2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER warning light

If No Steam Is Coming From Your
Engine
An overheat warning, along with a low coolant light, can
indicate a serious problem. SeeLow Coolant Warning
Light on page 3-30.
If you get an engine overheat warning with no low
coolant light, but see or hear no steam, the problem may
not be too serious. Sometimes the engine can get a
little too hot when you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
Stop after high-speed driving.
Idle for long periods in traffic.
Tow a trailer.
If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam,
try this for a minute or so:
1. In heavy traffic, let the engine idle in NEUTRAL (N)
while stopped. If it is safe to do so, pull off the road,
shift to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) and let the
engine idle.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan
speed and open the windows as necessary.If you no longer have the overheat warning, you can
drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for about 10 minutes.
If the warning does not come back on, you can drive
normally.
If the warning continues and you have not stopped,
pull over, stop, and park your vehicle right away.
If there is still no sign of steam, you can idle the engine
for three minutes while you are parked. If you still
have the warning,turn off the engine and get everyone
out of the vehicleuntil it cools down.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service
help right away.
5-24

Brakes
Brake Fluid
Your brake master cylinder
reservoir is lled with
DOT-3 brake uid. See
Engine Compartment
Overview on page 5-12
for the location of the
reservoir.
There are only two reasons why the brake uid level
in the reservoir might go down. The rst is that the brake
uid goes down to an acceptable level during normal
brake lining wear. When new linings are put in, the
uid level goes back up. The other reason is that uid
is leaking out of the brake system. If it is, you should
have your brake system xed, since a leak means that
sooner or later your brakes will not work well, or will
not work at all.So, it is not a good idea to top off your brake uid.
Adding brake uid will not correct a leak. If you add uid
when your linings are worn, then you will have too
much uid when you get new brake linings. You should
add or remove brake uid, as necessary, only when
work is done on the brake hydraulic system.
{CAUTION:
If you have too much brake uid, it can spill on
the engine. The uid will burn if the engine is
hot enough. You or others could be burned,
and your vehicle could be damaged. Add brake
uid only when work is done on the brake
hydraulic system.
When your brake uid falls to a low level, your brake
warning light will come on. SeeBrake System Warning
Light on page 3-26.
5-32

Brake Wear
Your vehicle has front disc brakes and rear drum
brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that make
a high-pitched warning sound when the brake pads
are worn and new pads are needed. The sound
may come and go or be heard all the time your vehicle
is moving, except when you are pushing on the
brake pedal rmly.
{CAUTION:
The brake wear warning sound means that
soon your brakes will not work well. That
could lead to an accident. When you hear the
brake wear warning sound, have your vehicle
serviced.
Notice:Continuing to drive with worn-out brake
pads could result in costly brake repair.Some driving conditions or climates may cause a
brake squeal when the brakes are rst applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean something is wrong with
your brakes.
SeeCaliper/Knuckle Maintenance Inspection on
page 6-23.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are necessary to help
prevent brake pulsation. When tires are rotated, inspect
brake pads for wear and evenly tighten wheel nuts in
the proper sequence to GM torque specications.
Your rear drum brakes do not have wear indicators,
but if you ever hear a rear brake rubbing noise, have the
rear brake linings inspected immediately. Also, the
rear brake drums should be removed and inspected
each time the tires are removed for rotation or changing.
When you have the front brake pads replaced, have
the rear brakes inspected, too.
Brake linings should always be replaced as complete
axle sets.
SeeBrake System Inspection on page 6-23.
5-34

Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable on the
tire sidewall between tread shoulder and maximum
section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
The following information relates to the system
developed by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, which grades tires by
treadwear, traction and temperature performance.
(This applies only to vehicles sold in the United States.)
The grades are molded on the sidewalls of most
passenger car tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading
system does not apply to deep tread, winter-type
snow tires, space-saver or temporary use spare tires,
tires with nominal rim diameters of 10 to 12 inches
(25 to 30 cm), or to some limited-production tires.
While the tires available on General Motors passenger
cars and light trucks may vary with respect to these
grades, they must also conform to federal safety
requirements and additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC) standards.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on
the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specied government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and
a half (1.5) times as well on the government course as
a tire graded 100. The relative performance of tires
depends upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart signicantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits, service practices and
differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction – AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A,
B, and C. Those grades represent the tire’s ability
to stop on wet pavement as measured under controlled
conditions on specied government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor
traction performance. Warning: The traction grade
assigned to this tire is based on straight-ahead braking
traction tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction characteristics.
5-57

A
Accessory Power Outlets.................................3-16
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-6
Add-On Electrical Equipment............................5-80
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-17
Air Conditioning..............................................3-18
Airbag
Readiness Light..........................................3-24
Airbag Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM)...... 7-9
Airbag System................................................1-46
How Does an Airbag Restrain?......................1-52
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle..........1-55
What Makes an Airbag Inate?......................1-52
What Will You See After an Airbag Inates?........1-53
When Should an Airbag Inate?....................1-51
Where Are the Airbags?...............................1-49
AM-FM Radio.................................................3-37
Antenna, Fixed Mast.......................................3-71
Antenna, XM™ Satellite Radio
Antenna System..........................................3-71
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)........................... 4-6
Anti-Lock Brake, System Warning Light..............3-27
Appearance Care............................................5-72
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels..............5-76
Care of Safety Belts....................................5-74
Chemical Paint Spotting...............................5-78
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses....................5-75Appearance Care (cont.)
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-72
Finish Care.................................................5-75
Finish Damage............................................5-77
Glass Surfaces............................................5-74
Instrument Panel.........................................5-74
Interior Plastic Components...........................5-74
Sheet Metal Damage...................................5-77
Tires..........................................................5-77
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-78
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials................5-78
Vinyl..........................................................5-74
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-75
Weatherstrips..............................................5-75
Windshield and Wiper Blades........................5-76
Ashtrays........................................................3-17
Audio System(s).............................................3-36
AM-FM Radio.............................................3-37
Care of Your CD Player...............................3-70
Care of Your CDs........................................3-70
Chime Level Adjustment...............................3-71
Fixed Mast Antenna.....................................3-71
Personal Choice Radio Controls....................3-69
Radio with CD............................3-39, 3-44, 3-54
Setting the Time for Radios with Radio Data
Systems (RDS)........................................3-36
Setting the Time for Radios without Radio
Data Systems (RDS)................................3-36
1

Audio System(s) (cont.)
Theft-Deterrent Feature................................3-69
Understanding Radio Reception.....................3-70
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System............3-71
Automatic Transaxle
Fluid..........................................................5-19
Operation...................................................2-20
B
Battery..........................................................5-36
Run-Down Protection...................................3-16
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.........................4-21
Brake
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)........................ 4-6
Emergencies................................................ 4-8
Parking......................................................2-25
System Inspection.......................................6-23
System Warning Light..................................3-26
Brakes..........................................................5-32
Braking........................................................... 4-5
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 4-8
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-16
Bulb Replacement...........................................5-41
Back-Up Lamps...........................................5-45
Front Turn Signal and Parking Lamps.............5-44
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-41Bulb Replacement (cont.)
Headlamps.................................................5-42
Replacement Bulbs......................................5-45
Taillamps and Turn Signal Lamps..................5-44
Buying New Tires...........................................5-56
C
California Fuel.................................................. 5-5
Caliper/Knuckle Maintenance Inspection.............6-23
Canadian Owners................................................ ii
Capacities and Specications............................5-85
Carbon Monoxide...........2-10, 2-29, 4-24, 4-37, 4-43
Care of
Safety Belts................................................5-74
Your CD Player...........................................3-70
Your CDs ...................................................3-70
Center Console Storage Area...........................2-35
Chains, Tire...................................................5-60
Charging System Light....................................3-25
Check
Engine Light...............................................3-30
Gages Warning Light...................................3-34
Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-10
Chemical Paint Spotting...................................5-78
Child Restraints
Child Restraint Systems...............................1-33
Infants and Young Children...........................1-30
2

Child Restraints (cont.)
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System)..........................1-39
Older Children.............................................1-27
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the
LATCH System........................................1-41
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat
Position..................................................1-41
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front
Seat Position...........................................1-43
Top Strap...................................................1-37
Top Strap Anchor Location............................1-38
Where to Put the Restraint...........................1-36
Chime Level Adjustment..................................3-71
Cigarette Lighter.............................................3-17
Cleaning
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels..............5-76
Exterior Lamps/Lenses.................................5-75
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-72
Finish Care.................................................5-75
Glass Surfaces............................................5-74
Instrument Panel.........................................5-74
Interior Plastic Components...........................5-74
Tires..........................................................5-77
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-78
Vinyl..........................................................5-74
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-75Cleaning (cont.)
Weatherstrips..............................................5-75
Windshield and Wiper Blades........................5-76
Climate Control System...................................3-18
Outlet Adjustment........................................3-20
Clutch, Hydraulic.............................................5-19
Comfort Guides, Rear Safety Belt.....................1-24
Compact Spare Tire........................................5-71
Content Theft-Deterrent....................................2-14
Control of a Vehicle.......................................... 4-5
Convenience Net............................................2-35
Coolant
Engine Temperature Gage............................3-29
Heater, Engine............................................2-19
Low Warning Light.......................................3-30
Surge Tank Pressure Cap.............................5-23
Cooling System..............................................5-25
Cruise Control Lever.......................................3-10
Cupholder(s)..................................................2-35
Customer Assistance Information
Courtesy Transportation.................................. 7-7
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone (TTY)
Users....................................................... 7-4
Customer Assistance Offices........................... 7-4
Customer Satisfaction Procedure..................... 7-2
GM Mobility Program for Persons with
Disabilities................................................ 7-5
3

Engine (cont.)
Overheating................................................5-23
Starting......................................................2-18
Enhanced Traction System (ETS)........................ 4-8
Active Light................................................3-29
Warning Light.............................................3-28
Entry Lighting.................................................3-16
Event Data Recorders (EDR)............................. 7-9
Extender, Safety Belt.......................................1-26
Exterior Lamps...............................................3-13
F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner......................................5-17
Finish Damage...............................................5-77
Fixed Mast Antenna........................................3-71
Flash-to-Pass................................................... 3-8
Flat Tire........................................................5-61
Flat Tire, Changing.........................................5-62
Flat Tire, Storing.............................................5-70
Fluid
Automatic Transaxle.....................................5-19
Manual Transaxle........................................5-19
Power Steering...........................................5-30
Windshield Washer......................................5-31Fog Lamps....................................................3-15
Front Reading Lamps......................................3-16
Fuel............................................................... 5-5
Additives...................................................... 5-6
California Fuel.............................................. 5-5
Filling a Portable Fuel Container..................... 5-9
Filling Your Tank........................................... 5-7
Fuels in Foreign Countries.............................. 5-6
Gage.........................................................3-35
Gasoline Octane........................................... 5-5
Gasoline Specications.................................. 5-5
System Inspection.......................................6-22
Fuses
Engine Compartment Fuse Block...................5-84
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...........................5-81
Instrument Panel Fuse Block.........................5-82
Windshield Wiper.........................................5-81
G
Gage
Check Gages Warning Light..........................3-34
Engine Coolant Temperature.........................3-29
Fuel..........................................................3-35
Speedometer..............................................3-23
Tachometer.................................................3-23
5