1988 Chevrolet Nova Service and Repair Manual
This factory service and repair manual for the 1988 Chevrolet Nova has to keep two versions of the same 1.6L inline-four apart. Both measure 98 cubic inches and both are naturally aspirated gasoline engines, but one uses a single overhead camshaft and the other twin cams, and the twin-cam car has a trim of its own alongside Base and CL. Two four-door bodies, a hatchback and a sedan, carry them. Valve train service, timing and cylinder head procedures are therefore given per engine rather than per displacement.
Engines covered
- 1.6L inline-four (98 cu in) — SOHC, naturally aspirated, gasoline
- 1.6L inline-four (98 cu in) — DOHC, naturally aspirated, gasoline
Body styles covered
- 4-door hatchback
- 4-door sedan
Trims covered
- Base
- CL
- Twin Cam
Known issues on the 1988 Nova. Twelve complaints are on record against this model year: five on the power train, three on seat belts and two on the electrical system. That is a small sample, but transmission and driveline work, restraint hardware and the body electrical circuits are all documented here with procedures, specifications, torque values, wiring diagrams and diagnostics, so a fault in any of the three can be narrowed to a component instead of being answered by replacing parts in sequence.
UPON FRONTAL IMPACT ITEMS IN TRUNK MOVED FORWARD, STRIKING REAR SEAT BACK, CAUSING SEAT BACK TO COLLAPSE, ITEMS STUCK CHILD, RESULTING IN DEATH.
VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS WHILE IN PARK, KILLING OWNER. *DSH
TAIL LIGHTS' WIRING HARNESS BURNED OUT/MELTED, RESULTING IN A FIRE. *AK
Showing the 3 most serious of 13 complaints filed with NHTSA.
