2006 CHEVROLET OPTRA 5 seats

Seats and Restraint Systems........................... 1-1
Front Seats
............................................... 1-2
Rear Seats
............................................... 1-9
Safety Belts
.............................................1-11
Child Restraints
.......................................1-28
Airbag System
.........................................1-52
Restraint System Check
............................1-65
Features and Controls..................................... 2-1
Keys
........................................................ 2-2
Doors and Locks
....................................... 2-7
Windows
.................................................2-11
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................2-13
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
...........2-15
Mirrors
....................................................2-32
Storage Areas
.........................................2-34
Sunroof
..................................................2-38
Instrument Panel............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 3-4
Climate Controls
......................................3-22
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators
........3-27
Audio System(s)
.......................................3-44Driving 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
......................................................... 5-4
Checking Things Under the Hood
...............5-10
Headlamp Aiming
.....................................5-39
Bulb Replacement
....................................5-40
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.........5-49
Tires
......................................................5-50
Appearance Care
.....................................5-74
Vehicle Identification
.................................5-81
Electrical System
......................................5-81
Capacities and Specifications
.....................5-88
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
......5-89
Maintenance Schedule..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance and Information.............. 7-1
Customer Assistance and Information
........... 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects
...........................7-14
Index................................................................ 1
2006 Chevrolet Optra Owner ManualM

Vehicle Damage Warnings
Also, in this manual you will find these notices:
Notice:These mean there is something that could
damage your vehicle.
A notice tells about something that can damage the
vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be covered
by your vehicle’s warranty, and it could be costly. But
the notice will tell 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.
There are also warning labels on the vehicle. They use
the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.
Vehicle Symbols
The vehicle has components and labels that use
symbols instead of text. Symbols are shown along with
the text describing the operation or information
relating to a specific component, control, message,
gage, or indicator.
If you need help figuring out a specific 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

Front Seats......................................................1-2
Manual Seats (Without Sliding Storage Tray)......1-2
Manual Seats (With Sliding
Storage Tray).............................................1-3
Driver Seat Tilt Adjuster..................................1-4
Manual Lumbar..............................................1-4
Reclining Seatbacks........................................1-5
Head Restraints.............................................1-8
Rear Seats.......................................................1-9
Rear Seat Operation.......................................1-9
Safety Belts...................................................1-11
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone................1-11
Questions and Answers About Safety Belts......1-15
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly.................1-16
Driver Position..............................................1-16
Shoulder Belt Height Adjustment.....................1-23
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy..................1-24
Right Front Passenger Position.......................1-24
Rear Seat Passengers..................................1-24
Safety Belt Pretensioners...............................1-27
Safety Belt Extender.....................................1-27
Child Restraints.............................................1-28
Older Children..............................................1-28
Infants and Young Children............................1-30Child Restraint Systems.................................1-33
Where to Put the Restraint.............................1-38
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children
(LATCH)..................................................1-39
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat
Position...................................................1-46
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front
Seat Position............................................1-48
Airbag System...............................................1-52
Where Are the Airbags?................................1-55
When Should an Airbag Inflate?.....................1-57
What Makes an Airbag Inflate?.......................1-58
How Does an Airbag Restrain?.......................1-58
What Will You See After an Airbag Inflates?.....1-58
Passenger Sensing System............................1-60
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle...........1-64
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle....................................................1-64
Restraint System Check..................................1-65
Checking the Restraint Systems......................1-65
Replacing Restraint System Parts After a
Crash......................................................1-66
Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems
1-1

Front Seats
Manual Seats (Without Sliding
Storage Tray)
{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 do not want to. Adjust the driver’s
seat only when the vehicle is not moving.
If your vehicle does not have a sliding storage tray
under the front seat, the manual seat bar looks like this.Pull up and hold the bar
located under the front of
the seat to unlock it.
Slide the seat to where you want it and release the bar.
Then try to move the seat with your body, to make
sure the seat is locked into place.
1-2

Manual Seats (With Sliding
Storage Tray)
{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 do not want to. Adjust the driver’s
seat only when the vehicle is not moving.
If your vehicle has a sliding storage tray under the front
seat, the manual seat lever looks like this.Pull up and hold the lever
located under the front of
the 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.
1-3

Reclining Seatbacks
{CAUTION:
If the seatback is not locked, it could move
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could
cause injury to the person sitting there. Always
push and pull on the seatback to be sure it is
locked.
Your seats have manual reclining seatbacks. The lever
used to operate them is located on the outboard
side of the seats.
To recline the seatback, do the following:
1. Lift the recline lever.
2. Move the seatback to the desired position, then
release the lever to lock the seatback in place.
3. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is
locked.
1-5

Rear Seats
Rear Seat Operation
Your vehicle has rear seatbacks that can be folded
down to provide an extended cargo area.
To fold down the seatback, do the following:
1. Push the rear head restraints down completely.
2. Detach the safety belt in the rear center seat
position. Press the button in the buckle to release
the latch plate from the buckle.3. Press the release
button located on top
of the rear seatback.
4. Fold the rear seatback forward and down.
1-9

Safety Belts
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone
This part of the manual tells you how to use safety
belts properly. It also tells you some things you should
not do with safety belts.
{CAUTION:
Do not let anyone ride where he or she cannot
wear a safety belt properly. If you are in a
crash and you are not wearing a safety belt,
your injuries can be much worse. You can hit
things inside the vehicle or be ejected from it.
You can be seriously injured or killed. In the
same crash, you might not be, if you are
buckled up. Always fasten your safety belt,
and check that your passengers’ belts are
fastened properly too.
{CAUTION:
It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo
area, inside or outside of a vehicle. In a
collision, people riding in these areas are more
likely to be seriously injured or killed. Do not
allow people to ride in any area of your vehicle
that is not equipped with seats and safety
belts. Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a
seat and using a safety belt properly.
1-11