2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU fuel pressure

Instrument Panel Overview...............................3-2
Hazard Warning Flashers................................3-4
Other Warning Devices...................................3-4
Horn.............................................................3-5
Tilt Wheel.....................................................3-5
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.........................3-5
Exterior Lamps.............................................3-12
Interior Lamps..............................................3-15
Accessory Power Outlets...............................3-16
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter........................3-17
Climate Controls............................................3-17
Climate Control System.................................3-17
Outlet Adjustment.........................................3-21
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators.............3-22
Instrument Panel Cluster................................3-23
Speedometer and Odometer...........................3-24
Tachometer.................................................3-25
Safety Belt Reminder Light.............................3-25
Air Bag Readiness Light................................3-26
Charging System Light..................................3-27
Brake System Warning Light..........................3-27
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light.............3-28
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage..................3-29
Low Coolant Warning Light............................3-29
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.............................3-30Oil Pressure Light.........................................3-32
Check Oil Level Light....................................3-33
Passlock
žWarning Light................................3-34
Low Washer Fluid Warning Light.....................3-34
Door Ajar Light.............................................3-34
Service Vehicle Soon Light............................3-35
Fuel Gage...................................................3-35
Audio System(s).............................................3-36
Setting the Time for Radios without
Radio Data Systems (RDS)........................3-36
Setting the Time for Radios with
Radio Data Systems (RDS)........................3-37
Radio with CD (Base Level)...........................3-37
Radio with CD (Up Level)..............................3-41
Radio with Cassette and CD..........................3-48
Theft-Deterrent Feature
(Non-RDS Radios).....................................3-57
Theft-Deterrent Feature
(RDS Radios)...........................................3-57
Understanding Radio Reception......................3-57
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player.................3-58
Care of Your CDs.........................................3-59
Care of Your CD Player................................3-59
Fixed Mast Antenna......................................3-59
Chime Level Adjustment................................3-59
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-1

If you experience one or more of these conditions,
change the fuel brand you use. It will require at least
one full tank of the proper fuel to turn the light off.
If none of the above steps have made the light turn off,
your dealer can check the vehicle. Your dealer has
the proper test equipment and diagnostic tools to ®x any
mechanical or electrical problems that may have
developed.
Emissions Inspection and Maintenance
Programs
Some state/provincial and local governments have or
may begin programs to inspect the emission control
equipment on your vehicle. Failure to pass this
inspection could prevent you from getting a vehicle
registration.
Here are some things you need to know to help your
vehicle pass an inspection:
Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the Check
Engine light is on or not working properly.
Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the OBD
(on-board diagnostic) system determines that critical
emission control systems have not been completely
diagnosed by the system. The vehicle would beconsidered not ready for inspection. This can happen if
you have recently replaced your battery or if your
battery has run down. The diagnostic system is
designed to evaluate critical emission control systems
during normal driving. This may take several days
of routine driving. If you have done this and your vehicle
still does not pass the inspection for lack of OBD
system readiness, your GM dealer can prepare the
vehicle for inspection.
Oil Pressure Light
If you have a low engine
oil pressure problem,
this light will stay on after
you start your engine,
or come on and you will
hear a chime when you
are driving.
This indicates that your engine is not receiving enough
oil. The engine could be low on oil, or could have
some other oil problem. Have it ®xed immediately.
3-32

The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply.
The exit speed is usually posted. Reduce your speed
according to your speedometer, not to your sense
of motion. After driving for any distance at higher
speeds, you may tend to think you are going slower
than you actually are.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you're ready. Try to be well rested. If you
must start when you're not fresh Ð such as after a day's
work Ð don't plan to make too many miles that ®rst
part of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes
you can easily drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it's ready to go. If it needs
service, have it done before starting out. Of course,
you'll ®nd experienced and able service experts in
GM dealerships all across North America. They'll be
ready and willing to help if you need it.Here are some things you can check before a trip:
·Windshield Washer Fluid:Is the reservoir full?
Are all windows clean inside and outside?
·Wiper Blades:Are they in good shape?
·Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids:Have you checked
all levels?
·Lamps:Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
·Tires:They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip. Is the tread good enough for
long-distance driving? Are the tires all in¯ated to the
recommended pressure?
·Weather Forecasts:What's the weather outlook
along your route? Should you delay your trip a
short time to avoid a major storm system?
·Maps:Do you have up-to-date maps?
4-20

Loading Your Vehicle
Two labels on your vehicle show how much weight it
may properly carry. The Tire-Loading Information
label found on the rear edge of the driver's door tells
you the proper size, speed rating and recommended
in¯ation pressures for the tires on your vehicle. It also
gives you important information about the number
of people that can be in your vehicle and the total weight
that you can carry. This weight is called the Vehicle
Capacity Weight, and includes the weight of all
occupants, cargo and all nonfactory-installed options.The other label is the Certi®cation label, found on the
rear edge of the driver's door. It tells you the gross
weight capacity of your vehicle, called the Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR). The GVWR includes the
weight of the vehicle, all occupants, fuel and cargo.
Never exceed the GVWR for your vehicle, or the Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) for either the front or
rear axle.
And, if you do have a heavy load, you should spread it
out. Don't carry more than 132 lbs. (60 kg) in your trunk.
4-32

Service............................................................5-3
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-3
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle..............................................5-4
Fuel................................................................5-4
Gasoline Octane............................................5-4
Gasoline Speci®cations....................................5-4
California Fuel...............................................5-5
Additives.......................................................5-5
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-6
Filling Your Tank............................................5-6
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.......................5-9
Checking Things Under the Hood.....................5-9
Hood Release..............................................5-10
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-12
Engine Oil...................................................5-13
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-17
Automatic Transaxle Fluid..............................5-18
Engine Coolant.............................................5-19
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap..................5-21
Engine Overheating.......................................5-22
Cooling System............................................5-24
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-30
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-31Brakes........................................................5-32
Battery........................................................5-36
Jump Starting...............................................5-36
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-42
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-42
Headlamps..................................................5-42
Front Turn Signal Lamps...............................5-44
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL).........5-44
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Back-up Lamps.........................................5-45
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-47
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-48
Tires..............................................................5-48
In¯ation -- Tire Pressure................................5-49
Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-50
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................5-51
Buying New Tires.........................................5-52
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..........................5-53
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance..................5-54
Wheel Replacement......................................5-54
Tire Chains..................................................5-55
If a Tire Goes Flat........................................5-56
Changing a Flat Tire.....................................5-57
Compact Spare Tire......................................5-66
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

{CAUTION:
Poorly maintained and improperly used tires
are dangerous.
·Overloading your tires can cause
overheating as a result of too much
friction. You could have an air-out and a
serious accident. See ªLoading Your
Vehicleº in the Index.
·Underin¯ated tires pose the same danger
as overloaded tires. The resulting accident
could cause serious injury. Check all tires
frequently to maintain the recommended
pressure. Tire pressure should be checked
when your tires are cold.
·Overin¯ated tires are more likely to be
cut, punctured or broken by a sudden
impact Ð such as when you hit a pothole.
Keep tires at the recommended pressure.
·Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If
your tread is badly worn, or if your tires
have been damaged, replace them.
In¯ation -- Tire Pressure
The Tire-Loading Information label, which is located on
the rear edge of the driver's door, shows the correct
in¯ation pressures for your tires when they're cold.
ªColdº means your vehicle has been sitting for at least
three hours or driven no more than 1 mile (1.6 km).
Notice:Don't let anyone tell you that underin¯ation
or overin¯ation is all right. It's not. If your tires
don't have enough air (underin¯ation), you can get
the following:
·Too much ¯exing
·Too much heat
·Tire overloading
·Bad wear
·Bad handling
·Bad fuel economy
If your tires have too much air (overin¯ation),
you can get the following:
·Unusual wear
·Bad handling
·Rough ride
·Needless damage from road hazards
5-49

Part B: Owner Checks and Services
Listed in this part are owner checks and services
which should be performed at the intervals speci®ed to
help ensure the safety, dependability and emission
control performance of your vehicle.
Be sure any necessary repairs are completed at once.
Whenever any ¯uids or lubricants are added to your
vehicle, make sure they are the proper ones, as shown
in Part D.
At Each Fuel Fill
It is important for you or a service station attendant to
perform these underhood checks at each fuel ®ll.
Engine Oil Level Check
Check the engine oil level and add the proper oil if
necessary. SeeEngine Oil on page 5-13for further
details.
Engine Coolant Level Check
Check the engine coolant level and add DEX-COOLž
coolant mixture if necessary. SeeEngine Coolant
on page 5-19for further details.
Windshield Washer Fluid Level Check
Check the windshield washer ¯uid level in the windshield
washer tank and add the proper ¯uid if necessary.
See
Windshield Washer Fluid on page 5-31for further
details.
At Least Once a Month
Tire In¯ation Check
Visually inspect your tires and make sure tires are
in¯ated to the correct pressures. Don't forget to check
your spare tire. See
Tires on page 5-48for further
details.
Cassette Tape Player Service
Clean cassette tape player. Cleaning should be done
every 50 hours of tape play. SeeAudio System(s)
on page 3-36for further details.
6-15

I
If No Steam Is Coming From Your Engine..........5-23
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine...............5-22
If the Light Is Flashing.....................................3-31
If the Light Is on Steady..................................3-31
If You Are Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow.......4-27
If You Do Decide To Pull a Trailer.....................4-35
If You're Caught in a Blizzard...........................4-25
Ignition Positions.............................................2-17
Ignition Transaxle Lock Check..........................6-18
Infants and Young Children, Restraints...............1-31
In¯ation -- Tire Pressure..................................5-49
Inspection......................................................6-20
Brake System.............................................6-20
Engine Cooling System................................6-20
Exhaust System..........................................6-19
Fuel System...............................................6-19
Part C - Periodic Maintenance.......................6-19
Steering, Suspension and Front Drive Axle
Boot and Seal.........................................6-19
Throttle System...........................................6-20
Instrument Panel Brightness.............................3-15
Instrument Panel Fuse Block (Passenger's Side)....5-79
Instrument Panel Fuse Block (Driver's Side).......5-78
Instrument Panel.............................................3-23
Cluster.......................................................3-23
Overview..................................................... 3-2
Interior Lamps................................................3-15
J
Jump Starting.................................................5-36
K
Key Lock Cylinders Service..............................6-16
Keyless Entry System....................................... 2-3
Keys............................................................... 2-2
L
Lamps...........................................................3-12
Exterior......................................................3-12
Interior.......................................................3-15
Lap Belt........................................................1-24
Lap-Shoulder Belt...................................1-12, 1-21
LATCH System...............................................1-40
Child Restraints...........................................1-40
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for
the LATCH System...................................1-41
Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine
Running.....................................................2-24
Leaving Your Vehicle.......................................2-11
Light.............................................................3-26
Air Bag Readiness.......................................3-26
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning...................3-28
Brake System Warning.................................3-27
7