2002 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO Owners Manual

2-73
3800 V6 Engine Cluster: United States version shown; Canada similar

2-74 Speedometer and Odometer
Your speedometer lets you see your speed in both
miles per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour (kmh).
Your odometer shows how far your vehicle has been
driven in either miles (used in the United States) or in
kilometers (used in Canada).
Your vehicle has a tamper
-resistant odometer. If you
see ERROR, you'll know someone has probably
tampered with it and the numbers may not be accurate.
You may wonder what happens if your vehicle needs a
new odometer installed. If the new one can be set to the
mileage total of the old odometer, than that will be done.
But if it can't, then it will be set at zero and a label must
be put on the driver's door to show the old mileage
reading when the new odometer was installed.
Trip Odometer
Your trip odometer tells how far you have driven since
you last reset it.
Your trip/select button will go back and forth between
the odometer and the trip odometer if the button is
pressed and released within 1.5 seconds. If the button
is pressed and held for longer than 1.5 seconds while in
the trip odometer mode, it will be reset to zero. If the
button is pressed and held for longer than 1.5 seconds
while in the odometer mode, it will have no effect.
Your trip odometer will work no matter what position
your key is in, and even if the key isn't in.

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Tachometer
The tachometer displays
the engine speed in
thousands of revolutions
per minute (rpm).
3800 V6 Engine Shown
NOTICE:
Do not operate the engine with the tachometer in
the shaded area, or engine damage may occur.
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.

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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.
Your vehicle may also have a Driver Information Center
(DIC) that works along with the warning lights and
gages. See ªDriver Information Center (DIC)º in
the Index.
Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to ON, a chime 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 come on and stay on
for about 20 seconds,
then it will flash for
about 55 seconds.
Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows the air bag symbol. 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 crash sensing and
diagnostic module. For more information on the air bag
system, see ªAir Bagº in the Index.
This light will come on
when you start your vehicle,
and it will flash for a few
seconds. Then the light
should go out. This means
the system is ready.
If the air bag readiness light stays on after you start the
vehicle or comes on when you are driving, your air bag
system may not work properly. Have your vehicle
serviced right away.

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CAUTION:
If the air bag readiness light stays on after you
start your vehicle, it means the air bag system
may not be working properly. The air bags in
your vehicle may not inflate in a crash, or they
could even inflate without a crash. To help avoid
injury to yourself or others, have your vehicle
serviced right away if the air bag readiness light
stays on after you start your vehicle.
The air bag readiness light should flash 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.
Voltmeter Gage (3800 V6 Engine)
You can read battery
voltage on the
voltmeter gage.
If the gage reads less than 12 volts or more than 16 volts
while the engine is running, and it stays there, you may
have a problem with the electrical charging system.
Also, when your gage reads less than 11 volts or
more than 16 volts, your battery life indicator will be
illuminated in the message center. For more information
see ªBattery Life Indicatorº in the Index.

2-78 Brake System Warning Light
Your vehicle's hydraulic brake system is divided into
two parts. If one part isn't working, the other part can
still work and stop you. For good braking, though, you
need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there is a brake problem.
The LOW BRAKE FLUID message in the message
center will also appear when there is a brake problem.
See ªLow Brake Fluid Messageº in the Index. Have
your brake system inspected right away.
United States Canada
This light should come on briefly when you turn
the ignition key to ON. If it doesn't come on then,
have it fixed so it will be ready to warn you if there's
a problem.If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off the
road and stop carefully. You may notice that the pedal is
harder to push. Or, the pedal may go closer to the floor.
It may take longer to stop. If the light is still on, have
the vehicle towed for service. See ªAnti
-Lock Brake
System Warning Lightº and ªTowing Your Vehicleº in
the Index.
CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working properly
if the brake system warning light is on. Driving
with the brake system warning light on can lead
to an accident. If the light is still on after you've
pulled off the road and stopped carefully, have
the vehicle towed for service.
When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will also come on when you set your parking brake.
The light will stay on if your parking brake doesn't
release fully. If it stays on after your parking brake is
fully released, it means you have a brake problem.

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Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
The anti-lock brake
system warning light
should come on for
a few seconds when
you turn the ignition
key to ON.
If the anti
-lock brake system warning light stays on
longer than normal after you've started your engine,
turn the ignition off. Or, if the light comes on and
stays on when you're driving, stop as soon as possible
and turn the ignition off. Then start the engine again to
reset the system. If the light still stays on, or comes on
again while you're driving, the anti
-lock brake system
needs service and you don't have anti
-lock brakes.
The anti
-lock brake system warning light should come
on briefly 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.
Traction Control System Warning Light
The traction control system
warning light may come on
for the following reasons:

If you turn the system off by pressing the TRAC OFF
button located on the center console, a chime will
sound and the warning light will come on and stay on.
To turn the system back on, press the button again.
The warning light should go off. See ªTraction Control
Systemº in the Index for more information.

If there's a brake system problem that is specifically
related to traction control, the traction control system
will turn off and the warning light will come on. If
your brakes begin to overheat, the traction control
system will turn off and the warning light will come
on until your brakes cool down.
If the traction control system warning light comes on
and stays on for an extended period of time when the
system is turned on, your vehicle needs service.

2-80 Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
United States - 3400
V6 Engine ClusterUnited States - 3800
V6 Engine Cluster
Canada - 3400 V6
Engine ClusterCanada - 3800 V6
Engine ClusterThis gage shows the engine coolant temperature.
It also provides an indicator of how hard your vehicle
is working. During the majority of the operation, the
gage will read 210
F (100
C) or less.
If you are pulling a load or going up hills, it is normal
for the temperature to fluctuate and approach the
250
F (122
C) mark. When the gage reads greater
than 250
F (122
C), the HOT COOLANT TEMP
light will be illuminated in the message center and a
chime will sound continuously. If the gage reaches the
260
F (125
C) mark, it indicates that the cooling
system is working beyond its capacity.
See ªEngine Overheatingº in the Index.