2007 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX Owners Manual

{CAUTION:
Things you put inside your vehicle can
strike and injure people in a sudden stop
or turn, or in a crash.
Put things in the trunk or rear area
of your vehicle. In a trunk, put them
as far forward as you can. Try to
spread the weight evenly. If you have
fold-down rear seats, you will nd
four anchors on the back wall of your
trunk. You can use these anchors
to tie down lighter loads. They are
not strong enough for heavy things,
however, so put them as far forward
as you can in the trunk or rear area.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)

Never stack heavier things, like
suitcases, inside the vehicle so that
some of them are above the tops of
the seats.
Do not leave an unsecured child
restraint in your vehicle.
When you carry something inside the
vehicle, secure it whenever you can.
Do not leave a seat folded down
unless you need to.
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Towing
Towing Your Vehicle
Consult your dealer or a professional towing
service if you need to have your disabled vehicle
towed. SeeRoadside Assistance Program
on page 481.
If you want to tow your vehicle behind another
vehicle for recreational purposes (such as
behind a motorhome), see “Recreational
Vehicle Towing” following.
Recreational Vehicle Towing
Recreational vehicle towing means towing your
vehicle behind another vehicle — such as behind
a motorhome. The two most common types
of recreational vehicle towing are known as
“dinghy towing” (towing your vehicle with all
four wheels on the ground) and “dolly towing”
(towing your vehicle with two wheels on the
ground and two wheels up on a device known
as a “dolly”).With the proper preparation and equipment,
many vehicle can be towed in these ways. See
“Dinghy Towing” and “Dolly Towing”, following.
Here are some important things to consider before
you do recreational vehicle towing:
What’s the towing capacity of the towing
vehicle? Be sure you read the tow vehicle
manufacturer’s recommendations.
How far will you tow? Some vehicles have
restrictions on how far and how long they
can tow.
Do you have the proper towing equipment?
See your dealer/retailer or trailering
professional for additional advice and
equipment recommendations.
Is your vehicle ready to be towed? Just as
you would prepare your vehicle for a long
trip, you’ll want to make sure your vehicle is
prepared to be towed. SeeBefore Leaving
on a Long Trip on page 313.
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Dinghy Towing
The Malibu Sedan SS and Maxx SS cannot be
dinghy towed.
For vehicles that can be dinghy towed, follow
these steps:
1. Position the vehicle to tow and then secure it.
2. Turn the ignition switch to OFF.
3. Set the parking brake.4. To prevent your battery from draining while
the vehicle is being towed, remove the
following fuse from the instrument panel
fuse block: IGN SENSOR. SeeInstrument
Panel Fuse Block on page 447for more
information.
5. Turn the ignition switch to ACC.
6. Shift your transmission to NEUTRAL (N).
7. Release the parking brake.
Remember to install the fuses once you reach
your destination. To reinstall a fuse, do the
following:
1. Set the parking brake.
2. Remove the key from the ignition switch.
3. Reinstall the fuse.
Notice:If you exceed 65 mph (105 km/h)
while towing your vehicle, it could be
damaged. Never exceed 65 mph (105 km/h)
while towing your vehicle.
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Notice:Towing your vehicle from the rear
could damage it. Also, repairs would not
be covered by the warranty. Never have
your vehicle towed from the rear.
Dolly Towing
To tow your vehicle with a dolly and two wheels
on the ground, follow these steps:
1. Put the front wheels on a dolly.
2. Put the vehicle in PARK (P).
3. Set the parking brake and then remove the key.
4. Clamp the steering wheel in a straight-ahead
position with a clamping device designed
for towing.
5. Release the parking brake.
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Towing a Trailer
{CAUTION:
If you do not use the correct equipment
and drive properly, you can lose control
when you pull a trailer. For example, if the
trailer is too heavy, the brakes may not
work well — or even at all. You and your
passengers could be seriously injured.
You may also damage your vehicle; the
resulting repairs would not be covered by
your warranty. Pull a trailer only if you
have followed all the steps in this section.
Ask your dealer/retailer for advice and
information about towing a trailer with
your vehicle.
If you have a Malibu Sedan SS or a Maxx SS,
trailer towing is not recommended. Your vehicle
was neither designed nor intended to tow a trailer.Your vehicle can tow a trailer if it is equipped with
a 3.5L V6 engine and the proper trailer towing
equipment.
To identify the trailering capacity of your vehicle,
you should read the information in “Weight of
the Trailer” that appears later in this section.
Trailering is different than just driving your vehicle
by itself. Trailering means changes in handling,
durability and fuel economy. Successful, safe
trailering takes correct equipment, and it has to
be used properly.
That’s the reason for this part. In it are many
time-tested, important trailering tips and safety
rules. Many of these are important for your safety
and that of your passengers. So please read
this section carefully before you pull a trailer.
Load-pulling components such as the engine,
transmission, wheel assemblies and tires
are forced to work harder against the drag of the
added weight. The engine is required to operate
at relatively higher speeds and under greater
loads, generating extra heat. What’s more,
the trailer adds considerably to wind resistance,
increasing the pulling requirements.
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If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer
If you do, here are some important points:
There are many different laws, including speed
limit restrictions, having to do with trailering.
Make sure your rig will be legal, not only
where you live but also where you’ll be driving.
A good source for this information can be
state or provincial police.
Consider using a sway control. You can ask
a hitch dealer/retailer about sway controls.
Don’t tow a trailer at all during the rst
1,000 miles (1 600 km) your new vehicle
is driven. Your engine, axle or other parts
could be damaged.
Then, during the rst 500 miles (800 km) that
you tow a trailer, don’t drive over 50 mph
(80 km/h) and don’t make starts at full throttle.
This helps your engine and other parts of
your vehicle wear in at the heavier loads.
Obey speed limit restrictions when towing a
trailer. Don’t drive faster than the maximum
posted speed for trailers, or no more than
55 mph (90 km/h), to save wear on your
vehicle’s parts.Three important considerations have to do
with weight:
the weight of the trailer,
the weight of the trailer tongue
and the total weight on your vehicle’s tires.
Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
It should never weigh more than 1,000 lbs (450 kg).
But even that can be too heavy.
It depends on how you plan to use your rig.
For example, speed, altitude, road grades, outside
temperature and how much your vehicle is used
to pull a trailer are all important. It can also depend
on any special equipment that you have on your
vehicle, and the amount of tongue weight the
vehicle can carry. See “Weight of the Trailer
Tongue” later in this section for more information.
Maximum trailer weight is calculated assuming
only the driver is in the tow vehicle and it has
all the required trailering equipment. The weight of
additional optional equipment, passengers and
cargo in the tow vehicle must be subtracted from
the maximum trailer weight.
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When towing a trailer on long uphill grades while
the outside temperature is above 85°F (29°C),
reduce your vehicle speed to 45 mph (72 km/h)
to avoid overheating the engine cooling system.
You can ask your dealer/retailer for our trailering
information or advice, or you can write us at
our Customer Assistance Offices. SeeCustomer
Assistance Offices on page 479for more
information.
Weight of the Trailer Tongue
The tongue load (A) of any trailer is an important
weight to measure because it affects the total
or gross weight of your vehicle. The Gross
Vehicle Weight (GVW) includes the curb weight
of the vehicle, any cargo you may carry in it,
and the people who will be riding in the vehicle.
And if you tow a trailer, you must add the
tongue load to the GVW because your vehicle
will be carrying that weight, too. SeeLoading
Your Vehicle on page 324for more information
about your vehicle’s maximum load capacity.If you’re using a weight-carrying hitch or a
weight-distributing hitch, the trailer tongue (A)
should weigh 10 to 15 percent of the total loaded
trailer weight (B).
After you’ve loaded your trailer, weigh the trailer
and then the tongue, separately, to see if the
weights are proper. If they aren’t, you may be
able to get them right simply by moving some
items around in the trailer.
Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s Tires
Be sure your vehicle’s tires are inated to the upper
limit for cold tires. You’ll nd these numbers on the
Tire and Loading Information label. SeeLoading
Your Vehicle on page 324. Then be sure you don’t
go over the GVW limit for your vehicle, including the
weight of the trailer tongue.
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Hitches
It’s important to have the correct hitch equipment.
Crosswinds, large trucks going by and rough
roads are a few reasons why you’ll need the
right hitch. Here are some rules to follow:
The rear bumper on your vehicle is not
intended for hitches. Do not attach rental
hitches or other bumper-type hitches to it.
Use only a frame-mounted hitch that does
not attach to the bumper.
Will you have to make any holes in the body
of your vehicle when you install a trailer
hitch? If you do, then be sure to seal the
holes later when you remove the hitch.
If you don’t seal them, deadly carbon
monoxide (CO) from your exhaust can get
into your vehicle. SeeEngine Exhaust
on page 136. Dirt and water can, too.
Safety Chains
You should always attach chains between
your vehicle and your trailer. Cross the safety
chains under the tongue of the trailer so that
the tongue will not drop to the road if it becomes
separated from the hitch. Instructions about
safety chains may be provided by the hitch
manufacturer or by the trailer manufacturer.
Follow the manufacturer’s recommendation for
attaching safety chains and do not attach them
to the bumper. Always leave just enough slack
so you can turn with your rig. And, never
allow safety chains to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
Does your trailer have its own brakes?
Be sure to read and follow the instructions for
the trailer brakes so you’ll be able to install, adjust
and maintain them properly. And because you
may have anti-lock brakes, do not try to tap into
your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system. If you
do, both systems won’t work well, or at all.
336