1996 CHEVROLET CAMARO Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Starting Your 5.7 Liter LTl -ngine
1. Without pushing the accelerator pedal, turn the
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 time will‘cause your battery to be
drained much sooner. And the excessive heat can
damage your starter motor.
2. If it doesn’t start within 10 seconds, push the
accelerator pedal all the way to the floor, while
you
hold the ignition key in START. When the engine
starts, let
go of the key and let up on the accelerator
pedal. Wait about
15 seconds between each try to
help avoid draining your battery.
When starting your engine in very cold weather (below
0°F or -€8”C), do this:
1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn the
ignition key to
START and hold it there. When the engine
starts, let
go of the key. Use the accelerator
pedal to maintain engine speed, if you have to, until
your engine has run
for a while.
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.
2. If your engine still won’t start (or starts but then
This clears the extra gasoline from the engine.
NOTICE:
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 engine 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 “Towing
Your Vehicle” in the Index.
2-26

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Engine Coolant Heater (Option)
I
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 AC outlet.
If the cord won’t reach, use a
heavy-duty three-prong extension cord rated for
at least
15 amps.
In very cold weather, 0°F (- 18 O C) or colder, the engine
coolant heater can help. You’ll get easier starting and
better fuel economy during engine warm-up. Usually,
the coolant heater should be plugged in a minimum
of
four hours prior to starting your vehicle.
To Use the Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 1 10-volt AC outlet.
4. After you’ve used the coolant heater, 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 coolant heater plugged
in? The answer depends on the outside temperature, the
kind
of oil you have, and some other things. Instead of
trying to list everything here, we ask that you contact
your Chevrolet dealer in the area where you’ll be
parking your vehicle. The dealer can give you the best
advice for that particular area.
2-27

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Automatic Transmission Operation
There are several different positions for your shift lever.
PARK (P): This locks your rear wheels. It’s the best
position to use when
you start your engine because your
vehicle can’t move easily.
A CAUTION:
-
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) 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, even when you’re on fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever
to PARK (P).
See “Shifting Into PARK (P)” in the Index. If
you’re pulling
a trailer, see “Towing a Trailer” in
the Index.
2-28

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Ensure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) range
before starting the engine.
Your Chevrolet has a
brake-transmission shift interlock. You have to fully
apply your regular brakes before you can shift
from
PARK (P) when the ignition key is in the RUN position.
If
you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever
-- push the shift lever all the way into
PARK (P) and also release the shift lever button on floor
shift console models as you maintain brake application.
Then move the shift lever into the gear you wish.
(Press the shift lever button before moving the shift
lever on floor shift console models.) See “Shifting Out
of PARK (P)” in this section.
REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up.
NOTICE:
Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle is
moving forward could damage your transmission.
Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle
is stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,
ice or sand without damaging
your transmission, see
“Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow in the Index.
NEUTRAL (N): In this position, your engine
doesn’t connect with the wheels.
To restart when you’re
already moving,
use NEUTRAL (N) only. Also, use
NEUTRAL (N) when your vehicle is being towed.
E!!!! CAUTION:
Shifting out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) 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 PARK
(P) or
NEUTRAL
(N) while your engine is racing.
2-29

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I NOTICE:
Damage to your transmission caused by shifting
out of PARK
(P) or NEUTRAL (N) with the
engine racing isn’t covered by your warranty.
AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE
(0): This position is
for normal driving. If you need more power for passing,
and you’re:
- Going less than about 35 mph (56 km/h), push your
- Going about 35 mph (56 kmh) or more, push the
accelerator pedal
about halfway down.
accelerator all the way down.
You’ll shift down
to the next gear and have more power.
DRIVE (D): This position is also used for normal
driving, however, it offers more power and lower
fuel
economy than AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (@).
Here are some times you might choose DRIVE (D)
instead of
AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (@):
- When driving on hilly, winding roads.
- When towing a trailer, so there is less shifting
between gears.
- When going down a steep hill.
SECOND (2): This position gives you more power but
lower
fuel economy. You can use SECOND (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.
I NOTICE:
~ Don’t drive in SECOND (2) for more than
~ 25 miles (40 km), or at speeds over 55 mph
~ (88 km/h), or you can damage your transmission.
~ Use AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (@) or
1 DRIVE (D) as much as possible.
’ Don’t shift into SECOND (2) unless you are going
slower than
65 mph (105 km/h), or you can
damage your engine.
I
2-30

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine FIRST (1): This position gives you even more power
(but lower fuel economy) than
SECOND (2). You can
use it on very steep hills, or in deep snow
or mud. If the
selector lever
is put in FIRST (l), the transmission
won’t shift into first gear until the vehicle is going
slowly enough.
NOTICE:
If your rear wheels can’t rotate, don’t try to
drive. This might happen if you were stuck
in
very deep sand or mud or were up against a solid
object.
You could damage your transmission.
Also, if you stop when going uphill, don’t hold
your vehicle there with only the accelerator
pedal. This could overheat and damage the
transmission. Use your brakes or shift into
PARK (P) to hold your vehicle in position on
a hill.
Maximum engine speed is limited to protect driveline
components from improper operation.
Manual Transmission
5-Speed
1 3 5
2 4 R
This is your shift pattern.
Here’s how
to operate
your transmission:
FIRST (1): Press the clutch pedal and shift into
FIRST (1). Then, slowly let up on the clutch pedal as
you press
the accelerator pedal.
You can shift into FIRST (I ) when you’re going less
than
20 mph (32 km/h). If you’ve come to a complete
stop and it’s hard to shift into FIRST
(I), put the shift
lever in
NEUTRAL (N) and let up on the clutch. Press
the clutch pedal back down. Then shift
into FIRST (1).

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine SECOND (2): Press the clutch pedal to the floor as you
let up on the accelerator pedal and shift into SECOND
(2).
Then, slowly let up on the clutch pedal as you press the
accelerator pedal.
THIRD (3), FOURTH (4) AND FIFTH (5): Shift into
THIRD
(3), FOURTH (4) and FIFTH (5) the same way
you do for SECOND
(2). Slowly let up on the clutch
pedal as you press the accelerator pedal.
To Stop, let up on the accelerator pedal and press the
brake pedal. Just before the vehicle stops, press the
clutch pedal and the brake pedal, and shift to
NEUTRAL (N).
NEUTRAL (N): Use this position when you start or
idle your engine.
REVERSE (R): To back up, press down the clutch
pedal and shift into REVERSE (R). Let up
on the clutch
pedal slowly while pressing the accelerator pedal.
NOTICE:
Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is
stopped. Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your
vehicle
is moving could damage your transmission.
Also, use REVERSE (R), along with the parking brake,
for parking your vehicle.
6-Speed
1 3 5 R
2 4 6
This is your shift pattern.
Here’s
how to operate
your transmission:
FIRST (1): Press the clutch pedal and shift into
FIRST
(1). Then, slowly let up on the clutch pedal as
you press the accelerator pedal.
You can shift into FIRST (1) when you’re going less
than
20 mph (30 km/h). If you’ve come to a complete
stop and
it’s hard to shift into FIRST (I), put the shift
lever in NEUTRAL (N) and
let up on the clutch. Press
the clutch pedal back down. Then shift into FIRST
(1).
2-32

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine SECOND (2): Press the clutch peaar as you let up on
the accelerator pedal and shift into SECOND
(2). Then,
slowly let up on the clutch pedal as you press the
accelerator pedal.
THIRD (3), FOURTH (4), FIFTH (5) AND
SIXTH (6): Shift into THIRD (3), FOURTH (4),
FIFTH (5) AND SIXTH (6) gear the same way you do
for
SECOND (2). Slowly let up on the clutch pedal as
you press
the accelerator pedal.
To Stop,
let up on the accelerator pedal and press the
brake pedal. Just before the vehicle stops, press the
clutch pedal and the brake pedal, and shift to
NEUTRAL (N).
NEUTRAL (N): Use this position when you start or
idle your engine.
REVERSE (R): To back up, press down the clutch
pedal and shift into REVERSE (R). Let up on the clutch
pedal slowly while pressing the accelerator pedal. If
you
shift from SIXTH (6) into REVERSE (R), the shift
lever must be first placed in the NEUTRAL (N) position
centered between SECOND
(2) and THIRD (3) prior to
shifting into REVERSE (R).
Your six-speed manual transmission has a feature that
allows you to safely shift into REVERSE (R) while the
vehicle is rolling (at less than
5 mph (8 km/h)). You will
be locked-out
if you try to shift into REVERSE (R) while
your vehicle is moving faster than
5 mph (8 km/h).
If you have turned your ignition off and wish to park
your car in REVERSE (R), you will have
to move the
shift lever quickly
to the right, “crashing” through the
high-load spring and then into gear.
2-33