1998 CHEVROLET PRIZM check engine light

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine A CAUTION:
Both frontal and side impact air bags inflate with
great force, faster than the blink of an eye.
If you’re
too close to an inflating
air bag, it could seriously
injure you.
This is true even with reduced-force
frontal
air bags. Safety belts help keep you in position
for
air bag idation before and during a crash.
Always
wear your safety belt, even with
reduced-force frontal
air bags. The driver should sit
as far back as possible while still maintaining control
of the vehicle. Front occupants should not lean on or
sleep against the door.
’ A CAU-ION:
Children who are up against, or very close to, an
air bag when it inflates can be seriously injured or
killed. This is true even though your vehicle
has
reduced-force frontal air bags. Air bags plus
CAUTION: (Continued)
I
lap-shoulder belts offer the best protection for
adults but not for young children and infants.
Neither the vehicle’s safety belt system nor its air
bag system is designed for them. Young children
and infants need the protection that a child
restraint system can provide. Always secure
children properly in your vehicle. To read how,
see the part of this manual called “Children” and
see the caution labels on the sunvisors and the
right front passenger’s safety belt.
AIR
BAG
There is an air bag
readiness light on
the instrument
panel, which shows
AIR BAG.
The system checks the air bag electrical system for
malfunctions.
The lights tell you if there is an electrical
problem. See “Air Bag Readiness Light” in the Index
for more information.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Safety Belt Extender
If the vehicle’s safety belt will fasten around you, you
should use it.
But if a safety belt isn’t long enough to fasten, your
dealer will order you an extender. It’s free. When you go
in to order it, take the heaviest coat you will wear,
so the
extender will be long enough for you. The extender will
be just for you, and just for the seat in your vehicle that
you choose. Don’t let someone else use
it, and use it
only for the seat
it is made to fit. To wear it, just attach it
to the regular safety belt.
Checking Your Restraint Systems
Now and then, make sure the safety belt reminder light
and all your belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors and
anchorages are working properly. If your vehicle has a
built-in child restraint, also periodically make sure
the
harness straps, latch plates, buckle, clip and anchorages
are working properly. Look for any other loose or damaged safety belt and built-in child restraint system
parts.
If you see anything that might keep a safety belt
or built-in child restraint system from doing its job, have
it repaired.
Torn or frayed safety belts may not protect you in a
crash. They can rip apart under impact forces. If a belt
is torn or frayed, get a new one right away.
If your vehicle has the built-in child restraint, torn
or
frayed harness straps can rip apart under impact forces
just like torn or frayed safety belts can. They may not
protect a child in a crash.
If a harness strap is torn or
frayed, get a new harness right away.
Also look for any opened or broken air bag covers, and
have them repaired or replaced. (See the part on the air
bag system earlier in this section for air bag system
maintenance information.)
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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.
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 also 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 alarmed
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. When
one of the
warning lights comes on and stays
on when you are driving, or when one of the gages
shows there may be a problem, check the section that
tells you 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.
Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to ON or START, a tone will
come on for about eight seconds to remind people to
fasten their safety belts, unless the driver’s safety belt
is already buckled.
The safety belt light
will also flash until the
driver’s belt is buckled.
If the driver’s belt is already buckled, neither the tone
nor the light
will come on.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows the words
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 sensors, the air bag
modules, the wiring and the diagnostic module. For
more information on the air bag system,
see “Air Bag”
in the Index.
AIR
BAG
This light will come on for
a few seconds when you
start your engine. 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.
If the light comes on and
flashes, your
side impact air bag system or safety belt
pretensioner system may not work properly. Have your
vehicle serviced right away.
The air bag readiness light should come on for a few
seconds when
you turn the ignition key to ON. If the
light doesn’t come
on then, have it fixed so it will be
ready
to warn you if there is a problem.
Charging System Light
This light will come on
briefly when you turn on the
ignition, but the engine is
not running, as a check to
show you it is working.
Then it should go out when
the engine starts.
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 charging
system light
on, be certain to turn off all your
accessories, such as the radio and air conditioner.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Engine Coolant Temperature Gage Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Check Engine Light)
TEMP
Standard Cluster Optional Cluster
This gage shows the engine coolant temperature. If the
gage pointer moves into the red area, your engine is too
hot! It means that your engine coolant has overheated.
If you have been operating your vehicle under normal
driving conditions, you should pull off the road, stop
your vehicle and
turn off the engine as soon as possible.
In “Problems on the Road,” this manual shows what to
do. See “Engine Overheating” in the Index.
~~ -~
tis
~~ Your vehicle is equipped
with a computer which
monitors operation of the
fuel, ignition and emission
control systems.
CHECK
This system is called OBD I1 (On-Board
Diagnostics-Second Generation) and
is intended to
assure that emissions are at acceptable levels for the
life
of the vehicle, helping to produce a cleaner
environment. The CHECK ENGINE light comes on to
indicate that there is a problem and service is required.
Malfunctions often will be indicated by the system
before any problem is apparent. This may prevent more
serious damage to your vehicle. This system
is also
designed to assist your service technician in correctly
diagnosing any malfunction.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine NOTICE:
If you keep driving your vehicle with this light
on, after
a while, your emission controls may not
~ work as well, your fuel economy may not be as
good and your engine may not run as smoothly.
This could lead to costly repairs that may not be
covered
by your warranty.
This light should come on, as a check to show you it is
working, when the ignition is on and the engine
is not
running. If the light doesn’t come on, have it repaired.
This light will also come on during a malfunction in
one of two ways:
Light Flashing -- A misfire condition has been
detected.
A misfire increases vehicle emissions and
may damage the emission control system on your
vehicle. Dealer or qualified service center diagnosis
and service may be required.
@ Light On Steady -- An emission control system
malfunction has been detected on your vehicle.
Dealer or qualified service center diagnosis and
service may be required.
If the Light Is Flashing
The following may prevent more serious damage to
your vehicle:
0 Reducing vehicle speed.
Avoiding hard accelerations.
0 Avoiding steep uphill grades.
0 If you are towing a trailer, reduce the amount of
cargo being hauled as soon as it is possible.
If the light stops flashing and remains on steady, see “If
the Light Is
On Steady” following.
If the light continues to flash, when it is
safe to do so,
stop the vehicle. Find a safe place to park your vehicle.
Turn the key off, wait at least
10 seconds and restart the
engine. If the light remains on steady, see “If the Light
Is On Steady” following. If the light is still flashing,
follow the previous steps, and drive the vehicle to your
dealer or qualified service center for service.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If the Light Is On Steady
You may be able to correct the emission system
malfunction by considering the following:
Did you recently put fuel into your vehicle?
If
so, reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to fully install
the cap. The diagnostic system can determine if the fuel
cap has been left off or improperly installed. A loose or
missing fuel cap will allow fuel to evaporate into the
atmosphere.
A few driving trips with the cap properly
installed should turn the light off.
Did you just drive through a deep puddle of water?
If
so, your electrical system may be wet. The condition
will usually be corrected when the electrical system
dries out.
A few driving trips should turn the light off.
Are you low
on fuel?
As your engine starts to run out of fuel, your engine may
not run as efficiently as designed since small amounts of
air are sucked into the fuel line causing a misfire. The
system can detect this. Adding fuel should correct this
condition. Make sure to install the fuel cap properly. It
will take a few driving trips to turn the light off. Have
you recently changed brands of fuel?
If so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with quality fuel (see
“Fuel” in the Index). Poor fuel quality will cause your
engine not to run as efficiently as designed. You may
notice this as stalling after start-up, stalling when you
put the vehicle into gear, misfiring, hesitation
on
acceleration or stumbling on acceleration. (These
conditions may go away once the engine is warmed
up.) This will be detected by the system and cause the
light to turn on.
If you experience one or more of these conditions,
change the fuel brand you use. It will require at least
one full tank of the proper
fuel to turn the light off.
If none of the above steps have made the light turn off,
have your dealer or qualified service center check the
vehicle. Your dealer has the proper test equipment and
diagnostic tools to fix any mechanical
or electrical
problems that may have developed.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Engine Oil Pressure Light
If you have a problem with
your oil, this light may stay
on after you start your
engine or come on when
you are driving.
This indicates that there is not enough oil pressure
to keep your engine properly lubricated and cool.
The engine could be low on
oil, or have some other
oil related problem. Have it fixed right away.
The oil light could also come on in three
other situations.
When the ignition is on but the engine is not running,
the light will come on as a test to show you it is
working, but the light will go out when you turn the
ignition to STMT.
If it doesn’t come on with the
ignition on, you may have a problem with the fuse
or bulb. Have it fixed right away.
Sometimes when the engine is idling at a stop, the
light may blink on and
off. This is normal.
If you make a hard stop, the light may come on for a
moment. This
is normal.
Don’t keep driving if the oil pressure is low. If
you do, your engine can become so hot that it
catches fire. You or others could be burned.
Check your oil as soon as possible and have your
vehicle serviced.
NOTICE:
Damage to your engine from neglected oil
problems can be costly and is not covered
by
your warranty.
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