1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Windshield Washer
-
Lh CAUTICY:
In freezing weather, don't use your washer until
the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the washer
fluid can form ice on the windshield, blocking
your vision.
When you release the button, the washers will stop, but
the wipers will either stop or will resume the speed you
were using before.
To wash your windshield, push in the button at the end
of the stalk until the washers begin.
2-32

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Cruise Control (If Equipped)
With cruise control, you can maintain a speed of about
25 mph (40 km/h) or more without keeping your foot on
the accelerator.
This can really help on long trips. Cruise
control does not work at speeds below
25 mph (40 km/h).
When you apply your brake, the cruise control shuts off.
1 CAUTION:
Cruise control can be dangerous where you
can’t drive safely at a steady speed.
So,
don’t use your cruise control on winding
roads or
in heavy traffic.
slippery roads. On such roads, fast changes
in tire traction can cause needless wheel
spinning, and you could lose control. Don’t
use cruise control on slippery roads.
0 Cruise control can be dangerous on
2-33

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Setting Cruise Control
A C A UTION:
I
If you leave your cruise control switch on when
you’re not using cruise,
you might hit a button
and go into cruise when
you don’t want to. You
could be startled and even lose control. Keep the
cruise control switch
off until you want to use it.
The cruise control buttons are located on the center of
the steering wheel.
1. Press the cruise control ON/OFF button.
2. Get up to the speed you want.
3. Press the SETDECEL button and release it.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
Resuming a Set Speed
Suppose you set your cruise control at a desired speed
and then you apply the brake. This,
of course, shuts off
the cruise control. But you don’t need to reset it. Once
you’re going about
25 mph (40 km/h) or more, you can
press the cruise control RESUME/ACCEL button for
about half a second.
You’ll go right back up to your chosen speed and stay there.
If you press the RESUME/ACCEL button longer than
half a second, the vehicle will keep going faster until
you release the switch or apply the brake.
So unless you
want to
go faster, don’t hold down the
RESUME/ACCEL button.
2-34

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Increasing Speed. While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed.
Use the accelerator pedal to get to the higher speed.
Push the SETDECEL button, then release the button
and the accelerator pedal. You’ll now cruise at the
higher speed.
Press the RESUME/ACCEL button. Hold it there
until you get up to the speed you want, and then
release the button. To increase your speed in very
small amounts, press the RESUME/ACCEL button
for less than half a second and then release it. Each
time you do this, your vehicle will go about
1 mph
(1.6
km/h) faster.
The accelerate feature will only work after you
turn on
the cruise control by pushing the SETDECEL button.
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to reduce your speed while using
cruise control:
Push the SETDECEL button until you reach the
To slow down in very small amounts, push the
lower
speed you want, then release it.
button for less than half a second. Each time you do
this, you’ll go 1 mph (1.6 km/h) 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.
2-35

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Lamps
1
Rotate the turn signal lever end cap up one position to
turn on:
0 Parking Lamps
Side Marker Lamps
0 Taillamps
License Plate Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights Rotate the turn signal lever end cap
up two positions to
turn on:
0 Headlamps
0 Parking Lamps
0 Sidemarker Lamps
0 Taillamps
0 License Plate Lamps
0 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.
2-36

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Daytime Running Lamps / Automatic
Light Control
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.
A light sensor below the defroster grille makes the DRL
and Automatic Light Control (ALC) work, so be sure it
isn’t covered. The
DRL system will make your
low-beam headlamps come on at a reduced
brightness when:
0 The ignition is on,
0 The headlamp switch is off,
The transaxle is not in PARK (P) and
The park brake is not set. When the DRL are
on, only your low-beam headlamps
will be on. The taillamps, sidemarker and other lamps
won’t be on. Your instrument panel won’t be lit
up either.
When it’s dark enough outside, the ALC system will
turn your headlamps on to full brightness. The other
lamps that come on with your headlamps will
also
come on.
When it’s bright enough outside, the ALC system will
turn off your regular lamps, and your low-beam
headlamps change to the reduced brightness of DRL.
To idle your vehicle with the DRL off, set the park brake
while the ignition is off. Then start the vehicle. The
DRL 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 parking lamps or low-beam
headlamps must be on.
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.
2-38

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Illuminated Entrymxit 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 LOCK
or UNLOCK button on the optional Keyless Entry System transmitter.
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 Trunk Lamp
The
trunk lamp comes on when you open your trunk.
Battery Saver
Your Chevrolet is equipped with a battery saver feature
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.
To reactivate the interior lamps, either:
The ignition must be turned on,
a The activated lamp switch must be turned off and
A door must be opened.
then on or
The battery saver feature will also be activated when any door
of your vehicle is left open.
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.
2-39