2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU ABS

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
Notice:Do not tow on steep continuous grades
exceeding 6 miles (9.6 km). Extended, higher
than normal engine and transmission temperatures
may result and damage your vehicle. Frequent
stops are very important to allow the engine and
transmission to cool.
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before 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.
On a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce your
speed to around 45 mph (70 km/h) to reduce the
possibility of the engine and the transmission
overheating. If your engine does overheat, see
Engine Overheating on page 5-29.
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).
When parking uphill, turn your wheels away from
the curb. When parking downhill, turn your wheels
into the curb.
2. Have someone place chocks behind the trailer
wheels.
3. When the 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.
4-35

3. Inspect or replace the engine air cleaner/lter.
4. Align the lter correctly using the alignment tab.
5. Install the cover by guiding the tabs on the rim of
the top cover into the bottom hinges and turn the
cover down to close it.
6. The spring clips will engage easily, if the cover is
properly seated.
{CAUTION:
Operating the engine with the air cleaner/lter
off can cause you or others to be burned.
The air cleaner not only cleans the air; it helps
to stop ames if the engine backres. If it is
not there and the engine backres, you could
be burned. Do not drive with it off, and be
careful working on the engine with the air
cleaner/lter off.
Notice:If the air cleaner/lter is off, a backre
can cause a damaging engine re. And, dirt
can easily get into your engine, which will damage
it. Always have the air cleaner/lter in place
when you are driving.
5-25

Do not clean your vehicle using:
A knife or any other sharp object to remove a soil
from any interior surface.
A stiff brush. It can cause damage to your vehicle’s
interior surfaces.
Heavy pressure or aggressive rubbing with a
cleaning cloth. Use of heavy pressure can damage
your interior and does not improve the effectiveness
of soil removal.
Laundry detergents or dishwashing soaps with
degreasers can leave residue that streaks and
attracts dirt. For liquid cleaners, about 20 drops
per gallon (3.78 L) of water is a good guide.
Use only mild, neutral-pH soaps.
Too much cleaner that saturates the upholstery.
Organic solvents such as naptha, alcohol, etc. that
can damage your vehicle’s interior.
Fabric/Carpet
Use a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment
frequently to remove dust and loose dirt. A canister
vacuum with a beater bar in the nozzle may only
be used on oor carpet and carpeted oor mats.
For any soil, always try to remove it rst with plain
water or club soda. Before cleaning, gently remove
as much of the soil as possible using one of the
following techniques:
For liquids: gently blot the remaining soil with a
paper towel. Allow the soil to absorb into the
paper towel until no more can be removed.
For solid dry soils: remove as much as possible
and then vacuum.
5-90

A
Accessories and Modications............................ 5-3
Accessory Power Outlets.................................3-19
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle.......................................................1-70
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-7
Add-On Electrical Equipment............................5-98
Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal..................2-26
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-24
Air Conditioning......................................3-21, 3-24
Airbag
Passenger Status Indicator...........................3-35
Readiness Light..........................................3-34
Airbag System................................................1-56
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle...................................................1-70
How Does an Airbag Restrain?......................1-63
Passenger Sensing System...........................1-65
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle..........1-70
What Makes an Airbag Inate?......................1-63
What Will You See After an Airbag Inates?....1-64
When Should an Airbag Inate?....................1-61
Where Are the Airbags?...............................1-58
Antenna, Backglass.........................................3-81
Antenna, XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System . . . 3-81
Antilock Brake System (ABS)............................. 4-5
Anti-lock Brake, System Warning Light...............3-38Appearance Care
Aluminum Wheels........................................5-94
Care of Safety Belts....................................5-92
Chemical Paint Spotting...............................5-96
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses....................5-93
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-90
Finish Care.................................................5-93
Finish Damage............................................5-95
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces.......................................5-91
Interior Cleaning..........................................5-89
Sheet Metal Damage...................................5-95
Tires..........................................................5-95
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-96
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials................5-96
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-92
Weatherstrips..............................................5-92
Windshield and Wiper Blades........................5-94
Appointments, Scheduling Service.....................7-10
Audio System.................................................3-59
Audio Steering Wheel Controls......................3-79
Backglass Antenna......................................3-81
Radio Reception..........................................3-80
Setting the Clock.........................................3-60
Theft-Deterrent Feature................................3-79
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System............3-81
Audio System(s).............................................3-62
Automatic Climate Control System.....................3-24
1

J
Jump Starting.................................................5-43
K
Keyless Entry System....................................... 2-4
Keys............................................................... 2-3
L
Labeling, Tire Sidewall.....................................5-54
Lamps
Dome ........................................................3-17
Front Reading.............................................3-17
Overhead Console Reading..........................3-17
Rear Reading.............................................3-18
Trunk.........................................................3-18
Lap-Shoulder Belt...........................................1-25
LATCH System
Child Restraints...........................................1-42
License Plate Lamps.......................................5-50
Lift Seat, Power............................................... 1-8
Light
Airbag Readiness........................................3-34
Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) Warning...........3-38
Brake System Warning.................................3-37
Charging System.........................................3-37Light (cont.)
Cruise Control.............................................3-44
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning.............3-40
Highbeam On.............................................3-45
Malfunction Indicator....................................3-41
Oil Pressure...............................................3-44
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator..................3-35
Safety Belt Reminders..................................3-33
Security.....................................................3-44
Tire Pressure..............................................3-41
Lighting
Entry/Exit...................................................3-17
Parade Dimming..........................................3-17
Lights............................................................3-13
Flash-to-Pass............................................... 3-8
High/Low Beam Changer................................ 3-8
On Reminder..............................................3-14
Loading Your Vehicle.......................................4-21
Lockout Protection..........................................2-12
Locks
Delayed Locking..........................................2-11
Door ..........................................................2-10
Lockout Protection
.......................................2-12
Power Door ................................................2-11
Programmable Automatic Door Locks.............2-11
Rear Door Security Locks.............................2-12
Loss of Control...............................................4-13
Lumbar
Manual Controls............................................ 1-3
7