2007 Chevrolet Malibu Owners Manual

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492 Repair Facility GM also recommends that you choose a collision repair facility that meets your needs before you ever need collision repairs. Your GM dealer may have a collision repair center with GM-trained technicians and state of the art equipment, or be able to recommend a collision repair center that has GM-trained technicians and comparable equipment. Insuring Your Vehicle Protect your investment in your GM vehicle with comprehensive and collision insurance coverage. There are signiﬁcant differences in the quality of coverage afforded by various insurance policy terms. Many insurance policies provide reduced protection to your GM vehicle by limiting compensation for damage repairs by using aftermarket collision parts. Some insurance companies will not specify aftermarket collision parts. When purchasing insurance, we recommend that you assure your vehicle will be repaired with GM original equipment collision parts. If such insurance coverage is not available from your current insurance carrier, consider switching to another insurance carrier. If your vehicle is leased, the leasing company may require you to have insurance that assures repairs with Genuine GM Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts or Genuine Manufacturer replacement parts. Read your lease carefully, as you may be charged at the end of your lease for poor quality repairs. If an Accident Occurs Here is what to do if you are involved in an accident. (cid:127) Try to relax and then check to make sure you (cid:127) are all right. If you are uninjured, make sure that no one else in your vehicle, or the other vehicle, is injured. If there has been an injury, call 911 for help. Do not leave the scene of an accident until all matters have been taken care of. Move your vehicle only if its position puts you in danger or you are instructed to move it by a police officer. (cid:127) Give only the necessary and requested information to police and other parties involved in the accident. Do not discuss your personal condition, mental frame of mind, or anything unrelated to the accident. This will help guard against post-accident legal action. If you need roadside assistance, call GM Roadside Assistance. See Roadside Assistance Program on page 484 for more information. If your vehicle cannot be driven, know where the towing service will be taking it. Get a card from the tow truck operator or write down the driver’s name, the service’s name, and the phone number. (cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) Remove any valuables from your vehicle before it is towed away. Make sure this includes your insurance information and registration if you keep these items in your vehicle. 493 (cid:127) Choose a reputable collision repair facility for your vehicle. Whether you select a GM dealer or a private collision repair facility to ﬁx the damage, make sure you are comfortable with them. Remember, you will have to feel comfortable with their work for a long time. (cid:127) Once you have an estimate, read it carefully and make sure you understand what work will be performed on your vehicle. If you have a question, ask for an explanation. Reputable shops welcome this opportunity. (cid:127) Gather the important information you will need from the other driver. Things like name, address, phone number, driver’s license number, vehicle license plate, vehicle make, model and model year, Vehicle Identiﬁcation Number (VIN), insurance company and policy number, and a general description of the damage to the other vehicle. If possible, call your insurance company from the scene of the accident. They will walk you through the information they will need. If they ask for a police report, phone or go to the police department headquarters the next day and you can get a copy of the report for a nominal fee. In some states/provinces with “no fault” insurance laws, a report may not be necessary. This is especially true if there are no injuries and both vehicles are driveable. (cid:127) 494 Managing the Vehicle Damage Repair Process In the event that your vehicle requires damage repairs, GM recommends that you take an active role in its repair. If you have a pre-determined repair facility of choice, take your vehicle there, or have it towed there. Specify to the facility that any required replacement collision parts be original equipment parts, either new Genuine GM parts or recycled original GM parts. Remember, recycled parts will not be covered by your GM vehicle warranty. Insurance pays the bill for the repair, but you must live with the repair. Depending on your policy limits, your insurance company may initially value the repair using aftermarket parts. Discuss this with your repair professional, and insist on Genuine GM parts. Remember if your vehicle is leased you may be obligated to have the vehicle repaired with Genuine GM parts, even if your insurance coverage does not pay the full cost. If another party’s insurance company is paying for the repairs, you are not obligated to accept a repair valuation based on that insurance company’s collision policy repair limits, as you have no contractual limits with that company. In such cases, you can have control of the repair and parts choices as long as cost stays within reasonable limits. 495 Reporting Safety Defects Reporting Safety Defects to the United States Government If you believe that your vehicle has a defect which could cause a crash or could cause injury or death, you should immediately inform the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in addition to notifying General Motors. If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open an investigation, and if it ﬁnds that a safety defect exists in a group of vehicles, it may order a recall and remedy campaign. However, NHTSA cannot become involved in individual problems between you, your dealer, or General Motors. To contact NHTSA, you may call the Vehicle Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); go to http://www.safercar.gov; or write to: Administrator, NHTSA 400 Seventh Street, SW. Washington, D.C. 20590 You can also obtain other information about motor vehicle safety from http://www.safercar.gov. 496 Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian Government If you live in Canada, and you believe that your vehicle has a safety defect, you should immediately notify Transport Canada, in addition to notifying General Motors of Canada Limited. You may call them at 1-800-333-0510 or write to: Transport Canada Road Safety Branch 2780 Sheffield Road Ottawa, Ontario K1B 3V9 Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors In addition to notifying NHTSA (or Transport Canada) in a situation like this, we certainly hope you will notify General Motors. Please call the Chevrolet Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-222-1020, or write: Chevrolet Motor Division Chevrolet Customer Assistance Center P.O. Box 33170 Detroit, MI 48232-5170 Service Bulletins Service Bulletins give technical service information needed to knowledgeably service General Motors cars and trucks. Each bulletin contains instructions to assist in the diagnosis and service of your vehicle. In Canada, the service bulletin reference number can be obtained by contacting your General Motors dealer or by calling 1-800-GM-DRIVE (1-800-463-7483). This reference number is needed to order the service bulletin from Helm, Inc. RETAIL SELL PRICE: $6.00 US + Processing Fee In Canada, please call us at 1-800-263-3777 (English) or 1-800-263-7854 (French). Or, write: General Motors of Canada Limited Customer Communication Centre, CA1-163-005 1908 Colonel Sam Drive Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7 Service Publications Ordering Information Service Manuals Service Manuals have the diagnosis and repair information on engines, transmission, axle suspension, brakes, electrical, steering, body, etc. Transmission, Transaxle, Transfer Case Unit Repair Manual This manual provides information on unit repair service procedures, adjustments, and speciﬁcations for GM transmissions, transaxles, and transfer cases. 497 Owner Information Owner publications are written speciﬁcally for owners and intended to provide basic operational information about the vehicle. The owner manual will include the Maintenance Schedule for all models. In-Portfolio: Includes a Portfolio, Owner Manual, and Warranty Booklet. RETAIL SELL PRICE: $35.00 US + Processing Fee Without Portfolio: Owner’s Manual only. RETAIL SELL PRICE: $25.00 US + Processing Fee Current and Past Model Order Forms Technical Service Bulletins and Manuals are available for current and past model GM vehicles. To request an order form, please specify year and model name of the vehicle. ORDER TOLL FREE: 1-800-551-4123 Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM Eastern Time For Credit Card Orders Only (VISA-MasterCard-Discover), visit Helm, Inc. on the World Wide Web at: www.helminc.com Or you can write to: Helm, Incorporated P.O. Box 07130 Detroit, MI 48207 Prices are subject to change without notice and without incurring obligation. Allow ample time for delivery. Note to Canadian Customers: All listed prices are quoted in U.S. funds. Canadian residents are to make checks payable in U.S. funds. 498 A Accessories and Modiﬁcations ..................... 342 Accessory Power Outlet(s) .......................... 187 Adding Equipment to Your Airbag- Equipped Vehicle ....................................... 91 ............................................ 345 Additives, Fuel Add-On Electrical Equipment ....................... 446 Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal ............ 124 Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine ............................. 362 Air Conditioning .................................. 189, 193 Airbag Passenger Status Indicator ....................... 205 Readiness Light ....................................... 204 Airbag Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM) .......................................... 490 Airbag System ............................................... 74 Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle ......................... 91 How Does an Airbag Restrain? .................. 81 Passenger Sensing System ....................... 84 Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle ..... 90 What Makes an Airbag Inﬂate? .................. 81 What Will You See After an Airbag Inﬂates? ................................................. 82 When Should an Airbag Inﬂate? ................. 80 Where Are the Airbags? ............................. 76 Airbag System (cont.) Antenna, Backglass ..................................... 285 Antenna, Fixed Mast ................................... 284 Antenna, XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System ....................................... 285 Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) .................... 293 Anti-Lock Brake, System Warning Light ....... 208 Appearance Care Aluminum Wheels .................................... 442 Care of Safety Belts ................................ 440 Chemical Paint Spotting ........................... 444 Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses .............. 441 Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle .......... 436 Fabric/Carpet ........................................... 437 Finish Care .............................................. 441 Finish Damage ......................................... 443 Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic Surfaces .......................... 439 Leather .................................................... 438 Sheet Metal Damage ............................... 443 Tires ........................................................ 443 Ultra Lux Suede ....................................... 439 Underbody Maintenance ........................... 443 Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials .......... 444 Washing Your Vehicle .............................. 440 Weatherstrips ........................................... 440 Windshield and Wiper Blades ................... 441 499 Appearance Care (cont.) Audio System(s) .......................................... 227 Audio Steering Wheel Controls ........ 281, 282 Backglass Antenna ................................... 285 Care of Your CD and DVD Player ............ 284 Care of Your CDs and DVDs ................... 284 Fixed Mast Antenna ................................. 284 Radio with CD ................................ 229, 235 Radio with Six-Disc CD ............................ 244 Rear Seat Audio (RSA) ................... 277, 279 Setting the Time for Radios with Radio Data Systems (RDS) .................. 229 Setting the Time for Radios without Radio Data Systems (RDS) .................. 228 Theft-Deterrent Feature ............................ 281 Understanding Radio Reception ............... 283 XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System ...... 285 Automatic Climate Control System ............... 193 Automatic Headlamp System ....................... 184 Automatic Transaxle Fluid ............................................... 363, 364 Operation ........................................ 127, 130 Backglass Antenna ...................................... 285 Battery ........................................................ 384 Run-Down Protection ............................... 187 Before Leaving on a Long Trip .................... 312 Brake Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) ................. 293 Emergencies ............................................ 295 Parking .................................................... 134 System Warning Light .............................. 207 Brake Pedal, Throttle ................................... 124 Brakes ........................................................ 381 Braking ....................................................... 292 Braking in Emergencies ............................... 295 Break-In, New Vehicle ................................. 120 Bulb Replacement ....................................... 390 Halogen Bulbs ......................................... 390 Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, and Parking Lamps .............................. 390 License Plate Lamps ................................ 394 Replacement Bulbs .................................. 394 Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and Back-up Lamps .............................. 392 Buying New Tires ........................................ 411 500 C Calibration .......................................... 140, 142 California Fuel ............................................. 345 California Proposition 65 Warning ................ 343 Canadian Owners ........................................... 3 Capacities and Speciﬁcations ...................... 455 Carbon Monoxide ..... 112, 113, 138, 316, 331 Care of Safety Belts ............................................. 440 Your CD and DVD Player ........................ 284 Your CDs and DVDs ................................ 284 Cargo Lamp ................................................ 186 Center Console Storage Area ...................... 160 Chains, Tire ................................................. 417 Charging System Light ................................ 207 Check Engine Light ............................................ 212 Checking Things Under the Hood ................ 350 Chemical Paint Spotting .............................. 444 Child Restraints Child Restraint Systems ............................. 51 Infants and Young Children ........................ 47 Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children ..... 58 Older Children ........................................... 44 Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat Position ................................. 67 Child Restraints (cont.) Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position ........................ 69 Where to Put the Restraint ........................ 55 Cigarette Lighter .......................................... 188 Cleaning Aluminum Wheels .................................... 442 Exterior Lamps/Lenses ............................. 441 Fabric/Carpet ........................................... 437 Finish Care .............................................. 441 Inside of Your Vehicle .............................. 436 Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic Surfaces .......................... 439 Leather .................................................... 438 Tires ........................................................ 443 Ultra Lux Suede ....................................... 439 Underbody Maintenance ........................... 443 Washing Your Vehicle .............................. 440 Weatherstrips ........................................... 440 Windshield and Wiper Blades ................... 441 Climate Control System ............................... 189 Automatic ................................................. 193 Outlet Adjustment ..................................... 199 Collision Damage Repair ............................. 491 Comfort Guides, Rear Safety Belt ................. 39 Compact Spare Tire .................................... 435 Compass ............................................ 140, 142 501 Competitive Driving ..................................... 305 Content Theft-Deterrent ............................... 116 Control of a Vehicle ..................................... 292 Convenience Net ......................................... 162 Coolant Engine Temperature Gage ........................ 212 Engine Temperature Warning Light ........... 211 Heater, Engine ......................................... 125 Surge Tank Pressure Cap ........................ 370 Cooling System ........................................... 373 Cruise Control ............................................. 176 Cruise Control Light .................................... 217 Cupholder(s) ................................................ 160 Customer Assistance Information Courtesy Transportation ........................... 487 Customer Assistance for Text Telephone (TTY) Users ......................... 482 Customer Assistance Offices .................... 482 Customer Satisfaction Procedure .............. 478 GM Mobility Reimbursement Program ...... 483 Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors ..................................... 496 Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian Government .......................... 496 Reporting Safety Defects to the United States Government .................... 496 502 Customer Assistance Information (cont.) Roadside Assistance Program .................. 484 Service Publications Ordering Information ........................................... 497 Daytime Running Lamps ............................. 183 Defensive Driving ........................................ 288 Delayed Headlamps .................................... 182 Delayed Locking .......................................... 108 Doing Your Own Service Work .................... 343 Dome Lamp ................................................ 185 Door Delayed Locking ...................................... 108 Door Ajar Reminder ................................. 108 Locks ....................................................... 107 Power Door Locks ................................... 108 Programmable Automatic Door Locks ....... 110 Rear Door Security Locks ........................ 110 Driver Position, Safety Belt ................................... 26 Driver Information Center (DIC) ................... 219 DIC Operation and Displays ..................... 219 DIC Vehicle Personalization ..................... 225 DIC Warnings and Messages ................... 222 Driving At Night ................................................... 306 City .......................................................... 310 Defensive ................................................. 288 Drunken ................................................... 289 Freeway ................................................... 311 Hill and Mountain Roads .......................... 314 In Rain and on Wet Roads ...................... 307 Rocking Your Vehicle to Get it Out .......... 321 Winter ...................................................... 316 Rear Seat Entertainment System ............. 260 DVD Electrical System Add-On Equipment ................................... 446 Engine Compartment Fuse Block ............. 450 Fuses ...................................................... 447 Headlamp Wiring ..................................... 446 Instrument Panel Fuse Block ................... 447 Power Windows and Other Power Options ...................................... 447 Rear Compartment Fuse Block ................ 452 Windshield Wiper Fuses ........................... 446 Engine Air Cleaner/Filter ...................................... 362 Battery ..................................................... 384 Check and Service Engine Soon Light ........ 212 Coolant .................................................... 367 Coolant Heater ......................................... 125 Coolant Temperature Gage ...................... 212 Coolant Temperature Warning Light .......... 211 Drive Belt Routing .................................... 471 Engine Compartment Overview ................ 352 Exhaust ................................................... 138 Oil ........................................................... 357 Oil Life System ........................................ 360 Overheated Protection Operating Mode ...... 372 Overheating ............................................. 370 Starting .................................................... 123 Enhanced Traction System (ETS) ................ 297 Active Light .............................................. 211 Warning Light ........................................... 210 Entry/Exit Lighting ....................................... 186 Event Data Recorders (EDR) ...................... 490 Extender, Safety Belt ..................................... 43 Exterior Lamps ............................................ 179 503 F Filter Engine Air Cleaner ................................... 362 Finish Damage ............................................ 443 Fixed Mast Antenna .................................... 284 Flashers, Hazard Warning ........................... 170 Flash-to-Pass .............................................. 173 Flat Tire ...................................................... 418 Flat Tire, Changing ...................................... 418 Flat Tire, Storing ........................ 428, 430, 432 Fluid Automatic Transaxle ........................ 363, 364 Power Steering ........................................ 378 Windshield Washer .................................. 380 Fog Lamps .................................................. 185 Folding Seatback, Passenger ........................ 14 Front Reading Lamps .................................. 186 Fuel ............................................................ 344 Additives .................................................. 345 California Fuel .......................................... 345 Filling a Portable Fuel Container .............. 349 Filling Your Tank ...................................... 347 Fuels in Foreign Countries ....................... 346 Fuel (cont.) Gage ....................................................... 218 Gasoline Octane ...................................... 344 Gasoline Speciﬁcations ............................ 345 Fuses .......................................................... 447 Engine Compartment Fuse Block ............. 450 Instrument Panel Fuse Block ................... 447 Rear Compartment Fuse Block ................ 452 Windshield Wiper ..................................... 446 Gage Engine Coolant Temperature .................... 212 Fuel ......................................................... 218 Speedometer ........................................... 202 Tachometer .............................................. 202 Garage Door Opener .......................... 148, 149 Gasoline Octane ..................................................... 344 Speciﬁcations ........................................... 345 Glove Box ................................................... 159 GM Mobility Reimbursement Program .......... 483 504 H Hazard Warning Flashers ............................ 170 Head Restraints ............................................ 13 Headlamp Wiring ......................................... 446 Headlamps Automatic Headlamp System .................... 184 Bulb Replacement .................................... 390 Daytime Running Lamps .......................... 183 Delayed ................................................... 182 Flash-to-Pass ........................................... 173 Halogen Bulbs ......................................... 390 Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, and Parking Lamps .............................. 390 High/Low Beam Changer ......................... 172 On Reminder ........................................... 182 Headlamps Off in Park (P) .......................... 182 Heated Seats ................................................ 10 Heater ................................................ 189, 193 Highbeam On Light ..................................... 217 High-Speed Operation, Tires ........................ 408 Highway Hypnosis ....................................... 313 Hill and Mountain Roads ............................. 314 Hood Checking Things Under ............................ 350 Release ................................................... 350 Horn ............................................................ 170 How to Use This Manual ................................ 4 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly ............... 26 Ignition Positions ......................................... 121 Infants and Young Children, Restraints .......... 47 Inﬂation - Tire Pressure ............................... 407 Instrument Panel Overview .................................................. 168 Instrument Panel (I/P) Brightness ................................................ 185 Cluster ..................................................... 200 Jump Starting .............................................. 384 Keyless Entry System ................................... 99 Keys ............................................................. 97 505 L Labeling, Tire Sidewall ................................. 400 Lamps Battery Run-Down Protection ................... 187 Cargo ...................................................... 186 Dome ....................................................... 185 Exterior .................................................... 179 Fog .......................................................... 185 Front Reading .......................................... 186 Rear Reading .......................................... 186 Trunk ....................................................... 186 LATCH System Child Restraints ......................................... 58 License Plate Lamps ................................... 394 Lift Seat, Power ............................................ 16 Liftgate ........................................................ 113 Light Airbag Readiness ..................................... 204 Anti-Lock Brake System Warning ............. 208 Brake System Warning ............................. 207 Charging System ..................................... 207 Cruise Control .......................................... 217 Engine Coolant Temperature Warning ....... 211 Enhanced Traction System (ETS) Active Light .......................................... 211 Enhanced Traction System (ETS) Warning Light ....................................... 210 506 Light (cont.) Highbeam On .......................................... 217 Malfunction Indicator ................................ 212 Oil Pressure ............................................. 216 Passenger Airbag Status Indicator ............ 205 Passenger Safety Belt Reminder .............. 203 Safety Belt Reminder ............................... 203 Security ................................................... 217 TCS Warning Light .................................. 209 Traction Control System Active ................. 210 Traction Control System (TCS) Warning ..... 209 Lighting Entry/Exit ................................................. 186 Parade Dimming ...................................... 186 Loading Your Vehicle ................................... 322 Lockout Protection ....................................... 111 Locks Delayed Locking ...................................... 108 Door ........................................................ 107 Lockout Protection ................................... 111 Power Door ............................................. 108 Programmable Automatic Door Locks ....... 110 Rear Door Security Locks ........................ 110 ........................................... 304 Loss of Control Lumbar Manual Controls .......................................... 9 M Maintenance Schedule Additional Required Services .................... 463 At Each Fuel Fill ...................................... 466 At Least Once a Month ............................ 466 At Least Once a Year .............................. 467 Introduction .............................................. 458 Maintenance Footnotes ............................ 464 Maintenance Record ................................ 473 Maintenance Requirements ...................... 458 Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts .... 470 Owner Checks and Services .................... 465 Recommended Fluids and Lubricants ....... 469 Scheduled Maintenance ........................... 460 Using ....................................................... 459 Your Vehicle and the Environment ............ 458 Malfunction Indicator Light ........................... 212 Manual Lumbar Controls ................................. 9 Manual Seats .................................................. 8 Map Pocket ................................................. 160 Message DIC Warnings and Messages ................... 222 Mirrors Automatic Dimming Rearview with Compass ....................................... 142 Mirrors (cont.) Automatic Dimming Rearview with OnStar® and Compass ......................... 140 Manual Rearview Mirror ........................... 140 Manual Rearview Mirror with OnStar® ...... 140 Outside Convex Mirror ............................. 144 Outside Power Heated Mirrors ................. 144 Outside Power Mirrors ............................. 144 MyGMLink.com ............................................ 481 New Vehicle Break-In .................................. 120 Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts ..... 470 Odometer .................................................... 202 Odometer, Trip ............................................ 202 Off-Road Recovery ...................................... 302 Oil Engine ..................................................... 357 Pressure Light .......................................... 216 Oil, Engine Oil Life System ......................... 360 Older Children, Restraints ............................. 44 Online Owner Center ................................... 481 507 OnStar® System, see OnStar® Manual ........ 145 Other Warning Devices ................................ 170 Outlet Adjustment ........................................ 199 Outlet(s), Accessory Power .......................... 187 Outside Convex Mirror .......................................... 144 Power Heated Mirrors .............................. 144 Power Mirrors .......................................... 144 Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode ....................................... 372 Owner Checks and Services ....................... 465 Owners, Canadian .......................................... 3 Paint, Damage ............................................ 443 Parade Dimming .......................................... 186 Park (P) Shifting Into ............................................. 135 Shifting Out of ......................................... 136 Park (P) Headlamps Off in Park (P) ............ 182 Parking Brake ....................................................... 134 Over Things That Burn ............................ 137 Passenger Airbag Status Indicator ............... 205 Passenger Sensing System ........................... 84 Passing ....................................................... 302 508 PASS-Key® III+ ........................................... 118 PASS-Key® III+ Operation ........................... 119 Power Accessory Outlet(s) .................................. 187 Door Locks .............................................. 108 Electrical System ..................................... 447 Lift Seat ..................................................... 16 Retained Accessory (RAP) ....................... 122 Seat ............................................................ 9 Steering Fluid .......................................... 378 Windows .................................................. 115 Pretensioners, Safety Belt ............................. 43 Programmable Automatic Door Locks .......... 110 Questions and Answers About Safety Belts ...... 25 Radios ........................................................ 227 Care of Your CD and DVD Player ............ 284 Care of Your CDs and DVDs ................... 284 Radio with CD ................................ 229, 235 Radio with Six-Disc CD ............................ 244 Rear Seat Audio ............................. 277, 279 Radios (cont.) Setting the Time for Radios with Radio Data Systems (RDS) .................. 229 Setting the Time for Radios without Radio Data Systems (RDS) .................. 228 Theft-Deterrent ......................................... 281 Understanding Reception ......................... 283 Rear Compartment Storage Panel/Cover ..... 160 Rear Door Security Locks ........................... 110 Rear Reading Lamps .................................. 186 Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides .................. 39 Rear Seat Audio (RSA) ...................... 277, 279 Rear Seat Entertainment System ................. 260 Rear Seat Operation ..................................... 17 Rear Seat Passengers, Safety Belts .............. 36 Rear Windshield Washer/Wiper .................... 175 Rearview Mirror, Automatic Dimming with Compass .......................................... 142 Rearview Mirror, Automatic Dimming with OnStar® and Compass ..................... 140 Rearview Mirror with OnStar® ...................... 140 Rearview Mirrors ......................................... 140 Reclining Seatbacks ...................................... 10 Recommended Fluids and Lubricants .......... 469 Recreational Vehicle Towing ........................ 328 Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System ............ 99 Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System, Operation ................................................. 100 Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the Spare Tire .......................................... 422 Removing the Spare Tire and Tools ............ 420 Replacement Bulbs ..................................... 394 Reporting Safety Defects Canadian Government ............................. 496 General Motors ........................................ 496 United States Government ....................... 496 Restraint System Check Checking the Restraint Systems ................. 92 Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash ......................................... 93 Retained Accessory Power (RAP) ................ 122 Right Front Passenger Position, Safety Belts ............................................... 35 Roadside Assistance Program ................................. 484 Rocking Your Vehicle to Get it Out .............. 321 Routing, Engine Drive Belt .......................... 471 Running the Engine While Parked ............... 139 509 S Safety Belt Safety Belts Passenger Reminder Light ....................... 203 Pretensioners ............................................. 43 Reminder Light ........................................ 203 Care of .................................................... 440 Driver Position ........................................... 26 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly ............ 26 Questions and Answers About Safety Belts ............................................ 25 Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides ............... 39 Rear Seat Passengers ............................... 36 Right Front Passenger Position .................. 35 Safety Belt Extender .................................. 43 Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy ............. 35 Safety Belts Are for Everyone .................... 20 Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster .................... 34 Safety Warnings and Symbols ......................... 4 Scheduled Maintenance ............................... 460 Seatback, Folding Passenger ........................ 14 Seats Head Restraints ......................................... 13 Heated Seats ............................................. 10 Manual ........................................................ 8 Manual Lumbar ............................................ 9 Passenger Folding Seatback ...................... 14 Power Lift Seat .......................................... 16 Power Seat ................................................. 9 Rear Seat Operation .................................. 17 Reclining Seatbacks ................................... 10 Securing a Child Restraint Rear Seat Position ..................................... 67 Right Front Seat Position ........................... 69 Security Light .............................................. 217 Service ........................................................ 342 Accessories and Modiﬁcations .................. 342 Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your Vehicle ..................................... 344 California Proposition 65 Warning ............. 343 Doing Your Own Work ............................. 343 Engine Soon Light ................................... 212 Publications Ordering Information ............. 497 Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle ......... 90 510 Setting the Time Radios with Radio Data Systems (RDS) ..... 229 Radios without Radio Data Systems (RDS) ..................................... 228 Sheet Metal Damage ................................... 443 Shifting Into Park (P) ................................... 135 Shifting Out of Park (P) ............................... 136 Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster ........................ 34 Signals, Turn and Lane-Change .................. 172 Spare Tire Compact .................................................. 435 Installing .................................................. 422 Removing ................................................ 420 Storing ................................... 428, 430, 432 Speciﬁcations, Capacities ............................ 455 Speedometer ............................................... 202 Starting Your Engine ................................... 123 Steering ...................................................... 299 Steering Wheel Controls, Audio .......... 281, 282 Storage Areas Center Console Storage Area ................... 160 Convenience Net ..................................... 162 Cupholder(s) ............................................ 160 Glove Box ................................................ 159 Map Pocket ............................................. 160 Rear Compartment Storage Panel/Cover .... 160 Table ....................................................... 162 Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow ............... 320 Sun Visors .................................................. 115 Sunroof ....................................................... 162 Table ........................................................... 162 Tachometer ................................................. 202 Taillamps Turn Signal, Stoplamps and Back-up Lamps ..................................... 392 TCS Active Light ......................................... 210 TCS Warning Light ...................................... 209 511 Theft-Deterrent, Radio ................................. 281 Theft-Deterrent Systems .............................. 116 Content Theft-Deterrent ............................ 116 PASS-Key® III+ ........................................ 118 PASS-Key® III+ Operation ........................ 119 Throttle, Adjustable ...................................... 124 Tires ........................................................... 398 Aluminum Wheels, Cleaning ..................... 442 Buying New Tires ..................................... 411 Chains ..................................................... 417 Changing a Flat Tire ................................ 418 Cleaning .................................................. 443 Compact Spare Tire ................................. 435 Different Size ........................................... 413 High-Speed Operation .............................. 408 If a Tire Goes Flat ................................... 418 Inﬂation - Tire Pressure ............................ 407 Inspection and Rotation ............................ 409 Installing the Spare Tire ........................... 422 Removing the Flat Tire ............................. 422 Removing the Spare Tire and Tools ......... 420 512 Tires (cont.) Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools ..................... 428, 430, 432 Tire Sidewall Labeling .............................. 400 Tire Terminology and Deﬁnitions ............... 404 Uniform Tire Quality Grading .................... 414 Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance ........... 415 Wheel Replacement ................................. 415 When It Is Time for New Tires ................. 410 Winter Tires ............................................. 399 Towing Traction Recreational Vehicle ................................. 328 Towing a Trailer ....................................... 331 Your Vehicle ............................................. 328 Control System Active Light ..................... 210 Control System (TCS) .............................. 296 Control System Warning Light .................. 209 Enhanced Traction System (ETS) ............. 297 Enhanced Traction System (ETS) Active Light .......................................... 211 Enhanced Traction System (ETS) Warning Light ....................................... 210 Transaxle Fluid, Automatic .............................. 363, 364 Transaxle Operation, Automatic ........... 127, 130 Trip Odometer ............................................. 202 Trunk .......................................................... 112 Trunk Lamps ............................................... 186 Turn and Lane-Change Signals ................... 172 Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever .................... 171 Understanding Radio Reception ................... 283 Uniform Tire Quality Grading ....................... 414 Universal Home Remote System ........ 148, 149 Operation ........................................ 150, 156 Vehicle Control ..................................................... 292 Damage Warnings ....................................... 5 Loading .................................................... 322 Symbols ...................................................... 5 Vehicle Data Collection and Event Data Recorders ........................................ 490 Vehicle Identiﬁcation Number (VIN) .......................................... 445 Service Parts Identiﬁcation Label .............. 446 Vehicle Personalization DIC .......................................................... 225 Ventilation Adjustment .................................. 199 Visors .......................................................... 115 Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators ......... 200 Warnings DIC Warnings and Messages ................... 222 Hazard Warning Flashers ......................... 170 Other Warning Devices ............................ 170 Safety and Symbols ..................................... 4 Vehicle Damage .......................................... 5 Wheels Alignment and Tire Balance ..................... 415 Different Size ........................................... 413 Replacement ............................................ 415 Where to Put the Restraint ............................ 55 513 Windows ..................................................... 114 Power ...................................................... 115 Windshield Washer .................................................... 174 Washer Fluid ........................................... 380 Wiper Blade Replacement ........................ 395 Wiper Blades, Cleaning ............................ 441 Wiper Fuses ............................................ 446 Wipers ..................................................... 173 Windshield, Rear Washer/Wiper ................... 175 Winter Driving ............................................. 316 Winter Tires ................................................. 399 XM Radio Messages ................................... 258 XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System ......... 285 Your Vehicle and the Environment ............... 458 514 2007 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual M Seats and Restraint Systems ....................... 7 Front Seats .............................................. 8 Rear Seats ............................................. 17 Safety Belts ............................................ 20 Child Restraints ...................................... 44 Airbag System ........................................ 74 Restraint System Check ......................... 92 Features and Controls ................................ 95 ....................................................... 97 .................................. 107 ............................................... 114 ....................... 116 ..... 120 .................................................. 140 Keys Doors and Locks Windows Theft-Deterrent Systems Starting and Operating Your Vehicle Mirrors OnStar® System ................................... 145 Universal Home Remote System .......... 148 Storage Areas ...................................... 159 Sunroof ................................................ 162 Instrument Panel ....................................... 165 ................... 168 ................................... 189 .... 200 ............ 219 ................................... 227 Driving Your Vehicle ................................. 287 Instrument Panel Overview Climate Controls Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators Driver Information Center (DIC) Audio System(s) Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle ..................................... 288 ................................................. 328 Towing Service and Appearance Care .................. 339 ................................................. 342 ...................................................... 344 Service Fuel Checking Things Under the Hood ........................................... 350 Bulb Replacement ................................ 390 Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement .... 395 Tires ..................................................... 398 Appearance Care .................................. 436 Vehicle Identiﬁcation ............................. 445 Electrical System .................................. 446 Capacities and Speciﬁcations ................ 455 Maintenance Schedule Maintenance Schedule .............................. 457 .......................... 458 Customer Assistance Information ............. 477 ..... 478 ...................... 496 Index .......................................................... 499 Customer Assistance and Information Reporting Safety Defects This manual describes features that may be available in this model, but your vehicle may not have all of them. For example, more than one entertainment system may be offered or your vehicle may have been ordered without a front passenger or rear seats. Keep this manual in the vehicle, so it will be there if it is needed while you are on the road. If the vehicle is sold, leave this manual in the vehicle. Canadian Owners A French language copy of this manual can be obtained from your dealer or from: Helm, Incorporated P.O. Box 07130 Detroit, MI 48207 GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem, CHEVROLET, the CHEVROLET Emblem, the MALIBU Emblem, and the names MALIBU and MALIBU MAXX are registered trademarks of General Motors Corporation. This manual includes the latest information at the time it was printed. We reserve the right to make changes after that time without further notice. For vehicles ﬁrst sold in Canada, substitute the name “General Motors of Canada Limited” for Chevrolet Motor Division whenever it appears in this manual. Litho in U.S.A. Part No. 15864103 A First Printing ©2006 General Motors Corporation. All Rights Reserved. How to Use This Manual Many people read the owner manual from beginning to end when they ﬁrst receive their new vehicle. If this is done, it can help you learn about the features and controls for the vehicle. Pictures and words work together in the owner manual to explain things. Index A good place to quickly locate information about the vehicle is the Index in the back of the manual. It is an alphabetical list of what is in the manual and the page number where it can be found. Safety Warnings and Symbols There are a number of safety cautions in this book. We use a box and the word CAUTION to tell about things that could hurt you if you were to ignore the warning. {CAUTION: These mean there is something that could hurt you or other people. In the caution area, we tell you what the hazard is. Then we tell you what to do to help avoid or reduce the hazard. Please read these cautions. If you do not, you or others could be hurt. You will also ﬁnd a circle with a slash through it in this book. This safety symbol means “Do Not,” “Do Not do this” or “Do Not let this happen.” Vehicle Damage Warnings Also, in this manual you will ﬁnd these notices: Notice: These mean there is something that could damage your vehicle. A notice tells about something that can damage the vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be covered by your vehicle’s warranty, and it could be costly. But the notice will tell what to do to help avoid the damage. When you read other manuals, you might see CAUTION and NOTICE warnings in different colors or in different words. There are also warning labels on the vehicle. They use the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE. Vehicle Symbols The vehicle has components and labels that use symbols instead of text. Symbols are shown along with the text describing the operation or information relating to a speciﬁc component, control, message, gage, or indicator. If you need help ﬁguring out a speciﬁc name of a component, gage, or indicator, reference the following topics: (cid:127) Seats and Restraint Systems in Section 1 (cid:127) Features and Controls in Section 2 (cid:127) (cid:127) Climate Controls in Section 3 (cid:127) Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators in Instrument Panel Overview in Section 3 Section 3 (cid:127) Audio System(s) in Section 3 (cid:127) Engine Compartment Overview in Section 5 These are some examples of symbols that may be found on the vehicle: Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems Front Seats ..................................................... 8 Manual Seats ................................................ 8 Power Seat ................................................... 9 Manual Lumbar ............................................. 9 Heated Seats .............................................. 10 Reclining Seatbacks .................................... 10 Head Restraints .......................................... 13 Passenger Folding Seatback (Maxx) ............ 14 Power Lift Seat ........................................... 16 Rear Seats .................................................... 17 Rear Seat Operation ................................... 17 Safety Belts .................................................. 20 Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone ........... 20 Questions and Answers About Safety Belts .... 25 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly ............. 26 Driver Position ............................................. 26 Shoulder Belt Height Adjustment ................. 34 Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy .............. 35 Right Front Passenger Position ................... 35 Rear Seat Passengers ................................ 36 Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides ................ 39 Safety Belt Pretensioners ............................ 43 Safety Belt Extender ................................... 43 Child Restraints ............................................ 44 Older Children ............................................. 44 Infants and Young Children ......................... 47 Child Restraint Systems .............................. 51 Where to Put the Restraint .......................... 55 Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) .................................... 58 Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat Position ................................... 67 Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position ......................... 69 Airbag System .............................................. 74 Where Are the Airbags? .............................. 76 When Should an Airbag Inﬂate? .................. 80 What Makes an Airbag Inﬂate? ................... 81 How Does an Airbag Restrain? ................... 81 What Will You See After an Airbag Inﬂates? ... 82 Passenger Sensing System ......................... 84 Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle ...... 90 Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle .......................... 91 Restraint System Check ............................... 92 Checking the Restraint Systems .................. 92 Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash ........................................... 93 Front Seats Manual Seats {CAUTION: You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to adjust a manual driver’s seat while the vehicle is moving. The sudden movement could startle and confuse you, or make you push a pedal when you do not want to. Adjust the driver’s seat only when the vehicle is not moving. Lift the bar located under the front of the seat to unlock it. Slide the seat to where you want it and release the bar. Try to move the seat with your body to be sure the seat is locked in place. Power Seat Manual Lumbar If the vehicle has a power seat, the control used to operate it is located on the outboard side of the driver’s seat. If your vehicle has this feature, the handle is located on the outboard side of the seat. To adjust the seat, do any of the following: (cid:127) Move the seat forward or rearward by sliding the control forward or rearward. (cid:127) Raise or lower the front part of the seat cushion by moving the front of the control up or down. (cid:127) Raise or lower the rear part of the seat cushion by moving the rear of the control up or down. Move the handle up repeatedly to decrease lumbar support. Move the handle down repeatedly to increase lumbar support. Heated Seats Your vehicle may have heated front seats. The buttons are located on the outboard side of the driver’s and front passenger’s seats. Press the top of the switch to turn the feature on. The seat will heat to the high setting. The indicator light above the switch will be lit next to the number 2. Press the top of the switch again to go to the low heat setting. The indicator light will be lit next to the number 1. Press the bottom of the switch to turn the feature off. The heated seat feature will turn off when the ignition is turned off. 10 Reclining Seatbacks {CAUTION: You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to adjust a manual driver’s seat while the vehicle is moving. The sudden movement could startle and confuse you, or make you push a pedal when you do not want to. Adjust the driver’s seat only when the vehicle is not moving. {CAUTION: If the seatback is not locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always push and pull on the seatback to be sure it is locked. The seats have manual reclining seatbacks. The lever used to operate them is located on the outboard side of the seats. To return the seatback to an upright position, do the following: 1. Lift the lever fully without applying pressure to the seatback and the seatback will return to the upright position. Release the lever to lock the seatback in place. 2. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is locked. To recline the seatback, do the following: 1. Lift the recline lever. 2. Move the seatback to the desired position, then release the lever to lock the seatback in place. 3. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is locked. 11 {CAUTION: Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle is in motion can be dangerous. Even if you buckle up, your safety belts cannot do their job when you are reclined like this. The shoulder belt cannot do its job because it will not be against your body. Instead, it will be in front of you. In a crash, you could go into it, receiving neck or other injuries. The lap belt cannot do its job either. In a crash, the belt could go up over your abdomen. The belt forces would be there, not at your pelvic bones. This could cause serious internal injuries. For proper protection when the vehicle is in motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit well back in the seat and wear your safety belt properly. Do not have a seatback reclined if your vehicle is moving. 12 Head Restraints Pull the restraint up to raise it. To lower the head restraint, press the button, located on the top of the seatback, and push the restraint down. The rear seat head restraints are also adjustable. Adjust the head restraint so that the top of the restraint is at the same height as the top of the occupant’s head. This position reduces the chance of a neck injury in a crash. 13 {CAUTION: Things you put on this seatback can strike and injure people in a sudden stop or turn, or in a crash. Remove or secure all items before driving. Passenger Folding Seatback (Maxx) Your vehicle may have a passenger folding seatback. This feature allows for more cargo space or allows the seatback to be used as a temporary table while the vehicle is stopped. {CAUTION: If you fold the seatback forward to carry longer objects, such as skis, be sure any such cargo is not near an airbag. In a crash, an inﬂating airbag might force that object toward a person. This could cause severe injury or even death. Secure objects away from the area in which an airbag would inﬂate. For more information, see Where Are the Airbags? on page 76 and Loading Your Vehicle on page 322. 14 To fold the seatback forward, do the following: 1. Make sure the seatback is in the most upright position and locked by using the reclining seatback lever on the outboard side of the seat. See Reclining Seatbacks on page 10. Seat without Side Impact Airbag shown, Seat with Side Impact Airbag similar 2. If your vehicle has the passenger folding seat without a side impact airbag, press either lever located on the back of the seatback and fold the seatback forward. If your vehicle has the passenger folding seat with a side impact airbag, press the lever located on the back of the seatback on the inboard side. Press the lever and fold the seatback forward. To raise the seatback, do the following: 1. If your vehicle has the passenger folding seat without a side impact airbag, press either lever located on the back of the seatback. Pull the seatback up to lock it into place. Make sure the safety belt is not twisted or caught in the seatback. If your vehicle has the passenger folding seat with a side impact airbag, press the lever located on the back of the seatback on the inboard side. Pull the seatback up to lock it into place. Make sure the safety belt is not twisted or caught in the seatback. 15 {CAUTION: If the seatback is not locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always push and pull on the seatback to be sure it is locked. 2. Push and pull the seatback to make sure it is locked into place. 3. Use the reclining seatback lever to adjust the seatback to a comfortable position. See Reclining Seatbacks on page 10. 16 Power Lift Seat Your vehicle may have this feature. First move the seat forward or rearward to where you want it. See Manual Seats on page 8. The power lift seat switch is located on the outboard side of the driver’s seat. To raise or lower the seat, press the top or bottom of the switch. Rear Seats Rear Seat Operation Folding the Seatback Your vehicle has a split folding rear seatback. To fold down the rear seatback on the sedan, do the following: Notice: Folding a rear seat with the safety belts still fastened may cause damage to the seat or the safety belts. Always unbuckle the safety belts and return them to their normal stowed position before folding a rear seat. 2. Once a handle is pulled, the seatback can be pushed open through the trunk, or pulled open from inside the vehicle. To fold down the rear seatback on the MAXX, do the following: 1. Open the trunk and pull one or both of the handles located on the upper part of the trunk opening. The driver’s side handle will open the larger side of the seatback. The passenger’s side handle will open the smaller side of the seatback. 1. Pull up on and hold the lever located on the side of either rear seat. 17 Notice: Folding a rear seat with the safety belts still fastened may cause damage to the seat or the safety belts. Always unbuckle the safety belts and return them to their normal stowed position before folding a rear seat. {CAUTION: If the seatback is not locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always push and pull on the seatback to be sure it is locked. 2. Once a lever is pulled, the seatback can be pushed into the down position. 18 {CAUTION: A safety belt that is improperly routed, not properly attached, or twisted will not provide the protection needed in a crash. The person wearing the belt could be seriously injured. After raising the rear seatback, always check to be sure that the safety belts are properly routed and attached, and are not twisted. To return the seatback to the upright position, push the seatback up until you hear a click. Then pull on the seatback to make sure it is secure. Rear Sliding Seat (MAXX Only) If your vehicle is the MAXX model your rear seat will slide forward or rearward to allow more cargo space in the rear. Lift the bar located under the front of the seat to unlock the seat. Slide the seat to where you want it and release the bar. Try to move the seat back and forth to be sure the seat is locked in place. If your vehicle has the rear seat entertainment system, slide the rear seat forward so that the front edge of the seat cushion is lined up with the mark on the carpet retainer trim on the ﬂoor of the driver’s side rear seat. If the rear seat is forward of the mark, you will not be able to open the DVD screen. 19 {CAUTION: It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area, inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people riding in these areas are more likely to be seriously injured or killed. Do not allow people to ride in any area of your vehicle that is not equipped with seats and safety belts. Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and using a safety belt properly. Safety Belts Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone This part of the manual tells you how to use safety belts properly. It also tells you some things you should not do with safety belts. {CAUTION: Do not let anyone ride where he or she cannot wear a safety belt properly. If you are in a crash and you are not wearing a safety belt, your injuries can be much worse. You can hit things inside the vehicle or be ejected from it. You can be seriously injured or killed. In the same crash, you might not be, if you are buckled up. Always fasten your safety belt, and check that your passengers’ belts are fastened properly too. 20 Your vehicle has a light that comes on as a reminder to buckle up. See Safety Belt Reminder Light on page 203. In most states and in all Canadian provinces, the law says to wear safety belts. Here is why: They work. You never know if you will be in a crash. If you do have a crash, you do not know if it will be a bad one. A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be so serious that even buckled up, a person would not survive. But most crashes are in between. In many of them, people who buckle up can survive and sometimes walk away. Without belts they could have been badly hurt or killed. After more than 40 years of safety belts in vehicles, the facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up does matter... a lot! 21 Why Safety Belts Work When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as it goes. Put someone on it. Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it is just a seat on wheels. 22 Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle. The rider does not stop. The person keeps going until stopped by something. In a real vehicle, it could be the windshield... 23 or the instrument panel... 24 or the safety belts! With safety belts, you slow down as the vehicle does. You get more time to stop. You stop over more distance, and your strongest bones take the forces. That is why safety belts make such good sense. Q: If I am a good driver, and I never drive far from home, why should I wear safety belts? A: You may be an excellent driver, but if you are in an accident — even one that is not your fault — you and your passengers can be hurt. Being a good driver does not protect you from things beyond your control, such as bad drivers. Most accidents occur within 25 miles (40 km) of home. And the greatest number of serious injuries and deaths occur at speeds of less than 40 mph (65 km/h). Safety belts are for everyone. Questions and Answers About Safety Belts Q: Will I be trapped in the vehicle after an accident if I am wearing a safety belt? A: You could be — whether you are wearing a safety belt or not. But you can unbuckle a safety belt, even if you are upside down. And your chance of being conscious during and after an accident, so you can unbuckle and get out, is much greater if you are belted. Q: If my vehicle has airbags, why should I have to wear safety belts? A: Airbags are supplemental systems only; so they work with safety belts — not instead of them. Every airbag system ever offered for sale has required the use of safety belts. Even if you are in a vehicle that has airbags, you still have to buckle up to get the most protection. That is true not only in frontal collisions, but especially in side and other collisions. 25 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly This part is only for people of adult size. Be aware that there are special things to know about safety belts and children. And there are different rules for smaller children and babies. If a child will be riding in your vehicle, see Older Children on page 44 or Infants and Young Children on page 47. Follow those rules for everyone’s protection. First, you will want to know which restraint systems your vehicle has. We will start with the driver position. Driver Position Lap-Shoulder Belt The driver has a lap-shoulder belt. Here is how to wear it properly. 1. Close and lock the door. 2. Adjust the seat so you can sit up straight. To see how, see “Seats” in the Index. 26 3. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you. Do not let it get twisted. The lap-shoulder belt may lock if you pull the belt across you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt go back slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt across you more slowly. 4. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks. Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure. If the belt is not long enough, see Safety Belt Extender on page 43. Make sure the release button on the buckle is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to. 5. Move the shoulder belt height adjuster to the height that is right for you. Improper shoulder belt height adjustment could reduce the effectiveness of the safety belt in a crash. See Shoulder Belt Height Adjustment on page 34. 6. To make the lap part tight, pull up on the shoulder belt. It may be necessary to pull stitching on the safety belt through the latch plate to fully tighten the lap belt on smaller occupants. 27 The lap part of the belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the thighs. In a crash, this applies force to the strong pelvic bones. And you would be less likely to slide under the lap belt. If you slid under it, the belt would apply force at your abdomen. This could cause serious or even fatal injuries. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest. These parts of the body are best able to take belt restraining forces. The safety belt locks if there is a sudden stop or crash. 28 Q: What is wrong with this? {CAUTION: You can be seriously hurt if your shoulder belt is too loose. In a crash, you would move forward too much, which could increase injury. The shoulder belt should ﬁt against your body. A: The shoulder belt is too loose. It will not give nearly as much protection this way. 29 Q: What is wrong with this? {CAUTION: You can be seriously hurt if your lap belt is too loose. In a crash, you could slide under the lap belt and apply force at your abdomen. This could cause serious or even fatal injuries. The lap belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the thighs. A: The lap belt is too loose. It will not give nearly as much protection this way. 30 Q: What is wrong with this? {CAUTION: You can be seriously injured if your belt is buckled in the wrong place like this. In a crash, the belt would go up over your abdomen. The belt forces would be there, not at the pelvic bones. This could cause serious internal injuries. Always buckle your belt into the buckle nearest you. A: The belt is buckled in the wrong place. 31 Q: What is wrong with this? {CAUTION: You can be seriously injured if you wear the shoulder belt under your arm. In a crash, your body would move too far forward, which would increase the chance of head and neck injury. Also, the belt would apply too much force to the ribs, which are not as strong as shoulder bones. You could also severely injure internal organs like your liver or spleen. A: The shoulder belt is worn under the arm. It should be worn over the shoulder at all times. 32 Q: What is wrong with this? {CAUTION: You can be seriously injured by a twisted belt. In a crash, you would not have the full width of the belt to spread impact forces. If a belt is twisted, make it straight so it can work properly, or ask your dealer to ﬁx it. A: The belt is twisted across the body. 33 Shoulder Belt Height Adjustment Before you begin to drive, move the shoulder belt height adjuster to the height that is right for you. Adjust the height so that the shoulder portion of the belt is centered on your shoulder. The belt should be away from your face and neck, but not falling off your shoulder. Improper shoulder belt height adjustment could reduce the effectiveness of the safety belt in a crash. To move it down, push down the release button (A) and move the height adjuster to the desired position. You can move the height adjuster up by pushing the release button up. After you move the height adjuster to where you want it, try to move it without pushing the release button to make sure it has locked into position. To unlatch the belt, push the button on the buckle. The belt should go back out of the way. Before you close the door, be sure the belt is out of the way. If you slam the door on it, you can damage both the belt and your vehicle. 34 Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy Safety belts work for everyone, including pregnant women. Like all occupants, they are more likely to be seriously injured if they do not wear safety belts. The best way to protect the fetus is to protect the mother. When a safety belt is worn properly, it is more likely that the fetus will not be hurt in a crash. For pregnant women, as for anyone, the key to making safety belts effective is wearing them properly. Right Front Passenger Position To learn how to wear the right front passenger’s safety belt properly, see Driver Position on page 26. The right front passenger’s safety belt works the same way as the driver’s safety belt — except for one thing. If you ever pull the shoulder portion of the belt out all the way, you will engage the child restraint locking feature. If this happens, let the belt go back all the way and start again. 35 A pregnant woman should wear a lap-shoulder belt, and the lap portion should be worn as low as possible, below the rounding, throughout the pregnancy. Rear Seat Passengers It is very important for rear seat passengers to buckle up! Accident statistics show that unbelted people in the rear seat are hurt more often in crashes than those who are wearing safety belts. Rear passengers who are not safety belted can be thrown out of the vehicle in a crash. And they can strike others in the vehicle who are wearing safety belts. Lap-Shoulder Belt All rear seat positions have lap-shoulder belts. Here is how to wear one properly. 36 1. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you. Do not let it get twisted. The shoulder belt may lock if you pull the belt across you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt go back slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt across you more slowly. 2. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks. Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure. When the shoulder belt is pulled out all the way, it will lock. If it does, let it go back all the way and start again. If the belt is not long enough, see Safety Belt Extender on page 43. Make sure the release button on the buckle is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to. 3. To make the lap part tight, pull up on the shoulder part. 37 The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest. These parts of the body are best able to take belt restraining forces. The safety belt locks if there is a sudden stop or a crash. {CAUTION: You can be seriously hurt if your shoulder belt is too loose. In a crash, you would move forward too much, which could increase injury. The shoulder belt should ﬁt against your body. The lap part of the belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the thighs. In a crash, this applies force to the strong pelvic bones. And you would be less likely to slide under the lap belt. If you slid under it, the belt would apply force at your abdomen. This could cause serious or even fatal injuries. 38 Malibu Sedan There is one guide for each outside passenger position in the rear seat. Here is how to install a comfort guide to the safety belt: To unlatch the belt, push the button on the buckle. Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides Rear shoulder belt comfort guides may provide added safety belt comfort for older children who have outgrown booster seats and for some adults. When installed on a shoulder belt, the comfort guide positions the belt away from the neck and head. 1. Pull the elastic cord out from between the edge of the seatback and the interior body to remove the guide from its storage clip. 39 2. Slide the guide under and past the belt. The elastic cord must be under the belt. Then, place the guide over the belt, and insert the two edges of the belt into the slots of the guide. 3. Be sure that the belt is not twisted and it lies ﬂat. The elastic cord must be under the belt and the guide on top. 40 {CAUTION: A safety belt that is not properly worn may not provide the protection needed in a crash. The person wearing the belt could be seriously injured. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest. These parts of the body are best able to take belt restraining forces. 4. Buckle, position, and release the safety belt as described in Rear Seat Passengers on page 36. Make sure that the shoulder belt crosses the shoulder. To remove and store the comfort guide, squeeze the belt edges together so that you can take them out of the guide. Pull the guide upward to expose its storage clip, and then slide the guide onto the clip. Turn the guide and clip inward and slide them between the seatback and the interior body, leaving only the loop of the elastic cord exposed. 41 Malibu MAXX There is a safety belt routing guide attached to each outside passenger position in the rear seat of the Malibu MAXX. Here is how to use the safety belt routing guide: 2. Adjust the safety belt so that it lies ﬂat against the lower level (C) or the upper level (A) of the guide. Be sure the safety belt lies ﬂat against the guide. {CAUTION: A safety belt that is not properly worn may not provide the protection needed in a crash. The person wearing the belt could be seriously injured. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest. These parts of the body are best able to take belt restraining forces. 3. Buckle, position, and release the safety belt as described in Rear Seat Passengers on page 36. Make sure that the shoulder belt crosses the shoulder. To remove the safety belt from the guide, slide the edge of the safety belt through the opening at the top of the guide. 1. Slide the edge of the safety belt (D) through the opening at the top of the guide (B). 42 Safety Belt Pretensioners Your vehicle has safety belt pretensioners for the driver and right front passenger. Although you cannot see them, they are part of the safety belt assembly. They help tighten the safety belts during the early stages of a moderate to severe frontal and near frontal crash if the threshold conditions for pretensioner activation are met. And, if your vehicle has side impact airbags, safety belt pretensioners can help tighten the safety belts in a side crash. Pretensioners work only once. If they activate in a crash, you will need to get new ones, and probably other new parts for your safety belt system. See Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash on page 93. Safety Belt Extender If the vehicle’s safety belt will fasten around you, you should use it. But if a safety belt is not long enough, your dealer will order you an extender. When you go in to order it, take the heaviest coat you will wear, so the extender will be long enough for you. To help avoid personal injury, do not let someone else use it, and use it only for the seat it is made to ﬁt. The extender has been designed for adults. Never use it for securing child seats. To wear it, just attach it to the regular safety belt. For more information see the instruction sheet that comes with the extender. 43 Q: What is the proper way to wear safety belts? A: An older child should wear a lap-shoulder belt and get the additional restraint a shoulder belt can provide. The shoulder belt should not cross the face or neck. The lap belt should ﬁt snugly below the hips, just touching the top of the thighs. It should never be worn over the abdomen, which could cause severe or even fatal internal injuries in a crash. According to accident statistics, children are safer when properly restrained in the rear seating positions than in the front seating positions. In a crash, children who are not buckled up can strike other people who are buckled up, or can be thrown out of the vehicle. Older children need to use safety belts properly. Child Restraints Older Children Older children who have outgrown booster seats should wear the vehicle’s safety belts. 44 Q: What if a child is wearing a lap-shoulder belt, but the child is so small that the shoulder belt is very close to the child’s face or neck? A: If the child is sitting in a seat next to a window, move the child toward the center of the vehicle. Also see Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides on page 39. If the child is sitting in the center rear seat passenger position, move the child toward the safety belt buckle. In either case, be sure that the shoulder belt still is on the child’s shoulder, so that in a crash the child’s upper body would have the restraint that belts provide. 45 {CAUTION: Never do this. Here two children are wearing the same belt. The belt can not properly spread the impact forces. In a crash, the two children can be crushed together and seriously injured. A belt must be used by only one person at a time.

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2007 Chevrolet Malibu Owners Manual