2007 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX Owners Manual

Driving with a Trailer
Towing a trailer requires a certain amount of
experience. Before setting out for the open road,
you’ll want to get to know your rig. Acquaint
yourself with the feel of handling and braking
with the added weight of the trailer. And always
keep in mind that the vehicle you are driving
is now a good deal longer and not nearly
as responsive as your vehicle is by itself.
Before you start, check the trailer hitch and
platform (and attachments), safety chains,
electrical connector, lamps, tires and mirror
adjustment. If the trailer has electric brakes,
start your vehicle and trailer moving and then
apply the trailer brake controller by hand to be
sure the brakes are working. This lets you check
your electrical connection at the same time.
During your trip, check occasionally to be sure
that the load is secure, and that the lamps and
any trailer brakes are still working.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead
as you would when driving your vehicle without
a trailer. This can help you avoid situations
that require heavy braking and sudden turns.
Passing
You’ll need more passing distance up ahead
when you’re towing a trailer. And, because you’re
a good deal longer, you’ll need to go much
farther beyond the passed vehicle before you
can return to your lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with
one hand. Then, to move the trailer to the left,
just move that hand to the left. To move the
trailer to the right, move your hand to the right.
Always back up slowly and, if possible, have
someone guide you.
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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/retailer. 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
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.
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gearbefore
you 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. See
Engine Overheating on page 371.
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Parking on Hills
{CAUTION:
You really should not park your vehicle,
with a trailer attached, on a hill. If
something goes wrong, your rig could
start to move. People can be injured,
and both your vehicle and the trailer
can be damaged.But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill,
here’s how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift
into PARK (P) yet.
2. Have someone place chocks under the
trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place,
release the regular brakes until the chocks
absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply
your parking brake and shift into PARK (P).
5. Release the regular brakes.
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When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the
pedal down while you:
start your engine,
shift into a gear, and
release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear
of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and
store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when
you’re pulling a trailer. Things that are especially
important in trailer operation are automatic
transmission uid (don’t overll), engine oil,
drive belt, cooling system and brake system.
Each of these is covered in this manual, and
the Index will help you nd them quickly.
If you’re trailering, it’s a good idea to review
this information before you start your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts
and bolts are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing
Your cooling system may temporarily overheat
during severe operating conditions. See
Engine Overheating on page 371.
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Service........................................................ 344
Accessories and Modications................... 344
California Proposition 65 Warning.............. 345
Doing Your Own Service Work.................. 345
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle.......................................... 346
Fuel............................................................. 346
Gasoline Octane........................................ 346
Gasoline Specications.............................. 347
California Fuel........................................... 347
Additives................................................... 347
Fuels in Foreign Countries........................ 348
Filling the Tank......................................... 349
Filling a Portable Fuel Container............... 351
Checking Things Under the Hood.............. 352
Hood Release........................................... 352
Engine Compartment Overview.................. 354
Engine Oil................................................. 359
Engine Oil Life System.............................. 362
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter............................ 364
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
(2.2L L4 and 3.5L V6 Engines).............. 365Automatic Transaxle Fluid
(3.9L V6 Engine).................................... 366
Engine Coolant.......................................... 368
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap............ 371
Engine Overheating................................... 371
Overheated Engine Protection Operating
Mode (3.5L V6 and 3.9L V6 Engines).... 373
Cooling System......................................... 374
Power Steering Fluid................................. 379
Windshield Washer Fluid........................... 380
Brakes...................................................... 381
Battery...................................................... 384
Jump Starting............................................ 385
Bulb Replacement....................................... 389
Halogen Bulbs........................................... 389
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, and
Parking Lamps....................................... 390
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps
and Back-up Lamps............................... 392
License Plate Lamp................................... 393
Replacement Bulbs................................... 394
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement....... 394
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
341

Tires............................................................ 397
Winter Tires.............................................. 398
Tire Sidewall Labeling............................... 399
Tire Terminology and Denitions............... 403
Ination - Tire Pressure............................. 406
High-Speed Operation............................... 407
Tire Inspection and Rotation...................... 408
When It Is Time for New Tires.................. 409
Buying New Tires...................................... 410
Different Size Tires and Wheels................ 412
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..................... 412
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance............ 414
Wheel Replacement.................................. 414
Tire Chains............................................... 416
If a Tire Goes Flat.................................... 417
Changing a Flat Tire................................. 418
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools.......... 419
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing
the Spare Tire....................................... 422
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools
(Sedan).................................................. 428
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools
(Sedan SS)............................................ 430Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools
(All MAXX Models)................................. 432
Compact Spare Tire.................................. 434
Appearance Care........................................ 435
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle.......... 435
Fabric/Carpet............................................. 436
Leather...................................................... 437
Ultra Lux Suede........................................ 438
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces..................................... 438
Care of Safety Belts.................................. 439
Weatherstrips............................................ 439
Washing Your Vehicle............................... 439
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses................ 440
Finish Care............................................... 440
Windshield and Wiper Blades.................... 440
Aluminum Wheels...................................... 441
Tires......................................................... 441
Sheet Metal Damage................................. 442
Finish Damage.......................................... 442
Underbody Maintenance............................ 442
Chemical Paint Spotting............................ 442
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
342

Vehicle Identication.................................. 444
Vehicle Identication Number (VIN)........... 444
Service Parts Identication Label............... 444
Electrical System........................................ 445
Add-On Electrical Equipment..................... 445
Headlamp Wiring....................................... 445
Windshield Wiper Fuses............................ 445Power Windows and Other Power
Options.................................................. 446
Fuses........................................................ 446
Instrument Panel Fuse Block..................... 447
Engine Compartment Fuse Block............... 449
Rear Compartment Fuse Block.................. 451
Capacities and Specications.................... 454
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
343

Service
Your dealer knows your vehicle best and wants
you to be happy with it. We hope you will go
to your dealer for all your service needs. You will
get genuine GM parts and GM-trained and
supported service people.
We hope you will want to keep your GM vehicle
all GM. Genuine GM parts have one of these
marks:
Accessories and Modications
When you add non-GM accessories to your vehicle
they can affect your vehicle’s performance and
safety, including such things as, airbags, braking,
stability, ride and handling, emissions systems,
aerodynamics, durability, and electronic systems
like anti-lock brakes, traction control and stability
control. Some of these accessories may even
cause malfunction or damage not covered by
warranty.
GM Accessories are designed to complement and
function with other systems on your vehicle.
Your GM dealer/retailer can accessorize your
vehicle using genuine GM Accessories. When you
go to your GM dealer/retailer and ask for GM
Accessories, you will know that GM-trained and
supported service technicians will perform the work
using genuine GM Accessories.
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