2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU parking brake

Keys...............................................................2-2
Remote Keyless Entry System.........................2-3
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation...........2-4
Doors and Locks.............................................2-7
Door Locks....................................................2-7
Power Door Locks..........................................2-8
Door Ajar Reminder........................................2-8
Delayed Locking.............................................2-8
Programmable Automatic Door Locks................2-9
Rear Door Security Locks..............................2-10
Lockout Protection........................................2-11
Leaving Your Vehicle....................................2-11
Trunk..........................................................2-11
Windows........................................................2-14
Manual Windows..........................................2-14
Power Windows............................................2-15
Sun Visors...................................................2-15
Theft-Deterrent Systems..................................2-15
Passlock
ž....................................................2-16
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle................2-16
New Vehicle Break-In....................................2-16Ignition Positions..........................................2-17
Starting Your Engine.....................................2-18
Engine Coolant Heater..................................2-19
Automatic Transaxle Operation.......................2-20
Parking Brake..............................................2-23
Shifting Into Park (P).....................................2-23
Shifting Out of Park (P).................................2-25
Parking Over Things That Burn.......................2-26
Engine Exhaust............................................2-26
Running Your Engine While You Are Parked.......2-27
Mirrors...........................................................2-28
Manual Rearview Mirror.................................2-28
Outside Remote Control Mirrors......................2-28
Outside Power Mirrors...................................2-29
Outside Convex Mirror...................................2-29
Storage Areas................................................2-30
Glove Box...................................................2-30
Cupholder(s)................................................2-30
Center Console Storage Area.........................2-30
Garment Hooks............................................2-30
Sunroof.........................................................2-31
Section 2 Features and Controls
2-1

W(Unlock):Press the unlock button once to unlock
the driver's door. Press the button again within ®ve
seconds for all remaining doors to unlock. The interior
lamps will stay on for 10 seconds or until the ignition
is turned on.
V(Remote Trunk Release):Press the remote trunk
release button to unlock and release the trunk lid.
You can open the trunk with the transmitter when the
vehicle speed is less than 2 mph (3 km/h), when
the parking brake is engaged, or when the ignition is off.
The interior lamps will come on for 10 seconds or
until the ignition is turned to ON.
L(Remote Alarm):Press the horn button for the
horn to sound and the headlamps and the parking lamps
to ¯ash for up to two minutes. The interior lamps will
come on and remain on while the horn is sounding and
the lamps are ¯ashing. Press the horn button again,
or turn the ignition to ON, to turn off the horn and lamps.
Programmable Horn Chirp
When you use the remote keyless entry transmitter to
lock the doors or use the delayed locking feature
the parking lamps will ¯ash and the horn will chirp.
The programmable horn chirp can be disabled by
pressing and holding either of the door lock switches in
the unlock position for 10 seconds with the ignition
ON and all of the doors closed. When you hear the horn
chirp, programming is complete.
To reactivate the horn chirp feature, repeat the above
procedure.
Matching Transmitter(s) to Your
Vehicle
Each remote keyless entry transmitter is coded to
prevent another transmitter from unlocking your vehicle.
If a transmitter is lost or stolen, a replacement can
be purchased through your dealer. Remember to bring
any remaining transmitters with you when you go to
your dealer. When the dealer matches the replacement
transmitter to your vehicle, any remaining transmitters
must also be matched. Once your dealer has coded the
new transmitter, the lost transmitter will not unlock
your vehicle. Each vehicle can have a maximum of four
transmitters matched to it.
2-5

Remote Trunk Release
Press the remote trunk
release button, located on
the lower left side of
the instrument panel, to
release the trunk lid.
If your vehicle has the remote trunk release lockout
feature, make sure it is not activated. Also, the remote
trunk release will only work when either the ignition
is off, or with the ignition in ON while either the parking
brake is engaged or the vehicle speed is less than
2 mph (3 km/h).
Remote Trunk Release Lockout
Your vehicle may have a lockout feature. The switch is
located on the inside of the trunk lid, mounted on
the trunk lid latch.
To turn the lockout on, slide the switch all the way to
the left (ON). To turn the lockout off, slide the switch all
the way to the right (OFF).
When the lockout is on, the remote trunk release switch
on the instrument panel will not release the trunk lid.
However, the trunk lid can still be opened with the key,
but not with the remote keyless entry transmitter.
2-12

Instead of trying to list everything here, we ask that you
contact your dealer in the area where you'll be parking
your vehicle. The dealer can give you the best advice for
that particular area.
Automatic Transaxle Operation
Your automatic transaxle
has a shift lever located on
the console between the
seats.
PARK (P):This position locks your front wheels.
It's the best position to use when you start your engine
because your vehicle can't move easily.
{CAUTION:
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake ®rmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Do not 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 will not move, even when
you are on fairly level ground, always set your
parking brake and move the shift lever to
PARK (P). See ªShifting Into Park (P)º in the
Index. If you are pulling a trailer, see ªTowing
a Trailerº in the Index.
Ensure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before starting
the engine. Your vehicle has an automatic transaxle shift
lock control system. 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.
2-20

Parking Brake
To set the parking brake,
push down the parking
brake pedal with your left
foot. If the ignition is
on, the brake system
warning light will come on.
See
Brake System
Warning Light on
page 3-27
.
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, the brake
system warning light will come on and a chime will
sound warning you that the parking brake is still on.
Notice: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 on page 4-34.
Shifting Into Park (P)
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake ®rmly 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 will not move,
even when you are on fairly level ground, use
the steps that follow. If you are pulling a trailer,
see ªTowing a Trailerº in the Index.
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
set the parking brake.
2-23

2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) like this:
·Hold in the button on the shift lever.
·Push the shift lever all the way toward the front of
the vehicle.
3. Turn the ignition key to OFF.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave your vehicle with the ignition key in your
hand, your vehicle is in PARK (P).
Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine
Running
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with
the engine running. Your vehicle could move
suddenly if the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the parking brake ®rmly set.
And, if you leave the vehicle with the engine
running, it could overheat and even catch ®re.
You or others could be injured. Do not leave
your vehicle with the engine running.
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your vehicle is in PARK (P) and your
parking brake is ®rmly set before you leave it. After
you've moved the shift lever into PARK (P), hold
the regular brake pedal down. Then, see if you can
move the shift lever away from PARK (P) without ®rst
pushing the button.
If you can, it means that the shift lever wasn't fully
locked in PARK (P).
2-24

Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and you don't shift your
transaxle into PARK (P) properly, the weight of
the vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl
in the transaxle. You may ®nd it difficult to pull the
shift lever out of PARK (P). This is called ªtorque lock.º
To prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and
then shift into PARK (P) properly before you leave the
driver's seat. To ®nd out how, see
Shifting Into Park (P)
on page 2-23.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out of
PARK (P)
beforeyou release the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to have another
vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some of the
pressure from the parking pawl in the transaxle, so you
can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P).
Shifting Out of Park (P)
Your vehicle has an automatic transaxle shift lock
control system. You have to apply your regular brake
before you can shift from PARK (P) when the ignition is
in ON. See
Automatic Transaxle Operation on
page 2-20.If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever and 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 shift lever button before moving the shift lever.
If you ever hold the brake pedal down but still can't shift
out of PARK (P), try this:
1. Turn the ignition key to ACCESSORY.
2. Apply and hold the regular brake until the end of
Step 5.
3. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Turn the ignition key to START, to start the vehicle.
5. Shift to the drive gear you want.
6. Have the vehicle ®xed as soon as you can.
2-25

Running Your Engine While You
Are Parked
It's better not to park with the engine running. But if you
ever have to, here are some things to know.
{CAUTION:
Idling the engine with the climate control
system off could allow dangerous exhaust into
your vehicle. See the earlier Caution under
ªEngine Exhaust.º
Also, idling in a closed-in place can let deadly
carbon monoxide (CO) into your vehicle even if
the climate control fan is at the highest setting.
One place this can happen is a garage.
Exhaust Ð with CO Ð can come in easily.
NEVER park in a garage with the engine
running.
Another closed-in place can be a blizzard.
See ªWinter Drivingº in the Index.
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle
if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with
the parking brake ®rmly set. Your vehicle can
roll. Do not 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 will not move, even
when you are on fairly level ground, always
set your parking brake and move the shift
lever to PARK (P).
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle won't
move. See
Shifting Into Park (P) on page 2-23.
If you are parking on a hill and if you're pulling a trailer,
also see
Towing a Trailer on page 4-34.
2-27