1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Other Warning Devices
If you carry reflective triangles, you can set one up at
the side of the road about
300 feet (100 m) behind
your vehicle.
Jump Starting
If your battery has run down, you may want to use
another vehicle and some jumper cables to start your
Chevrolet. But please follow the steps below to
do
it safely.
I NOTICE:
Ignoring these steps could result in costly damage
to your vehicle that wouldn’t be covered by
your warranty.
lkying to start your Chevrolet by pushing or
pulling it could damage your vehicle, even
if you
have
a manual transaxle. And if you have an
automatic transaxle, it won’t start that way.
I a CAUTION:
Batteries can hurt you. They can be
dangerous because:
They contain acid that can burn you.
They contain gas that can explode or ignite.
They contain enough electricity to burn you.
If you don’t follow these steps exactly, some or all
of these things can hurt you.
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt
battery with a negative ground system.
I NOTICE:
If the other system isn’t a 12-volt system with a
negative ground, both vehicles can be damaged.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables
can reach, but be sure the vehicles aren’t touching
each other.
If they are, it could cause a ground
connection
you don’t want. You wouldn’t be able to
start your Chevrolet, and the bad grounding could
damage the electrical systems.
To avoid the possibility of the vehicles rolling, set
the parking brake firmly on both vehicles involved
in the jump start procedure. Put an automatic
transaxle in
PARK (P) or a manual transaxle in
NEUTRAL (N) before setting the parking brake.
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug
unnecessary accessories plugged into the cigarette
lighter.
Turn off all lamps that aren’t needed as well
as radios.
This will avoid sparks and help save both
batteries. In addition,
it could save your radio.
NOTICE:
If you leave your radio on, it could be badly
damaged. The repairs wouldn’t be covered by
your warranty.
4. Open the hoods and locate the batteries.
An electric fan can start up even when the engine
is not running and can injure you. Keep hands,
clothing and tools away from any underhood
electric fan.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 5. Find the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals on
each battery.
Using a match near a battery can cause battery
gas to explode. People have been hurt doing this,
and some have been blinded. Use
a flashlight if
you need more light.
Be sure the battery has enough water. You don’t
need
to add water to the Delco Freedom@ battery
installed
in every new GM vehicle. But if a battery
has fiiier caps, be
sure the right amount of fluid is
there. If it is low, add water to take care of that
first.
If you don’t, explosive gas could be present.
Battery fluid contains acid that can burn you.
Don’t get it on you.
If you accidentally get it in
your eyes or on your skin, flush the place with
water and get medical help immediately.
6. Check that the jumper cables don’t have loose or
missing insulation.
If they do, you could get a shock.
The vehicles could be damaged, too.
Before you connect the cables, here are some basic
things you should know. Positive
(+) will go to
positive
(+) and negative (-) will go to negative (-)
or a metal engine part. Don’t connect positive (+) to
negative
(-) or you’ll get a short that would damage
the battery and maybe other
parts, too.
Fans or other moving engine parts can injure you
badly. Keep your hands away from moving parts
once
the engine is running.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 7. Remove the red plastic cap, and connect the red
positive
(+) cable to the positive (+) terminal of the
vehicle with the dead battery. Use a remote positive
(+) terminal if the vehicle has one.
-
8. Don’t let the other end
touch metal. Connect it
to the positive
(+)
terminal of the good
battery. Use a
remote
positive (+) terminal if
the vehicle has one.
9. Now connect the black
negative
(-) cable to
the good battery’s
negative
(-) terminal.
Don’t let the other end
touch anything until the
next step. The other end
of the negative cable
doesn’t go to the
dead battery.
It goes to a heavy unpainted metal pan on the engine
of
the vehicle with the dead battery.
5-6

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 10. Attach the cable at least 18 inches (45 cm) away
from the dead battery, but not near engine parts that
move. The electrical connection
is just as good
there, but the chance
of sparks getting back to the
battery is much less.
11. Now start the vehicle with the good battery and run
12. Try to start the vehicle with the dead battery. If it
the engine for a while.
won't start after a few tries, it probably needs service.
13. Remove the cables in reverse order to prevent
electrical shorting. Take care that they don't touch
each other or any other metal.
A. Heavy Metal Engine Part
B
. Good Battery
C. Dead Battery

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Towing Your Vehicle
Try to have a Chevrolet dealer or a professional towing
service tow your Cavalier. They can provide the right
equipment and know how to tow your vehicle without
damage. (See "Roadside Assistance" in the Index.)
If your vehicle has been changed or modified since it
was factory-new by adding aftermarket items like fog
lamps, aero skirting, or special tires and wheels, these
instructions and illustrations may not be correct.
Before you do anything,
turn on the hazard warning flashers. When you
call, tell the towing service:
That your vehicle cannot be towed with
sling-type equipment.
That your vehicle cannot be towed from the rear with
the front wheels on the ground.
That your vehicle has front-wheel drive.
e The make, model and year of your vehicle.
e Whether you can still move the shift lever.
If there was an accident, what was damaged.
When the towing service arrives, let the tow operator know
that this manual contains detailed towing instructions and illustrations. The operator may want to see them.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When your vehicle is being towed, have the ignition
key OFF. The steering wheel should be clamped in
a straight-ahead position, with a clamping device
designed
for towing service. Do not use the vehicle’s
steering column lock for this. The transaxle should be in
NEUTRAL (N) and the parking brake released.
To help avoid injury to you or others:
Never let passengers ride in a vehicle that is
Never tow faster than safe or posted speeds.
Never tow with damaged parts not
fully secured.
Never get under your vehicle after it has
been lifted by the tow truck.
Always secure the vehicle on each side with
separate safety chains when towing it.
Never use J-hooks. Use T-hooks instead.
being towed.
A vehicle
can fall from a car carrier if it isn’t
adequately secured. This can cause
a collision,
serious personal injury and vehicle damage. The
vehicle should be tightly secured with chains or
steel cables before it
is transported.
Don’t use substitutes (ropes, leather straps,
canvas webbing, etc.) that can be cut by sharp
edges underneath the towed vehicle. Always use
T-hooks inserted in the T-hook slots. Never use
J-hooks. They will damage drivetrain and
suspension components.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Front Towing
Before hooking up to a tow truck, be sure to read all
the information in “Towing Your Vehicle’’ earlier in
this section. Attach
T-hook chains into the slots in
the bottom of the
floor
pan, just behind the front wheels, on both sides.
These
slots are to be used when loading and securing to
car-carrier equipment.