
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine OFF (C): This position unlocks the steering wheel,
ignition and transaxle, but does not send electrical
power to any accessories. The instrument cluster and the
automatic transaxle gear shift indicator have electrical
power while in
OFF. Use this position if your vehicle
must be pushed or towed, but never try to push-start
your vehicle. A warning chime will sound if you open
the driver’s door when the ignition is
off and the key is
in the ignition.
RUN (D): This is a position to which the switch returns
after you start your engine and release the switch. The
switch stays in
RUN when the engine is running. But
even when the engine is not running, you can use
RUN
to operate your electrical power accessories, and to
display some instrument panel warning lights.
START (E): This position starts the engine. When the
engine starts, release the key. The ignition switch will
return to
RUN for normal driving.
Note that even if the engine is not running, the positions
ACCESSORY and RUN are on positions that allow
you
to operate your electrical accessories, such as the radio.
On manual transaxle vehicles, turning the key to
LOCK will lock the steering column and result in
a loss of ability to steer the vehicle. This could
cause a collision.
If you need to turn the engine
off while the vehicle
is moving, turn the key only
to
OFF. Don’t press the key release button while
the vehicle is moving.
I NOTICE:
If your key seems stuck in LOCK and you can’t
turn
it, be sure you are using the correct key; if
so, is it all the way in? If it is, then turn the
steering wheel left and right while you turn the
key hard. But turn the key only
with your hand.
Using a tool to force it could break the key or the
ignition switch.
If none of this works, then your
vehicle needs service.
2-14

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Key Release Button (Manual Transaxle)
The ignition key cannot be
removed from the ignition
unless the key release
button
is used.
To remove the key, turn the key to
OFF. While pressing
the key release button in, turn the key to LOCK. Pull the
key straight out.
Starting Your Engine
Automatic Transaxle
Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
Your engine won’t start in any other position
-- that’s a
safety feature. To restart when you’re already moving,
use NEUTRAL
(N) only.
NOTICE:
Don’t try to shift to PARK (P) if your Chevrolet
is moving.
If you do, you could damage the
transaxle. Shift to PARK
(P) only when your
vehicle is stopped.
I
Manual Transaxle
The gear selector should be in NEUTRAL (N) and the
parking brake engaged. Hold the clutch pedal
to the
floor and start the engine. Your vehicle won’t start if
the clutch pedal
is not all the way down -- that’s a
safety feature.
2-15
$

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Starting Your 2.2 Liter Engine
1. Without pushing the accelerator pedal, turn your
ignition key to START. When the engine starts, let
go of the key. The idle speed will go down as your
engine gets warm.
r NOTICE:
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 your engine still won’t start (or starts but then
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.
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.
2-16

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Starting Your 2.4 Liter Engine
1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn your
ignition key to
START. When the engine starts, let
go
of the key. The idle speed will go down as your
engine warms
up.
NOTICE:
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 the engine doesn’t start right away, and if the
weather is very cold (below -20” F or -29” C), push
the accelerator pedal about one-quarter
of the way
down while
you turn the key to START. Do this
until the engine starts. As soon as it does, let go
of the key.
3. If your engine still won’t start (or starts but then 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
a maximurn of 15 seconds. This clears the extra
gasoline
from the engine. If the engine still won’t start
or starts briefly but then stops again, repeat step 1 or 2,
depending on temperature. When the engine starts,
release the key and the accelerator pedal.
NOTICE:
1 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.
2-17

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Ensure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) range before
starting the engine. Your vehicle has a brake-transaxle
shift interlock. 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.) See “Shifting Out of
PARK (P)” in the Index.
REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up.
NOTICE:
Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle is
moving forward could damage your transaxle.
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 transaxle, 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.
I NOTICE:
Damage to your transaxle caused by shifting out
of PARK (P)
or NEUTRAL (N) with the engine
racing isn’t covered by your warranty.
2-21

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 2. Move the shift lever into the PARK (P) position like
this: Hold in the button on the lever, and push the
lever all the way toward the front
of your vehicle.
3. Move the ignition key to LOCK.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave your vehicle with the ignition key in your
hand, your vehicle
is in PARK (P).
Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine
Running (Automatic Transaxle Only)
L
I
AUTION:
--
It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with the
engine running. Your vehicle could move
suddenly if the shift lever
is not fully in PARK (P)
with the parking brake firmly set. And, if you
leave the vehicle with the engine running, it could
overheat and even catch fire. You or others could
be injured. Don’t leave your vehicle with the
engine running unless you have to.
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your vehicle
is in PARK (P) and your
parking brake is firmly set before you leave it. After
you’ve moved the shift lever into PARK
(P), hold the
regular brake pedal down. Then, see if you can move the
shift lever away from PARK
(P) without first pushing
the button. If you can,
it means that the shift lever
wasn’t fully locked into PARK
(P).
2-28

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Torque Lock (Automatic Transaxle)
If you are parking on a hill and you don’t shift your
transaxle into PARK (P) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl in
the transaxle. You may find it difficult to pull the shift
lever out of PARK (P). This
is called “torque lock.” To
prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and then shift
into PARK (P) properly before you leave the driver’s
seat.
To find out how, see “Shifting Into PARK (P)” in
the Index.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out
of
PARK (P) before you release the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to have another
vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some of the
pressure from the parking pawl in the transaxle,
so you
can pull the shift lever out
of PARK (P).
Shifting Out of PARK (P)
(Automatic Transaxle)
Your vehicle has a brake-transaxle shift interlock. You
have
to fully apply your regular brakes before you can
shift from PARK
(P) when the ignition is in the RUN
position. See “Automatic Transaxle” in the Index. If
you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever
-- push the shift lever all the way into
PARK
(P), 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.)
If you ever hold the brake pedal down but still can’t
shift out of PARK
(P), try this:
1. Turn the key to OFF.
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.
3. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the vehicle and then shift to the drive gear
you want.
5. Have the vehicle fixed as soon as you can.
Parking Your Vehicle
(Manual Transaxle Models Only)
Before you get out of your vehicle, put your manual
transaxle in REVERSE (R) and firmly apply the
parking brake.
2-29

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Intensity Control
You can brighten or dim the instrument panel lights by
turning the dial up or down.
Turn the dial up all the way to turn on the interior
courtesy lamps.
Illuminated Entry
When you open either front door, or open a rear door,
the lamps inside your vehicle will go on. These lamps
will fade
off after about 40 seconds, or when the ignition
is turned on after all the
doors have been closed.
If the ignition has been
off for less than two minutes,
the lamps inside your vehicle will stay
on for about
15 seconds to provide an illuminated exit when you
remove the key from the ignition.
After
you exit the vehicle and all of the doors have been
closed, the lamps will stay on for an additional four
seconds before fading off. These lamps will also go on
when you press the LOCK or UNLOCK button
on the
optional keyless entry transmitter.
2-43