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2003 Chevrolet Cavalier Owner's Manual - Page 65

2003 Chevrolet Cavalier Manual

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How Does an Air Bag Restrain? In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal collisions, even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel or the instrument panel. In moderate to severe side collisions, even belted occupants can contact the inside of the vehicle. The air bag supplements the protection provided by safety belts. Air bags distribute the force of the impact more evenly over the occupant's upper body, stopping the occupant more gradually. But the frontal air bags would not help you in many types of collisions, including rollovers, rear impacts, and many side impacts, primarily because an occupant's motion is not toward the air bag. Side impact air bags would not help you in many types of collisions, including frontal or near frontal collisions, rollovers, and rear impacts, primarily because an occupant's motion is not toward those air bags. Air bags should never be regarded as anything more than a supplement to safety belts, and then only in moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions for the driver's and right front passenger's frontal air bags, and only in moderate to severe side collisions for vehicles with a driver's and right front passenger's side impact air bag. What Will You See After an Air Bag Inflates? After the air bag inflates, it quickly deflates, so quickly that some people may not even realize the air bag inflated. Some components of the air bag module will be hot for a short time. These components include the steering wheel hub for the driver's frontal air bag and the instrument panel for the right front passenger's frontal air bag. For vehicles with side impact air bags, the side of the seatback closest to the driver's and/or right front passenger's door will be hot. The parts of the bag that come into contact with you may be warm, but not too hot to touch. There will be some smoke and dust coming from the vents in the deflated air bags. Air bag inflation doesn't prevent the driver from seeing or being able to steer the vehicle, nor does it stop people from leaving the vehicle. 1-58

Section	Page
Table of Contents	2
Seats and Restraint Systems	8
Front Seats	9
Manual Seats	9
Reclining Seatbacks	11
Head Restraints	12
Seatback Latches	13
Easy Entry Seat	14
Rear Seats	15
Rear Seat Operation	15
Safety Belts	16
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone	16
Questions and Answers About Safety Belts	20
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly	21
Driver Position	21
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy	29
Right Front Passenger Position	30
Rear Seat Passengers	30
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children and Small Adults	34
Satety Belt Extender	37
Child Restraints	38
Older Children	38
Infants and Young Children	41
Child Restraint Systems	44
Where to Put the Restraint	47
Top Strap	48
Top Strap Anchor Location	49
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for Children (LATCH System)	50
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the LATCH System	52
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat Position	52
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position	55
Air Bag Systems	58
Where Are the Air Bags?	61
When Should an Air Bag Inflate?	64
What Makes an Air Bag Inflate?	64
How Does an Air Bag Restrain?	65
What Will You See After an Air Bag Inflates?	65
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle	67
Restraint System Check	68
Checking Your Restraint Systems	68
Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash	69
Features and Controls	70
Keys	71
Remote Keyless Entry System	72
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation	73
Doors and Locks	77
Door Locks	77
Power Door Locks	78
Rear Door Security Locks	78
Lockout Protection	79
Leaving Your Vehicle	79
Trunk	80
Windows	83
Manual Windows	84
Power Windows	84
Sun Visors	84
Theft-Deterrent Systems	85
Content Theft-Deterrent	85
Passlock	86
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle	87
New Vehicle Break-In	87
Ignition Positions	87
Starting Your Engine	89
Engine Coolant Heater	91
Automatic Transaxle Operation	92
Manual Transaxle Operation	95
Parking Brake	96
Shifting Into Park (P) (Automatic Transaxle)	97
Shifting Out of Park (P) (Automatic Transaxle)	99
Parking Your Vehicle (Manual Transaxle)	99
Parking Over Things That Burn	100
Engine Exhaust	100
Running Your Engine While You Are Parked	101
Mirrors	102
Manual Rearview Mirror	102
Outside Remote Control Mirror	102
Outside Power Mirrors	102
Outside Convex Mirror	103
Outside Breakaway Mirror	103
OnStar System	105
Storage Areas	107
Cupholder(s)	107
Center Console Storage Area	107
Convenience Net	107
Sunroof	108
Instrument Panel	110
Instrument Panel Overview	111
Hazard Warning Flashers	112
Other Warning Devices	113
Horn	113
Tilt Wheel	114
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever	114
Exterior Lamps	121
Interior Lamps	123
Accessory Power Outlets	125
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter	125
Climate Controls	126
Climate Control System	126
Outlet Adjustment	129
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators	130
Instrument Panel Cluster	131
Speedometer and Odometer	132
Tachometer	132
Safety Belt Reminder Light	133
Air Bag Readiness Light	133
Charging System Light	134
Up-Shift Light	135
Brake System Warning Light	135
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light	136
Enhanced Traction System Warning Light	137
Enhanced Traction System Active Light	138
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage	138
Low Coolant Warning Light	139
Malfunction Indicator Lamp	139
Oil Pressure Light	142
Passlock Warning Light	143
Check Gages Warning Light	143
Service Vehicle Soon Light	144
Fuel Gage	144
Audio System(s)	145
Setting the Time for Radios without Radio Data Systems (RDS)	145
Setting the Time for Radios with Radio Data Systems (RDS)	145
AM-FM Radio	146
Radio with CD	149
Radio with Cassette and CD	159
Personal Choice Radio Controls	171
Theft-Deterrent Feature (Non RDS Radios)	171
Theft-Deterrent Feature (RDS Radios)	171
Understanding Radio Reception	172
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player	172
Care of Your CDs	173
Care of Your CD Player	173
Fixed Mast Antenna	174
XM Satellite Radio Antenna System	174
Chime Level Adjustment	174
Driving Your Vehicle	176
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle	177
Defensive Driving	177
Drunken Driving	177
Control of a Vehicle	180
Braking	181
Enhanced Traction System (ETS)	183
Steering	185
Off-Road Recovery	187
Passing	187
Loss of Control	189
Driving at Night	190
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads	191
City Driving	194
Freeway Driving	195
Before Leaving on a Long Trip	196
Highway Hypnosis	197
Hill and Mountain Roads	197
Winter Driving	199
If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow	204
Towing	206
Towing Your Vehicle	206
Recreational Vehicle Towing	206
Loading Your Vehicle	209
Towing a Trailer (Automatic Transaxle)	211
Towing a Trailer (Manual Transaxle)	217
Service and Appearance Care	218
Service	220
Doing Your Own Service Work	221
Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your Vehicle	221
Fuel	222
Gasoline Octane	222
Gasoline Specifications	222
California Fuel	223
Additives	223
Fuels in Foreign Countries	224
Filling Your Tank	224
Filling a Portable Fuel Container	226
Checking Things Under the Hood	227
Hood Release	227
Engine Compartment Overview	229
Engine Oil	231
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter	235
Automatic Transaxle Fluid	237
Manual Transaxle Fluid	237
Hydraulic Clutch	238
Engine Coolant	239
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap	241
Engine Overheating	242
Cooling System	244
Power Steering Fluid	250
Windshield Washer Fluid	251
Brakes	252
Battery	256
Jump Starting	257
Bulb Replacement	262
Halogen Bulbs	262
Headlamps	262
Front Turn Signal and Parking Lamps	264
Taillamps and Turn Signal Lamps	265
Back-up Lamps	266
Replacement Bulbs	266
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement	267
Tires	268
Inflation - Tire Pressure	269
Tire Inspection and Rotation	270
When It Is Time for New Tires	271
Buying New Tires	272
Uniform Tire Quality Grading	273
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance	274
Wheel Replacement	274
Tire Chains	276
If a Tire Goes Flat	277
Changing a Flat Tire	277
Compact Spare Tire	287
Appearance Care	288
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle	288
Care of Safety Belts	291
Weatherstrips	291
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle	291
Sheet Metal Damage	294
Finish Damage	294
Underbody Maintenance	294
Chemical Paint Spotting	295
GM Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials	295
Vehicle Identification	297
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)	297
Service Parts Identification Label	297
Electrical System	298
Add-on Electrical Equipment	298
Headlamp Wiring	298
Windshield Wiper Fuses	298
Power Windows and Other Power Options	298
Fuses and Circuit Breakers	298
Capacities and Specifications	302
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts	303
Maintenance Schedule	304
Maintenance Schedule	305
Introduction	305
Your Vehicle and the Environment	305
Maintenance Requirements	305
How This Section is Organized	306
Part A: Scheduled Maintenance Services	307
Using Your Maintenance Schedule	307
Selecting the Right Schedule	308
Short Trip/City Scheduled Maintenance	309
Long Trip/Highway Scheduled Maintenance	316
Part B: Owner Checks and Services	321
At Each Fuel Fill	321
At Least Once a Month	321
At Least Twice a Year	321
At Least Once a Year	322
Part C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections	325
Steering, Suspension and Front Drive Axle Boot and Seal Inspection	325
Exhaust System Inspection	325
Fuel System Inspection	325
Engine Cooling System Inspection	325
Throttle System Inspection	325
Brake System Inspection	326
Caliper/Knuckle Maintenance Inspection	326
Part D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants	327
Part E: Maintenance Record	329
Customer Assistance Information	332
Customer Assistance Information	333
Customer Satisfaction Procedure	333
Online Owner Center	334
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone (TTY) Users	335
Customer Assistance Offices	335
GM Mobility Program for Persons with Disabilities	336
Roadside Assistance Program	337
Courtesy Transportation	338
Reporting Safety Defects	341
Reporting Safety Defects to the United States Government	341
Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian Government	341
Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors	341
Service Publications Ordering Information	342

Match case Limit results 1 per page

How

Does an

Air

Bag Restrain?

In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal collisions,

even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel or

the instrument panel. In moderate

severe side

collisions, even belted occupants can contact the inside

of the vehicle. The air bag supplements the protection

provided by safety belts. Air bags distribute the force of

the impact more evenly over the occupant’s upper

body, stopping the occupant more gradually. But the

frontal air bags would not help you in many types

of collisions, including rollovers, rear impacts, and many

side impacts, primarily because an occupant’s motion

is not toward the air bag. Side impact air bags would not

help you in many types of collisions, including frontal

or near frontal collisions, rollovers, and rear

impacts,

primarily because

an occupant’s motion is not toward

those air bags. Air bags should never be regarded

as anything more than a supplement

safety belts, and

then only in moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal

collisions for

the

driver’s and right front passenger’s

frontal air bags, and only in moderate to severe

side collisions for vehicles with a driver’s and right front

passenger’s side

impact air bag.

What

Will

You

See

After

Air

Bag

Inflates?

After the air bag inflates, it quickly

deflates,

quickly

that some people may

not

even

realize

the

air

bag

inflated. Some components of the

air

bag

module

will

hot

for a short time. These

components

include

the

steering wheel hub for

the

driver’s frontal air bag and

the

instrument panel for

the

right

front

passenger’s

frontal

air bag. For vehicles with

side

impact

air

bags,

the

side

of the seatback closest to the

driver’s

and/or

right

front passenger’s door

will

be hot. The

parts of the

bag

that come into contact

with you may

warm,

but

not

too

hot

touch.

There

will

some

smoke and dust

coming from the vents in

the deflated air

bags.

Air

bag inflation doesn’t prevent

the

driver

from

seeing or

being able to steer the

vehicle,

nor

does it stop

people from leaving the

vehicle.

1-58