CHEVROLET MALIBU 1998 Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Engine Exhaust
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Engine exhaust can kill. It contains the gas
carbon monoxide
(CO), which you can’t see or
smell.
It can cause unconsciousness and death.
You might have exhaust coming in if:
0 Your exhaust system sounds strange
0 Your vehicle gets rusty underneath.
Your vehicle was damaged in a collision.
0 Your vehicle was damaged when driving over
high points on the road or over road debris.
Repairs weren’t done correctly.
0 Your vehicle or exhaust system had been
If you ever suspect exhaust is coming into
your vehicle:
0 Drive it only with all the windows down to
0 Have your vehicle fixed immediately.
or
different.
modified improperly.
blow out any
CO; and
Running Your Engine While
You’re Parked
It’s better not to park with the engine running. But if you
ever have to, here are some things to know.
Idling the engine with the climate control
system
off could allow dangerous exhaust into
your vehicle (see the earlier Caution under
“Engine Exhaust”).
Also, idling in a closed-in place can let deadly
carbon monoxide
(CO) into your vehicle even if
the fan switch is at the highest setting. One place
this can happen is a garage. Exhaust
-- with
CO -- can come in easily. NEVER park in a
garage with the engine running.
Another closed-in place can be a blizzard. (See
“Blizzard” in the Index.)

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Power Windows (If Equipped)
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It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set, Your vehicle can roll.
Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine
is
running unless you have to. If you’ve left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured.
To be sure your
vehicle won’t move, even when you’re
on fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever to
PARK (P).
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle won’t
move. See “Shifting Into
PARK (P)” in the Index.
If you are parking on a hill and
if you’re pulling a
trailer, also see “Towing a Trailer” in the Index.
Windows
Manual Windows
On a vehicle with manual windows, use the window
crank to open and close each window. The
power window switches are located on the armrest
of the driver’s door. In addition, each passenger door has
a switch for its own window.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Auto-Down Switch Tilt Wheel
The driver's window switch has an auto-down feature.
This switch is labeled AUTO. Push the top of the switch
partway, and the driver's window will open a small
amount. If the switch is pushed all the way, the window
will go all the way down.
To stop the window while it is lowering, push the switch
forward.
To raise the window, push and hold the
switch forward.
Lock Out Switch
The driver's power window controls also include a
lock-out switch.
Press LOCK OUT to stop front and
rear passengers from using their window switches. The
driver can still control all the windows with the lock
on. Press the
LOCK OUT button again for normal
window operation.
Horn
You can sound the horn by pressing the horn symbol on
your steering wheel.
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A tilt steering wheel allows you to adjust the steering
wheel before you drive.
You can also raise it to the highest level to give your
legs more room when
you exit and enter the vehicle.
To tilt the wheel, hold the steering wheel and pull the
lever toward you.
Move the steering wheel to a comfortable level, then
release the lever to lock the wheel in place.
2-28

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Turn SignaVMultifunction Lever
The lever on the left side of the steering column
includes your:
Turn Signal and Lane Change Indicator
Headlamp HigWLow Beam Changer
Park Lamps and Headlamps
firn and Lane Change Signals
The turn signal has two upward (for right) and two
downward (for left) positions. These positions allow you
to signal a turn or a lane change.
To signal a turn, move the lever all the way up or down.
When the
turn is finished, the lever will return automatically.
An arrow on the instrument
panel will flash in the
direction of the turn or
lane change.
To signal a lane change, just raise or lower the lever
until the arrow starts to flash.
Hold it there until you
complete your lane change.
The lever will return by
itself when you release it.
A warning chime signal will come on if you have left
your turn signal on for more than
3/4 mile (1 km).
As you signal a turn or a lane change, if the arrows flash
rapidly, a signal bulb may be burned out and other
drivers won't see your turn signal.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If a bulb is burned out, replace it to help avoid an
accident. If the arrows don’t
go on at all when you
signal a turn, check for burned-out bulbs and then check
the fuse (see “Fuses and Circuit Breakers” in the Index).
Windshield Wipers
Headlamp High/Low Beam
To change the headlamps
from low-beam to
high-beam, push forward on the turn signaUmultifunction lever.
To change the headlamps from high-beam to low-beam,
pull the turn signal lever backward. When the high-beams
are on, a light on the instrument panel also
will be on.
Flash to Pass
This feature lets you use your high-beam headlamps to
signal a driver in front of you that you want to pass.
To use it, pull the turn signaVmultifunction lever toward
you until the high-beam headlamps come on, then
release the lever to turn them off. You
control the windshield wipers by moving the stalk
with the wiper symbol on it up or down.
For a single wiper cycle, push the
stalk down to MIST,
then release it. For more cycles, hold the stalk
down longer.
For steady wiping at low speed, move the stalk up to the
LO position. For high-speed wiping, move the stalk up
further, to
HI. To stop the wipers, move the stalk to OFF.
You can set the wiper speed for a long or short delay between
wipes.
This can be very useful in light rain or snow.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Move the stalk to INT, then rotate the inner band,
labeled
INT ADJ, and choose the delay you want.
Rotate the inner band up for shorter delay times between
wiper cycles. Rotate the band down for a longer delay
time between wiper cycles. Remember that damaged wiper blades
may prevent you
from seeing well enough to drive safely.
To avoid
damage,
be sure to clear ice and snow from the wiper
blades before using them. If they’re frozen to the
windshield, carefully loosen or thaw them. If your
blades do become damaged, get new blades or
blade inserts.
Heavy snow or ice can overload your wiper motor.
A
circuit breaker will stop the motor until it cools. Clear
away snow or ice to prevent an overload.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Windshield Washer
To wash your windshield, pwh in the button at the end
of the stalk until the washers begin.
A CAUTIGJ: I
In freezing weather, don’t use your washer until
the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the washer
fluid can
form ice on the windshield, blocking
your vision.
When you release the button, the washers will stop, but the
wipers will continue to wipe for about three times or will
stop or
will resume the speed you were using before.
2-32

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Cruise Control (If Equipped)
With cruise control, you can maintain a speed of about
25 mph (40 km/h) or more without keeping your foot on
the accelerator. This can really help on long trips. Cruise
control does not work at speeds below
25 mph
(40 km/h).
When you apply your brake, the cruise control shuts off.
A CAUTION:
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Cruise control can be dangerous where you
can’t drive safely at a steady speed.
So,
don’t use your cruise control on winding
roads or in heavy traffic.
slippery roads. On such roads, fast changes
in tire traction can cause needless wheel
spinning, and you could lose control. Don’t
use cruise control on slippery roads.
Cruise control can be dangerous on

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Setting Cruise Control press the cruise control ACCEL RESUME button for
about half
a second.
If you leave your cruise control switch on when
you’re not using cruise, you might hit a button
and go into cruise when you don’t want to. You
could be startled and even lose control. Keep the
cruise control switch
off until you want to use it.
The cruise control buttons are located on the center of
the steering wheel.
1. Press the cruise control ON/OFF button.
2. Get up to the speed you want.
3. Press the SET DECEL button and release it.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
Resuming a Set Speed
Suppose you set your cruise control at a desired speed
and then you apply the brake. This, of course, shuts
off
the cruise control. But you don’t need to reset it. Once
you’re going about
25 mph (40 km/h) or more, you can You’ll
go right back up to your chosen speed and
stay there.
If you press the ACCEL RESUME button longer than
half a second, the vehicle will keep going faster until
you release the switch or apply the brake.
So unless
you want to
go faster, don’t hold down the ACCEL
RESUME button.
Increasing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed.
0 Use the accelerator pedal to get to the higher speed.
Push the SET DECEL button, then release the button
and the accelerator pedal. You’ll now cruise at the
higher speed.
0 Press the ACCEL RESUME button. Hold it there
until you get up to the speed you want, and then
release the button. To increase your speed in very
small amounts, press the
ACCEL RESUME button
for less
than half a second and then release it. Each
time you do this, your vehicle will go about
1 mph
(1 -6 km/h) faster.
The accelerate feature will only work after you turn on
the cruise control by pushing the SET DECEL button.
2-34

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Reducing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to reduce your speed while using
cruise control:
0 Push the SET DECEL button until you reach the
lower speed you want, then release it.
0 To slow down in very small amounts, push the
button for less than half a second. Each time you do
this, you’ll go
1 mph (1.6 kmk) slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed. When
you take your foot
off the pedal, your vehicle will slow
down to the cruise control speed you set earlier.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load and the steepness of
the hills.
When going up steep hills, you may have to step on the
accelerator pedal to maintain your speed. When going
downhill, you may have to brake or shift to a lower
gear
to keep your speed down. Of course, applying the brake
takes you out
of cruise control. Many drivers find this to
be too much trouble and don’t use cruise control on
steep hills.
Ending Out of Cruise Control
There are two ways to turn off the cruise control:
Step lightly on the brake pedal;
Press the cruise control ON/OFF button.
Erasing the Cruise Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition,
your cruise control set speed memory is erased.