service indicator CHEVROLET MALIBU 1997 5.G Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows the air bag symbol. The system
checks the air bag’s electrical system for malfunctions.
The light tells you if there is an electrical problem. The
system check includes the air bag sensor, the air bag
modules, the wiring and the crash sensing and
diagnostic module. For more information on the air bag
system, see “Air Bag” in the Index.
This light will. come
on
~ when you start your engine,
and it will flash for a few
seconds. Then the light
should go out. This means
the system is ready.
If the air bag readiness light stays on after you start the
engine or comes on when you are driving, your air bag
system may not work properly. Have your vehicle
serviced right away. The
air bag readiness light should flash for a few
seconds when you turn the ignition key to
ON. If the
light doesn’t come on then, have it fixed
so it will be
ready to warn you if there is a problem.
Charging System Indicator Light
The charging system
indicator light will come on
when you turn on the ignition, but the engine
is
not running, as a check to show you
it is working.
Then it should go out.
If it stays on,
or comes on while yoa aye- driving and you
hear
a chime, you may have a problem with the
electrical charging system. It could indicate that you
have a loose generator drive belt or another electrical
problem. Have it checked right away. Driving while this
light is on could drain your battery.
If you must drive a short distance with the light on, be
certain to
turn off all your accessories, such as the radio
and air conditioner.
2-54

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Low Coolant Warning Light
This light comes on
briefly when you turn
If this light comes on and stays on and you hear a chime,
the vehicle should promptly be pulled
off the road and
the coolant level checked.
See “Engine Coolant” in the Index.
If there are visible
signs of steam, see “Engine Overheating”
in the Index
before opening the hood. Have your vehicle serviced as soon as you can.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Check Engine Light)
CHECK
Your Chevrolet is equipped
with a computer which
monitors operation of the
fuel, ignition and emission
control systems.
This system is called OBD 11 (On-Board
Diagnostics-Second Generation) and is intended to assure
that emissions are at acceptable levels for the life of the
vehicle, helping to produce a cleaner environment. (In
Canada, OBD
II is replaced by Enhanced Diagnostics.)
The CHECK ENGINE light comes on and a chime will
sound to indicate that there is a problem and service is
required. Malfunctions often will be indicated by the
system before any problem is apparent.
This may prevent
more serious damage to your vehicle.
This system is also
designed to assist your service technician
in correctly
diagnosing any malfunction.
2-57

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Fuel Gage
Your fuel gage tells you
about how much fuel you
have left, when the ignition
is on. When the indicator
nears
EMPTY (E), the light
will come
on and you will
hear a chime. You still have
a little fuel left, but you
should get more soon.
Here are four things that
some owners ask about. None
of these show a problem with your fuel gage:
At the service station, the gas pump shuts off before
the gage reads
FULL (F).
It takes a little more or less fuel to fill up than the
gage indicated. For example, the gage may have
indicated the tank was half full, but it actually took a
little more or less than half the tank’s capacity to
fill
the tank.
The gage moves a little when you turn a corner or
speed up.
The gage goes back to EMPTY (E) when you turn
off the ignition.
2-64

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Care of Your Cassette Tape Player
A tape player that is not cleaned regularly can cause
reduced sound quality, ruined cassettes or a damaged
mechanism. Cassette tapes should be stored in their
cases away from contaminants, direct sunlight and
extreme heat. If they aren’t, they may not operate
properly or may cause failure of the tape player.
Your tape player should be cleaned regularly after
every
50 hours of use. Your radio may display CLN
to indicate that you have used your tape player for
50 hours without resetting the tape clean timer. If this
message appears on the display, your cassette tape
player needs to be cleaned. It will still play tapes, but
you should clean it as soon as possible to prevent
damage
to your tapes and player. If you notice a
reduction in sound quality, try a known good cassette
to see if it is the tape or the tape player at fault. If this
other cassette has no improvement in sound quality,
clean
the tape player.
Cleaning may be done with a scrubbing action,
non-abrasive cleaning cassette with pads which scrub
the tape head as the hubs of the cleaner cassette turn.
A scrubbing action cleaning cassette is available through
your dealership. When using a cleaning cassette, it is
normal for the cassette to eject while cleaning because
your unit is equipped with a cut tape detection feature and some cleaning cassettes may appear as a broken
tape.
If the cleaning cassette is ejected immediately
from the tape player, you will need to override the cut
tape feature.
To temporarily override this feature (for one insertion),
follow these steps:
1. Turn the ignition on.
2. Turn the radio off.
3. Press and hold TAPE AUX until the tape symbol
flashes on the display. (For vehicles without
Automatic Tone Control, press both
SEEK arrows.)
4. Insert the cleaning cassette. (Insert the cassette at
least three times to ensure thorough cleaning.)
5. Eject the cleaning cassette.
When the cleaning cassette has been ejected, the broken
tape detection feature is active again.
After you clean the player, press and hold EJECT for
five seconds to reset the CLN indicator. The radio will
display
--- to show the indicator was reset.
Cassettes are subject to wear and the sound quality
may degrade over time. Always make sure the cassette
tape is in good condition before you have your tape
player serviced.
3-23

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If your vehicle is certified to meet California Emission
Standards (indicated on the underhood tune-up label), it
is designed to operate on fuels that meet California specifications.
If such fuels are not available in states
adopting California emissions standards, your vehicle
will operate satisfactorily on fuels meeting federal
specifications, but emission control system performance
may be affected. The malfunction indicator lamp on
your instrument panel may turn
on and/or your vehicle
may fail a smog-check test.
If this occurs, return to your
authorized Chevrolet dealer for diagnosis to determine
the cause of failure. In the event it is determined that the
cause of the condition is the type of fuels used, repairs
may not be covered by your warranty.
Some gasolines that are not reformulated
for low
emissions contain an octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadlenyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT);
ask your service station operator whether or not his fuel
contains MMT. General Motors does not recommend the
use of such gasolines. If fuels containing MMT
are used,
spark plug life may be reduced and your emission
control system performance may be affected. The
malfunction indicator lamp
on your instrument panel
may
turn on. If this occurs, return to your authorized
Chevrolet dealer for service.
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines in the United States
are now required to contain additives that will help
prevent deposits from forming
in your engine and fuel
system, allowing your emission control system to
function properly. Therefore, you should not have to add
anything to
the fuel. In addition, gasolines containing
oxygenates, such as ethers and ethanol, and
reformulated gasolines may be available in your area to
help clean the air. General Motors recommends that you
use these gasolines if they comply with the specifications described earlier.
NOTICE:
Your vehicle was not designed for fuel that
contains methanol. Don’t use it. It can corrode
metal parts in your fuel system and also damage
plastic and rubber parts. That damage wouldn’t
be covered under your warranty.
6-4

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Brake Wear
Your Chevrolet has front disc brakes and rear drum brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that make a
high-pitched warning sound when the brake pads are worn and new pads
are needed. The sound may come and go or
be heard
all the time your vehicle is moving (except when
you
are pushing on the brake pedal firmly).
A CAUTION:
The brake wear warning sound means that soon
your brakes won’t work well. That could lead to
an accident. When you hear the brake wear
warning sound, have your vehicle serviced.
NOTICE:
Continuing to drive with worn-out brake pads
could result
in costly brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake
squeal when the brakes are first applied or lightly
applied.
This does not mean something is wrong with
your brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are necessary to help
prevent brake pulsation. When tires are rotated, inspect
brake pads for wear and evenly torque wheel nuts in the
proper sequence to GM specifications.
Your rear drum brakes don’t have wear indicators, but
if
you ever hear a rear brake rubbing noise, have the rear
brake linings inspected.
Also, the rear brake drums
should be removed and inspected each time the tires are
removed for rotation or changing. When you have the
front brake pads replaced, have the rear brakes
inspected, too.
Brake linings should always be replaced as complete
axle sets.
See “Brake System Inspection” in Section 7 of this manual
under
Part C “Periodic Maintenance Inspections.”
6-27

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When It’s Time for New Tires
One way to tell when it’s
time for new tires is to
check the treadwear
indicators, which will appear when your tires have
only
1/16 inch (1.6 mm) or
less of tread remaining.
You need a new tire if any of the following statements
are true:
You can see the indicators at three or more places
around the tire.
0 You can see cord or fabric showing through the
tire’s rubber.
The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut or snagged deep
enough to show cord or fabric.
The tire has a bump, bulge or split.
0 The tire has a puncture, cut or other damage that
can’t be repaired well because
of the size or location
of the damage.
Buying New Tires
To find out what kind and size of tires you need, look at
the Tire-Loading Information label.
The tires installed on your vehicle when it was new had
a Tire Performance Criteria Specification (TPC Spec)
number on each tire’s sidewall. When you get new tires, get ones with that same
TPC Spec number. That way
your vehicle will continue to have tires that are designed
to give proper endurance, handling, speed rating,
traction, ride and other things during normal service on
your vehicle.
If your tires have an all-season tread
design, the
TPC number will be followed by an “MS”
(for mud and snow).
6-39

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Brake Adjustment
.................................. 6-28
Fluid
....................................... 6-24
Master Cylinder
.............................. 6-24
Parking
..................................... 2-22
Pedal Travel
................................. 6-28
Replacing System Parts
........................ 6-28
System Warning Light
.................... 2.55. 6.25
Trailer
...................................... 4-36
Transaxle Shift Interlock
.................. 2.25. 7.39
Transaxle Shift Interlock Check
.................. 7-39
Wear
....................................... 6-27
Brakes. Anti-Lock
.......................... 2.56. 4.7
Braking
........................................ 4-6
Braking in Emergencies
........................... 4-9
Break.In. New Vehicle
.......................... 2- 13
BTSICheck
................................... 7-39
Bulb Replacement
.............................. 6-29
Back-up Lamp
.............................. 6-32
CHMSL
.................................... 6-32
Dome Lamp
................................. 6-34
Headlamps
.................................. 6-29
Taillamp
.................................... 6-32
Canadian Roadside Assistance
.................... 8-7
Capacities and Specifications
...................... 6-61
Carbon Monoxide
............... 2.10.2.26.4.27. 4.36
Cassette Deck Service
........................... 7-37
Cassette Tape Player
........................ 3.9. 3. 18
Cassette Tape Player Care
........................ 3-23
CD Adapter Kit
................................ 3- 13
CDPlayer
..................................... 3-14
CD Player Theft-Deterrent Feature ................. 3- 19
BTSI
.................................... 2.25. 7.39
Center Console Storage Area
...................... 2-42
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp Bulb Replacement
.... 6-32
Center Rear Passenger Position
.................... 1-33
Certification Label
.............................. 4-31
Chains. Safety
................................. 4-36
Chains. Tire
................................... 6-43
Changing a Flat Tire
............................. 5-20
Charging System Indicator Light
Check Engine Light
............................
Check Oil Light ........................... 2-61
Checking Your Restraint Systems
.................
Chemical Paint Spotting .........................
Child Restraints ...............................
Securing in a Rear Outside Seat Position ..........
YY ..................
Securing in the Center Rear Seat Position .......... 1-40
Securing
in the Right Front Seat Position .......... 1-42
TopStrap
................................... 1-37
Where to Put
................................ 1-36
Circuit Breakers and Fuses
....................... 6-55
Cleaner. Air ................................... 6-17
Aluminum Wheels
............................ 6-50
Exterior LampsLenses
........................ 6-49
Fabric
...................................... 6-45
Glass
....................................... 6-47
Inside
of Your Chevrolet ....................... 6-44
Instrumentpanel
............................. 6-47
Outside of Your Chevrolet
...................... 6-48
Special Problems
............................. 6-46
Stains
...................................... 6-46
Tires
....................................... 6-50
Vinyl
....................................... 6-46
Wheels
..................................... 6-50
Windshield and
Wiper Blades ................... 6-48
Cleaning
...................................... 6-44 2-54
2-57
6-12 1-47
6-51
1-35
1-38
9-2

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Leaving Your Vehicle ............................. 2-6
Leaving Your Vehicle with the Engine Running
....... 2-24
Lighter
....................................... 2-44
Lights Air Bag Readiness
....................... 1.22. 2.54
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
............ 2.56. 4.7
Brake System Warning
.................... 2.55. 6.25
Charging System Indicator
...................... 2-54
CheckEngine
................................ 2-57
CheckOil
.............................. 2.61. 6.12
Cruise
...................................... 2-62
DoorAjar
................................... 2-63
Interior
..................................... 2-38
Low Coolant Warning
.................... 2.57. 6.21
LowWash
.................................. 2-62
Oil Pressure Warning
.......................... 2-60
Passlock@ Warning
........................... 2-6 1
Safety Belt Reminder
...................... 1.8. 2.53
Service Vehicle
Soon .......................... 2-63
Loading Your Vehicle ........................... 4-30
Lock Out Switch
............................... 2-28
Locks
......................................... 2-4
Cylinders
................................... 7-38
Door
........................................ 2-4
Key Lock Cylinder Service
..................... 7-38
PowerDoor
.................................. 2-5
Rear Door Security
............................. 2-5
Low Coolant Warning Light
................. 2.57. 6.21
Lubricants and Fluids ............................ 7-42
Lubrication Service. Body
........................ 7-38 Maintenance.
~ormal Replacement parts ........... 6-62
Maintenance Record
............................ 7-43
Maintenanceschedule
............................ 7-1
Introduction
.................................. 7-2
Long Tripmighway Definition
................... 7-6
Long Tripmighway Intervals
..................... 7-6
Owner Checks and Services
..................... 7-37
Periodic Maintenance Inspections
................ 7-41
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
............. 7-42
Scheduled Maintenance Services
.................. 7-4
Selecting the Right Schedule
..................... 7-4
Short TripKity Definition ....................... 7-5
Short TripKity Intervals ........................ 7-5
Maintenance. Underbody
......................... 6-51
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
................. 4-40
Making Turns with a Trailer
...................... 4-38
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
...................... 2-57
ManualFrontSeat
............................... 1-2
Manual Remote Control Mirror .................... 2-40
Methanol
...................................... 6-4
Mirror Reading Lamps ........................... 2-39
Mirrors
....................................... 2-40
Convex Outside
.............................. 2-41
Inside Daymight Rearview
..................... 2-40
Manual Remote Control
........................ 2-40
Outside
..................................... 2-40
Power Remote Control
......................... 2-41
Visorvanity
................................. 2-45
Mountain Roads
................................ 4-22
Multifunction Lever
............................. 2-29
9-6

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Underbody Hushing Service ..................... 7-40
Underbody Maintenance ......................... 6-51
Vehicle
Control
...................................... 4-6
Damage Warnings .............................. vii
Dimensions
................................. 6-62
Identification Number ......................... 6-53
Loading .................................... 4-30
Storage ..................................... 6-29
Ventilation System ............................... 3-6
Visor Vanity Mirrors ............................ 2-45
Visors. Sun .................................... 2-45
warning Devices ............................... 5-2
Warning Eights. Gages and Indicators ............... 2-52
Washer Fluid. Windshield ........................ 6-23
Washing Your Vehicle ........................... 6-48
Weatherstrips .................................. 6-48
Wheel
Alignment
.................................. 6-42
Nut Torque ............................. 5.29. 6.61
Replacement ................................. 6-42
Used Replacement ............................ 6-43
Wrench ..................................... 5-22
Windows ..................................... 2-27
Auto-Down ................................. 2-28
Lock Out Switch ............................. 2-28
Power ...................................... 2-27
Windshield Washer ............................. 2-32
Fluid .................................. 2.32. 6.23
Fluid Level Check ............................ 7-37
Windshield Wiper ......................... 2.30. 6.54
Bladecheck ................................. 7-38
Blade Replacement ........................... 6-35
Winter Driving ................................. 4-24
Wiring. Headlamp .............................. 6-54
Wrecker Towing ................................. 5-8
Wrench. Wheel ................................. 5-22
9-11