1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 “Wiper Blades,
Cleaning” in the Index.
At Least Once a Year
Key Lock Cylinders Service
Lubricate the key lock cylinders with the lubricant
specified in Part
D.
Body Lubrication Service
Lubricate all 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.
7-3s

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Starter Switch Check Brake-Transaxle Shift Interlock (BTSI) Check
A CAUTION:
-- I
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 (see “Parking
Brake” in the Index if necessary) and the
regular brake.
NOTE: Do not use the accelerator pedal, and be
ready to
turn off the engine immediately if it starts.
should work only in PARK
(P) or NEUTRAL (N). If
the starter works in any other position, your vehicle
needs service.
3. Try to start the engine in each gear. The starter
I A CAUTION:
I
I
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”
in the Index if necessary).
NOTE: 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’s BTSI
needs service.
7-39

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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
On all vehicles, the key should come out only in OFF.
is in PARK (P) .
Parking Brake and Automatic Transaxle PARK (P)
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 all brakes.
Underbody Flushing Service
At least every spring, use plain water to flush any
corrosive materials from the underbody. Take care to
clean thoroughly any areas where mud and other debris
can collect.
7-40

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Part C: Periodic Maintenance
Inspections
Listed below are inspections and services which should be
performed at least twice a year (for instance, each spring
and
fall). You should let your GM dealer’s service
department or other qualified service center do these jobs.
Make sure any necessary repairs are completed at once.
Proper procedures to perform these services may be found in a
GM service manual. See “Service and Owner
Publications” in the Index.
Steering, Suspension and Front Drive Axle
Boot and Seal Inspection
Inspect the front and rear suspension and steenng
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, chafing, 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 floor pan or could let exhaust fumes into
the vehicle. See “Engine Exhaust” in the Index.
Radiator and Heater Hose Inspection
Inspect the hoses and have them replaced if they are
cracked, swollen or deteriorated. Inspect all pipes,
fittings and clamps; replace as needed.
Throttle Linkage Inspection
Inspect the throttle linkage for interference or binding,
and for damaged or missing parts. Replace parts as
needed. Replace any cables 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,
chafing, 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.
7-41

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Part D: Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants
NOTE: Fluids and lubricants identified below by name,
part number or specification may be obtained from your
GM dealer.
I USAGE
I Engine Oil
I Engine Coolant
Hydraulic Brake System
FLUIDLUBRICANT
Engine oil with the American
Petroleum Institute Certified For
Gasoline Engines “Starburst”
symbol of the proper viscosity.
To
determine the preferred viscosity
for your vehicle’s engine, see
“Engine Oil” in the Index.
50/50 mixture of clean water
(preferably distilled) and use only
GM Goodwrench@ DEX-COOL
TM
or Havoline@ DEX-COOL TM
coolant. See “Engine Coolant” in
the Index.
Delco Supreme
ll@ Brake Fluid
(GM Part
No. 12377967 or
equivalent DOT-3 brake fluid).
USAGE FLUIDLUBRICANT
Power Steering
GM Power Steering Fluid (GM
System Part No. 1052884
- 1 pint,
1050017
- 1 quart, or equivalent). ~ ~~~~~
Automatic DEXRON@-I11 Automatic
Transaxle Transmission Fluid.
1
Key Lock
Cylinders Multi-Pu ose lubricant,
Superlube
% (GM Part
No. 12346241 or equivalent).
Windshield GM Optikleen@ Washer Solvent (GM
Washer Solvent Part
No. 1051515) or equivalent.
Hood Latch Lubriplate lubricant aerosol (GM
Assembly, Part
No. 12346293 or equivalent)
Pivots, Spring or lubricant meeting requirements
Anchor and of NLGI
# 2, Category LB or
Release Pawl
GC-LB.
Hood and Door Multi-pu ose lubricant,
Hinges Superlube
% (GM Part No.
1234624 1 or equivalent).
Weatherstrip Dielectric Silicone Grease (GM
Conditioning Part
No. 12345579 or equivalent). I
I
See “Replacement Parts” in the Index for recommended
replacement filters and spark plugs.
7-42

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Part E: Maintenance Record
After the scheduled services are performed, record the
date, odometer reading and who performed the service
in the boxes provided after the maintenance interval.
Any additional information from “Owner Checks and Services” or “Periodic Maintenance” can
be added on
the following record pages. Also, you should retain
all
maintenance receipts. Your owner information portfolio
is a convenient place to store them.
Maintenance Record
ODOMETER
DATE SERVICED
BY MAINTENANCE PERFORMED READING
~
~~
7-43

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Maintenance Record
MAINTENANCE PERFORMED
7-44

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 0 Section 8 Custc-: 3r A %st; ~ ~ - Info]-I- xtion
Here you will find out how to contact Chevrolet if you need assistance. This section also tells you how to obtain
service publications and how to report any safety defects.
8-2
8-4
8-5
8-7
8-8
8-9 Customer Satisfaction Procedure
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone
(TTY) Users
ChevroletIGeo Roadside Assistance Program Canadian Roadside Assistance
Courtesy Transportation
GM Participation
in an Alternative Dispute
Resolution Program
8- 10
8- 10
8-11
8-11
8-11
Warranty Information Reporting Safety Defects to the United
States Government
Reporting Safety Defects to the
Canadian Government
Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors
Ordering Service and Owner Publications
in Canada