water CHEVROLET MALIBU 2007 6.G User Guide

Hitches
It’s important to have the correct hitch equipment.
Crosswinds, large trucks going by and rough
roads are a few reasons why you’ll need the
right hitch. Here are some rules to follow:
The rear bumper on your vehicle is not
intended for hitches. Do not attach rental
hitches or other bumper-type hitches to it.
Use only a frame-mounted hitch that does
not attach to the bumper.
Will you have to make any holes in the body
of your vehicle when you install a trailer
hitch? If you do, then be sure to seal the
holes later when you remove the hitch.
If you don’t seal them, deadly carbon
monoxide (CO) from your exhaust can get
into your vehicle. SeeEngine Exhaust
on page 136. Dirt and water can, too.
Safety Chains
You should always attach chains between
your vehicle and your trailer. Cross the safety
chains under the tongue of the trailer so that
the tongue will not drop to the road if it becomes
separated from the hitch. Instructions about
safety chains may be provided by the hitch
manufacturer or by the trailer manufacturer.
Follow the manufacturer’s recommendation for
attaching safety chains and do not attach them
to the bumper. Always leave just enough slack
so you can turn with your rig. And, never
allow safety chains to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
Does your trailer have its own brakes?
Be sure to read and follow the instructions for
the trailer brakes so you’ll be able to install, adjust
and maintain them properly. And because you
may have anti-lock brakes, do not try to tap into
your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system. If you
do, both systems won’t work well, or at all.
336

How to Reset the Engine Oil Life
System
The Engine Oil Life System calculates when to
change the engine oil and lter based on vehicle
use. Anytime the oil is changed, reset the
system so it can calculate when the next oil
change is required. If a situation occurs where you
change the oil prior to a CHANGE OIL SOON
message being turned on, reset the system.
After changing the engine oil, reset the system by
performing the following steps:
1. Display OIL LIFE RESET on the DIC.
2. Press and hold the ENTER button for at least
one second. An ACKNOWLEDGED display
message will appear for three seconds or until
the next button is pressed. This will tell you
the system has been reset.
3. Turn the key to OFF.
If the CHANGE OIL SOON message comes back
on when you start your vehicle, the engine oil
life system has not reset. Repeat the procedure.
What to Do with Used Oil
Used engine oil contains certain elements that
may be unhealthy for your skin and could
even cause cancer. Do not let used oil stay on
your skin for very long. Clean your skin and nails
with soap and water, or a good hand cleaner.
Wash or properly dispose of clothing or rags
containing used engine oil. See the manufacturer’s
warnings about the use and disposal of oil
products.
Used oil can be a threat to the environment. If you
change your own oil, be sure to drain all the oil from
the lter before disposal. Never dispose of oil by
putting it in the trash, pouring it on the ground, into
sewers, or into streams or bodies of water. Instead,
recycle it by taking it to a place that collects used
oil. If you have a problem properly disposing of
used oil, ask your dealer, a service station, or a
local recycling center for help.
363

How to Add Automatic Transaxle Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine
what kind of transaxle uid to use. See
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 468.
If the uid level is low, add only enough of the
proper uid to bring the level into the crosshatched
area on the dipstick.
1. Pull out the dipstick.
2. Using a long-neck funnel, add enough uid at
the dipstick hole to bring it to the proper level.
It does not take much uid, generally less
than one pint (0.5 L). Do not overll.
Notice:Use of the incorrect automatic
transaxle uid may damage your vehicle, and
the damages may not be covered by your
warranty. Always use the automatic transaxle
uid listed inRecommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 468.
3. After adding uid, recheck the uid level as
described under “How to Check Automatic
Transaxle Fluid,” earlier in this section.
4. When the correct uid level is obtained, push
the dipstick back in all the way.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is lled with
DEX-COOL®engine coolant. This coolant is
designed to remain in your vehicle for ve years or
150,000 miles (240 000 km), whichever occurs
rst, if you add only DEX-COOL
®extended
life coolant.
The following explains the cooling system and
how to add coolant when it is low. If there is
a problem with engine overheating, seeEngine
Overheating on page 371.
A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL
®coolant will:
Give freezing protection down to
−34°F (−37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work as they
should.
368

Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOL®
may cause premature engine, heater core,
or radiator corrosion. In addition, the engine
coolant may require changing sooner, at
the rst maintenance service after each
30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs rst. Any repairs would not
be covered by your warranty. Always use
DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant in your
vehicle.
What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean, drinkable water
and one-half DEX-COOL®coolant which will
not damage aluminum parts. If you use this coolant
mixture, you do not need to add anything else.
{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:If you use an improper coolant mixture,
your engine could overheat and be badly
damaged. The repair cost would not be covered
by your warranty. Too much water in the
mixture can freeze and crack the engine,
radiator, heater core, and other parts.
369

The coolant level should be at or above the FULL
COLD mark on the front of the coolant surge
tank. If it is not, you may have a leak at the
pressure cap or in the radiator hoses, heater
hoses, radiator, water pump, or somewhere else
in the cooling system.
{CAUTION:
Heater and radiator hoses, and other
engine parts, can be very hot. Do not
touch them. If you do, you can be burned.
Do not run the engine if there is a leak.
If you run the engine, it could lose all
coolant. That could cause an engine re,
and you could be burned. Get any leak
xed before you drive the vehicle.
If there seems to be no leak, with the engine on,
check to see if the electric engine cooling fans
are running. If the engine is overheating, both fans
should be running. If they are not, your vehicle
needs service.Notice:Engine damage from running your
engine without coolant is not covered by your
warranty.
Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOL
®
may cause premature engine, heater core, or
radiator corrosion. In addition, the engine
coolant could require changing sooner, at
30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs rst. Any repairs would not
be covered by your warranty. Always use
DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant in your
vehicle.
375

How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Surge Tank
Notice:This vehicle has a specic coolant ll
procedure. Failure to follow this procedure
could cause your engine to overheat and
be severely damaged.
If you have not found a problem yet, check to see
if coolant is visible in the surge tank. If coolant
is visible but the coolant level is not at or above
the FULL COLD mark, add a 50/50 mixture of
clean, drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®coolant at
the coolant surge tank, but be sure the cooling
system, including the coolant surge tank pressure
cap, is cool before you do it. SeeEngine
Coolant on page 368for more information.If no coolant is visible in the surge tank, add
coolant as follows:
{CAUTION:
Steam and scalding liquids from a hot
cooling system can blow out and burn
you badly. They are under pressure, and if
you turn the coolant surge tank pressure
cap — even a little — they can come out at
high speed. Never turn the cap when the
cooling system, including the coolant
surge tank pressure cap, is hot. Wait for
the cooling system and coolant surge
tank pressure cap to cool if you ever have
to turn the pressure cap.
376

{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
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.
377

Windshield Washer Fluid
What to Use
When you need windshield washer uid, be sure
to read the manufacturer’s instructions before
use. If you will be operating your vehicle in an area
where the temperature may fall below freezing,
use a uid that has sufficient protection against
freezing.
Adding Washer Fluid
When the windshield washer uid reservoir is low,
a LOW WASHER FLUID message will be
displayed on the Driver Information Center (DIC).
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 222
for more information.
Open the cap with the
washer symbol on it.
Add washer uid
until the tank is full. See
Engine Compartment
Overview on page 354
for reservoir location.Notice:
When using concentrated washer uid,
follow the manufacturer’s instructions
for adding water.
Do not mix water with ready-to-use washer
uid. Water can cause the solution to
freeze and damage your washer uid tank
and other parts of the washer system.
Also, water does not clean as well
as washer uid.
Fill your washer uid tank only
three-quarters full when it is very cold.
This allows for uid expansion if freezing
occurs, which could damage the tank if it is
completely full.
Do not use engine coolant (antifreeze) in
your windshield washer. It can damage
the vehicle’s windsheild washer system
and paint.
380

Notice:If you leave your radio or other
accessories on during the jump starting
procedure, they could be damaged. The repairs
would not be covered by your warranty. Always
turn off your radio and other accessories when
jump starting your vehicle.
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug
unnecessary accessories plugged into the
cigarette lighter or the accessory power outlet.
Turn off the radio and all lamps that are not
needed. This will avoid sparks and help save
both batteries. And it could save the radio!
4. Open the hoods and locate the batteries.
Find the positive (+) and negative (−) terminal
locations on each vehicle. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on page 354for more
information on location.
{CAUTION:
An electric fan can start up even when the
engine is not running and can injure you.
Keep hands, clothing and tools away from
any underhood electric fan.
{CAUTION:
Using a match near a battery can cause
battery gas to explode. People have been
hurt doing this, and some have been
blinded. Use a ashlight if you need
more light.
Be sure the battery has enough water.
You do not need to add water to the battery
installed in your new vehicle. But if a
battery has ller caps, be sure the right
amount of uid is there. If it is low, add
water to take care of that rst. If you do not,
explosive gas could be present.
Battery uid contains acid that can burn
you. Do not get it on you. If you
accidentally get it in your eyes or on your
skin, ush the place with water and get
medical help immediately.
386

Dust may be removed from small buttons and
knobs using a small brush with soft bristles.
Your dealer has a product for cleaning your
vehicle’s glass. Should it become necessary, you
can also obtain a product from your dealer to
remove odors from your vehicle’s upholstery.
Do not clean your vehicle using the following
cleaners or techniques:
Never use a knife or any other sharp object to
remove a soil from any interior surface.
Never use a stiff brush. It can cause damage
to your vehicle’s interior surfaces.
Never apply heavy pressure or rub
aggressively with a cleaning cloth. Use of
heavy pressure can damage your interior and
does not improve the effectiveness of soil
removal.
Use only mild, neutral-pH soaps. Avoid
laundry detergents or dishwashing soaps with
degreasers. Using too much soap will leave
a residue that leaves streaks and attracts dirt.
For liquid cleaners, about 20 drops per
gallon (3.78 L) of water is a good guide.
Do not heavily saturate your upholstery while
cleaning.
Damage to your vehicle’s interior may result
from the use of many organic solvents such
as naptha, alcohol, etc.
Fabric/Carpet
Use a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush
attachment frequently to remove dust and loose
dirt. A canister vacuum with a beater bar in
the nozzle may only be used on oor carpet and
carpeted oor mats. For soils, always try to remove
them rst with plain water or club soda. Before
cleaning, gently remove as much of the soil
as possible using one of the following techniques:
For liquids: gently blot the remaining soil
with a paper towel. Allow the soil to absorb into
the paper towel until no more can be
removed.
For solid dry soils: remove as much as
possible and then vacuum.
436