2005 CHEVROLET OPTRA 5 hood

Seats and Restraint Systems........................... 1-1
Front Seats
............................................... 1-2
Rear Seats
............................................... 1-7
Safety Belts
.............................................. 1-8
Child Restraints
.......................................1-25
Airbag System
.........................................1-48
Restraint System Check
............................1-63
Features and Controls..................................... 2-1
Keys
........................................................ 2-2
Doors and Locks
....................................... 2-8
Windows
.................................................2-14
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................2-16
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
...........2-18
Mirrors
....................................................2-33
Storage Areas
.........................................2-35
Sunroof
..................................................2-38
Instrument Panel............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 3-4
Climate Controls
......................................3-21
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators
........3-26
Audio System(s)
.......................................3-42Driving Your Vehicle....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
..... 4-2
Towing
...................................................4-33
Service and Appearance Care.......................... 5-1
Service
..................................................... 5-3
Fuel
......................................................... 5-5
Checking Things Under the Hood
...............5-10
Headlamp Aiming
.....................................5-37
Bulb Replacement
....................................5-38
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.........5-44
Tires
......................................................5-45
Appearance Care
.....................................5-66
Vehicle Identification
.................................5-75
Electrical System
......................................5-75
Capacities and Specifications
.....................5-82
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
......5-83
Maintenance Schedule..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance and Information.............. 7-1
Customer Assistance and Information
........... 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects
...........................7-10
Index................................................................ 1
2005 Chevrolet Optra Owner ManualM

Sun Visors
To block out glare you can swing down the visors. You
can also remove them from the center mount and
swing them to the side.
Visor Vanity Mirror
Your vehicle also has vanity mirrors located on the back
of the sun visors. Swing down the sun visor and lift
the cover to expose the vanity mirror.
Theft-Deterrent Systems
Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities.
Although your vehicle has a number of theft-deterrent
features, we know that nothing we put on it can make it
impossible to steal.
Theft-Deterrent System
Your vehicle may have a theft-deterrent system.
The theft-deterrent system will not arm when you lock
the doors using the key or the manual door lock. It
activates only when you use the optional remote keyless
entry transmitter.
Arming the System
To arm the system, do the following:
1. Turn the ignition to LOCK and remove the key from
the ignition.
If the key is inserted in the ignition, the transmitter
will not operate the theft-deterrent system.
2. Close the doors, the windows, the hood, and the
trunk or liftgate.
Make sure the windows are closed, as the system
can be activated even if the windows are open.
3. Lock the door using the remote keyless entry
transmitter. The transmitter must be used to activate
the theft-deterrent system.
•The LED light on the transmitter will flash once.
•All of the doors will lock.
•The hazard warning lamps will flash once and
the horn will chirp.
•The theft-deterrent mode will activate.
•The security light will flash once every second to
indicate that the theft-deterrent system is armed.
The security light is located on the base of
the driver’s door lock.
2-16

Starting Your Engine
1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn your
ignition key to START. When the engine starts, let
go of the key. The idle speed will go down as
your engine gets warm.
Notice:Holding your key in START for longer than
15 seconds at a time will cause your battery to
be drained much sooner. And the excessive heat
can damage your starter motor. Wait about
15 seconds between each try to help avoid draining
your battery or damaging your starter.
2. If it does not start, wait about 15 seconds and try
again to start the engine by turning the ignition key to
START. Wait about 15 seconds between each try.
When your engine has run about 10 seconds to
warm up, your vehicle is ready to be driven. Do not
“race” your engine when it is cold.
If the weather is below freezing (32°F or 0°C), let
the engine run for a few minutes to warm up.
3. If your engine still will not start, or starts but then
stops, it could be flooded with too much gasoline.
Try pushing your accelerator pedal all the way to the
floor and holding it there as you hold the key in
START for about three seconds. If the vehicle starts
briefly but then stops again, do the same thing,
but this time keep the pedal down for five or
six seconds. This clears the extra gasoline from
the engine.Notice:Your engine is designed to work with the
electronics in your vehicle. If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could change the way the
engine operates. Before adding electrical equipment,
check with your dealer. If you do not, your engine
might not perform properly.
Engine Coolant Heater
Your vehicle has an engine coolant heater. In very cold
weather 0°F (−18°C) or colder, the engine coolant
heater can help. You will get easier starting and better
fuel economy during engine warm-up. Usually, the
coolant heater should be plugged in a minimum of
four hours prior to starting your vehicle. At temperatures
above 32°F (0°C), use of the coolant heater is not
required.
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord. The
electrical cord is located to the right of the battery.
3. Plug the cord into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC
outlet.
2-20

The main components of your instrument panel are the following:
A. Air Outlets. SeeOutlet Adjustment on page 3-24.
B. Instrument Panel Cluster. SeeInstrument Panel
Cluster on page 3-26.
C. Hazard Warning Flashers Button. SeeHazard
Warning Flashers on page 3-8.
D. Digital Clock. SeeClock on page 3-20.
E. Audio System. SeeAudio System(s) on page 3-42.
F. Instrument Panel Brightness Control. See
Instrument Panel Brightness on page 3-17.G. Hood Release. SeeHood Release on page 5-10.
H. Horn. SeeHorn on page 3-8.
I. Climate Control System. SeeClimate Control
System on page 3-21.
J. Ashtray. SeeAshtrays and Cigarette Lighter on
page 3-19.
K. Cigarette Lighter. SeeAshtrays and Cigarette
Lighter on page 3-19.
L. Glove Box. SeeGlove Box on page 2-35.
3-5

The main components of your instrument panel are the following:
A. Air Outlets. SeeOutlet Adjustment on page 3-24.
B. Instrument Panel Cluster. SeeInstrument Panel
Cluster on page 3-26.
C. Hazard Warning Flashers Button. SeeHazard
Warning Flashers on page 3-8.
D. Digital Clock. SeeClock on page 3-20.
E. Audio System. SeeAudio System(s) on page 3-42.
F. Instrument Panel Brightness Control. See
Instrument Panel Brightness on page 3-17.
G. Hood Release. SeeHood Release on page 5-10.
H. Audio Steering Wheel Controls (If Equipped).
SeeAudio Steering Wheel Controls on page 3-52.I. Horn. SeeHorn on page 3-8.
J. Cruise Control Buttons. SeeCruise Control on
page 3-12.
K. Climate Control System. SeeClimate Control
System on page 3-21.
L. Ashtray. SeeAshtrays and Cigarette Lighter on
page 3-19.
M. Cigarette Lighter. SeeAshtrays and Cigarette
Lighter on page 3-19.
N. Glove Box. SeeGlove Box on page 2-35.
3-7

Outlet Adjustment
Use the lever located in the center of each outlet to
change the direction of the airflow. For four-door models,
use the thumbwheel located next to the outlets to turn
them on and off. For five-door models, use the
thumbwheel located below the outlets to turn them
on and off.
Operation Tips
•
Clear away any ice, snow or leaves from the air
inlets at the base of the windshield that may
block the flow of air into your vehicle.
•Use of non-GM approved hood deflectors may
adversely affect the performance of the system.
•Keep the path under the front seats clear of objects
to help circulate the air inside of your vehicle more
effectively.
Passenger Compartment Air Filter
Your vehicle may have a passenger compartment
air filter. It is located on the passenger side under the
glove box.
The filter traps most of the pollen from air entering the
module. Like your engine’s air cleaner/filter, it may need
to be changed periodically.
3-24

Service............................................................5-3
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-4
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle..............................................5-5
Fuel................................................................5-5
Gasoline Octane............................................5-5
Gasoline Specifications....................................5-5
California Fuel...............................................5-5
Additives.......................................................5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-6
Filling Your Tank............................................5-7
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.......................5-9
Checking Things Under the Hood....................5-10
Hood Release..............................................5-10
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-12
Engine Oil...................................................5-14
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-17
Automatic Transaxle Fluid..............................5-19
Manual Transaxle Fluid..................................5-19
Hydraulic Clutch...........................................5-19
Engine Coolant.............................................5-20
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap..................5-23
Engine Overheating.......................................5-23
Cooling System............................................5-24
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-28
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-29Brakes........................................................5-30
Battery........................................................5-33
Jump Starting...............................................5-34
Headlamp Aiming...........................................5-37
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-38
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-38
Headlamps..................................................5-38
Front Turn Signal and Parking Lamps..............5-39
Turn Signal Lamps (Side)..............................5-40
Fog Lamps..................................................5-40
Sidemarker Lamps (Front)..............................5-41
Sidemarker Lamps (Rear)..............................5-41
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL).........5-42
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Back-up Lamps.........................................5-42
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-43
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-44
Tires..............................................................5-45
Tire Sidewall Labelling...................................5-46
Tire Terminology and Definitions.....................5-48
Inflation - Tire Pressure.................................5-51
Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-52
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................5-53
Buying New Tires.........................................5-54
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..........................5-55
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle
Things you might add to the outside of your vehicle can
affect the airflow around it. This may cause wind
noise and affect windshield washer performance. Check
with your dealer before adding equipment to the
outside of your vehicle.
Fuel
Use of the recommended fuel is an important part of the
proper maintenance of your vehicle.
Gasoline Octane
Use regular unleaded gasoline with a posted octane
of 87 or higher. If the octane is less than 87, you may get
a heavy knocking noise when you drive. If this occurs,
use a gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher as soon as
possible. Otherwise, you might damage your engine. A
little pinging noise when you accelerate or drive uphill is
considered normal. This does not indicate a problem
exists or that a higher-octane fuel is necessary. If you are
using 87 octane or higher-octane fuel and hear heavy
knocking, your engine needs service.
Gasoline Specications
It is recommended that gasoline meet specifications
which were developed by automobile manufacturers
around the world and contained in the World-Wide Fuel
Charter which is available from the Alliance of
Automobile Manufacturers at
www.autoalliance.org/fuel_charter.htm. Gasoline
meeting these specifications could provide improved
driveability and emission control system performance
compared to other gasoline.
California Fuel
If your vehicle is certified to meet California Emission
Standards, it is designed to operate on fuels that
meet California specifications. See the underhood
emission control label. If this fuel is not available
in states adopting California emissions standards, your
vehicle will operate satisfactorily on fuels meeting
federal specifications, but emission control system
performance may be affected. The malfunction indicator
lamp may turn on and your vehicle may fail a
smog-check test. SeeMalfunction Indicator Lamp on
page 3-36. If this occurs, return to your authorized
GM dealer for diagnosis. If it is determined that
the condition is caused by the type of fuel used, repairs
may not be covered by your warranty.
5-5