2007 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX octane

Did you just drive through a deep puddle of water?
If so, your electrical system may be wet. The
condition will usually be corrected when the
electrical system dries out. A few driving trips
should turn the light off.
Have you recently changed brands of fuel?
If so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with quality fuel.
SeeGasoline Octane on page 346. Poor fuel
quality will cause your engine not to run as
efficiently as designed. You may notice this as
stalling after start-up, stalling when you put
the vehicle into gear, misring, hesitation on
acceleration, or stumbling on acceleration.
(These conditions may go away once the engine
is warmed up.) This will be detected by the
system and cause the light to turn on.
If you experience one or more of these conditions,
change the fuel brand you use. It will require
at least one full tank of the proper fuel to turn
the light off.
If none of the above steps have made the light
turn off, your dealer can check the vehicle.
Your dealer has the proper test equipment and
diagnostic tools to x any mechanical or electrical
problems that may have developed.Emissions Inspection and
Maintenance Programs
Some state/provincial and local governments have
or may begin programs to inspect the emission
control equipment on your vehicle. Failure to pass
this inspection could prevent you from getting a
vehicle registration.
Here are some things you need to know to help
your vehicle pass an inspection:
Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the
check engine light is on or not working properly.
Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if
the OBD (on-board diagnostic) system determines
that critical emission control systems have not
been completely diagnosed by the system.
The vehicle would be considered not ready for
inspection. This can happen if you have recently
replaced your battery or if your battery has
run down. The diagnostic system is designed
to evaluate critical emission control systems
during normal driving. This may take several
days of routine driving. If you have done this and
your vehicle still does not pass the inspection
for lack of OBD system readiness, your dealer
can prepare the vehicle for inspection.
214

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

Your vehicle has an airbag system. Before
attempting to do your own service work, see
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on
page 88.
You should keep a record with all parts receipts
and list the mileage and the date of any service
work you perform. SeeMaintenance Record
on page 472.
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle
Things you might add to the outside of your
vehicle can affect the airow around it. This may
cause wind noise and affect windshield washer
performance. Check with your dealer before
adding equipment to the outside of your vehicle.
Fuel
Use of the recommended fuel is an important
part of the proper maintenance of your vehicle.
To help keep the engine clean and maintain
optimum vehicle performance, GM recommends
the use of gasoline advertised as TOP TIER
Detergent Gasoline.
Gasoline Octane
Use regular unleaded gasoline with a posted
octane rating of 87 or higher. If the octane rating
is less than 87, you might notice an audible
knocking noise when you drive, commonly referred
to as spark knock. If this occurs, use a gasoline
rated at 87 octane or higher as soon as possible.
If you are using gasoline rated at 87 octane or
higher and you hear heavy knocking, the engine
needs service.
346

Gasoline Specications
At a minimum, gasoline should meet ASTM
specication D 4814 in the United States or
CAN/CGSB-3.5 in Canada. Some gasolines may
contain an octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl
(MMT). General Motors recommends against the
use of gasolines containing MMT. SeeAdditives
on page 347for additional information.
California Fuel
If your vehicle is certied to meet California
Emissions Standards, it is designed to operate on
fuels that meet California specications. See the
underhood emission control label. If this fuel is not
available in states adopting California emissions
standards, your vehicle will operate satisfactorily on
fuels meeting federal specications, but emission
control system performance may be affected. The
malfunction indicator lamp may turn on and your
vehicle may fail a smog-check test. SeeMalfunction
Indicator Lamp on page 212. If this occurs, return to
your authorized GM dealer for diagnosis. If it is
determined that the condition is caused by the type
of fuel used, repairs may not be covered by your
warranty.
Additives
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines in the
United States are now required to contain additives
that will help prevent engine and fuel system
deposits from forming, allowing your emission
control system to work properly. In most cases,
you should not have to add anything to your fuel.
However, some gasolines contain only the
minimum amount of additive required to meet
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations.
To help keep fuel injectors and intake valves
clean, or if your vehicle experiences problems due
to dirty injectors or valves, look for gasoline that
is advertised as TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline.
Also, your dealer has additives that will help
correct and prevent most deposit-related problems.
347

Gasolines containing oxygenates, such as ethers
and ethanol, and reformulated gasolines may
be available in your area. General Motors
recommends that you use these gasolines if they
comply with the specications described earlier.
However, E85 (85% ethanol) and other fuels
containing more than 10% ethanol must not be
used in vehicles that were not designed for
those fuels.
Notice:Your vehicle was not designed for
fuel that contains methanol. Do not use
fuel containing methanol. It can corrode metal
parts in the fuel system and also damage
plastic and rubber parts. That damage would
not be covered under your warranty.
Some gasolines that are not reformulated for low
emissions may contain an octane-enhancing
additive called methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT); ask the attendant where you
buy gasoline whether the fuel contains MMT.
General Motors recommends against the use of
such gasolines. Fuels containing MMT can reduce
the life of spark plugs and the performance of
the emission control system may be affected.
The malfunction indicator lamp may turn on. If this
occurs, return to your dealer for service.Fuels in Foreign Countries
If you plan on driving in another country outside
the United States or Canada, the proper fuel might
be hard to nd. Never use leaded gasoline or
any other fuel not recommended in the previous
text on fuel. Costly repairs caused by use of
improper fuel would not be covered by your
warranty.
To check the fuel availability, ask an auto club, or
contact a major oil company that does business
in the country where you will be driving.
348

Because of all the different ways people use their
vehicles, maintenance needs vary. You may need
more frequent checks and replacements. So please
read the following and note how you drive. If you
have any questions on how to keep your vehicle in
good condition, see your GM Goodwrench
®dealer.
This schedule is for vehicles that:
carry passengers and cargo within
recommended limits. You will nd these limits
on the Tire and Loading Information label.
SeeLoading Your Vehicle on page 324.
are driven on reasonable road surfaces
within legal driving limits.
use the recommended fuel. SeeGasoline
Octane on page 346.
The services inScheduled Maintenance on
page 460should be performed when indicated.
SeeAdditional Required Services on page 462
andMaintenance Footnotes on page 463for
further information.
{CAUTION:
Performing maintenance work on a
vehicle can be dangerous. In trying to do
some jobs, you can be seriously injured.
Do your own maintenance work only if
you have the required know-how and
the proper tools and equipment for the
job. If you have any doubt, see your
GM Goodwrench
®dealer to have a
qualied technician do the work.
Some maintenance services can be complex.
So, unless you are technically qualied and
have the necessary equipment, you should have
your GM Goodwrench
®dealer do these jobs.
When you go to your GM Goodwrench
®dealer for
your service needs, you will know that GM-trained
and supported service technicians will perform
the work using genuine GM parts.
If you want to purchase service information,
seeService Publications Ordering Information
on page 492.
459

Engine (cont.)
Overheated Protection Operating Mode...... 373
Overheating............................................. 371
Running While Parked............................. 137
Starting.................................................... 120
Enhanced Traction System (ETS)................ 297
Active Light.............................................. 210
Warning Light........................................... 210
Entry/Exit Lighting....................................... 185
Event Data Recorders (EDR)...................... 486
Extender, Safety Belt..................................... 41
Exterior Lamps............................................ 179
F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner................................... 364
Finish Damage............................................ 442
Fixed Mast Antenna.................................... 285
Flashers, Hazard Warning........................... 170
Flash-to-Pass.............................................. 173
Flat Tire...................................................... 417
Flat Tire, Changing...................................... 418Flat Tire, Storing........................428, 430, 432
Fluid
Power Steering........................................ 379
Windshield Washer.................................. 380
Fog Lamp
Fog .......................................................... 184
Folding Seatback, Passenger........................ 14
Front Reading Lamps.................................. 185
Fuel............................................................ 346
Additives.................................................. 347
California Fuel.......................................... 347
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.............. 351
Filling Your Tank...................................... 349
Fuels in Foreign Countries....................... 348
Gage....................................................... 217
Gasoline Octane...................................... 346
Gasoline Specications............................ 347
Fuses.......................................................... 446
Engine Compartment Fuse Block............. 449
Instrument Panel Fuse Block................... 447
Rear Compartment Fuse Block................ 451
Windshield Wiper..................................... 445
500

G
Gage
Engine Coolant Temperature.................... 211
Fuel......................................................... 217
Speedometer........................................... 200
Tachometer.............................................. 201
Garage Door Opener................................... 149
Gasoline
Octane..................................................... 346
Specications........................................... 347
Glove Box................................................... 160
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program.......... 480
H
Hazard Warning Flashers............................ 170
Head Restraints............................................ 13
Headlamp Wiring......................................... 445
Headlamps
Bulb Replacement.................................... 389
Daytime Running Lamps.......................... 182
Delayed................................................... 182
Exterior Lamps......................................... 179
Flash-to-Pass........................................... 173Headlamps (cont.)
Halogen Bulbs......................................... 389
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, and
Parking Lamps..................................... 390
High/Low Beam Changer......................... 172
On Reminder........................................... 181
Headlamps Off in Park (P).......................... 181
Heated Seats................................................ 10
Heater................................................188, 192
Highbeam On Light..................................... 216
High-Speed Operation, Tires........................ 407
Highway Hypnosis....................................... 314
Hill and Mountain Roads............................. 315
Hood
Checking Things Under............................ 352
Release................................................... 352
Horn............................................................ 170
How to Use This Manual................................ 3
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly............... 25
I
Ignition Positions......................................... 118
Infants and Young Children, Restraints.......... 45
Ination - Tire Pressure............................... 406
501