
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

Vehicle Damage Warnings
Also, in this book you will ®nd these notices:
Notice:These mean there is something that could
damage your vehicle.
A notice will tell you about something that can damage
your vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be
covered by your warranty, and it could be costly. But the
notice will tell you what to do to help avoid the
damage.
When you read other manuals, you might see CAUTION
and NOTICE warnings in different colors or in different
words.
You'll also see warning labels on your vehicle. They use
the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.
Vehicle Symbols
Your vehicle has components and labels that use
symbols instead of text. Symbols, used on your vehicle,
are shown along with the text describing the operation
or information relating to a speci®c component, control,
message, gage or indicator.
If you need help ®guring out a speci®c name of a
component, gage or indicator, reference the following
topics:
·Seats and Restraint Systems in Section 1
·Features and Controls in Section 2
·Instrument Panel Overview in Section 3
·Climate Controls in Section 3
·Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators in Section 3
·Audio System(s) in Section 3
·Engine Compartment Overview in Section 5
iv

B (LOCK):This position locks your steering wheel,
ignition, shift lever and transaxle. This is the only
position from which you can remove the key. A warning
chime will sound if you open the driver's door when
the ignition is in LOCK and the key is in the ignition.
{CAUTION:
On manual transaxle vehicles, turning the key
to LOCK will lock the steering column and
result in a loss of ability to steer the vehicle.
This could cause a collision. If you need to
turn the engine off while the vehicle is moving,
turn the key only to OFF. Don't press the key
release button while the vehicle is moving.
Notice:If your key seems stuck in LOCK and you
can't turn it, be sure you are using the correct key; if
so, is it all the way in? If it is, then turn the steering
wheel left and right while you turn the key hard.
Turn the key only with your hand. Using a tool
to force it could break the key or the ignition switch.
If none of these works, then your vehicle needs
service.C (OFF):This position unlocks the steering wheel,
ignition and transaxle, but does not send power to any
accessories. Use this position if your vehicle must
be pushed or towed, but never try to push-start your
vehicle. A warning chime will sound if you open
the driver's door when the ignition is in OFF and the key
is in the ignition.
D (RUN):This is the position to which the switch
returns after you start your engine and release the
switch. The switch stays in RUN when the engine
is running. But even when the engine is not running,
you can use RUN to operate your electrical accessories,
and to display some instrument panel warning lights.
E (START):This position starts the engine. When
the engine starts, release the key. The ignition switch
will return to RUN for normal driving.
Even if the engine is not running, ACCESSORY and
RUN allow you to operate electrical accessories,
such as the radio.
2-18

Instrument Panel Overview...............................3-2
Hazard Warning Flashers................................3-3
Other Warning Devices...................................3-4
Horn.............................................................3-4
Tilt Wheel.....................................................3-5
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.........................3-5
Exterior Lamps.............................................3-12
Interior Lamps..............................................3-14
Accessory Power Outlets...............................3-16
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter........................3-16
Climate Controls............................................3-17
Climate Control System.................................3-17
Outlet Adjustment.........................................3-20
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators.............3-21
Instrument Panel Cluster................................3-22
Speedometer and Odometer...........................3-23
Tachometer.................................................3-23
Safety Belt Reminder Light.............................3-24
Air Bag Readiness Light................................3-24
Charging System Light..................................3-25
Up-Shift Light...............................................3-26
Brake System Warning Light..........................3-26
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light.............3-27
Enhanced Traction System Warning Light.........3-28
Enhanced Traction System Active Light............3-29
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage..................3-29
Low Coolant Warning Light............................3-30Malfunction Indicator Lamp.............................3-30
Oil Pressure Light.........................................3-33
Passlock
žWarning Light................................3-34
Check Gages Warning Light...........................3-34
Service Vehicle Soon Light............................3-35
Fuel Gage...................................................3-35
Audio System(s).............................................3-36
Setting the Time for Radios without Radio
Data Systems (RDS)..................................3-36
Setting the Time for Radios with Radio Data
Systems (RDS).........................................3-36
AM-FM Radio...............................................3-37
Radio with CD (Base Level)...........................3-39
Radio with CD (MP3)....................................3-49
Radio with Cassette and CD..........................3-63
Personal Choice Radio Controls......................3-75
Theft-Deterrent Feature (Non RDS Radios).......3-76
Theft-Deterrent Feature (RDS Radios).............3-76
Understanding Radio Reception......................3-76
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player.................3-77
Care of Your CDs.........................................3-78
Care of Your CD Player................................3-78
Fixed Mast Antenna......................................3-78
XMŸ Satellite Radio Antenna System
(United States Only)..................................3-79
Chime Level Adjustment................................3-79
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-1

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

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 brie¯y 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.
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 Ð and even dangerous. So please get to know
your warning lights and gages. They're a big help.
3-21

Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is ®lled with
DEX-COOLžengine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain in your vehicle for 5 years or 150,000 miles
(240 000 km), whichever occurs ®rst, if you add
only DEX-COOL
žextended life coolant.
The following explains your cooling system and how to
add coolant when it is low. If you have a problem
with engine overheating, see
Engine Overheating on
page 5-25.
A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL
žcoolant will:
·Give freezing protection down to-34ÉF (-37ÉC).
·Give boiling protection up to 265ÉF (129ÉC).
·Protect against rust and corrosion.
·Help keep the proper engine temperature.
·Let the warning lights and gages work as they
should.
Notice:When adding coolant, it is important that
you use only DEX-COOLž(silicate-free) coolant.
If coolant other than DEX-COOLžis added to
the system, premature engine, heater core or
radiator corrosion may result. In addition, the engine
coolant will require change sooner Ð at 30,000 miles
(50,000 km) or 24 months, whichever occurs ®rst.
Damage caused by the use of coolant other
than DEX-COOL
žis not covered by your new vehicle
warranty.
What to Use
Use a mixture of one-halfclean, drinkable waterand
one-half DEX-COOLžcoolant which won't damage
aluminum parts. If you use this coolant mixture,
you don't need to add anything else.
{CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling
system can be dangerous. Plain water, or
some other liquid such as alcohol, can boil
before the proper coolant mixture will.
CAUTION: (Continued)
5-22

V
Vehicle Identi®cation........................................5-79
Number (VIN).............................................5-79
Service Parts Identi®cation Label...................5-80
Vehicle Storage..............................................5-39
Vehicle............................................................ 4-5
Control........................................................ 4-5
Damage Warnings........................................... iv
Loading......................................................4-32
Parking Your...............................................2-29
Service Soon Light......................................3-35
Symbols......................................................... iv
Ventilation Adjustment......................................3-20
Visors...........................................................2-14
W
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators................3-21
Warnings......................................................... 3-3
Hazard Warning Flashers............................... 3-3
Other Warning Devices.................................. 3-4
Safety and Symbols......................................... iii
Vehicle Damage.............................................. ivWashing Your Vehicle......................................5-74
Weatherstrip Lubrication...................................6-20
Weight of the Trailer Tongue.............................4-36
Weight of the Trailer........................................4-35
What Kind of Engine Oil to Use........................5-16
What to Do with Used Oil................................5-18
What to Use..................................5-22, 5-33, 5-34
Wheels..........................................................5-57
Alignment and Tire Balance..........................5-57
Replacement...............................................5-57
When to Add Engine Oil..................................5-15
When to Change Engine Oil.............................5-17
When to Check and What to Use.....................5-21
When to Check Power Steering Fluid................5-33
When to Check..............................................5-52
When to Inspect the Engine Air Cleaner/Filter.....5-18
When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill.........................................4-40
Where to Put the Restraint...............................1-38
Why Safety Belts Work....................................1-10
Window Lock-Out............................................2-14
Windows.......................................................2-13
Manual......................................................2-14
Power........................................................2-14
15