clock CHEVROLET MALIBU 2005 5.G User Guide

An emergency like this requires close attention and a
quick decision. If you are holding the steering wheel at
the recommended 9 and 3 o’clock positions, you
can turn it a full 180 degrees very quickly without
removing either hand. But you have to act fast, steer
quickly, and just as quickly straighten the wheel
once you have avoided the object.
The fact that such emergency situations are always
possible is a good reason to practice defensive driving
at all times and wear safety belts properly.
Off-Road Recovery
You may nd that your right wheels have dropped off
the edge of a road onto the shoulder while you are
driving.
If the level of the shoulder is only slightly below the
pavement, recovery should be fairly easy. Ease off the
accelerator and then, if there is nothing in the way,
steer so that your vehicle straddles the edge of
the pavement. You can turn the steering wheel up to
one-quarter turn until the right front tire contacts
the pavement edge. Then turn your steering wheel to go
straight down the roadway.
4-12

Filling the Tank
{CAUTION:
Fuel vapor burns violently and a fuel re can
cause bad injuries. To help avoid injuries to
you and others, read and follow all the
instructions on the pump island. Turn off your
engine when you are refueling. Do not smoke
if you are near fuel or refueling your vehicle.
Keep sparks, ames, and smoking materials
away from fuel. Do not leave the fuel pump
unattended when refueling your vehicle — this
is against the law in some places. Keep
children away from the fuel pump; never let
children pump fuel.The tethered fuel cap is located behind a hinged fuel
door on the passenger’s side of the vehicle. To open the
door, insert your nger into the nger depression next
to the fuel door.
To remove the fuel cap, turn it slowly counterclockwise.
The fuel cap has a spring in it; if the cap is released
too soon, it will spring back to the right.
While refueling, hang the tethered fuel cap from the
hook on the fuel door.
5-8

{CAUTION:
If you spill fuel and then something ignites it,
you could be badly burned. Fuel can spray out
on you if you open the fuel cap too quickly.
This spray can happen if your tank is nearly
full, and is more likely in hot weather. Open
the fuel cap slowly and wait for any hiss noise
to stop. Then unscrew the cap all the way.
Be careful not to spill fuel. Do not top off or overll the
tank and wait a few seconds after you have nished
pumping before removing the nozzle. Clean fuel
from painted surfaces as soon as possible. See
Washing Your Vehicle on page 5-77.
When replacing the fuel cap, turn it clockwise until it
clicks. Make sure the cap is fully installed. The
diagnostic system can determine if the fuel cap has
been left off or improperly installed. This would allow fuel
to evaporate into the atmosphere. SeeMalfunction
Indicator Lamp on page 3-41.The CHECK GAS CAP message will be displayed on
the Driver Information Center (DIC) if the fuel cap is not
properly installed. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 3-52for more information.
{CAUTION:
If a re starts while you are refueling, do not
remove the nozzle. Shut off the ow of fuel by
shutting off the pump or by notifying the
station attendant. Leave the area immediately.
Notice:If you need a new fuel cap, be sure to get
the right type. Your dealer can get one for you.
If you get the wrong type, it may not t properly.
This may cause your malfunction indicator lamp to
light and may damage your fuel tank and emissions
system. SeeMalfunction Indicator Lamp on
page 3-41.
5-9

{CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling
system can be dangerous. Plain water, or
some other liquid such as 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 would not get the overheat warning.
Your engine could catch re 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.
Use the recommended coolant and the proper
coolant mixture.
{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. Do not spill coolant on a hot engine.
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.
5-29

To replace one of these bulbs, do the following:
1. Open the hood. SeeHood Release on page 5-11
for more information.
2. Remove the two bolts attaching the headlamp
assembly to the vehicle.
3. Remove the headlamp assembly from the vehicle
by pulling it forward. Use care not to scratch the
vehicle with the lamp or the lamp with the fender.4. Remove the rubber covers (A, B, C) from the
individual sockets.
5. Unclip the wiring
harness and twist the
socket less than
one-quarter turn
counterclockwise and
remove it.
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2. Remove the
two fasteners
located on the inside
of the trunk at the
rear of the vehicle.
3. Pull back the trunk trim.
4. Remove the plastic wing nut.
5. Pull out the taillamp assembly and turn the bulb
socket one quarter turn counterclockwise.6. Pull the bulb to remove
it from the socket.
Replace the old bulb
with a new one.
7. Reverse the steps to attach the taillamp assembly
to the vehicle.
When securing the lamp assembly back into place,
align the assembly so that the trunk lid doesn’t
contact it.
5-44

Removing the Spare Tire and Tools
The equipment you will need is in the trunk.
1. For the sedan, lift the handle on the spare tire
cover. The handle may hook on the trunk front
edge weatherstrip to hold the cover out of the way.
For the MAXX, lift the handle to release the
latch on the spare tire cover.
2. Lift and remove the cover.
3. Turn the wing nut counterclockwise and remove it.
Then remove the compact spare tire. SeeCompact
Spare Tire on page 5-73for more information.
Tire Changing Tools
The tools you will be using include the wrench (A) and
jack (B). The MAXX includes an additional extension.
Sedan shown, MAXX similar
5-63

1. Turn the plastic wing nut counterclockwise to
loosen wheel wrench.
2. Unhook the wheel wrench from the jack.3. Extend the handle on the wheel wrench by pressing
the button with your index nger and pulling on the
end of the wrench. You must do this before
using the wheel wrench.
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6. Raise the vehicle by turning the wrench clockwise.
Raise the vehicle far enough off the ground so
there is enough room for the compact spare tire
to t.
7. Remove all of the wheel nuts.
8. Remove the at tire.
{CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on the wheel, or on the parts to
which it is fastened, can make the wheel nuts
become loose after a time. The wheel could
come off and cause an accident. When you
change a wheel, remove any rust or dirt from
the places where the wheel attaches to the
vehicle. In an emergency, you can use a cloth
or a paper towel to do this; but be sure to use
a scraper or wire brush later, if needed, to get
all the rust or dirt off.
9. Remove any rust or dirt
from the wheel bolts,
mounting surfaces
and spare wheel.
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10. Install the compact spare tire.
{CAUTION:
Never use oil or grease on studs or nuts. If
you do, the nuts might come loose. Your wheel
could fall off, causing a serious accident.
11. Put the wheel nuts back on with the rounded end
toward the wheel. Tighten each nut by hand or with
the wrench until the wheel is held against the hub.12. Lower the vehicle by turning the wrench
counterclockwise. Lower the jack completely.
5-68