1998 CHEVROLET CAMARO Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine To Use the Engine Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.
The cord is attached to the outside of the underhood
fuse box.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC outlet.
A CA’ TIQ‘T:
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.
4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and
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 dealer in the area where you’ll be parking your
vehicle. The dealer can give you the best advice for
that particular area.
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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.
It is dangerous to get out or 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.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Ensure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before starting
the engine. Your vehicle has a Brake-Transmission Shift
Interlock (BTSI). You have to fully apply your regular
brakes before you can shift from PARK (P) when the
ignition key
is in RUN. 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.
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.
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.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (@):
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
accelerator pedal about halfway down.
- Going about 35 mph (56 km/h) or more, push the
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
(a):
- When driving on hilly, winding roads.
- When towing a trailer, so there is less shifting
- When going down a steep hill.
between
gears.
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 DRIVE (D)
as much as possible.
Don’t shift into
SECOND (2) unless you are going
slower than
65 mph (105 kmk), or you can
damage your engine.
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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 (1) gear, 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.
Second-Gear Start (V6 Automatic)
(If Equipped)
Your vehicle may be
equipped with a
Second-Gear Start feature.
Press the Second Gear
Start (SGS) switch on the
instrument panel to provide
more traction when you are
starting on ice or other
slippery surfaces.
The light on the switch will illuminate when Second
Gear Start (SGS) is selected. The transmission will be
in
SECOND (2) gear when the vehicle begins to
move. After starting in
SECOND (2), the vehicle will
upshift normally.
This feature is only for improved traction when the road
surface is slippery and is not intended for continuous
use. Always use
NORMAL Second Gear Start (SGS)
“OFF” for normal road conditions. You may press the
Second Gear Start (SGS) switch again to turn
off this
feature. The light
on the switch will go out. Whenever
you start your vehicle, the transmission is in the
NORMAL mode.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Manual Transmission Operation
5-Speed
I 3 5
2 4 R
This is your shift pattern.
Here’s how to operate
your transmission:
FIRST (1): Press the clutch 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
(1), put the shift
lever in NEUTRAL (N) and let up on the clutch. Press
the clutch pedal back down. Then shift into FIRST
(1).
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 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 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.
L
Also use REVERSE (R), along with the parking brake,
for parking your vehicle.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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
(l), put the shift
lever in NEUTRAL (N) and let up on the clutch. Press
the clutch pedal back down. Then shift into FIRST
(1).
SECOND (2): Press the clutch pedal 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 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 levex
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).
If you have turned your ignition off and want to
park your vehicle
in REVERSE (R), you will have
to move the shift lever quickly to the right, then
forward into gear.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Shift Speeds
If you skip more than one gear when you
downshift, you could lose control of your vehicle.
And
you could injure yourself or others. Don't
shift from SIXTH (6) to THIRD (3), or FIFTH (5)
to SECOND (2) or FOURTH (4) to FIRST (1).
MANUAL TRANSMISSION RECOMMENDED SHIFT SPEEDS, IN MPH (kdh) 1
Engine Acceleration Shift Speed
1
to2 210 3 3104 4 lo 5 St0 6
3800 L36 13-16 21 -28 32-37 45-47 (Code K) (21-25) (34-35) (51-59) (72-75) WA
This chart shows when to shift to the next higher gear
for best fuel economy. If
your speed drops below
20 mph (32 km/h), or if the
engine is not running smoothly, you should downshift to
the next lower gear. You may have to downshift two or
more gears to keep the engine running smoothly
or for
good performance.
NOTICE:
If you skip more than one gear when you
downshift, or if
you race the engine when
you downshift, you can damage the clutch
or transmission.
Skip Shift Light
(5.7L Engine)
When this light comes on,
you can
only shift from
mRST (1) to FOURTH (4)
SKI p S H I FP instead of FIRST (1) to
SECOND (2). This helps
you to get the best possible
fuel economy.
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