1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER service

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When to Check
Check your tires once a month or more.
Don’t forget your compact spare tire. It should be at
60 psi (420 Pa).
How to Check
Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire
pressure.
You can’t tell if your tires are properly inflated
simply by looking at them. Radial tires may look
properly inflated even when they’re underinflated.
Be sure to put the valve caps back on the valve stems.
They help prevent leaks by keeping out dirt
and moisture.
Tire Inspection and Rotation
Tires should be rotated every 6,000 to 8,000 miles
(10
000 to 13 000 km). Any time you notice unusual
wear, rotate your tires as soon as possible and check
wheel alignment. Also check for damaged tires or
wheels. See “When It’s Time for New Tires” and
“Wheel Replacement” later in this section for
more information.
The purpose of regular rotation is to achieve more
uniform wear for all tires on the vehicle. The first rotation is the most important.
See “Scheduled
Maintenance Services’’ in the Index for scheduled
rotation intervals.
n
*
I1
When rotating your tires, always use the correct rotation
pattern shown here.
Don’t include the compact spare tire in your tire rotation. \
After the tires have been rotated, adjust the front and
rear inflation pressures
as shown on the Tire-Loading
Information label. Make certain that all wheel nuts are
properly tightened. See “Wheel
Nut Torque” in
the Index.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Buying New Tires
To find out what kind and size of tires you need, look at
the Tire-Loading Information label.
The tires installed on your vehicle when it was new had
a Tire Performance Criteria Specification (TPC Spec)
number
on each tire’s sidewall. When you get new tires,
get ones with that same TPC Spec number. That way
your vehicle will continue to have tires that are designed
to give proper endurance, handling, speed rating,
traction, ride and other things during normal service
on your vehicle. If your tires have an all-season tread
design, the TPC number will be followed by an
“MS”
(for mud and snow).
If you ever replace your tires with those not having
a
TPC Spec number, make sure they are the same size,
load range, speed rating and construction type (bias,
bias-belted or radial) as your original tires.
/A CAUTION:
Mixing tires could cause you to lose control while
driving.
If you mix tires of different sizes or types
(radial and bias-belted tires), the vehicle may not
handle properly, and you could have
a crash.
Using tires of different sizes may also cause
damage to your vehicle. Be sure to use the same
size and type tires on
all wheels.
It’s
all right to drive with your compact spare,
though. It was developed for use on your vehicle.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Uniform Tire Quality Grading
The following information relates to the system
developed by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, which grades tires by
treadwear, traction and temperature performance. (This
applies only
to vehicles sold in the United States.) The
grades are molded on the sidewalls of most passenger
car tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading system
does not apply
to deep tread, winter-type snow tires,
space-saver or temporary use spare tires, tires with
nominal rim diameters
of 10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm),
or to some limited-production tires.
While the tires available on General Motors passenger
cars and light trucks may vary with respect to these
grades, they must also conform to Federal safety
requirements and additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria
(TPC) standards.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on
the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified government test course. For
example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and a half
(1 1/2) times as well on the government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions
of their use, however, and
may depart significantly from the norm due to variations
in driving habits, service practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate.
Traction -- A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are A, B, and
C, and they represent the tire’s ability to stop on wet
pavement as measured under controlled conditions on specified government test surfaces
of asphalt and concrete.
A tire marked C may have poor traction performance.
Warning: The traction grade assigned to this tire is based
on braking (straightahead) traction tests and does not
include cornering (turning) traction.
- 6-45

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Finish Damage
Any stone chips, fractures or deep scratches in the finish
should be repaired right away. Bare metal will corrode
quickly and may develop into a major repair expense.
Minor chips and scratches can be repaired with touch-up
materials available from your dealer or other service
outlets. Larger areas of finish damage can be corrected
in your dealer’s body and paint shop.
Underbody Maintenance
Chemicals used for ice and snow removal and dust
control can collect on the underbody. If these
are not
removed, accelerated corrosion (rust) can occur on
the underbody parts such as fuel lines, frame, floor
pan and exhaust system even though they have
corrosion protection.
At least every spring, flush these materials from the
underbody with plain water. Clean any areas where mud
and other debris can collect. Dirt packed in closed areas
of the frame should be loosened before being flushed.
Your dealer or
an underbody car washing system can do
this for you.
Chemic Paint Spotting
Some weather and atmospheric conditions can create
a chemical fallout. Airborne pollutants can fall upon and
attack painted surfaces on your vehicle. This damage
can take two forms: blotchy, ringlet-shaped
discolorations, and small irregular dark spots etched
into the paint surface.
Although no defect in the paint job causes this,
Chevrolet will repair, at no charge to the owner, the
surfaces of new vehicles damaged by this fallout
condition within
12 months or 12,000 miles (20 000 km)
of purchase, whichever occurs first.
6-56

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) the model designation,
r
r 1111 111 111111 lli 11111111 llllllllllll1111
C SAMPLE4UXVM072675 _- - J
- paint information and
0 a list of all production options and
Be sure that this label is not removed from the vehicle.
special equipment.
ENGlNEA97 . ASSEMBLY Electrical System
- ~~
CODE MODEL
YEAR PLANT
Add-on Electrical Equipment
This is the legal identifier for your Chevrolet. It appears
on a plate in the front corner of the instrument panel, on
the driver’s side. You can see it if you look through the
windshield from outside your vehicle. The VIN also
appears on the Vehicle Certification and Service Parts
labels and the certificates of title and registration.
Engine Identification
The 8th character in your VIN is the engine code. This
code will help you identify your engine, specifications
and replacement parts.
Service Parts Identification Label
You’ll find this label on your spare tire cover. It’s very
helpful if you ever need to order parts. On this label is:
your VIN,
I
NOTICE:
Don’t add anything electrical to your Chevrolet
unless
you check with your dealer first. Some
electrical equipment can damage your vehicle
and the damage wouldn’t
be covered by your
warranty. Some add-on electrical equipment
can keep other components from working as
they should.
Your vehicle has an air bag system. Before attempting to
add anything electrical to your Chevrolet, see “Servicing
Your Air Bag-Equipped Chevrolet” in the Index.
6-58

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Replacement Bulbs
OUTSIDE LAMPS BULB
Back-up Lamps ......................... 3057
Front Parking/Turn Signal Lamps
BaseModel
........................... 3357
2-24Model
......................... 3357NA
Center High-Mount Stoplamp
Inside
................................ 1141
Outside
............................... 9 12
Halogen Headlamps High/Low Beam
...................... 9005/6
TaiVTurn Signal Lamps
.................. 3057
Turn Signal Lamps (Rear Sedan)
.......... 3057
INSIDE LAMPS BULB
Domemeading Lamp (If Equipped)
Front
................................. 168
Re x.................................. 194
Capacities and Specifications
The following approximate capacities are given in English
and metric conversions.
Please refer to “Recommended
Huids
and Lubricants” in the Index for more information.
Engine Crankcase ............ 4.0 quarts (3.8 L)
Automatic Transaxle (4-Speed Automatic
Transaxle Not Owner Serviceable)
Pan Removal and Replacement ... 7.4 quarts (7.0 L)
After Complete Overhaul ....... 10.0 quarts (9.5 L)
When draining or replacing torque converter;
more fluid may be needed.
Manual Transaxle
Complete Drain and Refill ....... 2.0 quarts (1.9 L)
Cooling System
2.2L ....................... 10.3 quarts (9.8 L)
2.4L
...................... 10.7 quarts (10.1 L)
Refrigerant (R=134a),
Air Conditioning
......... See refrigerant charge
label under hood.
Fuel Tank ................. 15.2 gallons (57.5 L)
Tire Pressures, Sizes ........... See Tire-Loading
Information label
on driver’s door.
Wheel Nut Torque .......... 100 lb-ft (140 Nem)
NOTE: All capacities are approximate. When adding, be
sure to fill to the appropriate level, as recommended in
this manual.
See “Recommended Fluids and Lubricants” in the Index.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 0 Section 7 Maintenance Schedule
This section covers the maintenance required for your Chevrolet. Your vehicle needs these services to retain its safety,
dependability and emission control performance.
7-2
7-2
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7-4
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7-4 7-4
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7-4 1
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7-42
7-43
Introduction Your Vehicle and the Environment
How This Section
is Organized
Part A: Scheduled Maintenance Services
Using Your Maintenance Schedule
Selecting the Right Schedule
Part B: Owner Checks and Services
At Each Fuel Fill
At Least Once
a Month
At Least Twice
a Year
At Least Once a Year
7-46
7-46
7-46
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7-48
7-50 Part C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections
Steering, Suspension and Front Drive Axle
Boot and Seal Inspection
Exhaust System Inspection
Radiator and Heater Hose Inspection
Throttle Linkage Inspection
Brake System Inspection
CaliperKnuckle Maintenance Inspection
Part
D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
Part E: Maintenance Record

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine How This Section is Organized
The remainder of this section is divided into five parts:
“Part
A: Scheduled Maintenance Services” shows
what to have done and how often. Some of these
services can be complex,
so unless you are technically
qualified and have the necessary equipment, you should
let your dealer’s service department or another qualified
service center do these jobs.
’ A CAUTION:
Performing maintenance work on a vehicle can
be dangerous. In trying to do some jobs, you can
be seriously injured.
Do your own maintenance
work only if you have the required know-how
and the proper tools and equipment for the
job.
If you have any doubt, have a qualified
technician do the work.
If you are skilled enough to do some work on your
vehicle, you will probably want to get the service
information
GM publishes. See “Service and Owner
Publications” in the Index. “Part
B: Owner Checks and
Services’’ tells you what
should
be checked and when. It also explains what you
can easily do to help keep your vehicle in good condition.
“Part C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections” explains
important inspections that your Chevrolet dealer’s
service department or another qualified service center
should perform.
“Part
D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants” lists
some products
GM recommends to help keep your
vehicle properly maintained. These products,
or their
equivalents, should be used whether you do the work
yourself or have it done.
“Part
E: Maintenance Record” provides a place for
you to record the maintenance performed on your
vehicle. Whenever any maintenance is performed, be
sure to write it down in this
part. This will help you
determine when your next maintenance should be done. In addition, it is a good idea to keep your maintenance
receipts. They may be needed to qualify your vehicle for warranty repairs.