This factory service and repair manual for the 1983 Chevrolet Caprice narrows to a single trim, the Classic, sold as a four-door sedan or a four-door wagon. Three overhead-valve engines were fitted: a 3.8-liter V6 of 231 cubic inches, a 5.0-liter V8 of 305, and a 5.7-liter 350 that in this year is a diesel rather than a gasoline unit. That last point changes the service picture, since injection timing and fuel delivery follow different procedures from the two gasoline engines and the diagnostics do not overlap.
Engines covered
- 5.0L V8 (305 cu in) — OHV, naturally aspirated, gasoline
- 3.8L V6 (231 cu in) — OHV, naturally aspirated, gasoline
- 5.7L V8 (350 cu in) — OHV, naturally aspirated, diesel
Body styles covered
- 4-door wagon
- 4-door sedan
Trims covered
- Classic
Known issues on the 1983 Caprice. One recall stands on the federal record, and it concerns replacement oil filters that can seal poorly against the block, letting engine oil escape where it may find an ignition source. Owner complaints number eight in total, the largest share — three — filed under engine and engine cooling, with two more on the electrical system and one on the structure. Those are the areas to read closely: the manual's lubrication specifications, cooling system diagnostics and charging and wiring material cover exactly the ground those filings point at.
CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHI
THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE INADEQUATE SEALING AND LOSS OF ENGINE OIL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN
HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING N
VALVE COVER GASKETS LEAKED OIL ON EXHAUST CAUSING FIRE. REQUIRED 10 # DRY CHEMICAL EXTINGUISHER TO PUT OUT FIRE. VERY DIFFICULT TO EXTINGUISH.*AK
THE PLASTIC HVAC UNIT MOUNTED TO THE FIREWALL IS POORLY DESIGN WHICH ALLOWED A FIRE TO SPREAD INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT ONLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, DIRECTLY THROUGH THE PLASTI
VEHICLE FIRE. *DSH
VEHICLE HAS CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TWICE IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS. TT
Showing the 4 most serious of 8 complaints filed with NHTSA.
