2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU coolant temperature

Making Turns
Notice:Making very sharp turns while trailering
could cause the trailer to come in contact with the
vehicle. Your vehicle could be damaged. Avoid
making very sharp turns while trailering.
When you’re turning with a trailer, make wider turns than
normal. Do this so your trailer won’t strike soft shoulders,
curbs, road signs, trees or other objects. Avoid jerky or
sudden maneuvers. Signal well in advance.
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle may need additional
wiring. Check with your dealer. The arrows on your
instrument panel will ash whenever you signal a turn or
lane change. Properly hooked up, the trailer lamps
will also ash, telling other drivers you’re about to turn,
change lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the arrows on your instrument
panel will ash for turns even if the bulbs on the trailer
are burned out. Thus, you may think drivers behind
you are seeing your signal when they are not. It’s
important to check occasionally to be sure the trailer
bulbs are still working.
Driving On Grades
Notice:Do not tow on steep continuous grades
exceeding 6 miles (9.6 km). Extended, higher
than normal engine and transaxle temperatures may
result and damage your vehicle. Frequent stops
are very important to allow the engine and transaxle
to cool.
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gearbeforeyou start
down a long or steep downgrade. If you don’t shift
down, you might have to use your brakes so much that
they would get hot and no longer work well.
Pay attention to the engine coolant gage. If the indicator
is in the red area, turn off the air conditioning to reduce
engine load. SeeEngine Overheating on page 5-27.
4-45

Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is lled with
DEX-COOL®engine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain in your vehicle for 5 years or 150,000 miles
(240 000 km), whichever occurs rst, if you add
only DEX-COOL
®extended life coolant.
The following explains your cooling system and how
to add coolant when it is low. If you have a problem
with engine overheating, seeEngine Overheating
on page 5-27.
A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL
®coolant will:
Give freezing protection down to−34°F(−37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C)
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work as
they should.
Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOL
®may
cause premature engine, heater core or radiator
corrosion. In addition, the engine coolant may
require changing sooner, at 30,000 miles (50 000 km)
or 24 months, whichever occurs rst. Any repairs
would not be covered by your warranty. Always use
DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant in your vehicle.
What to Use
Use a mixture of one-halfclean, drinkable waterand
one-half DEX-COOL®coolant which won’t damage
aluminum parts. If you use this coolant mixture,
you don’t need to add anything else.
{CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling
system can be dangerous. Plain water, or
some other liquid such as alcohol, can boil
before the proper coolant mixture will. Your
vehicle’s coolant warning system is set for the
proper coolant mixture. With plain water or the
wrong mixture, your engine could get too hot
but you would not get the overheat warning.
Your engine could catch re and you or others
could be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®coolant.
Notice:If you use an improper coolant mixture, your
engine could overheat and be badly damaged. The
repair cost would not be covered by your warranty.
Too much water in the mixture can freeze and crack
the engine, radiator, heater core and other parts.
5-24

Engine Overheating
You will nd a coolant temperature gage and light on
your vehicle’s instrument panel and a low coolant level
warning message displayed on your DIC. SeeEngine
Coolant Temperature Gage on page 3-39andDIC
Warnings and Messages on page 3-50.
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
{CAUTION:
Steam from an overheated engine can burn
you badly, even if you just open the hood.
Stay away from the engine if you see or hear
steam coming from it. Just turn it off and get
everyone away from the vehicle until it cools
down. Wait until there is no sign of steam or
coolant before you open the hood.
If you keep driving when your engine is
overheated, the liquids in it can catch re.
You or others could be badly burned.
Stop your engine if it overheats, and get
out of the vehicle until the engine is cool.
Notice:If your engine catches re because you
keep driving with no coolant, your vehicle can
be badly damaged. The costly repairs would not
be covered by your warranty.
5-27

Windshield Washer Fluid
What to Use
When you need windshield washer uid, be sure to
read the manufacturer’s instructions before use. If you
will be operating your vehicle in an area where the
temperature may fall below freezing, use a uid that
has sufficient protection against freezing.
Adding Washer Fluid
The windshield washer
uid reservoir is located
on the driver’s side of the
engine compartment.
SeeEngine Compartment
Overview on page 5-14
for reservoir location.
Open the cap with the washer symbol on it. Add washer
uid until the tank is full.Notice:
When using concentrated washer uid, follow
the manufacturer’s instructions for adding
water.
Do not mix water with ready-to-use washer uid.
Water can cause the solution to freeze and
damage your washer uid tank and other parts
of the washer system. Also, water does not
clean as well as washer uid.
Fill your washer uid tank only three-quarters
full when it is very cold. This allows for
expansion if freezing occurs, which could
damage the tank if it is completely full.
Do not use engine coolant (antifreeze) in your
windshield washer. It can damage your washer
system and paint.
5-34

(f)Lubricate all key lock cylinders, door hinges and
latches, hood hinges and latches and trunk lid hinges
and latches. More frequent lubrication may be required
when exposed to a corrosive environment. Applying
silicone grease on weatherstrips with a clean cloth will
make them last longer, seal better and not stick or
squeak.
(g)Check 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 or cruise
control cables.
(h)Change automatic transaxle uid and lter if the
vehicle is mainly driven under one or more of these
conditions:
In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
regularly reaches 90°F (32°C) or higher.
In hilly or mountainous terrain.
When doing frequent trailer towing.
Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery
service.If you do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, the uid and lter do not require changing.
(i)Drain, ush and rell cooling system. See Engine
Coolant on page 5-24for what to use. Inspect hoses.
Clean radiator, condenser, pressure cap and ller neck.
Pressure test the cooling system and pressure cap.
(j)A uid loss in any vehicle system could indicate a
problem. Have the system inspected and repaired and
the uid level checked. Add uid if needed.
6-8

Coolant
Engine Temperature Gage............................3-39
Engine Temperature Warning Light.................3-38
Heater, Engine............................................2-25
Surge Tank Pressure Cap.............................5-26
Cooling System..............................................5-29
Cruise Control................................................3-10
Cruise Control Light........................................3-43
Cupholder(s)..................................................2-44
Current and Past Model Order Forms................7-13
Customer Assistance Information
Courtesy Transportation.................................. 7-8
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone (TTY)
Users....................................................... 7-4
Customer Assistance Offices........................... 7-4
Customer Satisfaction Procedure..................... 7-2
GM Mobility Program for Persons with
Disabilities................................................ 7-6
Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors.......7-12
Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian
Government............................................7-12
Reporting Safety Defects to the United States
Government............................................7-11
Roadside Assistance Program......................... 7-6
Service Publications Ordering Information........7-12D
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL).........................3-17
Defensive Driving............................................. 4-2
Defogging and Defrosting.........................3-24, 3-29
Delayed Headlamps........................................3-18
Delayed Locking.............................................2-12
Dinghy Towing................................................4-32
Disarming the System.....................................2-19
Doing Your Own Service Work........................... 5-4
Dolly Towing..................................................4-34
Dome Lamp...................................................3-19
Door
Delayed Locking..........................................2-12
Door Ajar Reminder.....................................2-12
Locks........................................................2-10
Power Door Locks.......................................2-11
Programmable Automatic Door Locks.............2-12
Driver
Position, Safety Belt.....................................1-16
Six-Way Power Seat...................................... 1-3
Driver Information Center (DIC).........................3-45
DIC Operation and Displays..........................3-46
DIC Warnings and Messages........................3-50
4

Driving
At Night.....................................................4-16
City...........................................................4-21
Defensive..................................................... 4-2
Drunken....................................................... 4-2
Freeway.....................................................4-22
Hill and Mountain Roads..............................4-24
In Rain and on Wet Roads...........................4-18
Winter........................................................4-26
Driving On Grades..........................................4-45
Driving on Snow or Ice....................................4-27
Driving Through Deep Standing Water...............4-20
Driving Through Flowing Water.........................4-20
Driving with a Trailer.......................................4-44
DVD
Cleaning the Video Screen..........................3-118
Cleaning Your DVD Player..........................3-118
Distortion..................................................3-116
Rear Seat Entertainment System...................3-96
DVD Messages.............................................3-102
DVD Player..................................................3-100
E
Electrical System
Add-On Equipment......................................5-87
Fuses........................................................5-88
Headlamp Wiring.........................................5-87Electrical System (cont.)
Power Windows and Other Power Options......5-87
Windshield Wiper Fuses...............................5-87
Electronic Range Select Mode..........................2-29
Emergency Trunk Release Handle.....................2-14
Emissions Inspection and Maintenance
Programs...................................................3-41
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter.........................................5-22
Battery.......................................................5-38
Check and Service Engine Soon Light............3-39
Coolant......................................................5-24
Coolant Heater............................................2-25
Coolant Temperature Gage...........................3-39
Coolant Temperature Warning Light................3-38
Drive Belt Routing.......................................6-14
Engine Compartment Overview......................5-14
Exhaust.....................................................2-33
Oil .............................................................5-17
Overheating................................................5-27
Starting......................................................2-23
Engine Compartment Fuse Block......................5-91
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing..................4-46
Engine Oil Additives........................................5-20
Enhanced Traction System (ETS)........................ 4-9
Active Light................................................3-38
Warning Light.............................................3-37
5

Entertainment System
Cleaning the Video Screen..........................3-118
Cleaning Your DVD Player..........................3-118
DVD Distortion..........................................3-116
Entry/Exit Lighting...........................................3-19
Erasing HomeLink
®Buttons..............................2-43
Event Data Records (EDR)..............................7-10
Express-Down Window....................................2-17
Extender, Safety Belt.......................................1-30
Exterior Lamps...............................................3-14
F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner......................................5-22
Finding a Program Type (PTY) Station
(RDS and XM™).........................3-63, 3-74, 3-87
Finding a Station....................3-54, 3-60, 3-71, 3-84
Finish Care....................................................5-82
Finish Damage...............................................5-83
Fixed Mast Antenna.......................................3-118
Flash-to-Pass Feature....................................... 3-9
Flat Tire........................................................5-65
Flat Tire, Changing.........................................5-66
Fluid
Automatic Transaxle.....................................5-23
Windshield Washer......................................5-34FM Stereo....................................................3-116
Fog Lamps....................................................3-18
Folding Seatback, Passenger............................. 1-6
Folding the Seatback........................................ 1-7
Following Distance..........................................4-44
Front Reading Lamps......................................3-19
Fuel............................................................... 5-5
Additives...................................................... 5-7
California Fuel.............................................. 5-6
Filling a Portable Fuel Container....................5-11
Filling Your Tank........................................... 5-8
Fuels in Foreign Countries.............................. 5-8
Gage.........................................................3-44
Gasoline Octane........................................... 5-5
Gasoline Specications.................................. 5-6
Fuses...........................................................5-88
Windshield Wiper.........................................5-87
G
Gage
Engine Coolant Temperature.........................3-39
Fuel..........................................................3-44
Speedometer..............................................3-33
Tachometer.................................................3-33
Garage Door Opener.......................................2-40
6