2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU torque

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

Properly torqued wheel nuts are necessary to help
prevent brake pulsation. When tires are rotated, inspect
brake pads for wear and evenly tighten wheel nuts in
the proper sequence to GM torque speci®cations.
Your rear drum brakes don't have wear indicators, but if
you ever hear a rear brake rubbing noise, have the
rear brake linings inspected immediately. Also, the rear
brake drums should be removed and inspected each
time the tires are removed for rotation or changing.
When you have the front brake pads replaced, have the
rear brakes inspected, too.
Brake linings should always be replaced as complete
axle sets.
See
Brake System Inspection on page 6-20.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal does not return to
normal height, or if there is a rapid increase in
pedal travel. This could be a sign of brake trouble.
Brake Adjustment
Every time you make a moderate brake stop, your disc
brakes adjust for wear. If you rarely make a moderate or
heavier stop, then your brakes might not adjust correctly.
If you drive in that way, then Ð very carefully Ð make a
few moderate brake stops about every 1,000 miles
(1 600 km), so your brakes will adjust properly.If your brake pedal goes down farther than normal, your
rear drum brakes may need adjustment. Adjust them
by pumping the brake pedal repeatedly while the engine
is running with the shift lever in PARK (P).
Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a vehicle is complex. Its many
parts have to be of top quality and work well together if
the vehicle is to have really good braking. Your
vehicle was designed and tested with top-quality GM
brake parts. When you replace parts of your braking
system Ð for example, when your brake linings
wear down and you need new ones put in Ð be sure
you get new approved replacement parts. If you
don't, your brakes may no longer work properly. For
example, if someone puts in brake linings that are wrong
for your vehicle, the balance between your front and
rear brakes can change Ð for the worse. The braking
performance you've come to expect can change in
many other ways if someone puts in the wrong
replacement brake parts.
5-35

When to Check
Check your tires once a month or more.
Don't forget your compact spare tire. It should be at
60 psi (420 kPa).
How to Check
Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire
pressure. You can't tell if your tires are properly in¯ated
simply by looking at them. Radial tires may look
properly in¯ated even when they're underin¯ated.
Be sure to put the valve caps back on the valve stems.
They help prevent leaks by keeping out dirt and
moisture.
Tire Inspection and Rotation
Tires should be rotated every 6,000 to 8,000 miles
(10 000 to 13 000 km).
Any time you notice unusual wear, rotate your tires as
soon as possible and check wheel alignment. Also
check for damaged tires or wheels. See
When It Is Time
for New Tires on page 5-51andWheel Replacement
on page 5-54for more information.The purpose of regular rotation is to achieve more
uniform wear for all tires on the vehicle. The ®rst rotation
is the most important. See ªPart A: Scheduled
Maintenance Services,º in Section 6, for scheduled
rotation intervals.
When rotating your tires, always use the correct rotation
pattern shown here.
Don't include the compact spare tire in your tire rotation.
After the tires have been rotated, adjust the front and
rear in¯ation pressures as shown on the Tire-Loading
Information label. Make certain that all wheel nuts
are properly tightened. See ªWheel Nut Torqueº underCapacities and Speci®cations on page 5-82.
5-50

11. Tighten the wheel nuts
®rmly in a crisscross
sequence, as shown.
{CAUTION:
Incorrect wheel nuts or improperly tightened
wheel nuts can cause the wheel to come loose
and even come off. This could lead to an
accident. Be sure to use the correct wheel
nuts. If you have to replace them, be sure to
get new GM original equipment wheel nuts.
Stop somewhere as soon as you can and have
the nuts tightened with a torque wrench to the
proper torque speci®cation. See ªCapacities
and Speci®cationsº in the Index for wheel nut
torque speci®cation.
Notice:Improperly tightened wheel nuts can lead
to brake pulsation and rotor damage. To avoid
expensive brake repairs, evenly tighten the wheel
nuts in the proper sequence and to the proper
torque speci®cation. See ªCapacities and
Speci®cationsº in the index for the wheel nut torque
speci®cation.
Don't try to put a wheel cover on your compact spare
tire. It won't ®t. Store the wheel cover and wheel
nut caps in the trunk until you have the ¯at tire repaired
or replaced.
Notice:Wheel covers won't ®t on your compact
spare. If you try to put a wheel cover on your
compact spare, you could damage the cover or
the spare.
5-64

Capacities and Speci®cations
The following approximate capacities are given in English and metric conversions. Please refer toPart D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-21for more information.
All capacities are approximate. When adding, be sure to ®ll to the appropriate level, as recommended in this manual.
Capacities
ApplicationCapacities
English Metric
Air Conditioning Refrigerant R134a
Use Refrigerant Oil, R134a Systems1.4 lbs. 0.6 kg
Automatic Transaxle Complete Overhaul 9.5 quarts 9.0 L
Cooling System 13.6 quarts 12.9 L
Engine Oil with Filter 4.5 quarts 4.3 L
Fuel Tank 14.1 gallons 53.4 L
Wheel Nut Torque 100 lb-ft 140Y
Engine Speci®cations
Engine VIN Code Transaxle Spark Plug Gap
V6 J Automatic 0.06 inch, (1.52 mm)
5-82

Theft-Deterrent Systems...................................2-15
Passlockž...................................................2-16
Throttle System Inspection...............................6-20
Tilt Wheel........................................................ 3-5
Tire In¯ation Check.........................................6-15
Tires.............................................................5-48
Buying New Tires........................................5-52
Chains.......................................................5-55
Changing a Flat Tire....................................5-57
Compact Spare Tire.....................................5-66
If a Tire Goes Flat.......................................5-56
In¯ation -- Tire Pressure...............................5-49
Inspection and Rotation................................5-50
Uniform Tire Quality Grading.........................5-53
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance.................5-54
Wheel Replacement.....................................5-54
When It Is Time for New Tires......................5-51
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater....................2-19
Top Strap Anchor Location...............................1-39
Top Strap......................................................1-38
Torque Lock...................................................2-25
Total Weight on Your Vehicle's Tires..................4-36
Towing..........................................................4-28
Recreational Vehicle.....................................4-28
Towing a Trailer..........................................4-34
Your Vehicle...............................................4-28
Trailer Brakes.................................................4-37
Transaxle Operation, Automatic.........................2-20Transaxle.......................................................5-18
Fluid, Automatic...........................................5-18
Transmission, Transaxle, Transfer Case
Unit Repair Manual......................................7-10
Transportation Options...................................... 7-7
Trap-Resistant Trunk Kit...................................2-13
Trip Odometer................................................3-24
Trunk............................................................2-11
Trunk Lamp...................................................3-15
Turn and Lane-Change Signals.......................... 3-6
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever........................... 3-5
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer..................4-38
U
Underbody Flushing Service.............................6-18
Understanding Radio Reception........................3-57
Uniform Tire Quality Grading............................5-53
United States ± Customer Assistance.................. 7-4
Used Replacement Wheels..............................5-55
Using Cleaner on Fabric..................................5-68
Using RDS............................................3-44, 3-50
V
Vehicle Identi®cation........................................5-75
Number (VIN).............................................5-75
Service Parts Identi®cation Label...................5-75
13