2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER ignition

Climate Controls
Climate Control System
With this system you can control the heating, cooling
and ventilation for your vehicle.
Operation
To change the current mode, select one of the following:
H(Vent):This mode directs air to the instrument
panel outlets.
)(Bi-Level):This mode directs approximately half of
the air to the instrument panel outlets, and then
directs the remaining air to the ¯oor outlets. Cooler air is
directed to the upper outlets and warmer air to the
¯oor outlets.
6(Floor):This mode directs most of the air to the
¯oor outlets and outboard outlets (for the side windows)
with some air directed to the windshield.
The right knob can also be used to select defrost mode.
Information on defogging and defrosting can be found
later in this section.
9(Fan):Turn the left knob clockwise or
counterclockwise to increase or decrease the fan speed.
In any setting other than off, the fan will run continuously
with the ignition on. The fan must be turned on to run
the air conditioning compressor.
9(Off):To turn the fan off, turn the knob all the way
counterclockwise to the off position.
h(Recirculate):This mode keeps outside air from
coming in the vehicle. It can be used to prevent
outside air and odors from entering your vehicle or to
help heat or cool the air inside your vehicle more quickly.
An indicator light will come on in this mode. The
air-conditioning compressor also comes on. Operation in
this mode during periods of high humidity and cool
outside temperatures may result in increased window
fogging. If window fogging is experienced, select
the defrost mode.
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0(Defrost):This mode directs most of the air to the
windshield, with some air directed to the side window
outlets and the ¯oor outlets. When you select this mode,
the system runs the air-conditioning compressor
unless the outside temperature is at or below freezing.
The air-conditioning indicator light will also be on in
this setting.
To defog the side windows, set the right knob to ¯oor
and the fan knob to the highest setting. You can use the
air conditioning while in this setting by pressing the air
conditioning button. In both cases, aim the side
outlets toward the side windows. For increased air¯ow
to the side outlets, close the center outlets. Do not drive
the vehicle until all the windows are clear.
Rear Window Defogger
The rear window defogger uses a warming grid to
remove fog from the rear window.
The rear window defogger will only work when the
ignition is in RUN.
<(Rear):Press the button to turn the rear window
defogger on or off. Be sure to clear as much snow from
the rear window as possible. An indicator light above
the button will come on to let you know that the
rear window defogger is activated.
The rear window defogger will turn off approximately
10 minutes after the button is pressed. If turned on
again, the defogger will only run for approximately ®ve
minutes before turning off. The defogger can also
be turned off by pressing the button again or by turning
off the engine.
Notice:Don't use anything sharp on the inside of
the rear window. If you do, you could cut or damage
the warming grid, and the repairs wouldn't be
covered by your warranty. Do not attach a temporary
vehicle license, tape, a decal or anything similar
to the defogger grid.
3-19

Speedometer and Odometer
Your speedometer lets you see your speed in both
miles per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour (km/h).
Your odometer shows how far your vehicle has
been driven, in either miles (used in the United States)
or kilometers (used in Canada).
Your odometer can be seen when the vehicle is
running. To view it when the ignition is off, press the trip
odometer button located near the display. The mileage
will display for about ®ve seconds.
Trip Odometer
The trip odometer can tell you how far your vehicle has
been driven since you last reset the trip odometer to
zero.
Your trip odometer can be seen when the vehicle is
running. To view it when the ignition is off, press the trip
odometer button located near the display. You will
®rst see the total miles your vehicle has traveled. Press
it again to see the mileage since the trip odometer
was last reset. The display will show the mileage for
about ®ve seconds.
The trip odometer reset button is located next to the
odometer. By pressing the reset button, you can
alternate between the season odometer and the trip
odometer. To reset the trip odometer, press and hold the
reset button for one or two seconds.The odometer and trip odometer can be displayed with
the ignition off by pressing the trip odometer reset
button. The display will remain on for ®ve seconds after
the last time the reset button is pressed.
Tachometer
If your vehicle has this
feature, the tachometer
displays the engine
speed in revolutions per
minute (rpm).
Notice:Do not operate the engine with the
tachometer in the red area, or engine damage
may occur.
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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 in¯ate in a crash, or they
could even in¯ate 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 ¯ash for a few
seconds when you turn the ignition key to RUN. If the
light doesn't come on then, have it ®xed so it will
be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
Charging System Light
The charging system light
will come on brie¯y when
you turn on the ignition,
and the engine is not
running, as a check
to show you it is working.
Then it should go out when the engine is started.
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 light on, be
certain to turn off all your accessories, such as the radio
and air conditioner.
3-25

Up-Shift Light
If you have a manual
transaxle you may have
this light. This light comes
on when you need to
shift to the next higher
gear. See
Manual
Transaxle Operation on
page 2-25
.
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.
Have your brake system inspected right away.This light should come on brie¯y when you turn the
ignition key to RUN. If it doesn't come on then, have it
®xed so it will be ready to warn you if there's a
problem.
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.
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
¯oor. It may take longer to stop. If the light is still on,
have the vehicle towed for service. See
Towing
Your Vehicle on page 4-30. United States Only
United StatesCanada
3-26

{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.
Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light
If your vehicle is equipped
with the anti-lock brake
system, the light will come
on when your engine is
started and may stay on for
several seconds. That's
normal.If the light stays on, turn the ignition to OFF. Or, if the
light comes 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, your vehicle
needs service. If the regular brake system warning
light isn't on, you still have brakes, but you don't have
anti-lock brakes. If the regular brake system warning
light is also on, you don't have anti-lock brakes
and there's a problem with your regular brakes. See
Brake System Warning Light on page 3-26.
The anti-lock brake system warning light will come on
brie¯y when you turn the ignition key to RUN. This
is normal. If the light doesn't come on then, have it ®xed
so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
3-27

Enhanced Traction System
Active Light
When your Enhanced Traction System is limiting wheel
spin, this light will come on. Slippery road conditions
may exist if the Enhanced Traction System active light
comes on, so adjust your driving accordingly.
This light may also come on when the anti-lock brake
system is active.
The light will stay on for a few seconds after the
Enhanced Traction System stops limiting wheel spin.
The Enhanced Traction System active light also comes
on brie¯y when you turn the ignition key to RUN. If
the light doesn't come on then, have it ®xed so it will be
there to tell you when the system is active.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
Your vehicle is equipped with one of these gages. With
the ignition in RUN, 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. The CHECK GAGES light should come on
if this condition exists. See
Check Gages Warning
Light on page 3-34for more information. If you have
been operating your vehicle under normal conditions,
you should pull off the road, stop your vehicle and turn
off the engine as soon as possible.
See
Engine Overheating on page 5-25. United States
Canada
United StatesCanada
3-29

Low Coolant Warning Light
This light comes on brie¯y
when you turn your
ignition on.
If this light comes on and stays on, the coolant level in
your vehicle is low. If the light is on along with an
overheat warning, you may have a serious overheating
problem. See
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage on
page 3-29.
Notice:Damage to your engine from neglected
coolant problems can be costly and is not covered
by your warranty.
See
Engine Coolant on page 5-22for information on
what to do. Your vehicle should be serviced as soon as
possible.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
Check Engine Light
Your vehicle is equipped with a computer which
monitors operation of the fuel, ignition and emission
control systems.
This system is called OBD II (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.
United StatesCanada
3-30