2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER ignition

To release the parking brake, hold the brake pedal
down. Pull the parking brake lever up until you can press
the release button. Hold the release button in as you
move the brake lever all the way down.
If you forget to release your parking brake prior to
driving away, a chime will sound to remind you to
release the parking brake.
Notice:Driving with the parking brake on can
cause your rear brakes to overheat. You may have
to replace them, and you could also damage
other parts of your vehicle.
Shifting Into Park (P)
(Automatic Transaxle)
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle
if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with
the parking brake ®rmly set. Your vehicle can
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
roll. 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,
use the steps that follow. If you're pulling a
trailer, see ªTowing a Trailerº in the Index.
1. Hold the brake pedal down and set the parking
brake.
2. Move the shift lever into the PARK (P) position
like this:
·Hold in the button on the shift lever.
·Push the lever all the way toward the front of
your vehicle.
3. Turn 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).
2-27

Shifting Out of Park (P)
(Automatic Transaxle)
Your vehicle has an automatic transaxle shift lock
control system. You have to fully apply your regular
brakes before you can shift from PARK (P) when
the ignition is in RUN. See
Automatic Transaxle
Operation on page 2-22.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever Ð 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 your vehicle ®xed as soon as you can.
Parking Your Vehicle
(Manual Transaxle)
Before leaving your vehicle, fully press the clutch pedal
in, move the shift lever into REVERSE (R), and ®rmly
apply the parking brake. Once the shift lever has
been placed in REVERSE (R) with the clutch pedal
pressed in, you can turn the ignition key to OFF, remove
the key and release the clutch.
See
Manual Transaxle Operation on page 2-25.
2-29

Convenience Net
Your vehicle may have a convenience net. You'll see it
inside the back wall of the trunk. Put small loads,
like grocery bags, behind the net. It can help keep them
from falling over during sharp turns or quick starts
and stops.
Unclip a corner of the convenience net to ®t larger
objects behind the net, then reclip it to secure them in
place. The net isn't for larger, heavier loads. Store them
in the trunk as far forward as you can.
You can unhook the net so that it will lie ¯at when
you're not using it.
Sunroof
Your vehicle may have a
sunroof. With the ignition
on, press and hold the rear
of the switch and the
glass panel will open to
the vent position.
Open the sunshade by hand when using the vent
position.
Press and hold the rear of the switch again to open the
glass panel and the sunshade. Release the switch to
stop the panel in any position.
Press and hold the front of the switch to close the glass
panel. The sunshade can only be closed by hand.
The sunroof glass panel cannot be opened or closed if
your vehicle has an electrical failure.
2-36

The main components of your instrument panel are the
following:
A. Fog Lamp Button
B. Instrument Panel Brightness Control
C. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
D. Instrument Panel Cluster
E. Hazard Warning Flashers Switch
F. Ignition Switch
G. Windshield Wiper/Washer Controls
H. Cigarette Lighter
I. Audio System
J. Climate Controls and Rear Window Defogger
K. Fuse Panel
L. Remote Trunk Release Button
M. Hood Release Lever
N. Tilt Steering Wheel Lever
O. Parking Brake Lever
P. Accessory Power Outlet
Q. Shift LeverHazard Warning Flashers
Your hazard warning ¯ashers let you warn others. They
also let police know you have a problem. Your front
and rear turn signal lamps will ¯ash on and off.
3-3

Reducing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
There are two ways to reduce your speed while using
cruise control:
·Push in the button at the end of the lever until you
reach the lower speed you want, then release it.
·To slow down in very small amounts, brie¯y press
the button. Each time you do this, you'll go about
1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using
Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed.
When you take your foot off the pedal, your vehicle will
slow down to the cruise control speed you set earlier.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load and the steepness of the
hills. When going up a steep hill, you may have to step
on the accelerator pedal to maintain your speed.
When going downhill, you may have to brake or shift to
a lower gear to keep your speed down. Of course,
applying the brake or clutch pedal takes you out
of cruise control. Many drivers ®nd this to be too much
trouble and don't use cruise control on steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
There are several ways to turn off the cruise control:
·Step lightly on the brake pedal, or push the
clutch pedal, if you have a manual transaxle, or
·move the cruise switch to OFF.
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition, your
cruise control set speed memory is erased.
3-11

Exterior Lamps
The exterior lamp band on the turn signal/multifunction
lever controls the exterior lamps.The exterior lamp band has three positions:
OFF:Turning the band to this position turns off all
lamps, except the Daytime Running Lamps (DRL).
<(Parking Lamps):Turning the band to this position
turns on the parking lamps, together with the following:
·Sidemarker Lamps
·Taillamps
·Instrument Panel Lights
4(Headlamps):Turning the band to this position
turns on the headlamps, together with the previously
listed lamps and lights.
Lamps On Reminder
If you open the driver's door with the ignition off and the
lamps on, you will hear a warning chime.
3-12

Daytime Running Lamps
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the
day. DRL can be helpful in many different driving
conditions, but they can be especially helpful in the short
periods after dawn and before sunset. Fully functional
daytime running lamps are required on all vehicles
®rst sold in Canada.
The DRL system will make your low-beam headlamps
come on at a reduced brightness in daylight when
the following conditions are met:
·The ignition is on,
·the exterior lamp band is in OFF or in the parking
lamp position,
·the parking brake is released, and
·the transaxle is not in PARK (P) on models with an
automatic transaxle only.This indicator light on your
instrument panel cluster
will come on when the DRL
are on.
A ¯ashing DRL telltale indicates a possible burned out
headlamp, or that the vehicle may need service to repair
a stuck DRL relay.
When the DRL are on, your low-beam headlamps will
be on at a reduced brightness. The taillamps,
sidemarker and other lamps won't be on. Your
instrument panel won't be lit up either.
When you turn the exterior lamp band to the headlamp
position, your low-beam headlamps will come on.
The other lamps that come on with your headlamps will
also come on.
When you turn off the headlamps, the regular lamps will
go off, and low-beam headlamps will come on to the
reduced brightness.
To idle your vehicle with the DRL off, set the parking
brake. The DRL will stay off until you release the
parking brake.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
3-13

Entry Lighting
When you open either a front door or a rear door, the
lamps inside your vehicle will go on. In addition, if
your vehicle is equipped with remote keyless entry, the
light will come on when the remote keyless entry
UNLOCK button is pressed.
After you exit the vehicle and all of the doors have been
closed, the lamps will stay on for an additional
20 seconds before fading off. The lamps will also fade
to off when the key is inserted and turned to RUN
or ACCESSORY, or the LOCK button on the remote
keyless entry transmitter is pressed.
Front Reading Lamps
If your vehicle has this feature, these lamps are located
on the rearview mirror. Turn each one on and off by
pressing its button.
Map Lamps
If your vehicle has this feature, these lamps are located
in front of the dome lamp. To turn the lamps on,
press the button. Press the button again to turn
them off.
Battery Run-Down Protection
Your vehicle is equipped with a battery saver feature
designed to protect your vehicle's battery.
When any interior lamp (trunk, reading, dome, etc.) is
left on and the ignition is turned off, the battery rundown
protection system will automatically turn the lamp off
after 20 minutes. This will avoid draining the battery.
This system does not protect against leaving on
the headlamps or parking lamps.
To reactivate the interior lamps, do one of the following:
·The ignition must be turned on, or
·the activated interior lamp must be turned off, then
on, or
·any door must be opened.
The battery rundown protection feature will also be
activated when any door is left open.
3-15