2007 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO wiper blades

Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
To change your headlamps from low beams to high
beams, or from high to low, pull the multifunction
lever all the way toward you. Then release it.
While the high beams
are on, this light will
appear on the
instrument panel cluster.
This light works only while the key is in RUN. The
fog lamps (if equipped) are not illuminated
when the high beams are on.
Flash-to-Pass
With the turn signal lever in the low-beam position,
pull the lever toward you briey to switch to
high-beam, (to signal you are going to pass).
If the headlamps are on, they will return to
low-beam when the lever is released.
This feature operates even if the headlamps are off.
Windshield Wipers
Be sure to clear ice and snow from the wiper
blades before using them. If they are frozen to the
windshield, gently loosen or thaw them. Damaged
wiper blades may not clear the windshield well,
making it harder to see and drive safely. If
the blades do become damaged, install new
blades or blade inserts. For more information, see
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement on
page 347.
Heavy snow or ice can overload the wiper motor. A
circuit breaker will stop the motor until it cools down.
Clear away snow or ice to prevent an overload.
You control the windshield wipers by turning the
band with the wiper symbol on it.
8(Mist):For a single wiping cycle, turn the
band to mist. Hold it there until the wipers
start. Then let go. The wipers will stop after
one wipe. If you want more wipe cycles, hold
the band on mist longer.
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The heavier the rain, the harder it is to see.
Even if your windshield wiper blades are in good
shape, a heavy rain can make it harder to see
road signs and traffic signals, pavement markings,
the edge of the road, and even people walking.
It is wise to keep your windshield wiping equipment
in good shape and keep your windshield washer
uid reservoir lled with washer uid. Replace your
windshield wiper inserts when they show signs of
streaking or missing areas on the windshield, or
when strips of rubber start to separate from the
inserts.
{CAUTION:
Wet brakes can cause accidents. They may
not work as well in a quick stop and may
cause pulling to one side. You could lose
control of the vehicle.
After driving through a large puddle of
water or a car wash, apply your brake pedal
lightly until your brakes work normally.Driving too fast through large water puddles or
even going through some car washes can cause
problems, too. The water may affect your brakes.
Try to avoid puddles. But if you cannot, try to slow
down before you hit them.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. So much water can
build up under your tires that they can actually ride
on the water. This can happen if the road is wet
enough and you are going fast enough. When your
vehicle is hydroplaning, it has little or no contact
with the road.
Hydroplaning does not happen often. But it can
if your tires do not have much tread or if the
pressure in one or more is low. It can happen if
a lot of water is standing on the road. If you
can see reections from trees, telephone poles, or
other vehicles, and raindrops dimple the water’s
surface, there could be hydroplaning.
Hydroplaning usually happens at higher speeds.
There just is not a hard and fast rule about
hydroplaning. The best advice is to slow down
when it is raining.
263

Once you are moving on the freeway, make
certain you allow a reasonable following distance.
Expect to move slightly slower at night.
When you want to leave the freeway, move to the
proper lane well in advance. If you miss your
exit, do not, under any circumstances, stop and
back up. Drive on to the next exit.
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite
sharply. The exit speed is usually posted. Reduce
your speed according to your speedometer, not
to your sense of motion. After driving for any
distance at higher speeds, you may tend to think
you are going slower than you actually are.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you are ready. Try to be well rested.
If you must start when you are not fresh — such
as after a day’s work — do not plan to make
too many miles that rst part of the journey.
Wear comfortable clothing and shoes you can
easily drive in.Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it is ready to go. If it needs
service, have it done before starting out. Of course,
you will nd experienced and able service experts
in GM dealerships all across North America. They
will be ready and willing to help if you need it.
Here are some things you can check before a trip:
Windshield Washer Fluid:Is the reservoir
full? Are all windows clean inside and outside?
Wiper Blades:Are they in good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids:Have you
checked all levels?
Lamps:Are they all working? Are the lenses
clean?
Tires:They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip. Is the tread good enough
for long-distance driving? Are the tires
all inated to the recommended pressure?
Weather Forecasts:What is the weather
outlook along your route? Should you
delay your trip a short time to avoid a major
storm system?
Maps:Do you have up-to-date maps?
267

Appearance Care........................................ 385
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle.......... 385
Fabric/Carpet............................................. 386
Leather...................................................... 387
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces..................................... 388
Care of Safety Belts.................................. 388
Weatherstrips............................................ 388
Washing Your Vehicle............................... 389
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses................ 389
Finish Care............................................... 389
Windshield and Wiper Blades.................... 390
Aluminum Wheels...................................... 390
Tires......................................................... 391
Sheet Metal Damage................................. 391
Finish Damage.......................................... 392
Underbody Maintenance............................ 392Chemical Paint Spotting............................ 392
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials............ 393
Vehicle Identication.................................. 394
Vehicle Identication Number (VIN)........... 394
Service Parts Identication Label............... 394
Electrical System........................................ 395
Add-On Electrical Equipment..................... 395
Headlamp Wiring....................................... 395
Windshield Wiper Fuses............................ 395
Power Windows and Other
Power Options....................................... 395
Fuses and Circuit Breakers....................... 395
Instrument Panel Fuse Block..................... 396
Underhood Fuse Block.............................. 397
Capacities and Specications.................... 400
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
295

Windshield Wiper Blade
Replacement
Windshield wiper blades should be inspected for
wear or cracking. SeeScheduled Maintenance
on page 406for more information on wiper blade
inspection.
Replacement blades come in different types and
are removed in different ways. Here’s how to
remove the wiper blade:
1. Pull the windshield wiper arm connector away
from the windshield.2. While holding the wiper arm, pull the clip up
from the blade connecting point, and pull the
blade assembly down toward the windshield
to remove it from the wiper arm.
3. Install the new wiper blade onto the wiper arm
and snap the clip down into place.
347

To remove and replace the wiper blade element
do the following:
1. The wiper blade element has two notches at
one end which are engaged by the bottom
claw set of the wiper blade. At the notched
end of the wiper blade, pull the wiper
blade element from the wiper blade assembly.
2. To replace the element, start at the heel end
of the wiper blade, which is the end nearest
to the base of the wiper arm, and slide
the wiper blade element, notched end last,
into the wiper blade claw sets.
3. To engage the last claw into the notched
end of the wiper blade element, squeeze
the wiper blade element at the notched area,
and push the wiper blade element so the
claw ts into the notch.
4. Be sure the two wiper blade element notches
are engaged by the last claw set, and that all
the other claws are properly engaged in the
slots of the wiper blade element on both sides.A. Correct Installation
B. Incorrect Installation
For the proper type and size windshield wiper
blades, seeNormal Maintenance Replacement
Parts on page 416.
348

Foreign materials such as calcium chloride and
other salts, ice melting agents, road oil and
tar, tree sap, bird droppings, chemicals from
industrial chimneys, etc., can damage the vehicle’s
nish if they remain on painted surfaces. Wash
the vehicle as soon as possible. If necessary, use
non-abrasive cleaners that are marked safe for
painted surfaces to remove foreign matter.
Exterior painted surfaces are subject to aging,
weather, and chemical fallout that can take their
toll over a period of years. To help keep the
paint nish looking new, keep the vehicle in a
garage or covered whenever possible.
Windshield and Wiper Blades
If the windshield is not clear after using the
windshield washer, or if the wiper blade chatters
when running, wax, sap, or other material may
be on the blade or windshield.
Clean the outside of the windshield with a glass
cleaning liquid or powder and water solution.
The windshield is clean if beads do not form when
it is rinsed with water.Grime from the windshield will stick to the wiper
blades and affect their performance. Clean
the blade by wiping vigorously with a cloth soaked
in full-strength windshield washer solvent. Then
rinse the blade with water.
Check the wiper blades and clean them as
necessary; replace blades that look worn.
Aluminum Wheels
Notice:If you use strong soaps, chemicals,
abrasive polishes, cleaners, brushes, or
cleaners that contain acid on aluminum or
chrome-plated wheels, you could damage the
surface of the wheel(s). The repairs would
not be covered by your warranty. Use
only GM-approved cleaners on aluminum or
chrome-plated wheels.
Keep the wheels clean using a soft clean cloth
with mild soap and water. Rinse with clean water.
After rinsing thoroughly, dry with a soft clean
towel. A wax may then be applied.
390

Scheduled Maintenance (cont’d)
Service MaintenanceIMaintenanceII
Inspect brake system.See footnote (a).••
Check engine coolant and windshield washer uid levels and add uid as
needed.••
Perform any needed additional services. See “Additional Required Services” in
this section.••
Inspect suspension and steering components.See footnote (b).•
Inspect engine cooling system.See footnote (c).•
Inspect wiper blades.See footnote (d).•
Inspect restraint system components.See footnote (e).•
Lubricate body components.See footnote (f).•
Check transaxle uid level and add uid as needed.•
Replace passenger compartment air lter, if equipped.See footnote (g).•
Inspect throttle system.See footnote (j).•
408