2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU tow

Theft-Deterrent Systems
Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities.
Although your vehicle has a number of theft-deterrent
features, we know that nothing we put on it can make it
impossible to steal.
Content Theft-Deterrent
Your vehicle may have a
content theft-deterrent
alarm system.
Arming the System
With the ignition off, you can initiate arming of the
system by:
Pressing the remote keyless entry transmitter lock
button
Pressing the power door lock switch and the
driver’s door is open or
With the doors closed, turning the driver’s door key
lock cylinder toward the front of the vehicle.
The system will arm thirty seconds after all the doors
and the liftgate are closed.
If the lock button on the transmitter is pressed again
within ve seconds, the system will arm immediately.
The security light will turn on to indicate that arming has
been initiated. Once the system is armed, the security
light will ash once every three seconds and remain
ashing.
If the security light is ashing twice per second, this
means that a door or the liftgate is open.
If you don’t want to arm the system, lock the car with
the lock levers on the doors.
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Disarming the System
If the system is armed, you can disarm the system by:
Pressing the unlock button on the transmitter
Turning the ignition to ON or
Turning the driver’s door key lock cylinder once
toward the rear of the vehicle.
Once the system is disarmed, the security light will stop
ashing.
How the System Alarm is Activated
If the system is armed,
Opening the driver’s door will cause a ten second
pre-alarm chirp followed by a thirty second full
alarm of horn and lights.
Opening any other door or the liftgate will
immediately cause a full alarm for thirty seconds of
horn and lights.
If an alarm event has nished and all the doors and the
liftgate are closed, the system will re-arm itself.
How to Turn Off the System Alarm
If the system alarm is active, it can be deactivated by:
Pressing the lock button on the transmitter to
turn off the alarm. The system will also re-arm itself.
Pressing the unlock button on the transmitter to turn
off the alarm and disarm the system
Putting the key in the driver’s door key lock cylinder
and turning it to the rear of the vehicle to turn off
the alarm and disarm the system or
Putting the key in the ignition and turning it to ON
to turn off the alarm and disarm the system.
How to Detect a Tamper Condition
If you hear three chirps when you press the unlock and
lock buttons on the transmitter, that means the
content theft security system alarm was triggered while
you were away.
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Starting and Operating Your
Vehicle
New Vehicle Break-In
Notice:Your vehicle does not need an elaborate
“break-in.” But it will perform better in the long run
if you follow these guidelines:
Do not drive at any one speed — fast or
slow — for the rst 500 miles (805 km). Do not
make full-throttle starts.
Avoid making hard stops for the rst 200 miles
(322 km) or so. During this time your new
brake linings are not yet broken in. Hard stops
with new linings can mean premature wear
and earlier replacement. Follow this breaking-in
guideline every time you get new brake
linings.
Do not tow a trailer during break-in. SeeTowing
a Trailer on page 4-40for more information.
Ignition Positions
With the key in the ignition
switch, you can turn it to
four different positions.
Notice:If your key seems stuck in OFF and you
can not turn it, be sure you are using the correct
key; if so, is it all the way in? Turn the key only with
your hand. Using a tool to force it could break the
key or the ignition switch. If none of this works, then
your vehicle needs service.
9(OFF):This is the only position from which you
can remove the key. It also locks your ignition and
transaxle. A warning chime will sound if you open the
driver’s door while the ignition is off and the key is left in
the ignition.
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ACC (ACCESSORY):This position lets you use things
like the radio and windshield wipers while the engine
is not running. To use ACC, turn the key clockwise
to the rst position.
Use this position if your vehicle must be pushed or
towed, but never try to push-start your vehicle.
SeeRecreational Vehicle Towing on page 4-31.
R(ON):This position unlocks the ignition. It is also the
position to where the key returns after you start the
engine and release the switch. The switch will stay in
this position while the engine is running. But even while
the engine is not running, you can use ON to operate
your electrical accessories, and to display some
instrument panel warning lights.
/(START):This position starts the engine. When the
engine starts, release the key. The ignition switch will
return to the ON position for normal driving.
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
Your vehicle has a Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
feature which will allow some features to continue
to work up to 10 minutes after the ignition is turned to
off or until the driver’s door is opened.
Your vehicle’s sunroof and heated seats, if equipped,
and the power windows also work this way. They
will turn off after 10 minutes or if any door is open.
Starting Your Engine
Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
Your engine will not start in any other position — that is
a safety feature. To restart when you are already
moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only.
Notice:Shifting into PARK (P) with the vehicle
moving could damage the transaxle. Shift into
PARK (P) only when your vehicle is stopped.
1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn your
ignition key to START. When the engine starts, let
go of the key. The idle speed will go down as
your engine gets warm.
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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). SeeShifting Into Park (P) on
page 2-30. If you are pulling a trailer, see
Towing a Trailer on page 4-40.
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).
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If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever, then 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.) See
Shifting Out of Park (P) on page 2-32later in this
section.
REVERSE (R):Use this gear to back up.
Notice:Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle
is moving forward could damage the transaxle.
The repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is
stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,
ice or sand without damaging your transaxle, see If
You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow on
page 4-30.
NEUTRAL (N):In this position, your engine doesn’t
connect with the wheels. To restart when you’re already
moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only. Also, use
NEUTRAL (N) when your vehicle is being towed.
{CAUTION:
Shifting into a drive gear while your engine is
running at high speed is dangerous. Unless
your foot is rmly on the brake pedal, your
vehicle could move very rapidly. You could
lose control and hit people or objects. Do not
shift into a drive gear while your engine is
running at high speed.
Notice:Shifting out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N)
with the engine racing may damage the transaxle.
The repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
Be sure the engine is not racing when shifting
your vehicle.
DRIVE (D):This position is for normal driving. If you
need more power for passing, and you’re:
Going less than 35 mph (56 km/h), push your
accelerator pedal about halfway down.
Going about 35 mph (56 km/h) or more, push the
accelerator all the way down.
You’ll shift down to the next gear and have more power.
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Notice:Driving your vehicle if you notice that it is
moving slowly or not shifting gears as you
increase speed may damage the transaxle. Have
your vehicle serviced right away. You can drive in
LOW (L2) when you are driving less than 35 mph
(55 km/h) and AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D) for
higher speeds until then.
LOW (L):This position gives you access to THIRD,
SECOND and FIRST gears for more power but
lower fuel economy than AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE
(D). You can use it on very steep hills, or in deep snow
or mud. If the electronic range select is put in LOW
(L1), the transaxle won’t shift into lower gears until the
vehicle is going slow enough.
Electronic Range Select Mode
This feature allows you to select lower driving gears.
The button for this mode is located on the left side of the
shift lever knob.
The electronic range select mode only changes gear
when the shift lever is in LOW (L).
When the shift lever is rst moved into the LOW (L)
position, the display in the instrument panel shows L3.
Press the (−) end of the button on the shift lever
once for L2 and once more for L1. Press the (+) end of
the button to return to L2 and L3. The shift lever
must be moved back to DRIVE (D) to turn off the
electronic range select mode.
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. SeeBrake
System Warning Light on page 3-36.
To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down with your right foot. Push down momentarily
on the parking brake pedal with your left foot until you
feel the pedal release. If the parking brake is not
released when you begin to drive, the brake system
warning light will be on and a chime will sound warning
you that the parking brake is still on.
A message will also appear in the Driver Information
Center (DIC) to remind you to release the parking brake.
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-50.
Notice:Driving with the parking brake on can
overheat the brake system and cause premature
wear or damage to brake system parts. Verify that
the parking brake is fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on a hill, see
Towing a Trailer on page 4-40.
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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,
seeTowing a Trailer on page 4-40.1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
set the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) like this:
Hold in the button on the front of 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).
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