1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU brake

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 1
Vehicle Symbols
These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle.
For example,
these symbols
are used
on an
original battery:
POSSIBLE A
CAUTION
INJURY
PROTECT EYES BY
SHIELDING
Q
CAUSTIC
BURNS
AVO1 D
SPARKS
OR
FLAMES
SPARK
OR ,111,
COULD [-sr=l
FLAME
EXPLODE BAlTERY
...
These symbols
are important
for you and
your passengers
whenever your vehicle
is
driven:
DOOR LOCK
UNLOCK
These symbols
have
to do with
your lamps:
SIGNALS @ e
TURN
FOG LAMPS
$0
These symbols are
on some of
your controls:
WINDSHIELD
WIPER
WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER
WINDOW
DEFOGGER
VENTILATING FAN
These symbols
are used on
warning
and
indicator lights:
ENGINE t
COOLANT kt-
TEMP -
CHARGING I-1
BAlTERY
SYSTEM
BRAKE (@)
COOLANT a
ENGINE OIL e,
PRESSURE
ANTI-LOCK
(a)
BRAKES
Here are some
other symbols
you may see:
FUSE
P
LIGHTER
HORN
)cr
SPEAKER
Er
FUEL B

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Section 2 Features and Controls
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Here you can learn about the many standard and optional featur\
es on your Chevrolet, and information
on starting,
shifting and braking. Also explained are the instrument panel and the warning systems that tell you if everything is
working properly
-- and what to do if you have a problem.
Important Information About Keys
Door Locks Operation of Child Security Locks
Keyless Entry System
Battery Replacement for Keyless
Entry System
Preventing Theft
of Your Vehicle
New Vehicle “Break-In”
Ignition Positions
Tips on Starting Your Engine
Using the Engine Coolant Heater
Automatic Transaxle Operation
Second-Gear Start
Parking Brake Guidelines
Important Information on Engine Exhaust 2-27
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2-36 2-37
2-3 8
2-40
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2-47
2-48
2-52 Operation
of Your Windows
Adjusting the Tilt Steering Wheel
Functions of the Multifunction Lever
How to Use the High/Low Beam
Headlamp Changer
Windshield Wipers and Fluid
Using Cruise Control
Exterior Lamps Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
Interior Lamps Rearview Mirrors
Storage Compartments
Sunroof
Instrument Panel Overview
All About Your Warning Lights and Gages

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine New Vehicle “Break-In”
NOTICE:
Your modern Chevrolet doesn’t need an
elaborate “break-in.” But it
will perform better
in the long run
if you follow these guidelines:
0 Don’t drive at any one speed -- fast or
slow
-- for the first 500 miles (805 km).
Don’t make full-throttle starts.
200 miles (322 km) or so. During this time
your new brake linings aren’t yet broken
in. Hard stops with new linings can mean
premature wear and earlier replacement.
Follow this breaking-in guideline every
time you get new brake
linings.
See “Towing a nailer” in the Index for
more information.
0 Avoid making hard stops for the first
Don’t tow a trailer during break-in.
Ignition Positions
A
hB
With the ignition key in the ignition switch, you can turn
the switch to four positions.
OFF (A): Before you put the key into the ignition
switch, the switch is
off. It is the only position from
which you can remove the key. This position locks your
ignition and transaxle.
A warning chime will sound if
you open the driver’s door when the ignition is off and
the key is in the ignition.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine PARK (P): This locks your front wheels. It’s the best
position to use when you start your engine because your
vehicle can’t move easily.
A CAUmION:
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to.
If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured.
To be sure your
vehicle won’t move, even when you’re on fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever to
PARK (P).
See “Shifting Into PARK (P)” in the Index. If
you’re pulling a trailer, see “Towing a Trailer” in
the Index.
Ensure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) range before
starting the engine. Your Chevrolet has a brake-transaxle
shift interlock. You have to apply your regular brake
before you can
shift from PARK (p) when the ignition key
is
in ON. If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease
pressure on the
shift lever -- push the shift lever all the
way into
PARK (P) -- as you maintain brake application.
Then move the
shift lever into the gear you wish. (Press
the
shft lever button before moving the shift lever.) See
“Shifting Out
of PARK (P)” later in this section.
REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up.
NOTICE:
Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle is
moving forward could damage your transaxle.
Shift to
REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle
is stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,
ice
or sand without damaging your transaxle, see
“Stuck:
In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow” in the Index.
2-19

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine NEUTRAL (N): In this position, your engine doesn’t
connect with the wheels. To restart when you’re already moving, use
NEUTRAL (N) only. Also, use
NEUTRAL (N) when your vehicle is being towed.
Shifting out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) while
your engine is “racing” (running at high speed) is
dangerous. Unless your foot is firmly on the
brake pedal, your vehicle could move very
rapidly. You could lose control and hit people or
objects. Don’t shift out of
PARK (P) or
NEUTRAL
(N) while your engine is racing.
~ NOTICE: I I I
Damage to your transaxle caused by shifting out
of
PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) with the engine
1 racing isn’t covered by your warranty. DRIVE
(D): This position
is for normal driving. If you
need more power for passing, and you’re:
Going less than 35 mph (56 M), push your
Going about 35 mph (56 M) or more, push the
accelerator all the way down. You’ll shift down to
the next gear and have more power. accelerator pedal about halfway down.
I
NOTICE:
If your
vehicle is seems to start up rather slowly,
or
if it seems not to shift gears as you go faster,
something may be wrong with a transaxle system
sensor.
If you drive very far that way, your
vehicle can be damaged.
So, if this happens, have
your vehicle serviced right away. Until then, you
can use SECOND
(2) when you are driving less
than
35 mph (56 km/h) and DRIVE (D) for
higher speeds.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine THIRD (3): This position is also used for normal
driving, however, it offers more power and lower fuel
economy than
DRIVE (D). Here are some times you
might choose THIRD
(3) instead of DRIVE (D):
0 When driving on hilly, winding roads.
When towing a trailer, so there is less shifting
between gears.
When going down a steep hill.
SECOND (2): This position gives you more power but
lower fuel economy.
You can use SECOND (2) on hills.
It can help control your speed as you go down steep
mountain roads, but then you would also want to use
your brakes
off and on.
NOTICE:
Don’t drive in SECOND (2) for more than
25 miles (41 km), or at speeds over 55 mph
(88 km/h), or you can damage your transaxle.
Use
DRIVE (D) or THIRD (3) as much as
possible. Don’t shift into SECOND
(2) unless you
are going slower than
65 mph (105 km/h) or you
can damage your engine.
FIRST (1): This position gives you even more power
(but lower fuel economy) than
SECOND (2). You
can use it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud.
If the selector lever
is put in FIRST (l), the transaxle
won’t shift into first gear until the vehicle is going
slowly enough.
NOTICE:
If your front wheels can’t rotate, don’t try to
drive. This might happen if you were stuck in
very deep sand or mud
or were up against a solid
object.
You can damage your transaxle.
Also, if you stop when going uphill, don’t hold
your vehicle there with only the accelerator
pedal. This could overheat and damage the
transaxle. Use your brakes or shift into
PARK (P)
to hold your vehicle in position on a hill.
2-21

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Second-Gear Start
Your vehicle is equipped with a second-gear start
feature. Place the shift lever
in SECOND (2) gear to
provide more traction when you are starting on ice or
other slippery surfaces. The transaxle will be in
SECOND (2) gear when the vehicle begins to move.
After starting in SECOND
(2) gear, place the shift lever
in THIRD (3) or DRIVE (D).
This feature is only for improved traction only when me
road surface is slippery and is not intended for
continuous use or when the vehicle is stuck in sana,
mud, ice, snow or gravel.
Parking Brake
To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down with your right foot. Push down on the
parking brake pedal with your left foot. If
the parking
brake is not released when you begin to drive, a chime
will sound warning you that the parking brake is still on
NOTICE:
To set the parking brake,
hold the regular brake pedal down with your right foot.
Push down the parking
brake pedal with your left
foot. If the ignition is on,
the brake system warning
light will come on.
~
Driving with the parking brake on can cause
your rear brakes to overheat. You may have to
replace them, and
you could also damage other
parts
of your vehicle.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on a hill, see
“Towing a Trailer” in the Index. That section shows
what to do first to keep the trailer from moving.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Shifting Into PARK (P)
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever
is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake
firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
If you have left the engine running, the vehicle
can move suddenly.
You or others could be
injured. To be sure your vehicle won’t move, even
when you’re on
fairly level ground, use the steps
that follow.
If you’re pulling a trailer, see
“Towing a Trailer” in the Index.
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
set the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) like this:
0 Hold in the button on the lever.
Push the lever all the way toward the front of
your vehicle.
3. Move the ignition key to
OFF.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave your vehicle with the key in your hand, your
vehicle is in PARK
(P).
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