repairs.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
If, when the ignition key is turned to START, the engine will not
turn over, you have
good reason to suspect electrical trouble.
(F) When there is no response at all to attempts to start the car,
check the obvious-your AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SELECTOR
LEVER must be in neutral position before the engine can be started.
Turning the IGNITION SWITCH rapidly back and forth several
times
will sometimes correct a poor internal switch contact.
(G) The BATTERY may be discharged. If so, lights will be dim and
the horn will have a poor tone if it will blow at all.
Usually
a garage recharge will be necessary to return the battery
to operotion. Occasionally, however, a long drive will recharge
the battery.
NOTE:
If the battery is determined to be dead, and for no apparent
reason, have
your Authorized Chevrolet Dealer check the
battery, the GENERATOR and the
VOLTAGE REGULATOR.
GENERATOR trouble should already have been indicated
by
the indicator on the instrument panel. Never remove generator
"BAT" lead without first disconnecting battery ground cable.
48
POOR BATTERY CONNECTIONS may be suspected if the car has operated properly a short time before and now not even the horn
will operate. Check both ends of both battery cables. If the con­
nections are corroded, a car may sometimes be restored to opera­tion by removing all cable ends, scraping all contacting surfaces
clean with a pen knife, and reassembling. If the cables are broken,
they must be replaced. The power supply should now be restored
unless the battery is dead.
(H) If, however, the lights and horn work properly but the starter will still not turn over, check the STARTER connections. A "click" from the starter solenoid indicates that the wiring to the starter is properly installed. If the wiring seems to be clean and tightly in­stalled, the trouble is probably in the starter itself and should be referred to your Authorized Chevrolet Dealer.
When the engine will "turn over" but will not start, the following
items may be checked along with Fuel System Checks listed previously.
(I) With a clean dry cloth wipe the ceramic portions of the spark plugs dry. In particularly damp or rainy weather dampness may be the cause of not sta rting, especi­ally when the engine is cold.
(J) Check the cables at the top of the distributor and coil as well as each spark plug cable for
tightness.
(K) If the car will still not start, check for spark at the spark plugs in the following manner:
Pull one of the spark plug
wires off its spark plug. Insert a
short piece of bare wire (such as a bobby pin) between the rubber Distributor and Coil Leads

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine cup at the end of the spark plug
wire
and the tubular metal con­
nector inside of it. If the spark
plug wire is wet or oily, wipe it
dry.
Wrap a dry handkerchief or
facial tissue, folded several thick­
nesss, around the wire at least
three inches back from the end
and grasp wire at this point.
Hold the
bare wire about V4 inch
from the bare tip of the spark
plug from which you removed the
wire. When the engine is "turned Checking for Spork
over" a spark should jump across the V4 inch space, indicating
ample current supply.
If no spark jumps, the difflcultyis probably
caused by a defective ignition part and should be corrected by
your Authorized
Chevrolet Dealer.
COOLING SYSTEM
When the car will run but evidences serious overheating on the
temperature
gauge in the instrument panel, there are several items
which may
be checkd.
(L) Engine overheating will occur when the OIL LEVEL falls
dangerously low.
Check the oil level as a matter of course.
CAUTION: Never drive the car when the TEMP-PRESS indicator in
the instrument panel is lighted.
49
1M) Check the air intake louvers. Clean them if they are plugged
with leaves
or other foreign material.
IN) Condition of the FAN BELT
is very important, not only for en­
gine cooling but also for proper
generator operation. Check the
condition of the belt. Replace
it
if it is worn or frayed. Loosen the
idler
bracket bolts and move
the
bracket toward the engine
to remove and replace the belt.
Tighten the belt, whether new
or
old, by loosening the idler bracket
nuts, prying with a bar on the Checking Fan Be" Tension
bracket until the belt is tensioned properly, then retighten the
bracket bolts. Proper belt tension is such that, when belt is de­
flected downward with moderate thumb pressure at a point midway
between the
generator and fan pulleys, the belt will deflect about
:Va" to K6". Do not overtighten the belt.
(0) Another cause of engine overheating may be an inoperative
COOLING SYSTEM THERMOSTAT. If the thermostat should fail
in the closed position, it will not permit air to circulate through the
engine.
See your Authorized Chevrolet Dealer.