2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER key

Seats and Restraint Systems........................... 1-1
Front Seats
............................................... 1-2
Rear Seats
............................................... 1-8
Safety Belts
.............................................. 1-9
Child Restraints
.......................................1-29
Air Bag Systems
......................................1-49
Restraint System Check
............................1-58
Features and Controls..................................... 2-1
Keys
........................................................ 2-2
Doors and Locks
....................................... 2-7
Windows
.................................................2-13
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................2-15
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
...........2-17
Mirrors
....................................................2-32
OnStar
žSystem
......................................2-34
Storage Areas
.........................................2-35
Sunroof
..................................................2-36
Instrument Panel............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 3-2
Climate Controls
......................................3-17
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
.........3-21
Audio System(s)
.......................................3-36Driving Your Vehicle....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
..... 4-2
Towing
...................................................4-30
Service and Appearance Care.......................... 5-1
Service
..................................................... 5-3
Fuel
......................................................... 5-4
Checking Things Under
the Hood
.............................................5-10
Bulb Replacement
....................................5-45
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.........5-50
Tires
......................................................5-51
Appearance Care
.....................................5-71
Vehicle Identi®cation
.................................5-79
Electrical System
......................................5-80
Capacities and Speci®cations
.....................5-85
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
......5-86
Maintenance Schedule..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance Information.................... 7-1
Customer Assistance Information
.................. 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects
............................ 7-9
INDEX................................................................1
2003 Chevrolet Cavalier Owner ManualM

To unlatch the belt, just push the button on the buckle.
The belt should go back out of the way.
Before you close the door, be sure the belt is out of the
way. If you slam the door on it, you can damage
both the belt and your vehicle.
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy
Safety belts work for everyone, including pregnant
women. Like all occupants, they are more likely to be
seriously injured if they don't wear safety belts.A pregnant woman should wear a lap-shoulder belt, and
the lap portion should be worn as low as possible,
below the rounding, throughout the pregnancy.
The best way to protect the fetus is to protect the
mother. When a safety belt is worn properly, it's more
likely that the fetus won't be hurt in a crash. For
pregnant women, as for anyone, the key to making
safety belts effective is wearing them properly.
1-22

Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped
Vehicle
Air bags affect how your vehicle should be serviced.
There are air bag system parts in several places around
your vehicle. You don't want the system to in¯ate
while someone is working on your vehicle. Your dealer
and the service manual have information about
servicing your vehicle and the air bag system. To
purchase a service manual, see
Service Publications
Ordering Information on page 7-10.
{CAUTION:
For up to 10 minutes after the ignition key is
turned off and the battery is disconnected, an
air bag can still in¯ate during improper
service. You can be injured if you are close to
an air bag when it in¯ates. Avoid yellow
connectors. They are probably part of the air
bag system. Be sure to follow proper service
procedures, and make sure the person
performing work for you is quali®ed to do so.
Air bag systems do not need regular maintenance.
Restraint System Check
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. Look for any other
loose or damaged safety belt system parts. If you see
anything that might keep a safety belt 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.
Also look for any opened or broken air bag covers, and
have them repaired or replaced. (The air bag system
does not need regular maintenance.)
1-58

Keys...............................................................2-2
Remote Keyless Entry System.........................2-3
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation...........2-4
Doors and Locks.............................................2-7
Door Locks....................................................2-7
Power Door Locks..........................................2-8
Rear Door Security Locks................................2-9
Lockout Protection........................................2-10
Leaving Your Vehicle....................................2-10
Trunk..........................................................2-10
Windows........................................................2-13
Manual Windows..........................................2-14
Power Windows............................................2-14
Sun Visors...................................................2-14
Theft-Deterrent Systems..................................2-15
Content Theft-Deterrent.................................2-15
Passlock
ž....................................................2-16
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle................2-17
New Vehicle Break-In....................................2-17
Ignition Positions..........................................2-17
Starting Your Engine.....................................2-19
Engine Coolant Heater..................................2-21
Automatic Transaxle Operation.......................2-22Manual Transaxle Operation...........................2-25
Parking Brake..............................................2-26
Shifting Into Park (P)
(Automatic Transaxle)................................2-27
Shifting Out of Park (P)
(Automatic Transaxle)................................2-29
Parking Your Vehicle
(Manual Transaxle)....................................2-29
Parking Over Things That Burn.......................2-30
Engine Exhaust............................................2-30
Running Your Engine While You Are Parked. . . .2-31
Mirrors...........................................................2-32
Manual Rearview Mirror.................................2-32
Outside Remote Control Mirror.......................2-32
Outside Power Mirrors...................................2-32
Outside Convex Mirror...................................2-33
Outside Breakaway Mirror..............................2-33
OnStaržSystem.............................................2-34
Storage Areas................................................2-35
Cupholder(s)................................................2-35
Center Console Storage Area.........................2-35
Convenience Net..........................................2-36
Sunroof.........................................................2-36
Section 2 Features and Controls
2-1

Keys
{CAUTION:
Leaving children in a vehicle with the ignition
key is dangerous for many reasons. A child or
others could be badly injured or even killed.
They could operate the power windows or
other controls or even make the vehicle move.
Don't leave the keys in a vehicle with children.
2-2

One key is used for the
ignition, the doors and all
other locks.
When a new vehicle is delivered, the dealer removes
the key tag from the key and gives it to the ®rst owner.
Each tag has a code on it that tells your dealer or a
quali®ed locksmith how to make extra keys. Keep the
tag in a safe place. If you lose your key, you'll be able to
have a new one made easily using the tag.
If you need a new key, contact your dealer who can
obtain the correct key code. See
Roadside Assistance
Program on page 7-6for more information.
Notice:Your vehicle has a number of features that
can help prevent theft. You can have a lot of trouble
getting into your vehicle if you ever lock your keys
inside. You may even have to damage your vehicle to
get in. So be sure you have spare keys.If your vehicle is equipped with the OnStar
žsystem with
an active subscription and you lock your keys inside
the vehicle, OnStar
žmay be able to send a command to
unlock your vehicle. SeeOnStaržSystem on page 2-34for more information.
Remote Keyless Entry System
If equipped, the remote keyless entry system operates
on a radio frequency subject to Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) Rules and with Industry Canada.
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause interference, and
2. This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation of the device.
This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry Canada.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause interference, and
2. This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation of the device.
Changes or modi®cations to this system by other than
an authorized service facility could void authorization to
use this equipment.
2-3

At times you may notice a decrease in range. This is
normal for any remote keyless entry system. If the
transmitter does not work or if you have to stand closer
to your vehicle for the transmitter to work, try this:
·Check the distance. You may be too far from your
vehicle. You may need to stand closer during
rainy or snowy weather.
·Check the location. Other vehicles or objects may
be blocking the signal. Take a few steps to the
left or right, hold the transmitter higher, and
try again.
·Check to determine if battery replacement or
resynchronization is necessary. See ªBattery
Replacementº and ªResynchronizationº under
ªRemote Keyless Entry System Operationº following
this section.
·If you are still having trouble, see your dealer or a
quali®ed technician for service.
Remote Keyless Entry System
Operation
If your vehicle has this feature, you can lock and unlock
your doors or unlock your trunk from about 3 feet
(1 m) up to 30 feet (9 m) away using the remote keyless
entry transmitter supplied with your vehicle.
In addition, the system illuminates the interior lamps for
a set period of time. Also, a content theft security
system can be activated to monitor and set a horn alarm
if the vehicle's door or trunk is opened without ®rst
unlocking the door or trunk with the remote keyless entry
transmitter.
The remote keyless entry system consists of a receiver,
which is located in the vehicle, and two hand held
transmitters.
2-4

The following functions are
available with the remote
keyless entry system:
LOCK:All doors will automatically lock when this
button is pressed. In addition, if all doors and the trunk
are closed, the headlamps will ¯ash once, the interior
lamps will turn off, and the vehicle content theft security
system will arm. See
Content Theft-Deterrent on
page 2-15.
UNLOCK:The driver's door will unlock when this button
is pressed. In addition, the headlamps will ¯ash twice, the
interior lamps will turn on for about 20 seconds or until the
ignition is turned on, and the content theft security system
will disarm. See
Content Theft-Deterrent on page 2-15.If
you press UNLOCK again within ®ve seconds, all
remaining doors will unlock.
V(Trunk Release):The trunk will unlock when this
button is pressed, as long as the trunk lockout is
not engaged. You can open the trunk with the
transmitter when the vehicle speed is less than 2 mph
(3 km/h). The headlamps will ¯ash twice.
L(Panic):The horn will sound and the headlamps
and interior lamps will ¯ash alternately when this button
is pressed. They can be turned off by pressing the
panic button again or by turning the ignition to ON. The
alarm will sound for two minutes unless cancelled by
the driver.
Your dealer can change the settings to disable the
headlamp ¯ash and horn chirp features. Your dealer can
also change the settings to allow the horn to chirp
twice on the ®rst press of the UNLOCK button. See your
dealer for more information.
Radio Personalization
Your vehicle can store different radio preset stations
depending on which keyless entry transmitter you use to
unlock the doors. The radio will recall all the stored
settings associated with that transmitter. Any radio
setting changes will be assigned to the transmitter last
used to unlock the doors.
This feature can be disabled by your dealer if you
desire. Contact your dealer for further information.
2-5