CHEVROLET MALIBU 2003 5.G Owners Manual

50,000 Miles (83 000 km)
qChange automatic transaxle ¯uid and ®lter if the
vehicle is mainly driven under one or more of
these conditions:
þ In heavy city traffic where the outside
temperature regularly reaches 90ÉF (32ÉC)
or higher.
þ In hilly or mountainous terrain.
þ When doing frequent trailer towing.
þ Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery
service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, the ¯uid and ®lter do not require changing.
52,500 Miles (87 500 km)
qChange engine oil and ®lter (or every 12 months,
whichever occurs ®rst).An Emission Control
Service.
qRotate tires. SeeTire Inspection and Rotation on
page 5-50for proper rotation pattern and additional
information.(See footnote +.)
60,000 Miles (100 000 km)
qChange engine oil and ®lter (or every 12 months,
whichever occurs ®rst).An Emission Control
Service.
qRotate tires. SeeTire Inspection and Rotation on
page 5-50for proper rotation pattern and additional
information.(See footnote +.)
qReplace engine air cleaner ®lter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-17for more information.An Emission Control Service.
67,500 Miles (112 500 km)
qChange engine oil and ®lter (or every 12 months,
whichever occurs ®rst).An Emission Control
Service.
qRotate tires. SeeTire Inspection and Rotation on
page 5-50for proper rotation pattern and additional
information.(See footnote +.)
75,000 Miles (125 000 km)
qChange engine oil and ®lter (or every 12 months,
whichever occurs ®rst).An Emission Control
Service.
qInspect engine air cleaner ®lter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-17for more information.An Emission Control Service. (See footnote ².)
qRotate tires. SeeTire Inspection and Rotation on
page 5-50for proper rotation pattern and additional
information.(See footnote +.)
6-13

82,500 Miles (137 500 km)
qChange engine oil and ®lter (or every 12 months,
whichever occurs ®rst).An Emission Control
Service.
qRotate tires. SeeTire Inspection and Rotation on
page 5-50for proper rotation pattern and additional
information.(See footnote +.)
90,000 Miles (150 000 km)
qChange engine oil and ®lter (or every 12 months,
whichever occurs ®rst).An Emission Control
Service.
qReplace engine air cleaner ®lter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-17for more information.An Emission Control Service.
qRotate tires. SeeTire Inspection and Rotation on
page 5-50for proper rotation pattern and additional
information.(See footnote +.)
97,500 Miles (162 500 km)
qChange engine oil and ®lter (or every 12 months,
whichever occurs ®rst).An Emission Control
Service.
qRotate tires. SeeTire Inspection and Rotation on
page 5-50for proper rotation pattern and additional
information.(See footnote +.)
100,000 Miles (166 000 km)
qInspect spark plug wires.An Emission Control
Service.
qReplace spark plugs.An Emission Control Service.
qChange automatic transaxle ¯uid and ®lter if the
vehicle is mainly driven under one or more of
these conditions:
þ In heavy city traffic where the outside
temperature regularly reaches 90ÉF (32ÉC)
or higher.
þ In hilly or mountainous terrain.
þ When doing frequent trailer towing.
þ Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery
service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, the ¯uid and ®lter do not require changing.
150,000 Miles (240 000 km)
qDrain, ¯ush and re®ll cooling system (or every
60 months since last service, whichever occurs ®rst).
See
Engine Coolant on page 5-19for what to use.
Inspect hoses. Clean radiator, condenser, pressure
cap and neck. Pressure test the cooling system
and pressure cap.
An Emission Control Service.
qInspect engine accessory drive belt.An Emission
Control Service.
6-14

Part B: Owner Checks and Services
Listed in this part are owner checks and services
which should be performed at the intervals speci®ed to
help ensure the safety, dependability and emission
control performance of your vehicle.
Be sure any necessary repairs are completed at once.
Whenever any ¯uids or lubricants are added to your
vehicle, make sure they are the proper ones, as shown
in Part D.
At Each Fuel Fill
It is important for you or a service station attendant to
perform these underhood checks at each fuel ®ll.
Engine Oil Level Check
Check the engine oil level and add the proper oil if
necessary. SeeEngine Oil on page 5-13for further
details.
Engine Coolant Level Check
Check the engine coolant level and add DEX-COOLž
coolant mixture if necessary. SeeEngine Coolant
on page 5-19for further details.
Windshield Washer Fluid Level Check
Check the windshield washer ¯uid level in the windshield
washer tank and add the proper ¯uid if necessary.
See
Windshield Washer Fluid on page 5-31for further
details.
At Least Once a Month
Tire In¯ation Check
Visually inspect your tires and make sure tires are
in¯ated to the correct pressures. Don't forget to check
your spare tire. See
Tires on page 5-48for further
details.
Cassette Tape Player Service
Clean cassette tape player. Cleaning should be done
every 50 hours of tape play. SeeAudio System(s)
on page 3-36for further details.
6-15

At Least Twice a Year
Restraint System Check
Make sure the safety belt reminder light and all your belts,
buckles, latch plates, retractors and anchorages are
working properly. Look for any other loose or damaged
safety belt system parts. If you see anything that might
keep a safety belt system from doing its job, have it
repaired. Have any torn or frayed safety belts replaced.
Also look for any opened or broken air bag coverings,
and have them repaired or replaced. (The air bag
system does not need regular maintenance.)
Wiper Blade Check
Inspect wiper blades for wear or cracking. Replace
blade inserts that appear worn or damaged or that
streak or miss areas of the windshield. Also see
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle on page 5-71.
Weatherstrip Lubrication
Silicone grease on weatherstrips will make them last
longer, seal better, and not stick or squeak. Apply
silicone grease with a clean cloth. During very cold,
damp weather more frequent application may be
required. See
Part D: Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 6-21.
Automatic Transaxle Inspection
It is not necessary to check the transaxle ¯uid level.
A transaxle ¯uid leak is the only reason for ¯uid
loss. Check for leaks. If a leak occurs, take the vehicle
to your dealer and have it repaired as soon as
possible.
At Least Once a Year
Key Lock Cylinders Service
Lubricate the key lock cylinders with the lubricant
speci®ed in Part D.
Body Lubrication Service
Lubricate all the body door hinges and latches, including
those for the hood and trunk lid. Part D tells you what
to use. More frequent lubrication may be required when
exposed to a corrosive environment.
6-16

Starter Switch Check
{CAUTION:
When you are doing this check, the vehicle
could move suddenly. If it does, you or others
could be injured. Follow the steps below.
1. Before you start, be sure you have enough room
around the vehicle.
2. Firmly apply both the parking brake and the regular
brake. See
Parking Brake on page 2-23if
necessary.
Do not use the accelerator pedal, and be ready to
turn off the engine immediately if it starts.
3. Try to start the engine in each gear. The starter
should work only in PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
If the starter works in any other position, your
vehicle needs service.
Automatic Transaxle Shift Lock Control
System Check
{CAUTION:
When you are doing this check, the vehicle
could move suddenly. If it does, you or others
could be injured. Follow the steps below.
1. Before you start, be sure you have enough room
around the vehicle. It should be parked on a level
surface.
2. Firmly apply the parking brake. See
Parking Brake
on page 2-23if necessary.
Be ready to apply the regular brake immediately if
the vehicle begins to move.
3. With the engine off, turn the key to the ON position,
but don't start the engine. Without applying the
regular brake, try to move the shift lever out
of PARK (P) with normal effort. If the shift lever
moves out of PARK (P), your vehicle needs service.
6-17

Ignition Transaxle Lock Check
While parked, and with the parking brake set, try to turn
the ignition key to OFF in each shift lever position.
The key should turn to OFF only when the shift lever is
in PARK (P).
On all vehicles, the key should come out only in OFF.
Parking Brake and Automatic
Transaxle Park (P) Mechanism Check
{CAUTION:
When you are doing this check, your vehicle
could begin to move. You or others could be
injured and property could be damaged. Make
sure there is room in front of your vehicle in
case it begins to roll. Be ready to apply the
regular brake at once should the vehicle begin
to move.Park on a fairly steep hill, with the vehicle facing
downhill. Keeping your foot on the regular brake, set the
parking brake.
·To check the parking brake's holding ability: With
the engine running and transaxle in NEUTRAL
(N), slowly remove foot pressure from the regular
brake pedal. Do this until the vehicle is held by the
parking brake only.
·To check the PARK (P) mechanism's holding
ability: With the engine running, shift to PARK (P).
Then release the parking brake followed by the
regular brake.
Underbody Flushing Service
At least every spring, use plain water to ¯ush any
corrosive materials from the underbody. Take care to
clean thoroughly any areas where mud and other debris
can collect.
6-18

Part C: Periodic
MaintenanceInspections
Listed in this part are inspections and services which
should be performed at least twice a year (for instance,
each spring and fall).
You should let your dealer's
service department do these jobs. Make sure any
necessary repairs are completed at once.
Proper procedures to perform these services may be
found in a service manual. SeeService Publications
Ordering Information on page 7-9.
Steering, Suspension and
Front Drive Axle Boot and
Seal Inspection
Inspect the front and rear suspension and steering
system for damaged, loose or missing parts, signs of
wear or lack of lubrication. Inspect the power steering
lines and hoses for proper hook-up, binding, leaks,
cracks, cha®ng, etc. Clean and then inspect the drive
axle boot seals for damage, tears or leakage.
Replace seals if necessary.
Exhaust System Inspection
Inspect the complete exhaust system. Inspect the
body near the exhaust system. Look for broken,
damaged, missing or out-of-position parts as well as
open seams, holes, loose connections or other
conditions which could cause a heat build-up in the
¯oor pan or could let exhaust fumes into the vehicle.
See
Engine Exhaust on page 2-26.
Fuel System Inspection
Inspect the complete fuel system for damage
or leaks.
6-19

Engine Cooling System Inspection
Inspect the hoses and have them replaced if they
are cracked, swollen or deteriorated. Inspect all pipes,
®ttings and clamps; replace as needed. Clean the
outside of the radiator and air conditioning condenser.
To help ensure proper operation, a pressure test of
the cooling system and pressure cap is recommended
at least once a year.
Throttle System Inspection
Inspect the throttle system for interference or binding,
and for damaged or missing parts. Replace parts
as needed. Replace any components that have high
effort or excessive wear. Do not lubricate accelerator
and cruise control cables.
Brake System Inspection
Inspect the complete system. Inspect brake lines and
hoses for proper hook-up, binding, leaks, cracks,
cha®ng, etc. Inspect disc brake pads for wear and rotors
for surface condition. Also inspect drum brake linings
for wear and cracks. Inspect other brake parts, including
drums, wheel cylinders, calipers, parking brake, etc.
The parking brake is self-adjusting and no manual
adjustment is required. You may need to have your
brakes inspected more often if your driving habits
or conditions result in frequent braking.
6-20

Part D: Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants
Fluids and lubricants identi®ed below by name, part
number or speci®cation may be obtained from your
dealer.
Usage Fluid/Lubricant
Engine OilEngine oil with the American
Petroleum Institute Certi®ed for
Gasoline Engines starburst symbol
of the proper viscosity. To determine
the preferred viscosity for your
vehicle's engine, see
Engine Oil
on page 5-13.
Engine Coolant50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and use only DEX-COOL
ž
Coolant. SeeEngine Coolant
on page 5-19.
Hydraulic Brake
SystemDelco Supreme 11 Brake Fluid
or equivalent DOT-3 brake ¯uid.
Windshield
Washer SolventGM Optikleen
žWasher Solvent
or equivalent.
Usage Fluid/Lubricant
Power Steering
SystemGM Power Steering Fluid
(GM Part No. U.S. 1052884,
in Canada 993294, or equivalent).
Automatic
TransaxleDEXRON
ž-III Automatic
Transmission Fluid.
Key Lock
CylindersMulti-Purpose Lubricant, Superlube
(GM Part No. U.S. 12346241,
in Canada 10953474, or equivalent).
Hood Latch
Assembly,
Secondary
Latch, Pivots,
Spring Anchor
and Release
PawlLubriplate Lubricant Aerosol
(GM Part No. U.S. 12346293,
in Canada 992723, or equivalent)
or lubricant meeting requirements
of NLGI #2, Category LB or GC-LB.
Hood and Door
HingesMulti-Purpose Lubricant, Superlube
(GM Part No. U.S. 12346241,
in Canada 109435474, or
equivalent).
Weatherstrip
ConditioningDielectric Silicone Grease
(GM Part No. U.S. 12345579,
in Canada 10953014, or equivalent).
6-21

Part E: Maintenance Record
After the scheduled services are performed, record the date, odometer reading and who performed the service and
any additional information from ªOwner Checks and Servicesº or ªPeriodic Maintenanceº on the following record
pages. Also, you should retain all maintenance receipts.
Maintenance Record
DateOdometer
ReadingServiced By Maintenance Record
6-22