2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU trailer

5. Put the lter back in.
6. Put the cover back on tightly.
7. Reconnect the electrical connector.
{CAUTION:
Operating the engine with the air cleaner/lter
off can cause you or others to be burned.
The air cleaner not only cleans the air, it helps
to stop ame if the engine backres. If it is
not there and the engine backres, you could
be burned. Do not drive with it off, and be
careful working on the engine with the air
cleaner/lter off.
Notice:If the air cleaner/lter is off, a backre can
cause a damaging engine re. And, dirt can easily get
into your engine, which will damage it. Always have
the air cleaner/lter in place when you are driving.
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
It is not necessary to check the transaxle uid level.
A transaxle uid leak is the only reason for uid loss.
If a leak occurs, take the vehicle to the dealership
service department and have it repaired as soon as
possible. You may also have your uid level checked
by your dealer or service center when you have your
oil changed.
Change both the uid and lter every 50,000 miles
(83 000 km) 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.
Notice:Use of automatic transaxle uid labeled
other than DEXRON
®-III may damage your vehicle,
and the damages may not be covered by your
warranty. Always use DEXRON
®-III labeled automatic
transaxle uid.
5-23

If No Steam Is Coming From Your
Engine
An overheat warning, along with a low coolant light,
can indicate a serious problem. SeeDIC Warnings
and Messages on page 3-50.
If you get an engine overheat warning with no low
coolant light, but see or hear no steam, the problem
may not be too serious. Sometimes the engine can
get a little too hot when you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
Stop after high-speed driving.
Idle for long periods in traffic.
Tow a trailer.
If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam,
try this for a minute or so:
1. In heavy traffic, let the engine idle in NEUTRAL (N)
while stopped. If it is safe to do so, pull off the road,
shift to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) and let the
engine idle.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan
speed and open the window as necessary.If you no longer have the overheat warning, you can
drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for about 10 minutes.
If the warning doesn’t come back on, you can drive
normally.
If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and park your
vehicle right away.
If there’s still no sign of steam, idle the engine for three
minutes while you’re parked. If you still have the
warning,turn off the engine and get everyone out of the
vehicleuntil it cools down.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service
help right away.
5-28

(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

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

Gasoline
Octane........................................................ 5-5
Specications............................................... 5-6
Gate Operator and Canadian Programming........2-43
Glove Box.....................................................2-44
GM Mobility Program for Persons with
Disabilities.................................................... 7-6
H
Hazard Warning Flashers................................... 3-6
Head Restraints............................................... 1-6
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer.................... 3-9
Headlamp Wiring............................................5-87
Headlamps....................................................5-45
Bulb Replacement.......................................5-45
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-45
Headlamps Off in Park (P)...............................3-18
Headlamps On Reminder................................... 3-9
Headphones...................................................3-97
Heated Seats................................................... 1-4
Highway Hypnosis...........................................4-24
Hill and Mountain Roads..................................4-24
Hitches..........................................................4-43
HomeLink
®Transmitter....................................2-40
HomeLink®Transmitter, Programming................2-41Hood
Release.....................................................5-12
Horn............................................................... 3-7
How the System Alarm is Activated...................2-19
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant Surge Tank......5-30
How to Check................................................5-58
How to Detect a Tamper Condition....................2-19
How to Inspect the Engine Air Cleaner/Filter.......5-22
How to Turn Off the System Alarm....................2-19
How to Use This Manual...................................... ii
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly...................1-15
Hydroplaning..................................................4-20
I
If No Steam Is Coming From Your Engine..........5-28
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine...............5-27
If the Light is Flashing.....................................3-40
If the Light Is On Steady.................................3-41
If You Are Caught in a Blizzard.........................4-28
If You Are Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow.......4-30
If You Do Decide To Pull a Trailer.....................4-41
Ignition Positions.............................................2-22
Infants and Young Children, Restraints...............1-34
Ination - Tire Pressure...................................5-57
Information Mode (INFO Button)........................3-46
7

Locks (cont.)
Power Door................................................2-11
Programmable Automatic Door Locks.............2-12
Loss of Control...............................................4-15
Lumbar
Manual Controls............................................ 1-3
M
Maintenance Schedule
Additional Required Services........................... 6-6
At Each Fuel Fill........................................... 6-9
At Least Once a Month.................................. 6-9
At Least Once a Year..................................6-10
Introduction.................................................. 6-2
Maintenance Footnotes.................................. 6-7
Maintenance Record....................................6-15
Maintenance Requirements............................. 6-2
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts.........6-13
Owner Checks and Services........................... 6-9
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants.............6-12
Scheduled Maintenance................................. 6-4
Using Your................................................... 6-3
Your Vehicle and the Environment................... 6-2
Maintenance When Trailer Towing.....................4-46Making Turns.................................................4-45
Malfunction Indicator Light................................3-39
Manual Lumbar Controls.................................... 1-3
Manual Seats................................................... 1-2
Map Pocket...................................................2-45
Matching Transmitter(s) to Your Vehicle............... 2-7
Message
DIC Warnings and Messages........................3-50
Mexico, Central America and Caribbean
Islands/Countries (Except Puerto Rico and
U.S. Virgin Islands) – Customer Assistance....... 7-5
Mirrors
Automatic Dimming Rearview........................2-35
Automatic Dimming Rearview with OnStar
®.....2-36
Manual Rearview Mirror................................2-35
Manual Rearview Mirror with OnStar
®.............2-35
Outside Convex Mirror.................................2-37
Outside Power Heated Mirrors.......................2-37
Outside Power Mirrors..................................2-37
MyGMLink.com................................................ 7-4
N
New Vehicle Break-In......................................2-22
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts............6-13
9

Theft-Deterrent, Radio....................................3-115
Theft-Deterrent Systems...................................2-18
Content Theft-Deterrent................................2-18
PASS-Key
®III+...........................................2-20
PASS-Key®III+ Operation.............................2-20
Throttle, Adjustable..........................................2-24
Tilt Wheel........................................................ 3-7
Tips and Trouble...........................................3-108
Tire Changing Tools........................................5-67
Tire Ination Check........................................... 6-9
Tire Sidewall Labeling......................................5-50
Tire Size.......................................................5-54
Tire Terminology and Denitions........................5-55
Tires.............................................................5-50
Buying New Tires........................................5-60
Chains.......................................................5-64
Changing a Flat Tire....................................5-66
Compact Spare Tire.....................................5-77
If a Tire Goes Flat.......................................5-65
Ination - Tire Pressure................................5-57
Inspection and Rotation................................5-58
Uniform Tire Quality Grading.........................5-61
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance.................5-62
Wheel Replacement.....................................5-62
When It Is Time for New Tires......................5-59
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater....................2-26Top Strap......................................................1-42
Top Strap Anchor Location...............................1-43
Torque Lock...................................................2-31
Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s Tires..................4-43
Towing
Recreational Vehicle.....................................4-31
Towing a Trailer..........................................4-40
Your Vehicle...............................................4-31
Traction
Enhanced Traction System (ETS).................... 4-9
Enhanced Traction System (ETS) Active Light....3-38
Enhanced Traction System (ETS) Warning
Light......................................................3-37
Trailer Brakes.................................................4-43
Transaxle
Fluid, Automatic...........................................5-23
Transaxle Operation, Automatic.........................2-27
Transmission, Transaxle, Transfer Case Unit
Repair Manual............................................7-12
Transportation Options...................................... 7-8
Trip Odometer................................................3-33
Trunk............................................................2-13
Trunk Lamp...................................................3-19
Turn and Lane-Change Signals.......................... 3-8
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever........................... 3-8
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer..................4-45
14

U
Understanding Radio Reception.......................3-116
Uniform Tire Quality Grading............................5-61
United States – Customer Assistance.................. 7-5
Used Replacement Wheels..............................5-63
Using Cleaner on Fabric..................................5-79
Using HomeLink
®...........................................2-43
Using Song List /
RMode
.............................3-94
V
Vehicle
Control........................................................ 4-5
Damage Warnings........................................... iv
Loading......................................................4-34
Service Soon Light......................................3-44
Symbols......................................................... iv
Vehicle Data Collection and Event Data
Records.....................................................7-10
Vehicle Identication
Number (VIN).............................................5-86
Service Parts Identication Label...................5-86
Vehicle Storage..............................................5-39
Ventilation Adjustment......................................3-30
Video Screen.................................................3-99
Visors...........................................................2-17
W
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators................3-31
Warnings
DIC Warnings and Messages........................3-50
Hazard Warning Flashers............................... 3-6
Other Warning Devices.................................. 3-7
Safety and Symbols......................................... iii
Vehicle Damage.............................................. iv
Washing Your Vehicle......................................5-81
Weight of the Trailer........................................4-41
Weight of the Trailer Tongue.............................4-42
What Kind of Engine Oil to Use........................5-18
What to Do with Used Oil................................5-21
What to Use..........................................5-24, 5-34
Wheels
Alignment and Tire Balance..........................5-62
Replacement...............................................5-62
When to Add Engine Oil..................................5-18
When to Change Engine Oil (GM Oil Life
System).....................................................5-20
When to Check..............................................5-57
When to Inspect the Engine Air Cleaner/Filter.....5-22
When You Are Ready to Leave After Parking
on a Hill.....................................................4-46
Where to Put the Restraint...............................1-41
Why Safety Belts Work....................................1-11
15