2003 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO brake

Ignition Transaxle Lock Check
While parked, and with the parking brake set, try to turn
the ignition key to OFF in each shift lever position.
·The key should turn to OFF only when the shift lever
is in PARK (P).
·The key should come out only in OFF.
Parking Brake and Automatic Transaxle
Park (P) Mechanism Check
{CAUTION:
When you are doing this check, your vehicle
could begin to move. You or others could be
injured and property could be damaged. Make
sure there is room in front of your vehicle in
case it begins to roll. Be ready to apply the
regular brake at once should the vehicle begin
to move.Park on a fairly steep hill, with the vehicle facing
downhill. Keeping your foot on the regular brake,
set the parking brake.
·To check the parking brake's holding ability: With
the engine running and transaxle in NEUTRAL (N),
slowly remove foot pressure from the regular
brake pedal. Do this until the vehicle is held by the
parking brake only.
·To check the PARK (P) mechanism's holding
ability: With the engine running, shift to PARK (P).
Then release the parking brake followed by the
regular brake.
Underbody Flushing Service
At least every spring, use plain water to ¯ush any
corrosive materials from the underbody. Take care to
clean thoroughly any areas where mud and other debris
can collect.
6-13

Fuel System Inspection
Inspect the complete fuel system for damage or leaks.
Engine Cooling System Inspection
Inspect the hoses and have them replaced if they
are cracked, swollen or deteriorated. Inspect all pipes,
®ttings and clamps; replace as needed. Clean the
outside of the radiator and air conditioning condenser.
To help ensure proper operation, a pressure test of
the cooling system and pressure cap is recommended
at least once a year.
Throttle System Inspection
Inspect the throttle system for interference or binding,
and for damaged or missing parts. Replace parts
as needed. Replace any components that have high
effort or excessive wear. Do not lubricate accelerator
and cruise control cables.
Brake System Inspection
Inspect the complete system. Inspect brake lines and
hoses for proper hook-up, binding, leaks, cracks,
cha®ng, etc. Inspect disc brake pads for wear and rotors
for surface condition. Inspect other brake parts,
including calipers, parking brake, etc. You may need to
have your brakes inspected more often if your driving
habits or conditions result in frequent braking.
6-15

Part D: Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants
Fluids and lubricants identi®ed below by name, part
number or speci®cation may be obtained from your
dealer.
Usage Fluid/Lubricant
Engine OilEngine oil with the American
Petroleum Institute Certi®ed for
Gasoline Engines starburst symbol
of the proper viscosity. To determine
the preferred viscosity for your
vehicle's engine, see
Engine Oil on
page 5-16.
Engine Coolant50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and use only DEX-COOL
ž
Coolant. SeeEngine Coolant on
page 5-26.
Hydraulic Brake
SystemDelco Supreme 11 Brake Fluid or
equivalent DOT-3 brake ¯uid.
Windshield
Washer SolventGM Optikleen
žWasher Solvent or
equivalent.
Usage Fluid/Lubricant
Power Steering
SystemGM Power Steering Fluid
(GM Part No. U.S. 1052884, in
Canada 993294, or equivalent).
Automatic
TransaxleDEXRON
ž-III Automatic
Transmission Fluid.
Key Lock
CylindersMulti-Purpose Lubricant, Superlube
(GM Part No. U.S. 12346241, in
Canada 10953474, or equivalent).
Hood Latch
Assembly,
Secondary
Latch, Pivots,
Spring
Anchor and
Release PawlLubriplate Lubricant Aerosol
(GM Part No. U.S. 12346293, in
Canada 992723, or equivalent) or
lubricant meeting requirements of
NLGI #2, Category LB or GC-LB.
Hood and
Door HingesMulti-Purpose Lubricant, Superlube
(GM Part No. U.S. 12346241, in
Canada 109435474, or equivalent).
Weatherstrip
ConditioningDielectric Silicone Grease
(GM Part No. U.S. 12345579, in
Canada 10953014, or equivalent).
6-16

If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open an
investigation, and if it ®nds that a safety defect exists in
a group of vehicles, it may order a recall and remedy
campaign. However, NHTSA cannot become involved in
individual problems between you, your dealer or
General Motors.
To contact NHTSA, you may either call the Auto Safety
Hotline toll-free at 1-800-424-9393 (or 366-0123 in
the Washington, D.C. area) or write to:
NHTSA, U.S. Department of Transportation
Washington, D.C. 20590
You can also obtain other information about motor
vehicle safety from the hotline.
Reporting Safety Defects to the
Canadian Government
If you live in Canada, and you believe that your vehicle
has a safety defect, you should immediately notify
Transport Canada, in addition to notifying General
Motors of Canada Limited. You may write to:
Transport Canada
330 Sparks Street
Tower C
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N5
Reporting Safety Defects to General
Motors
In addition to notifying NHTSA (or Transport Canada) in
a situation like this, we certainly hope you'll notify us.
Please call us at 1-800-222-1020, or write:
Chevrolet Motor Division
Chevrolet Customer Assistance Center
P.O. Box 33170
Detroit, MI 48232-5170
In Canada, please call us at 1-800-263-3777 (English)
or 1-800-263-7854 (French). Or, write:
General Motors of Canada Limited
Customer Communication Centre, 163-005
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7
Service Publications Ordering
Information
Service Manuals
Service Manuals have the diagnosis and repair
information on engines, transmission, axle, suspension,
brakes, electrical, steering, body, etc.
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $120.00
7-9

A
Accessory Power Outlets.................................3-20
Adding Washer Fluid.......................................5-43
Additional Program Information........................... 7-8
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-6
Add-On Electrical Equipment............................5-90
Adjusting the Speakers
(Balance/Fade)............................3-60, 3-71, 3-80
Air Bag Systems.............................................1-48
How Does an Air Bag Restrain?....................1-54
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle.........1-56
What Makes an Air Bag In¯ate?....................1-53
What Will You See After an Air Bag
In¯ates?..................................................1-54
When Should an Air Bag In¯ate?...................1-53
Where Are the Air Bags?..............................1-51
Air Bag .........................................................3-34
Readiness Light..........................................3-34
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-22
ALARM (Content Theft Operation).....................2-47
AM ...............................................................3-91
Antenna, Backglass.........................................3-93
Antenna, XMŸ Satellite Radio Antenna
System......................................................3-94
Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)............................ 4-6
Anti-Lock Brake, System Warning Light..............3-37Appearance Care............................................5-82
Care of Safety Belts....................................5-85
Chemical Paint Spotting...............................5-88
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle................5-82
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle..............5-85
Finish Damage............................................5-87
Sheet Metal Damage...................................5-87
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-88
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials................5-89
Weatherstrips..............................................5-85
Arming with the Power Lock Switch...................2-15
Arming with the Remote Keyless Entry
Transmitter.................................................2-15
Ashtrays........................................................3-21
Audio System(s).............................................3-56
Audio Steering Wheel Controls......................3-90
Backglass Antenna......................................3-93
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player................3-91
Care of Your CD Player...............................3-92
Care of Your CDs........................................3-92
Chime Level Adjustment...............................3-94
Radio with Cassette and CD.........................3-78
Radio with Cassette.....................................3-57
Radio with CD............................................3-67
Setting the Time..........................................3-56
Theft-Deterrent Feature................................3-89
Understanding Radio Reception.....................3-91
Vehicle Customization Settings......................3-94
XMŸ Satellite Radio Antenna System............3-94
1

AUTOLOCK (Automatic Door Lock
and Unlock)................................................2-44
Automatic Transaxle Check..............................6-11
Automatic Transaxle Shift Lock Control
System Check.............................................6-12
Automatic Transaxle........................................5-24
Fluid..........................................................5-24
Operation...................................................2-21
Auxiliary Power Connection (Power Drop)...........3-21
B
Backglass Antenna..........................................3-93
Backing Up....................................................4-38
Battery Replacement......................................... 2-7
Battery Rundown Protection.............................3-19
Battery Warning Message................................3-45
Battery..........................................................5-47
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.........................4-21
Body Lubrication Service..................................6-11
Brake Fluid....................................................5-44
Brake Wear...................................................5-46
Brake............................................................3-51
Low Fluid Warning Message.........................3-51
Parking......................................................2-24
System Inspection.......................................6-15
System Warning Light..................................3-36Brakes..........................................................5-44
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 4-7
Braking........................................................... 4-5
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-16
Bulb Replacement...........................................5-54
Back-Up Lamps...........................................5-57
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-54
Headlamp Aiming........................................5-53
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker,
and Parking Lamps..................................5-54
Replacement Bulbs......................................5-57
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Sidemarker Lamps...................................5-56
Buying New Tires...........................................5-65
C
California Fuel.................................................. 5-5
Canada ± Customer Assistance.......................... 7-4
Canadian Owners................................................ ii
Canadian Roadside Assistance........................... 7-6
Capacities and Speci®cations............................5-98
Carbon Monoxide...................4-24, 4-34, 2-10, 2-28
Care of.........................................................5-85
Safety Belts................................................5-85
Your Cassette Tape Player............................3-91
Your CD Player...........................................3-92
Your CDs ...................................................3-92
2

Inspection......................................................6-15
Brake System.............................................6-15
Engine Cooling System................................6-15
Exhaust System..........................................6-14
Fuel System...............................................6-15
Part C - Periodic Maintenance.......................6-14
Steering, Suspension and Front Drive Axle
Boot and Seal.........................................6-14
Throttle System...........................................6-15
Instrument Panel Brightness.............................3-17
Instrument Panel Fuse Block
(Passenger's Side).......................................5-94
Instrument Panel Fuse Block (Driver's Side).......5-92
Instrument Panel.............................................3-31
Cluster.......................................................3-31
Overview..................................................... 3-4
Interior Lamps................................................3-17
J
Jump Starting.................................................5-48
K
Key Lock Cylinders Service..............................6-11
Keyless Entry System....................................... 2-3
Keys............................................................... 2-2
L
Lamps...........................................................3-15
Exterior......................................................3-15
Interior.......................................................3-17
Lap-Shoulder Belt...................................1-16, 1-24
LATCH System...............................................1-41
Child Restraints...........................................1-41
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the
LATCH System........................................1-43
Latches, Seatback............................................ 1-6
Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine
Running.....................................................2-26
Leaving Your Vehicle.......................................2-10
Light.............................................................3-34
Air Bag Readiness.......................................3-34
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning...................3-37
Brake System Warning.................................3-36
Cruise Control.............................................3-43
Malfunction Indicator....................................3-38
Oil Pressure Indicator...................................3-42
Safety Belt Reminder...................................3-34
TCS Warning Light......................................3-37
Traction Control System (TCS) Warning..........3-37
Loading Your Vehicle.......................................4-32
Lockout Protection..........................................2-10
8

Locks............................................................. 2-8
Door........................................................... 2-8
Leaving Your Vehicle....................................2-10
Lockout Protection.......................................2-10
Power Door.................................................. 2-9
Programmable Automatic Door Locks............... 2-9
Loss of Control...............................................4-13
Low Brake Fluid Warning Message....................3-51
Low Engine Oil Level Message.........................3-47
Low Fuel Warning Message.............................3-50
Low Oil Pressure Message...............................3-46
Low Tire Message..........................................3-48
Low Washer Fluid Warning Message.................3-50
LT DELAY (Delayed Headlamp Illumination)........2-43
Lumbar........................................................... 1-3
Manual Controls............................................ 1-3
M
Maintenance, Normal Replacement Parts..........5-100
Maintenance Schedule.....................................6-10
At Each Fuel Fill.........................................6-10
At Least Once a Month................................6-10
At Least Once a Year..................................6-11
At Least Twice a Year..................................6-11
Brake System Inspection..............................6-15
Engine Cooling System Inspection.................6-15
Exhaust System Inspection...........................6-14
Fuel System Inspection................................6-15Maintenance Schedule (cont.)
How This Section is Organized....................... 6-3
Introduction.................................................. 6-2
Maintenance Requirements............................. 6-2
Part A - Scheduled Maintenance Services......... 6-4
Part B - Owner Checks and Services.............6-10
Part C - Periodic MaintenanceInspections......6-14
Part D - Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants...............................................6-16
Part E - Maintenance Record........................6-17
Scheduled Maintenance................................. 6-5
Steering, Suspension and Front Drive Axle
Boot and Seal Inspection..........................6-14
Throttle System Inspection............................6-15
Using Your................................................... 6-4
Your Vehicle and the Environment................... 6-2
Maintenance When Trailer Towing.....................4-40
Making Turns.................................................4-38
Malfunction Indicator Light................................3-38
Manual Lumbar Controls.................................... 1-3
Manual Seats................................................... 1-2
Matching Transmitter(s) to Your Vehicle............... 2-6
Message.......................................................3-45
Battery Warning..........................................3-45
Center.......................................................3-44
Change Engine Oil......................................3-47
Door Ajar Warning.......................................3-48
Highbeam Out Warning................................3-52
Hot Coolant Temperature Warning..................3-46
Low Brake Fluid Warning..............................3-51
9