1993 CHEVROLET CAVALIER Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Ignition Switch
With the ignition key in the ignition switch,
you can
turn the switch to five positions:
Accessory: An “on” position in which
you can operate your electrical power
accessories. Press in the ignition switch
as
you turn the top of it toward you.
Lock: The only position in which you
can remove the key. This locks your
steering wheel, ignition and transaxle.
Off: Unlocks the steering wheel,
ignition and transaxle, but does not send
electrical power
to any accessories. Use
this position
if your vehicle must be
pushed
or towed, but never try to push-
start your vehicle.
A warning chime will
sound
if you open the driver’s door
when the ignition is
off and the key is in
the ignition.
Run: An “on” position to which the
switch returns after
you start your
engine and release the switch. The
switch stays in
the Run position when
the engine is running. But even when
the engine is not running, you can use
Run to operate your electrical power
accessories, and to display some instru-
ment panel warning lights.
Start: Starts the engine. When the
engine starts, release the key. The
ignition switch will return to
Run for
normal driving.
Note that even
if the engine is not
running; the positions
Accessory and
Run are “on” positions that allow you
to operate your electrical accessories,
such as the radio.
Key Release Button
(MANUAL TRANSAXLE)
The ignition key cannot be removed
from
the ignition unless the key release
button is used.
To Remove the Key:
Turn the key to the Off position. Press
the key release button while turning the
key from
Off to Lock. Keeping your
finger
on the button, pull the key
straight
out.
55

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Features & Contr
Key Release Button (CONT.)
On manual transaxle vehicles,
- udng the key ta Lock will
lock the shMg column and result
in a loss of ability to steer the
vehicle. This could cause a
collision, If you need to tum the
engine off while the vehicle is
moving, turn the key only to Off.
Don’t press the key release button
while the vehicle is mcwing.
If your key seems stuck in Lock
and you can’t turn it, be sure it is
all the way in.
If it is, then turn tl
steering wheel left and right while
you
turn the key hard. But turn the
key only with your hand. Using a
tool to force it could break the
key
or the ignition switch. If none
this works,
t 1 yc vehicle needs
service.
Starting Your Engine
Engines start differently. The 8th digit of
your Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) shows the code letter or number
for your engine. You will find the
VIN
at the top left of your instrument panel.
(See the Index under &hick
Ident@cation Number. ) Follow the
proper steps to start the engine.
56

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Automatic Transaxle
1. Move your shift lever to P (Park) or
N (Neutral). Your engine won’t start
in any other position-that’s a safety
feature. To restart when you’re
already moving, use
N (Neutral)
only.
,1 I^
~‘::, Don’t try to sl,~ to P (Park) if
your Chevrolet is moving. If
yo
do, you could damage ;
’’, transaxle. Shift to P (Park) only
when your vehicle
is stopped. _x,, ,I ~wl
Manual Transaxle
1. Shift your gear selector to N (Neutral)
and hold the clutch pedal to the
floor
while starting the engine. Your
vehicle won’t
start if the clutch pedal
is not all the way down-that’s a
safety feature.
Both Transaxles
2. Don’t push the accelerator pedal before starting your engine. In some other vehicles you might need to do
this, but because
of your vehicle’s
computer systems, you don’t.
3. Turn your ignition key to Start.
When the engine starts, let go of the
key. The idle speed will
go down as
your engine gets warm.
Holding your key in
Start for
longer than 15 seconds at a til
will cause your battery to be
drained much sooner. And the excessive heat can damage your
starter motor.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Features & Controls
60th Transaxles (CONI)
4. If your engine won’t start (or starts
but then stops), it could be flooded
with too much gasoline.
Try pushing
your accelerator pedal all the way to
the floor and holding it there as you
hold the key
in Start for about three
seconds. If the vehicle starts briefly
but then stops again, do the same
thing, but this time keep the pedal
down for five or six seconds. This
clears the extra gasoline from the
engine. Your
engine is designed to work
with the electronics in your
vehicle. If you add electrical parts
or accessories, you could change
the way the fuel injection system
operates. Before adding electrical
equipment, check with your dealer.
If you don’t, your engine might not
perform properly.
If you ever have to have your
vehicle towed, see the part
of this
manual that tells how
to do it
without damaging your vehicle.
See the
Index under Towing Your
Chevrolet.
kiving Through Deep Standing
Vater
IA!
If you drive too quickly through
deep puddles
or standing water,
water can come in through your
engine’s air intake and badly
damage your engine.
If you can’t
avoid deep puddles or standing

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Engine Block Heater (OPTION)
In very cold weather, 0°F (-18°C) or
colder, the engine block heater can help.
You’ll get easier starting and better fuel
economy during engine warm-up.
To Use the Block Heater:
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded
electrical cord.
110-volt
outlet.
A
Plugging the cord into an
ungrounded outlet could cause
an electrical shock. Also, the
wrong kind
of extension cord
could overheat and cause a
fire.
You could be seriously injured.
Plug the cord into a properly
grounded three-prong 110-volt
outlet.
If the cord won’t reach, use
a heavy-duty three-prong extension
cord rated for at least
15 amps. After
you’ve
used the bfock hea,,,
be sure to store the cord as it was
before, to keep it away from
moving engine parts. If
you don’t,
it could be damaged.
How long should
you keep the block
heater plugged in? The answer depends
on the weather, the
kind of oil you have,
and some other things. Instead of trying
to list everything here,
we ask that you
contact a Chevrolet dealer
in the area
where you’ll be parking
your vehicle.
The dealer can give
you the best advice
for that particular area.
59 I..

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Features & Controls
rn Shifting the
Automatic Transaxle
Your automatic transaxle has a shift lever
located
on the console between the seats.
There are several different positions for
your shift lever. In this manual, these
are referred to by the commonly used
symbols in
the right column below:
Park P
Reverse R
Neutral
N
Drive D
Second
2
First 1
Park
P (Park): This locks your front wheels.
It’s the best position to use when you
start your engine because your vehicle
can’t move easily.
I It is dangerous to get out of
your vehicle if the shift lever
is noi fully in
P (Park) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your
vehicle can roll.
Don’t leave your vehicle when the
engine is running unless
you have
to.
If you have left the engine
running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be
injured.
To be sure your vehicle
won’t move, when you’re on fairly
level ground, always set your
parking brake and move the shift
lever to
P (Park). See the Index
under Shifting into P (Park). If you
are parking on a hill, also see the
Index under Parking on Hills.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Ensure the shift lever is fully in P (Park)
range before starting the engine. Your
Chevrolet has a brake-transaxle shift
interlock. You have to fully
apply your
regular brakes
before you can shift fiom
P (Park) when the ignition key is in the
Run position. If you cannot shift out of
P (Park), ease pressure on the shift
lever-push the shift lever
all the way
into
P (Park) and also release the shift
lever button as you maintain brake
application. Then move the shift lever
into
the gear you wish. See the Index
under Shifting Out of P (Park),
U
Reverse
R (Reverse): Use this gear to back up.
Shifting to
R (Reverse) while your
vehicle
is moving forward could
damage your transaxle. Shift
to R
only after your vehicle has
Stopped-
Neutmi
N (Neutral): In this position, your
engine doesn’t connect with the wheels.
To restart when you’re already moving,
use
N (Neutral) only. Also, use N when
your vehicle
is being towed.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to
get out of snow, ice or sand without
damaging your transaxle, see the
Index
under If You ’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud,
Ice or Snow.
61

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Features & Controls
Neutral (CONT:)
Shifting out of P (Park) or N
(Neutral) while your engine is
--racing” (running at high speed) is
dangerous. Unless your foot is
firmly on the brake pedal, your
vehicle could
move very rapidly.
You could lose control and hit
people or objects. Don’t shift out
of
P (Park) or N (Neutral) while
your engine is racing.
62
Damage to your transaxle caused
by shifting
out of P (Park) or $i;$JJ
N (Neutral) with the engine racing
isn’t covered
by your warranty.
Forward Gears
D (Drive): This position is for normal
driving.
2 (Second Gear): This position gives
you
more power but lower fuel
economy. You can
use 2 on hills. It can
help control your speed
as you go down
steep mountain roads, but then you
would also want to
use your brakes off
and on.