cooling CHEVROLET MALIBU 2001 5.G User Guide

5-14
CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water, or some other
liquid like alcohol, can boil before the proper
coolant mixture will. Your vehicle's coolant
warning system is set for the proper coolant
mixture. With plain water or the wrong mixture,
your engine could get too hot but you wouldn't
get the overheat warning. Your engine could
catch fire and you or others could be burned.
Use a 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water
and DEX
-COOL
coolant.
NOTICE:
In cold weather, water can freeze and crack the
engine, radiator, heater core and other parts.
So use the recommended coolant.
CAUTION:
You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol
and it will burn if the engine parts are hot
enough. Don't spill coolant on a hot engine.

5-15
1. You can remove the coolant surge tank pressure cap
when the cooling system, including the coolant surge
tank pressure cap and upper radiator hose, is no
longer hot. Turn the pressure cap slowly
counterclockwise (left) about two or two and
one
-half turns. If you hear a hiss, wait for that to
stop. This will allow any pressure still left to be
vented out the discharge hose.
2. Then keep turning the pressure cap slowly, and
remove it.

5-16
3. Then fill the coolant surge tank with the proper
mixture, to the FULL COLD mark or slightly higher.4. With the coolant surge tank pressure cap off, start the
engine and let it run until you can feel the upper
radiator hose getting hot. Watch out for the engine
cooling fans.
By this time, the coolant level inside the coolant
surge tank may be lower. If the level is lower, add
more of the proper mixture to the coolant surge tank
until the level reaches the FULL COLD mark or
slightly higher.

5-17
5. Then replace the pressure cap. Be sure the pressure
cap is hand
-tight.
Check the level in the surge tank when the cooling
system has cooled down. If the coolant isn't at the
proper level, repeat Steps 1 to 3 and reinstall the
pressure cap or see your dealer.
If a Tire Goes Flat
It's unusual for a tire to ªblow outº while you're driving,
especially if you maintain your tires properly. If air goes
out of a tire, it's much more likely to leak out slowly.
But if you should ever have a ªblowout,º here are a few
tips about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a drag that
pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel firmly.
Steer to maintain lane position, and then gently brake to
a stop well out of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like
a skid and may require the same correction you'd use in
a skid. In any rear blowout, remove your foot from the
accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control by
steering the way you want the vehicle to go. It may be
very bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently
brake to a stop
-- well off the road if possible.
If a tire goes flat, the next part shows how to use your
jacking equipment to change a flat tire safely.

6-19
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is filled with
DEX
-COOL engine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain in your vehicle for 5 years or 150,000 miles
(240 000 km), whichever occurs first, if you add only
DEX
-COOL extended life coolant.
The following explains your cooling system and how
to add coolant when it is low. If you have a problem
with engine overheating, see ªEngine Overheatingº in
the Index.
A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX
-COOL coolant will:

Give freezing protection down to
-34F (-37C).

Give boiling protection up to 265F (129C).

Protect against rust and corrosion.

Help keep the proper engine temperature.

Let the warning lights and gages work as they should.
NOTICE:
When adding coolant, it is important that you use
only DEX
-COOL (silicate-free) coolant.
If coolant other than DEX-COOL is added to the
system, premature engine, heater core or
radiator corrosion may result. In addition, the
engine coolant will require change sooner
-- at
30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs first. Damage caused by the use
of coolant other than DEX
-COOL is not
covered by your new vehicle warranty.

6-20 What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean, drinkable water and
one
-half DEX-COOL
coolant which won't damage
aluminum parts. If you use this coolant mixture, you
don't need to add anything else.
CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water, or some other
liquid like alcohol, can boil before the proper
coolant mixture will. Your vehicle's coolant
warning system is set for the proper coolant
mixture. With plain water or the wrong mixture,
your engine could get too hot but you wouldn't
get the overheat warning. Your engine could
catch fire and you or others could be burned.
Use a 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water
and DEX
-COOL
coolant.
NOTICE:
If you use an improper coolant mixture, your
engine could overheat and be badly damaged.
The repair cost wouldn't be covered by your
warranty. Too much water in the mixture can
freeze and crack the engine, radiator, heater core
and other parts.
If you have to add coolant more than four times a year,
have your dealer check your cooling system.
NOTICE:
If you use the proper coolant, you don't have to
add extra inhibitors or additives which claim to
improve the system. These can be harmful.

6-44 Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent, cracked, or badly rusted
or corroded. If wheel nuts keep coming loose, the wheel,
wheel bolts and wheel nuts should be replaced. If the
wheel leaks air, replace it (except some aluminum
wheels, which can sometimes be repaired). See your
dealer if any of these conditions exist.
Your dealer will know the kind of wheel you need.
Each new wheel should have the same load
-carrying
capacity, diameter, width, offset and be mounted the
same way as the one it replaces.
If you need to replace any of your wheels, wheel bolts
or wheel nuts, replace them only with new GM original
equipment parts. This way, you will be sure to have the
right wheel, wheel bolts and wheel nuts for your vehicle.
CAUTION:
Using the wrong replacement wheels, wheel bolts
or wheel nuts on your vehicle can be dangerous.
It could affect the braking and handling of your
vehicle, make your tires lose air and make you
lose control. You could have a collision in which
you or others could be injured. Always use the
correct wheel, wheel bolts and wheel nuts
for replacement.
NOTICE:
The wrong wheel can also cause problems with
bearing life, brake cooling, speedometer or
odometer calibration, headlamp aim, bumper
height, vehicle ground clearance and tire or tire
chain clearance to the body and chassis.
See ªChanging a Flat Tireº in the Index for
more information.

6-60
Maxifuse Usage
5 Ignition Switch
6 Not Used
7 Left Electrical Center
-Power
Seats, Power Mirrors, Door Locks,
Trunk Release and Remote
Lock Control
8 Cooling Fan #1
Mini Relay Usage
9 Rear Defog
10 Not Used
11 Not Used
12 Cooling Fan #1
13 HVAC Blower (Climate Control)
14 Cooling Fan #2
15 Cooling Fan
Mirco Relay Usage
16 Air Conditioning Compressor
17 Not Used
18 Fuel PumpMirco Relay Usage
19 Automatic Light Control
20 Automatic Light Control
21 Horn
22 Daytime Running Lamps
Minifuse Usage
23
- 32Spare Fuse Holder
33 Rear Defog
34 Accessory Power Outlets,
Cigar Lighter
35 Generator
36 Not Used
37 Air Conditioning Compressor,
Body Function Control Module
38 Automatic Transaxle
39 Powertrain Control
Module, Ignition
40 Anti
-Lock Brakes
41 Ignition System

6-61
Minifuse Usage
42 Back
-Up Lamps, Brake Transaxle
Shift Interlock Control
43 Horn
44 Powertrain Control Module
45 Parking Lamps
46 Climate Control System
47 Canister Purge Valve, Powertrain
Control Module, Exhaust Gas
Recirculation, Heated O
2 Sensor
48 Fuel Pump Injectors
49 Not Used
50 Right Headlamp
51 Left Headlamp
52 Cooling Fan
53 HVAC Blower (Climate Control)
54 Not Used
55 Cooling Fan #2 Ground
56 Fuse Puller
57 Not Used
Replacement Bulbs
Exterior Lamp Bulb
High
-Beam Headlamp 9005. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Low
-Beam Headlamp 9006. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Front Parking/Turn 3157A or 3157NA. . . . . . . . . . . .
Front Sidemarker 24. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Back
-Up/Rear Turn 3156. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Center High
-Mounted Stoplamp
(Interior Mounted) 912. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tail/Stoplamp 3057. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Interior Lamps Bulb
Dome 561. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
For service information on other bulbs, contact your
dealer's service department.

6-62
Capacities and Specifications
The following approximate capacities are given in
English and metric conversions. Please refer to
ªRecommended Fluids and Lubricantsº in the Index for
more information.
Engine Specifications
VIN Engine Code J. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Type V6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Displacement 3.1L. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Firing Order 1
-2-3-4-5-6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Horsepower 170. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Capacities
Automatic Transaxle
Complete Overhaul 9.5 quarts (9.0L). . . . . . . . . . . .
Cooling System13.6 quarts (12.9 L) . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Engine Crankcase4.5 quarts (4.3 L) . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fuel Tank14.3 U.S. gallons (54.1 L) . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tire PressureSee Tire
-Loading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Information label on the rear
driver's side passenger door.
Air Conditioning RefrigerantSee refrigerant . . . . . .
charge label under the hood.
All capacities are approximate. When adding, be sure to fill
to the appropriate level, as recommended in this manual.
Wheel Nut Torque
100 lb-ft (140 N´m)