2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU Owners Manual

2-66 Check Oil Light
You will have a CHECK
OIL light in your
instrument panel cluster.
This light will come on briefly when you start
your vehicle.
If the light stays on after starting your vehicle,
or comes on and chimes while you are driving, your
engine oil level should be checked.
Prior to checking the oil level, be sure your vehicle
has been shut off for several minutes and is on a level
surface. Check the oil level on your dipstick and bring it
to the proper level. See ªEngine Oilº in the Index.
A false CHECK OIL light may be generated when
parking on steep grades.The oil level monitoring system only checks oil level
during the brief period between key on and engine
crank. It does not monitor engine oil level when the
engine is running. Additionally, an oil level check is
only performed if the engine has been turned off for a
considerable period of time allowing the oil normally in
circulation to drain back into the oil pan.
Passlock
Warning Light
This light will come on
when you turn the ignition
to ON. The light will stay
on until the engine starts.
If the light flashes, the Passlock system has
entered a tamper mode. If the vehicle fails to start,
see ªPasslock

º in the Index.
If the light comes on continuously while driving and
stays on, there may be a problem with the Passlock
system. Your vehicle will not be protected by Passlock,
and you should see your dealer.

2-67 Cruise Light (If Equipped)
The CRUISE light comes
on whenever you set your
cruise control.
Low Washer Light
The LOW WASH light
will come on briefly when
you turn on the ignition.
It will also stay on or come on and chime, if the fluid
reservoir is less than one
-third full.
Service Vehicle Soon Light
This light will come on
briefly when you turn on
the ignition.
It will stay on or come on and chime if it detects a
problem on the vehicle, such as a Daytime Running
Lamp (DRL) or an Automatic Light Control (ALC)
malfunction. If this happens, see your dealer service
department as soon as possible.
Door Ajar Light
When the ignition is on,
this light will stay on until
all doors are closed and
completely latched.
You will hear a chime if a door is unlatched after the
engine is started and the vehicle is not in PARK (P)
or NEUTRAL (N).

2-68 Fuel Gage
United States Canada
Your fuel gage tells you about how much fuel you have
left, when the ignition is on. When the indicator nears
empty, the light, located near the empty symbol, will
come on and you will hear a chime. You still have a
little fuel left, but you should get more soon.Here are four things that some owners ask about.
None of these show a problem with your fuel gage:

At the service station, the gas pump shuts off
before the gage reads full.

It takes a little more or less fuel to fill up than the
gage indicated. For example, the gage may have
indicated the tank was half full, but it actually took
a little more or less than half the tank's capacity to
fill the tank.

The gage moves a little when you turn a corner
or speed up.

The gage goes back to empty when you turn off
the ignition.

3-
3-1
Section 3 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
In this section, you'll find out how to operate the comfort control and audio systems offered with your vehicle. Be
sure to read about the particular systems supplied with your vehicle.
3
-2 Comfort Controls
3
-2 Climate Control System with
Air Conditioning
3
-4 Air Conditioning
3
-4 Heating
3
-5 Defogging and Defrosting Windows
3
-6 Rear Window Defogger
3
-6 Ventilation System
3
-7 Audio Systems
3
-8 Setting the Clock
3
-8AM-FM Stereo with Compact Disc Player
with Radio Data System (RDS) and Automatic
Tone Control3
-16 AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape and
Compact Disc Player with Radio Data
System (RDS) and Automatic Tone
Control (If Equipped)
3
-26 Theft-Deterrent Feature
3
-26 Understanding Radio Reception
3
-26 Tips About Your Audio System
3
-27 Care of Your Cassette Tape Player
3
-29 Care of Your Compact Discs
3
-29 Care of Your Compact Disc Player
3
-29 Fixed Mast Antenna
3
-29 Chime Level Adjustment

3-2
Comfort Controls
This section tells you how to make your air system work
for you.
With this system, you can control the ventilation and
heating in your vehicle. Your vehicle also has the
flow
-through ventilation system described later in
this section.
Climate Control System with
Air Conditioning
Fan Knob
The left knob selects the force of air you want. Turn the
knob clockwise to increase fan speed or counterclockwise
to decrease fan speed. To turn the fan off (which will also
turn the climate control system off), turn the knob all the
way counterclockwise. In any other setting, the fan will
run continuously with the ignition on. The fan must be
on to run the air conditioning compressor.
Temperature Knob
The center knob controls the temperature of the air
coming through the system. Turn it counterclockwise
toward the blue area for cooler air. Turn it clockwise
toward the red area for warmer air.
Mode Knob
The right knob selects the location of where the air will
enter the vehicle. The available modes are the following:
(Vent): In this position most of the air comes
through the instrument panel outlets. A small amount of
air comes through the floor outlets.

3-3
(Bi-Level): In this position the air comes
through the instrument panel outlets and through
the floor outlets.
(Floor): In this position most of the air comes
through the floor outlets. The rest of the air comes
through the windshield and side window outlets.
(Defog): This position divides the air between
the floor outlets and the windshield defroster outlet.
The air conditioning compressor will run automatically
in this position when it is needed to help dry the air in
the vehicle.
(Defrost): This position directs most of the
air through the windshield defroster outlet. Some of
the air goes to the floor outlets. The air conditioning
compressor will run automatically in this position when
it is needed to help dry the air in the vehicle.
Mode Buttons
A/C (Air Conditioning): Press A/C to operate the
air conditioner compressor. The indicator light will glow
when the button is pressed to indicate that the air
conditioning system is operating.
(Outside Air): Press this button to allow the
circulation of outside air in the vehicle. The indicator
light on the button will glow when pressed. Outside air
is available in all modes including OFF. Outside air is the
default setting and is automatically activated in defog and
defrost or when turning the climate control system on or
turning the ignition switch from OFF to ON.
Pressing this button will cancel recirculation.
(Recirculation): Press this button to limit the
amount of outside air entering your vehicle. This is also
helpful when you are trying to limit odors entering your
vehicle. The indicator light on the button will glow
when it is pressed. Recirculation is available in all
modes, except defog and defrost.
Pressing this button will cancel outside air.
It is not recommended to use recirculation in the floor
mode with heat. It is useful to quickly cool the vehicle
on hot days.

3-4 Air Conditioning
The air conditioner and heater work best if you keep
your windows closed while using them. Your vehicle
also has the flow
-through ventilation system described
later in this section.
For normal cooling on hot days, after the vehicle has
started to cool down, use the vent mode with the
temperature knob in the blue area and the A/C button
pressed. The system will bring in outside air and cool it.
On very hot days, begin by opening the windows long
enough to let hot inside air escape. This reduces the time
it takes for your vehicle to cool down, which should
help fuel economy.
For quicker cool
-down on very hot days, use the vent
mode with the temperature knob all the way in the blue
area and the A/C button pressed. Begin with the outside
air button pressed for a few minutes, or until the vehicle
begins to feel cool. Then press the recirculation button. If
the recirculation setting is used for long periods of time,
the air in your vehicle may become too dry.
On cool, but sunny days, the sun may warm your upper
body, but your lower body may not be warm enough.
You can use bi
-level mode with the temperature knob in
the middle and the A/C button pressed. The system will
bring in outside air and direct slightly warmer air to
your lower body.
Heating
On cold days, use floor mode and outside air with the
temperature knob all the way in the red area. The system
will bring in outside air, heat it and send it to the
floor outlets.
Your vehicle has heat ducts that are directed toward
the rear seat. Keep the area under the front seats clear
of obstructions so the heated air can reach the rear
seat passengers.
If your vehicle has an engine coolant heater, you can use
it to help your system provide warm air faster when it's
cold outside (0
F (
-18
C) or lower). An engine coolant
heater warms the coolant in your engine and heating
system that is used to provide heat. See ªEngine Coolant
Heaterº in the Index.

3-5 Defogging and Defrosting Windows
Your system has two settings for clearing the front and
side windows. For each setting, adjust the temperature
control as desired.
To defrost the front window quickly, turn the temperature
knob all the way in the red area. Use defrost and adjust the
fan to the highest speed. To warm passengers while
keeping the front window clean, use defog.
When you switch to defog or defrost modes your system
will automatically move from recirculation into outside
air. When you move the mode knob back into vent or
bi
-level modes, the system will move back into
recirculation. When the vehicle is turned off and back
on, the system will default to outside air automatically.
If you select recirculation while in vent, bi
-level or
floor modes, humid air can recirculate inside the vehicle
and allow moisture to form on the windows. If this
happens, select either the defog or defrost mode.
Recirculation mode in cold weather should be used only
for outside odor control so that fog formation on the
windows is reduced.Your vehicle is equipped with side window defogger
vents. The side window defogger outlets are located on
the outside of the side instrument panel vents. To defrost
the side windows, turn the temperature knob all the way
in the red area. Use floor mode and adjust the fan to the
highest speed.
To defog the side windows while using air conditioning,
use bi
-level mode and adjust the fan to the highest speed
and press the A/C button. For additional airflow to the
side windows, aim the side outlets toward the windows
and close the center outlets.
Recirculation will not operate in defog or defrost. This
is done to prevent recirculation of humid inside air and
allow the system to work properly. The system will
automatically default to outside air when defog or
defrost modes are selected.