1988 Chevrolet Spectrum Service and Repair Manual
This factory service and repair manual for the 1988 Chevrolet Spectrum spreads across five trims, Base, CL, CL Plus, Express and Turbo, and two bodies, a four-door sedan and a two-door hatchback, with a 1.5L SOHC inline-four of 92 cubic inches offered both naturally aspirated and turbocharged. The shared displacement makes it easy to reach for the wrong number, so the induction-related specifications and diagnostics are the ones to check against the engine in front of you before any adjustment is made.
Engines covered
- 1.5L inline-four (92 cu in) — SOHC, naturally aspirated, gasoline
- 1.5L inline-four (92 cu in) — SOHC, turbocharged, gasoline
Body styles covered
- 4-door sedan
- 2-door hatchback
Trims covered
- Base
- CL
- CL Plus
- Express
- Turbo
Known issues on the 1988 Spectrum. The federal record carries two recalls for this model year. One involves crankcase ventilation: the valve can flow too little air under light load, allowing a water and oil mixture to gather in the hose from the oil separator to the air inlet and freeze in cold weather, blocking the passage and driving crankcase pressure up. The other covers corrosion perforating the fuel tank or its feed pipe, which lets fuel escape and can end in a fire. Five owner complaints are on record, one each on engine and engine cooling, suspension and structure.
THE POSITIVE CRANKCASE VENTILATION VALVE MAY PROVIDE INADEQUATE AIR FLOW UNDER LOW ENGINE LOAD CONDITIONS.
THIS CONDITION CAN ALLOW WATER/OIL MIXTURE TO BUILD UPIN THE HOSE FROM THE OIL SEPARATOR T
THE PCV VALVE WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW VALVE.
PERFORATION OF THE FUEL TANK OR THE ATTACHED FUEL FEED PIPE DUE TO CORROSION OF THE TANK OR FUEL FEED PIPE MATERIALS.
THIS CONDITION COULD ALLOW FUEL TO LEAK FROM THE FUELTANK AND ULTIMATELY RESULT IN A FIRE
THE FUEL TANK WILL BE REPLACED ON ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES.
BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)*SD
HOSES INSIDE OF VEHICLE WERE CROSSED WRONGLY FROM DEALERSHIP, AND VEHICLE HAD BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE.*AK
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT BECAUSE OF FRONT END MISALIGNMENT. ALSO, THE TIRES WORE OUT DUE TO THE TIRES RUBBING ON METAL PART OF THE VEHICLE. *AK
FIREWALL BROKE, CAUSING CLUTCH TO FAIL. *DSH
Showing the 4 most serious of 5 complaints filed with NHTSA.
