ignition CHEVROLET MALIBU 1998 User Guide

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Starting Your 3100 Engine
1. Without pushing the accelerator pedal, turn your ignition key to START. When the engine starts, let
go
of the key. The idle speed will go down as your
engine gets warm.
NOTICE:
Holding your key in START for longer than
15 seconds at a time will cause your battery to be
drained much sooner. And the excessive heat can
damage your starter motor.
2. If your engine won’t start (or starts but then stops),
it could be flooded with too much gasoline.
Try
pushing your accelerator pedal all the way to the
floor and holding
it there as you hold the key in
START for up to 15 seconds. This clears the extra
gasoline from the engine.
NOTICE:
Your engine is designed to work with the
electronics in your vehicle.
If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could change the
way
the engine operates. Before adding electrical
equipment, check with your dealer.
If you don’t,
your engine might not perform properly.
If you ever have to have your vehicle towed, see
the part of this manual that tells how
to do it
without damaging your vehicle. See “Towing
Your Vehicle’’ in the Index.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine PARK (P): This locks your front wheels. It’s the best
position to use when you start your engine because your
vehicle can’t move easily.
A CAUTION:
It is 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 have 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).
you’re pulling a trailer, see “Towing a Trailer” in
the Index.
, See “Shifting Into PARK (P)” in the Index. If
~
Ensure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) range
before starting the engine. Your vehicle has a
Brake-Transaxle Shift Interlock. You have to apply
your regular brake before you can shift from PARK
(P)
when the ignition key is in ON. If you cannot shift out
of PARK
(P), ease pressure on the shift lever -- push the
shift lever all the way into PARK (P)
-- as you maintain
brake application. Then move the shift lever into the
gear you wish. (Press the shift lever button before
moving the shift lever.) See “Shifting Out of
PARK (P)”
later in this section.
REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up.
I NOTICE: 1
Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle is
moving forward could damage your transaxle.
Shift to
REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle
is stopped. 1
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,
ice or sand without damaging your transaxle, see
“Stuck: In Sand, Mud,
Ice or Snow’’ : Index.
2-19

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Second-Gear Start
Your vehicle is equipped with a second-gear start
feature. Place the shift lever
in SECOND (2) gear to
provide more traction when you are starting on ice
or
other slippery surfaces. The transaxle will be in
SECOND (2) gear when the vehicle begins to move.
After starting in
SECOND (2) gear, place the shift lever
in
THIRD (3) or AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D).
This feature is only for improved traction only when the
road surface is slippery and is not intended for
continuous use or when the vehicle is stuck in sand,
mud, ice, snow or gravel.
Parking Brake
To set the parking brake,
hold the regular brake pedal
down with your right foot.
Push down the parking
brake pedal with your left
foot.
If the ignition is on,
the brake system warning
light will come on.
To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down with your right foot. Push down
on the
parking brake pedal with your left foot. If the parking
brake is not released when you begin to
drive, a chime
will sound warning you that the parking brake is still on,
NOTICE:
Driving with the parking brake on can cause
your rear brakes to overheat. You may have
to
replace them, and you could also damage other
parts
of your vehicle.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on a hill, see
“Towing a Trailer” in the Index. That section shows
what to do first
to keep the trailer from moving.
2-22

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Shifting Into PARK (P)
I
A CAUTION:
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.
If
you have 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, use the steps that
follow. If you’re pulling
a trailer, see “Towing a
Trailer” in the Index.
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
set the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) like this:
Hold in the button on the lever.
Push the lever all the way toward the front of
your vehicle.
3. Move the ignition key to OFF,
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave your vehicle with the key in your hand, your
vehicle is in PARK
(P).

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Shifting Out of PARK (P)
Your vehicle has a Brake-Transaxle Shift Interlock. You
have to apply your regular brake before you can shift
from
PARK (P) when the ignition is in the ON position.
See "Automatic Transaxle"
in the Index.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure
on
the shift lever -- push the shift lever all the way into
PARK
(P) -- as you maintain brake application. Then
move the shift into the gear you wish. (Press the shift
lever button before moving the shift lever.)
If you ever hold the brake pedal down but still can't
shift out of PARK
(P), try this:
1. Turn the key to ACC.
2. Apply and hold the regular brake until the end of
3. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
Step 5.
4. Turn the key to ON, to start the vehicle.
5. Shift to the drive gear you want.
6. Have the vehicle fixed as soon as you can.
Parking Over Things That Burn
Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust
parts under your vehicle and ignite. Don't park
over papers, leaves, dry grass or other things that
can burn.

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.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Exterior Lamps
, :: ..j* ,..,.: .. ,:: i-2: . . . .. ..
Rotate the turn signal lever end cap up one position to
turn on:
Parking Lamps
0 Side Marker Lamps
Taillamps
License Plate Lamps Rotate the turn signal
lever end cap up two positions to
turn on:
Headlamps
Parking Lamps
Sidemarker Lamps
0 Taillamps
License Plate Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
Rotate the switch to
OFF to turn all of the lamps off.
Lamps On Reminder
If you open the driver’s door and turn off the
ignition while leaving the lamps on,
you will hear a
warning chime.
Instrument Panel Lights
2-36

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Daytime Running Lamps
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the day.
DRL can be helpful in many different driving
conditions, but they can be especially helpful in the
short periods after dawn and before sunset.
Automatic Light Control (A I )
When it is dark enough outside, your Automatic Light
Control
(LC) will turn on your headlamps at the
normal brightness along with other lamps such as the
taillamps, sidemarker, park lamps and the instrument
panel lights. The radio lights will also be dim.
The
DJXL system will make your low-beam headlamps
come on at a reduced brightness when:
The ignition is on,
The headlamp switch is in the OFF position or you
have turned
on your parking lamps
The light sensor detects daytime light,
The parking brake is released and
The shift lever is not in PARK (P).
When the DRL system is on, the taillamps, sidemarker,
park lamps and instrument panel lights will not
be illuminated.
The DRL system will remain off any time your vehicle
is in PARK (P) or the parking brake is engaged.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it. Your
vehicle is equipped with a light sensor on the top
of the instrument panel under the defroster grill,
so be
sure it is not covered which will cause the ALC system
to be on whenever the ignition is on.
The ALC system may also be on when driving through a
parking garage, heavy overcast weather,
a tunnel or
fueling your vehicle in a low light area. This is normal.
There is a delay in the transition between the daytime
and nighttime operation of the DRL and the
ALC
systems so that driving under bridges or bright overhead
street lights does not affect
the system. The DRL and
ALC systems will only be affected when the light sensor
sees a change in lighting lasting longer than this delay.
To idle your vehicle with the ALC system
off, set the
park brake while the ignition is
off. Then start the
vehicle. The ALC system will stay off until you release
the park brake.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when
you need it.
2-37

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Fog Lamps (If Equipped)
The button for your fog
lamps
is on the instrument
panel, to the left
of the
steering wheel, beside
the instrument panel
intensity control.
When using fog lamps, the ignition must be on as well
as the parlung lamps or the low-beam headlamps.
Push the button to
turn the fog lamps on. An indicator
light on the button will glow when the fog lamps are on.
Push the button again to turn the fog lamps
off.
The fog lamps will turn off whenever the high-beam
headlamps
are turned on. When the high beams are
turned off, the fog lamps will come on again.
Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Intensity Control
You can brighten or dim the
instrument panel cluster
lights by rotating the switch,
located on the instrument
panel, to the left of the
steering wheel.
Illuminated EntryExit System
When you open any door, the lamps inside your vehicle
will go on. These lamps will fade out after about
40
seconds, or when the ignition is turned on after all doors
have been closed.
If the ignition was recently turned off,
the lamps will fade out after four seconds. These lamps
will also go on when you press the vehicle symbol
or
UNLOCK button on the optional Keyless Entry
System transmitter.
2-38

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If the ignition has been off for less than two minutes,
the lamps inside your vehicle will stay
on for about
15 seconds after your key is removed from the ignition
to provide an illuminated exit.
Mirror Reading Lamps (If Equipped)
Press the switch on the lower front portion of the mirror
to turn on the lamp. Press the other side of the switch to
turn the lamp
off.
Three-Position Dome Lamp
The switch on this lamp has three positions. The ON
position will turn on the light. The DOOR position will
turn on the light whenever a door is opened. The OFF
position will shut
off the lamp completely, even when a
door is opened.
Trunk Lamp
The trunk lamp comes on when you open your trunk.
Battery Saver
Your vehicle is equipped with a battery saver feat ;
designed to protect your vehicle’s battery. When any interior
lamp (trunk, reading, footwell or
glove box) is left on when the ignition is turned
off, the
battery saver system will automatically shut the lamp off
after
20 minutes. This will avoid draining the battery.
LO reactivate the interior lamps, either:
0 The ignition must be turned on,
0 The activated lamp switch must be turned off and
then on or
0 A door must be opened.
The battery saver feature will also be activated when
any door
of your vehicle is left open.
Mirrors
Inside Daymight Rearview Mirror
This mirror can be adjusted two ways. First, to adjust
the angle
of the mirror, move the mirror to a position
that allows you see to out the back window.
To adjust
the height of the mirror, adjust the arm that connects the
mirror to the windshield.
To reduce glare from lights behind you, move the lever
toward you to the night position.