2007 CHEVROLET MALIBU traction control

Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle.... 288
Defensive Driving...................................... 288
Drunken Driving........................................ 289
Control of a Vehicle.................................. 292
Braking...................................................... 292
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS).................. 293
Braking in Emergencies............................. 295
Traction Control System (TCS).................. 295
Enhanced Traction System (ETS).............. 297
Steering.................................................... 299
Off-Road Recovery.................................... 302
Passing..................................................... 302
Loss of Control.......................................... 304
Competitive Driving................................... 305
Driving at Night......................................... 306
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads............ 307City Driving............................................... 311
Freeway Driving........................................ 312
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.................. 313
Highway Hypnosis..................................... 314
Hill and Mountain Roads........................... 315
Winter Driving........................................... 317
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand,
Mud, Ice, or Snow................................. 322
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out........... 323
Loading Your Vehicle................................ 324
Towing........................................................ 330
Towing Your Vehicle................................. 330
Recreational Vehicle Towing...................... 330
Towing a Trailer........................................ 333
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
287

Braking in Emergencies
At some time, nearly every driver gets into a
situation that requires hard braking.
If you have ABS, you can steer and brake at the
same time. However, if you do not have ABS,
your rst reaction — to hit the brake pedal
hard and hold it down — might be the wrong thing
to do. Your wheels can stop rolling. Once they
do, the vehicle cannot respond to your steering.
Momentum will carry it in whatever direction it
was headed when the wheels stopped rolling.
That could be off the road, into the very thing you
were trying to avoid, or into traffic.
If you do not have ABS, use a “squeeze” braking
technique. This will give you maximum braking
while maintaining steering control. You can do
this by pushing on the brake pedal with steadily
increasing pressure.In an emergency, you will probably want to
squeeze the brakes hard without locking the
wheels. If you hear or feel the wheels sliding,
ease off the brake pedal. This will help you
retain steering control. If you do have ABS, it is
different. SeeAnti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
on page 293.
In many emergencies, steering can help you
more than even the very best braking.
Traction Control System (TCS)
Your vehicle may have a Traction Control System
(TCS) that limits wheel spin. This is especially
useful in slippery road conditions. The system
operates only if it senses that one or both of
the front wheels are spinning or beginning to
lose traction. When this happens, the system
reduces engine power and may also upshift
the transmission to limit wheel spin. Also, the
traction control system activates the appropriate
corner brakes to gain even quicker control to
limit wheel spin.
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This light is located on
the instrument panel
cluster.
It will come on when TCS is limiting wheel spin.
You may feel or hear the system working,
but this is normal.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the TCS
begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise control will
automatically disengage. When road conditions
allow you to safely use it again, you may re-engage
the cruise control. SeeCruise Control on page 176.
The TCS operates in all transmission shift lever
positions except park or neutral. But the system
can upshift the transmission only as high as
the shift lever position you’ve chosen, so you
should use the lower gears only when necessary.
SeeAutomatic Transaxle Operation (Base
Models) on page 124orAutomatic Transaxle
Operation (SS Models) on page 128.This light is located on
the instrument panel
cluster.
When the system is off, this warning light will
come on to let you know if there’s a problem, or if
the system has been turned off.
When the warning light is on, the system will not
limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.
To limit wheel spin, especially in slippery road
conditions, you should always leave the TCS on.
But you can turn the system off if you prefer.
To turn the system on or off, press the TC button
located under the climate controls. In order to
effectively “rock” the vehicle, you will need to
turn off TCS.
If you press the TC button once, the traction
control system will turn off and the TCS warning
light will come on. Press the TC button again
to turn the system back on. The TCS warning
light will go off.
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When you turn the system off, the TCS warning
light will come on and stay on. If the TCS is
limiting wheel spin when you press the button to
turn the system off, the warning light will come
on – but the system won’t turn off right away.
It will wait until there’s no longer a current need
to limit wheel spin.
Adding non-dealer/non-retailer accessories can
affect your vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories
and Modications on page 344for more
information.
Enhanced Traction System (ETS)
Your vehicle may have an Enhanced Traction
System (ETS) that limits wheel spin. This is
especially useful in slippery road conditions. The
system operates only if it senses that one or
both of the front wheels are spinning or beginning
to lose traction. When this happens, the system
reduces engine power and may also upshift
the transmission to limit wheel spin.This light will come on
when your Enhanced
Traction System is
engaged and limiting
wheel spin.
You may feel or hear the system working, but this
is normal.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the ETS
begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise control will
automatically disengage. When road conditions
allow you to safely use it again, you may re-engage
the cruise control. SeeCruise Control on page 176.
The ETS operates in all transmission shift
lever positions. But the system can upshift the
transmission only as high as the shift lever position
you’ve chosen, so you should use the lower
gears only when necessary.
297

When the system is on,
this warning light will
come on to let you know
there’s a problem.
When this warning light is on, the system will not
limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.
To limit wheel spin, especially in slippery road
conditions, you should always leave the ETS on.
But you can turn the system off if you prefer.To turn the system on
or off, press the traction
control button located
on the center console
under the climate
control system.
When you turn the system off, the ETS warning
light will come on and stay on. If the ETS is limiting
wheel spin when you press the button to turn
the system off, the warning light will come on – but
the system won’t turn off right away. It will wait
until there’s no longer a current need to limit
wheel spin.
You can turn the system back on at any time by
pressing the button again. The traction control
system warning light should go off.
298

Steering
Electric Power Steering
If your vehicle has the electric power steering
system and the engine stalls while you are driving,
the power steering assist system will continue to
operate until you are able to stop your vehicle. If
you lose power steering assist because the electric
power steering system is not functioning, you can
steer, but it will take more effort.
If you turn the steering wheel in either direction
several times until it stops, or hold the steering
wheel in the stopped position for an extended
amount of time, you may notice a reduced amount
of power steering assist. The normal amount of
power steering assist should return shortly after
a few normal steering movements.
The electric power steering system does not
require regular maintenance. If you suspect
steering system problems, contact your
dealer/retailer for service repairs. SeeDIC
Warnings and Messages on page 222.
Hydraulic Power Steering
If your vehicle has the hydraulic power steering
system and you lose power steering assist
because the engine stops or the power steering
system is not functioning, you can steer, but it will
take much more effort.
Steering Tips
It is important to take curves at a reasonable
speed.
A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents
mentioned on the news happen on curves.
Here is why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is
subject to the same laws of physics when driving
on curves. The traction of the tires against the
road surface makes it possible for the vehicle to
change its path when you turn the front wheels.
If there is no traction, inertia will keep the
vehicle going in the same direction. If you have
ever tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you
will understand this.
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The traction you can get in a curve depends on
the condition of the tires and the road surface,
the angle at which the curve is banked, and your
speed. While you are in a curve, speed is the
one factor you can control.
Suppose you are steering through a sharp curve.
Then you suddenly apply the brakes. Both
control systems — steering and braking — have
to do their work where the tires meet the road.
Unless you have four-wheel anti-lock brakes,
adding the hard braking can demand too much
of those places. You can lose control.
The same thing can happen if you are steering
through a sharp curve and you suddenly
accelerate. Those two control systems — steering
and acceleration — can overwhelm those places
where the tires meet the road and make you lose
control. SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on
page 295orEnhanced Traction System (ETS)
on page 297.What should you do if this ever happens? Ease
up on the brake or accelerator pedal, steer the
vehicle the way you want it to go, and slow down.
Speed limit signs near curves warn that you should
adjust your speed. Of course, the posted speeds
are based on good weather and road conditions.
Under less favorable conditions you will want
to go slower.
If you need to reduce your speed as you approach
a curve, do it before you enter the curve, while
the front wheels are straight ahead.
Try to adjust your speed so you can “drive”
through the curve. Maintain a reasonable, steady
speed. Wait to accelerate until you are out of
the curve, and then accelerate gently into
the straightaway.
Adding non-dealer/non-retailer accessories can
affect your vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories
and Modications on page 344.
300

A cornering skid and an acceleration skid are best
handled by easing your foot off the accelerator
pedal.
If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off
the accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way
you want the vehicle to go. If you start steering
quickly enough, your vehicle may straighten out.
Always be ready for a second skid if it occurs.
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow,
ice, gravel, or other material is on the road.
For safety, you will want to slow down and adjust
your driving to these conditions. It is important
to slow down on slippery surfaces because
stopping distance will be longer and vehicle
control more limited.
While driving on a surface with reduced traction,
try your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration,
or braking, including reducing vehicle speed by
shifting to a lower gear. Any sudden changes could
cause the tires to slide. You may not realize the
surface is slippery until your vehicle is skidding.
Learn to recognize warning clues — such as
enough water, ice, or packed snow on the road to
make a mirrored surface — and slow down when
you have any doubt.If you have the Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS),
remember: It helps avoid only the braking skid.
If you do not have ABS, then in a braking
skid, where the wheels are no longer rolling,
release enough pressure on the brakes to get
the wheels rolling again. This restores steering
control. Push the brake pedal down steadily
when you have to stop suddenly. As long as the
wheels are rolling, you will have steering control.
Competitive Driving
See your warranty book before using your vehicle
for competitive driving. After reviewing your
warranty book, please see the GM Performance
Parts website or catalog for parts and equipment
required for competitive driving.
Notice:If you use your vehicle for competitive
driving, the engine may use more oil than it
would with normal use. Low oil levels can
damage the engine. Be sure to check the oil
level often during competitive driving and
keep the level at or near the upper mark that
shows the proper operating range on the
engine oil dipstick. For information on how
to add oil, seeEngine Oil on page 359.
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