Page 1 of 364

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
Page 8 of 364
Front Seats
Manual Seats
{CAUTION:
You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to
adjust a manual driver's seat while the vehicle
is moving. The sudden movement could startle
and confuse you, or make you push a pedal
when you don't want to. Adjust the driver's
seat only when the vehicle is not moving.
Lift the lever located on the front of the driver's seat to
unlock it. Slide the seat to where you want it and
release the lever. Then try to move the seat with your
body, to make sure the seat is locked into place.
1-2
Page 9 of 364
Your vehicle will be equipped with one of the following
passenger seat adjusters.
If your vehicle is not equipped with easy entry seats,
your passenger seat adjuster looks like this. Slide
the lever located under the passenger's seat to the right
to unlock it. Slide the seat to where you want it and
release the lever. Then try to move the seat with your
body, to make sure the seat is locked into place.If your vehicle is equipped with easy entry seats, this is
your front passenger seat adjuster. Pull up on the
lever located at the front of the passenger's seat up to
unlock it. Slide the seat to a comfortable position
and release the lever. Then try to move the seat with
your body, to make sure the seat is locked into place.
1-3
Page 10 of 364
Reclining Seatbacks
To adjust the seatback, lift the lever located on the
outboard side of the seat and move the seatback
to where you want it. Release the lever and push
rearward on the seatback to make sure it is locked. Pull
up on the lever without pushing on the seatback and
the seatback will go to an upright position.But don't have a seatback reclined if your vehicle is
moving.
1-4
Page 12 of 364
Seatback Latches
If your vehicle is a two-door model, the front seatback
folds forward to let people get into the back seat.
To fold a front seatback
forward, lift the latch
located on the lower back
side of the seatback
and push the seatback
forward.
When you return the seatback to its original position,
make sure the seatback is locked. The latch must
be down for the seat to work properly.{CAUTION:
If the seatback isn't locked, it could move
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could
cause injury to the person sitting there. Always
press rearward on the seatback to be sure it is
locked.
1-6
Page 13 of 364
Easy Entry Seat
{CAUTION:
If the easy entry right front seat isn't locked, it
can move. In a sudden stop or crash, the
person sitting there could be injured. After
you've used it, be sure to push rearward on an
easy entry seat to be sure it is locked.If your vehicle has this feature, the right front seat
makes it easy to get in and out of the rear seat.
1. Lift the right front seatback latch to release the
seatback.
2. Tilt the seatback completely forward and the whole
seat will slide forward.
3. Move the right front seatback to its original position
after someone gets into the rear seat area.
4. Then move the seat rearward until it locks.
Tilt the seatback completely forward again and move
the seat to get out of the back seat.
1-7
Page 14 of 364

Rear Seats
Rear Seat Operation
Folding the Seatback
To fold the seatback, do the following:
1. Pull the release straps
located in the trunk.
The right strap
operates the
passenger's side rear
split seat. The left
strap operates
the driver's side rear
split seat.
2. Fold the seatback down from the inside of the
vehicle.
{CAUTION:
If the seatback isn't locked, it could move
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could
cause injury to the person sitting there. Always
press rearward on the seatback to be sure it is
locked.
{CAUTION:
A safety belt that is improperly routed, not
properly attached, or twisted won't provide the
protection needed in a crash. The person
wearing the belt could be seriously injured.
After raising the rear seatback, always check
to be sure that the safety belts are properly
routed and attached, and are not twisted.
To raise the seatback, push the seatback up to return it
to its original position.
Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is latched
securely in the fully upright position.
1-8
Page 21 of 364
Lap-Shoulder Belt
The driver has a lap-shoulder belt. Here's how to wear it
properly.
1. Close and lock the door.
2. Adjust the seat so you can sit up straight. To see
how, see ªSeatsº in the Index.3. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you.
Don't let it get twisted.
The shoulder belt may lock if you pull the belt
across you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt
go back slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt
across you more slowly.
4. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.
Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure.
If the belt isn't long enough, see
Safety Belt
Extender on page 1-28.
Make sure the release button on the buckle is
positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the
safety belt quickly if you ever had to.
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