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.