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1997 Chevrolet Malibu Owner's Manual - Page 154

1997 Chevrolet Malibu Manual

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Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive in spurts -- heavy acceleration followed heavy by braking -- rather than keeping pace with traffic. This is a mistake. Your brakes may not have time to cool between hard stops.Your brakes will wear much faster if you out do a lot heavy braking. If you keep pace with of the traffic and allow realistic following distances, you will eliminate a lot unnecessary braking. That means of better braking and longer brake life. If your engine ever stops while you're driving, brake normally but don't pump your brakes. If you do, the pedal may get harder push down.If your engine to stops, you willstill have some power brake assist. But you will useit when you brake. Once the power assist is used up, it may take longer to stop and the brake pedal will be harder to push. Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS) Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes (ABS). ABS is an advanced electronic braking system that will help prevent a brakingskid. If there's a problem with the anti-lock brake system, this warning light will stay on. See "Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light" in the Index. 4-7

Section	Page
Table of Contents	2
Seats and Restraint Systems	10
Seats and Controls	11
Manual Seats	11
Power Seats	12
Reclining Front Seatbacks	13
Rear Seats	14
Why Safety Belts Work	17
Questions Many People Ask About Safety Belts - and the Answers	20
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly	21
Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster	24
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy	29
Questions and Answers About Air Bags	32
Safety Belt Comfort Guides	39
How to Use Child Restraints	43
Important Information for Buckling Children in Child Restraints	45
Child Restraint Top Straps	46
How to Obtain a Safety Belt Extender	56
Checking Your Restraint Systems	56
Replacing Parts After a Crash	56
Features and Controls	58
Important Information About Keys	59
Door Locks	61
Operation of Child Security Locks	62
Keyless Entry System	63
Battery Replacement for Keyless Entry System	65
Preventing Theft of Your Vehicle	68
New Vehicle “Break-In”	70
Ignition Positions	70
Tips on Starting Your Engine	71
Using the Engine Coolant Heater	74
Automatic Transaxle Operation	75
Second-Gear Start	79
Parking Brake Guidelines	79
Important Information on Engine Exhaust	83
Operation of Your Windows	84
Adjusting the Tilt Steering Wheel	85
Functions of the Multifunction Lever	86
How to Use the High/Low Beam Headlamp Changer	87
Windshield Wipers and Fluid	90
Using Cruise Control	90
Exterior Lamps	93
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)	94
Interior Lamps	95
Rearview Mirrors	97
Storage Compartments	99
Sunroof	104
Instrument Panel Overview	105
All About Your Warning Lights and Gages	109
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems	122
Climate Controls	123
Air Conditioning	123
Heating	125
Tips for Defogging and Defrosting	125
Rear Window Defogger	126
Ventilation System and Tips	127
Setting the Clock	128
AM/FM Stereo	128
AM/FM Stereo with Cassette and ATC	130
CD Adapter Kits	134
AM/FM Stereo with CD and ATC	135
Remote Cassette Player	139
Theft-Deterrent Feature	140
Adding Sound Equipment to Your Vehicle	143
Understanding Radio Reception	143
Tips About Your Audio System	143
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player	144
Care of Your Compact Discs	145
Antenna	145
Your Driving and the Road	148
Defensive Driving	149
Driving Drunk	150
Having Control of Your Vehicle	153
Your Braking System Information	153
Anti-Lock Brake Information	154
Braking in Emergencies	156
Steering Tips	156
Off-Road Recovery Tips	158
Passing Other Vehicles	159
Losing Control of Your Vehicle	160
Night Driving	161
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads	163
Tips Before Leaving on a Long Trip	168
Avoiding Highway Hypnosis	169
Driving on Hills and Mountains	169
Winter Driving	171
If You’re Caught in a Blizzard	173
Recreational Vehicle Towing	175
Loading Your Vehicle	177
Helpful Hints for Towing a Trailer	179
Problems on the Road	188
How to Use Warning Flashers	189
Other Types of Warning Devices	189
Step-by-step Procedure for Jump Starting	190
Information You Should Know Before Towing	195
Towing Your Vehicle From the Front	197
Towing Your Vehicle From the Rear	198
If Your Engine is Overheating	199
If Steam is Coming From Your Engine	199
How to Add Coolant	203
What to do if a Tire Goes Flat	207
How to Change a Flat Tire	208
Where to Store the Flat Tire and Tools	217
Information on the Compact Spare Tire	219
If You’re Stuck in Sand, Mud, Snow or on Ice	220
How to Rock Your Vehicle	220
Service and Appearance Care	222
Doing Your Own Service Work	223
What Kind of Fuel to Use	224
Using Fuel in Foreign Countries	226
Where to Put the Fuel and Filling the Tank	226
Checking Things Under the Hood	228
Checking Your Engine Oil	233
Automatic Transaxle Fluid	239
Engine Coolant	239
Where to Fill the Windshield Washer Fluid	244
Important Brake Information	245
Information on Your Vehicle's Battery	249
Tips on Vehicle Storage	250
Bulb Replacement Procedures	250
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement	256
How and When to Check Tire Inflation	257
When it is Time to Buy New Tires	260
Wheel Alignment	263
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle	265
Care of the Safety Belts	268
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle	269
How to Clean Aluminum Wheels	271
Underbody Maintenance	272
Recommended Appearance Care Materials	273
Your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)	274
The Electrical System	275
Fuses and Circuit Breakers	276
Replacement Bulb Types for Your Vehicle	282
Capacities and Specifications	282
Air Conditioning Specifications	283
Normal Replacement Parts	283
Maintenance Schedule	284
Introduction to Your Maintenance Schedule	285
Your Vehicle and the Environment	285
Part A: Using Your Maintenance Schedule	286
Selecting the Right Schedule for Your Vehicle	287
Short Trip/City Definition	287
Short Trip/City Intervals	288
Long Trip/Highway Definition	288
Long Trip/Highway Intervals	289
Part B: Owner Checks at Each Fuel Fill-up	320
What to Check at Least Once a Month	320
What to Check at Least Twice a Year	321
What to Check at Least Once a Year	321
Part C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections	324
Part D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants	325
Part E: Maintenance Record	326
Customer Assistance Information	328
Customer Satisfaction Procedure	329
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone (TTY) Users	331
Chevrolet/Geo Roadside Assistance Program	332
Canadian Roadside Assistance	334
Courtesy Transportation	335
GM Participation in an Alternative Dispute Resolution Program	336
Warranty Information	337
Reporting Safety Defects to the United States Government	337
Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian Government	338
Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors	338
Ordering Service and Owner Publications in Canada	338

Match case Limit results 1 per page

Avoid

needless

heavy

braking. Some people

drive

spurts

heavy

acceleration

followed by

heavy

braking

rather

than

keeping

pace

with

traffic. This is

mistake. Your brakes may

not

have

time

cool

between

hard

stops. Your brakes

will

wear

out much faster if

you

lot of

heavy

braking.

you

keep

pace

with

the

traffic

and

allow

realistic

following

distances,

you

will

eliminate

lot

unnecessary

braking.

That

means

better

braking

and

longer brake

life.

your engine ever stops

while

you’re

driving,

brake

normally but don’t

pump

your

brakes.

you

do,

the

pedal

may

get

harder

push

down. If your

engine

stops,

you

willstill have

some

power

brake

assist.

But

you

will

use

when

you

brake.

Once

the

power

assist

used

up, it may

take

longer

stop and

the

brake

pedal

will be harder to push.

Anti-Lock

Brakes

(ABS)

Your

vehicle

has

anti-lock

brakes

(ABS).

ABS

is an

advanced

electronic

braking

system

that

will

help

prevent

braking

skid.

If there’s

problem

with

the

anti-lock

brake

system,

this

warning

light

will

stay

on.

See “Anti-Lock

Brake

System

Warning

Light”

the

Index.

4-7