1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Your instrument panel is designed to let you know at a glance how your vehicle is running. You’ll know how fast
you’re going, how much fuel is left
in the tank, and many other things you’ll need to drive safely and economically.
The main components
of your instrument panel are:
1. Instrument Panel Intensity Control
2. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
3. Hazard Warning Flashers Switch
4. Ignition Switch
5. Windshield Wipermasher Controls
6. Audio System
7. Climate Controls and Rear Window Defogger
8. Ashtray
9. Parking Brake Lever
10. Tilt Steering Wheel Lever (If Equipped)
1 1. Hood Release Lever
12. Fuse Panel

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Instrument Panel Clusters
Your Chevrolet is equipped with one of these instrument panel clusters, which include indicator warning \
lights and
gages that are explained
on the following pages. Be sure to read about those that apply to the instrument panel cluster
for your vehicle.
Standard Cluster

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Optional Cluster

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Speedometer and Odometer
Your speedometer lets you see your speed in both miles
per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour
(km/h). Your
odometer shows how far your vehicle has been driven,
in either miles (used in the United States) or kilometers
(used in Canada).
Your Chevrolet has a tamper resistant odometer.
If you
see silver lines between the numbers, you’ll know that
someone has probably tried to turn it back, so the
numbers may not be true.
You may wonder what happens if your vehicle needs a
new odometer installed.
If the new one can be set to the mileage total of the old
odometer, then it must be. But if it can’t, then it’s set at zero
and a label must
be put on the driver’s door to show the old
mileage reading when
the new odometer was installed.
Trip Odometer (If Equipped)
RPM
APPLY BRAKE TO
SHIFT FROM PARK
The trip odometer can tell you how far your vehicle
has been driven since you last reset the trip odometer
to zero.
To set the trip odometer to zero, press the knob to the
right of it.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Tachometer (If Equipped)
11 The tachometer displays the Warning lights and gages
can signal that something is
wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause an
expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to
your warning lights and gages could ais0 save you or
others from injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or is a
problem with one of your vehicle's functions.
As you
will see in the details on the next few pages, some
warning lights come on briefly when you start the
engine just to let you know they're working. If you are
familiar with this section, you should not be alarrned
when this happens.
Gages can indicate when there may be or is
a problem
with one of your vehicle's functions. Often gages and
warning lights work together to
let you know when
there's a problem with
your vehicle.
NOTICE:
-
I
Do not operate the engine with the tachometer in
the red area, or engine damage
may occur. I
When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on
when you are driving, or when one
of the gages shows I I there may be a problem, check the section that tells you
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages that
may be on your vehicle. The pictures will help
you
locate them. what to
do about
it. Please follow this manual's advice.
Waiting to do repairs can be costly
-- and even
dangerous. So please get to know your warning lights
and gages. They're a big help.
2-67
__

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to RUN or START, a chime will
come on for about eight seconds to remind people to
fasten their safety belts, unless the driver’s safety belt is
already buckled.
I The safety belt light will
also come on and stay on
for about
20 seconds, then it
will flash for about
55
seconds. If the driver’s belt
is already buckled, neither
the chime nor the light will
come on.
Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows AIR BAG. The system checks the
air bag’s electrical system for malfunctions. The light
tells you if there
is an electrical problem. The system check includes
the air bag sensor, the
air bag modules,
the wiring and the crash sensing and diagnostic module.
For more information on the
air bag system, see “Air
Bag” in the Index.
AIR
BAG
This light will come on
when you start your engine,
and it will flash for a few
seconds. Then the light
should go out. This means
the system is ready.
~~~~
If the air bag readiness light stays on after you start the
engine
or comes on when you are driving, your air bag
system may not work properly. Have your vehicle
serviced right away.
The air bag readiness light should flash for a few
seconds when you turn the ignition key to RUN. If the
light doesn’t come on then, have it fixed
so it will be
ready to warn you if there
is a problem.
2-68

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Charging System Light
The charging system light
will come on briefly when
you turn on the ignition, and
the engine is not running, as
a check to show you it is
working. Then
it should
go out when the engine
is started.
If it stays on, or comes on while you are driving, you
may have a problem with the electrical charging system.
It could indicate that you have a loose generator drive
belt, or another electrical problem. Have
it checked
right away. Driving while this light is on could drain
your battery.
If you must drive a short distance with the light on, be
certain to turn
off all your accessories, such as the radio
and air conditioner.
Brake System Warning Light
Your Chevrolet’s hydraulic brake system is divided into
two parts.
If one part isn’t working, the other part can
still work and stop you. For good braking, though, you
need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there could be a brake
problem. Have your brake system inspected right away.
BRAKE
This light should come on
briefly when you turn the
ignition key to
RUN.
If it doesn’t come on then,
have it fixed
so it will be
ready to warn you if there’s
a problem.
2-69

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off the
road and stop carefully.
You may notice that the pedal is
harder to push. Or, the pedal may go closer to the floor.
It may take longer to stop. If the light is still on, have the
vehicle towed for service. (See “Towing Your Vehicle’’
il he
- *)
Your brake system may not be working propc--y
if the brake system warning light
is on. Driving
with the brake system warning light on can lead
to an accident.
If the light is still on after you’ve
pulled
off the road and stopped carefully, have
the vehicle towed for service.
When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will also
come on when you set your parking brake. The
light will stay on if your parking brake doesn’t release
fully. If it stays on after your parking brake is fully
released, it means you have
a brake problem.
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
With the anti-lock brake
system, this light will come
on when you start your
engine and it will stay
on for three seconds.
That’s normal.
If the light stays on, turn the ignition to OFF. Or, if the
light comes on when you’re driving, stop as soon as
possible and turn the ignition
off. Then start the engine
again to reset the system.
If the light still stays on, or
comes on again while you’re driving, your Chevrolet
needs service. If the regular brake system warning light
isn’t on, you still have brakes, but you don’t have
anti-lock brakes.
If the regular brake system warning
light is also on, you don’t have anti-lock brakes and
there’s
a problem with your regular brakes. See “Brake
System Warning Light” earlier in this section.
The anti-lock brake system warning light should come
on briefly when
you turn the ignition key to RUN. If the
light doesn’t come on then, have it fixed
so it will be
ready to warn you if there is a problem.
2-70