Chevrolet 2011 Malibu manual

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A good user manual

The rules should oblige the seller to give the purchaser an operating instrucion of Chevrolet 2011 Malibu, along with an item. The lack of an instruction or false information given to customer shall constitute grounds to apply for a complaint because of nonconformity of goods with the contract. In accordance with the law, a customer can receive an instruction in non-paper form; lately graphic and electronic forms of the manuals, as well as instructional videos have been majorly used. A necessary precondition for this is the unmistakable, legible character of an instruction.

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The term originates from the Latin word „instructio”, which means organizing. Therefore, in an instruction of Chevrolet 2011 Malibu one could find a process description. An instruction's purpose is to teach, to ease the start-up and an item's use or performance of certain activities. An instruction is a compilation of information about an item/a service, it is a clue.

Unfortunately, only a few customers devote their time to read an instruction of Chevrolet 2011 Malibu. A good user manual introduces us to a number of additional functionalities of the purchased item, and also helps us to avoid the formation of most of the defects.

What should a perfect user manual contain?

First and foremost, an user manual of Chevrolet 2011 Malibu should contain:
- informations concerning technical data of Chevrolet 2011 Malibu
- name of the manufacturer and a year of construction of the Chevrolet 2011 Malibu item
- rules of operation, control and maintenance of the Chevrolet 2011 Malibu item
- safety signs and mark certificates which confirm compatibility with appropriate standards

Why don't we read the manuals?

Usually it results from the lack of time and certainty about functionalities of purchased items. Unfortunately, networking and start-up of Chevrolet 2011 Malibu alone are not enough. An instruction contains a number of clues concerning respective functionalities, safety rules, maintenance methods (what means should be used), eventual defects of Chevrolet 2011 Malibu, and methods of problem resolution. Eventually, when one still can't find the answer to his problems, he will be directed to the Chevrolet service. Lately animated manuals and instructional videos are quite popular among customers. These kinds of user manuals are effective; they assure that a customer will familiarize himself with the whole material, and won't skip complicated, technical information of Chevrolet 2011 Malibu.

Why one should read the manuals?

It is mostly in the manuals where we will find the details concerning construction and possibility of the Chevrolet 2011 Malibu item, and its use of respective accessory, as well as information concerning all the functions and facilities.

After a successful purchase of an item one should find a moment and get to know with every part of an instruction. Currently the manuals are carefully prearranged and translated, so they could be fully understood by its users. The manuals will serve as an informational aid.

Table of contents for the manual

  • Page 1

    Black plate (1,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 201 1 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual M In Brief ... ..................... 1 - 1 Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2 Initial Drive Information . . . . . . . . 1-4 V ehicle Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15 Performance and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-20 Keys, [...]

  • Page 2

    Black plate (2,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 201 1 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual M Service and Maintenance . . . 1 1-1 General Information . . . . . . . . . . 1 1-1 Scheduled Maintenance . . . . . . 1 1-2 Recommended Fluids, Lubricants, and Parts . . . . . . . 1 1-6 Maintenance Records . . . . . . . . 1 1-8 T echnical Data . . . . . . . [...]

  • Page 3

    Black plate (3,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Introduction iii The names, logos, emblems, slogans, vehicle model names, and vehicle body designs appearing in this manual including, but not limited to, GM, the GM logo, CHEVROLET , the CHEVROLET Emblem, MALIBU, and the MALIBU Emblem are trademarks and/or service marks of General Motors LLC,[...]

  • Page 4

    Black plate (4,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 iv Introduction Using this Manual T o quickly locate information about the vehicle, use 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. Danger , W arnings, and Cautions W arning messages found on vehicle labels[...]

  • Page 5

    Black plate (5,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Introduction v V ehicle Symbol Chart Here are some additional symbols that may be found on the vehicle and what they mean. For more information on the symbol, refer to the Index. 9 : Airbag Readiness Light # : Air Conditioning ! : Antilock Brake System (ABS) % : Audio Steering Wheel Controls o[...]

  • Page 6

    Black plate (6,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 vi Introduction 2 NOTES[...]

  • Page 7

    Black plate (1,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 In Brief 1-1 In Brief Instrument Panel Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2 Initial Drive Information Initial Drive Information . . . . . . . . 1-4 Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4 Remote V ehicle Start . . . . . . . . . 1-4 Door Loc[...]

  • Page 8

    Black plate (2,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 1-2 In Brief Instrument Panel[...]

  • Page 9

    Black plate (3,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 In Brief 1-3 A. Air V ents on page 8 ‑ 9 . B. T urn and Lane ‐ Change Lever . See T urn and Lane-Change Signals on page 6 ‑ 4 . C. Instrument Cluster on page 5 ‑ 9 . D. Windshield Wiper/Washer on page 5 ‑ 3 . E. Instrument Panel Storage on page 4 ‑ 1 . F . Infotainment on page 7 ?[...]

  • Page 10

    Black plate (4,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 1-4 In Brief Initial Drive Information This section provides a brief overview about some of the important features that may or may not be on your specific vehicle. For more detailed information, refer to each of the features which can be found later in this owner manual. Remote Keyless Entry ([...]

  • Page 11

    Black plate (5,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 In Brief 1-5 When the vehicle starts, the parking lamps will turn on and remain on as long as the engine is running. The doors will be locked and the climate control system may come on. The engine will continue to run for 10 minutes. Repeat the steps for a 10-minute time extension. Remote star[...]

  • Page 12

    Black plate (6,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 1-6 In Brief Seat Adjustment Manual Seats Seat Position T o adjust the seat position: 1. Lift the bar under the front of the seat cushion to unlock the seat. 2. Slide the seat to the desired position and release the bar . 3. T ry to move the seat back and forth to make sure it is locked in pla[...]

  • Page 13

    Black plate (7,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 In Brief 1-7 T o return the seatback to the upright position: 1. Lift the lever fully without applying pressure to the seatback, and the seatback will return to the upright position. 2. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is locked. See “ Manual Reclining Seatbacks ” under Reclin[...]

  • Page 14

    Black plate (8,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 1-8 In Brief Lumbar Adjustment A. Increase Lumbar Support Control B. Decrease Lumbar Support Control If available, press the front (A) or rear (B) of the control to increase or decrease lumbar support. Release the control when the desired level of support is reached. See Lumbar Adjustment on p[...]

  • Page 15

    Black plate (9,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 In Brief 1-9 Press the top of the switch again to go to the low heat setting. The indicator light “ 1 ” will be lit. Press the bottom of the switch to turn the feature off. The heated seats are canceled when the ignition is turned off. For more information, see Heated Front Seats on page 3[...]

  • Page 16

    Black plate (10,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 1-10 In Brief United States Canada and Mexico See Passenger Sensing System on page 3 ‑ 32 for important information. Mirror Adjustment Exterior Mirrors Controls for the outside power mirrors are located on the driver door . 1. Move the selector switch located below the four-way control pad [...]

  • Page 17

    Black plate (11,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 In Brief 1-1 1 Steering Wheel Adjustment The lever is located on the left side of the steering wheel column. T o adjust the steering wheel: 1. Pull the lever down. 2. Move the steering wheel up or down. 3. Pull or push the steering wheel closer or away from you. 4. Pull the lever up to lock t[...]

  • Page 18

    Black plate (12,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 1-12 In Brief Exterior Lighting P : Briefly turn to this position to manually turn the automatic lamp control off or on. In Canada, this position only works when a vehicle is in the P (Park) position. When the vehicle is put into D (Drive) the lights come on. AUTO: Automatically turns on the [...]

  • Page 19

    Black plate (13,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 In Brief 1-13 Climate Controls A. Fan Control B. Air Recirculation C. T emperature Control D. Outside Air E. Air Delivery Mode Control F . Air Conditioning G. Rear Window Defogger See Climate Control Systems on page 8 ‑ 1 (If Equipped).[...]

  • Page 20

    Black plate (14,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 1-14 In Brief Automatic Climate Control System (If Equipped) A. Fan Control B. Air Conditioning C. Air Recirculation D. Outside Air E. Rear Window Defogger F . Air Delivery Mode Control G. Display H. T emperature Control See Automatic Climate Control System on page 8 ‑ 5 (If Equipped).[...]

  • Page 21

    Black plate (15,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 In Brief 1-15 T ransmission Driver Shift Control (DSC) This position allows you to change gears similar to a manual transmission. T o use this feature: 1. Move the shift lever from D (Drive) rearward to M (Manual). 2. Press the + (plus) end of the button on the side of the shifter to upshift,[...]

  • Page 22

    Black plate (16,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 1-16 In Brief © ¨ : Seek or scan stations. 4 : For vehicles with XM, MP3, WMA, or RDS features, press to display additional text information related to the current FM-RDS or XM station; or CD, MP3, WMA song. Song title information will be displayed on the top line of the display while the a[...]

  • Page 23

    Black plate (17,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 In Brief 1-17 Satellite Radio XM is a satellite radio service based in the 48 contiguous United States and 10 Canadian provinces. XM satellite radio has a wide variety of programming and commercial-free music, coast to coast, and in digital-quality sound. A fee is required to receive the XM s[...]

  • Page 24

    Black plate (18,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 1-18 In Brief Steering Wheel Controls If equipped, some audio controls can be adjusted using the controls on the right side of the steering wheel. e + / e : Increases or decreases volume. w / x c : Press to change radio stations, select tracks on a CD, or to select tracks and navigate folders[...]

  • Page 25

    Black plate (19,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 In Brief 1-19 Driver Information Center (DIC) The DIC display is located at the bottom of the instrument panel cluster . It shows the status of many vehicle systems and enables access to the personalization menu. The DIC buttons are located on the left side of the steering wheel. INFO: Press [...]

  • Page 26

    Black plate (20,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 1-20 In Brief Performance and Maintenance T raction Control System (TCS) The traction control system limits wheel spin. The system turns on automatically every time the vehicle is started. . T o turn off traction control, press and release t on the instrument panel. F illuminates and the appr[...]

  • Page 27

    Black plate (21,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 In Brief 1-21 indicator that the tire pressures are getting low and the tires need to be inflated to the proper pressure. The TPMS does not replace normal monthly tire maintenance. It is the driver ’ s responsibility to maintain correct tire pressures. See Tire Pressure Monitor System on pa[...]

  • Page 28

    Black plate (22,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 1-22 In Brief . When road and weather conditions are appropriate, use cruise control. . Always follow posted speed limits or drive more slowly when conditions require. . Keep vehicle tires properly inflated. . Combine several trips into a single trip. . Replace the vehicle's tires with t[...]

  • Page 29

    Black plate (23,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 In Brief 1-23 OnStar ® For vehicles with an active OnStar subscription, OnStar uses several innovative technologies and live Advisors to provide a wide range of safety , security , navigation, diagnostics, and calling services. Automatic Crash Response In a crash, built ‐ in sensors can au[...]

  • Page 30

    Black plate (24,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 1-24 In Brief hardware. The vehicle has to have a working electrical system and adequate battery power for the OnStar equipment to operate. OnStar service may not work if the OnStar equipment isn ’ t properly installed or you haven ’ t maintained it and the vehicle is in good working orde[...]

  • Page 31

    Black plate (1,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Keys, Doors and Windows 2-1 Keys, Doors and Windows Keys and Locks K e y s ... ....................... 2 - 2 Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2 Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System Operation . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3 Remote V ehicle Start . . . . . .[...]

  • Page 32

    Black plate (2,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 2-2 Keys, Doors and Windows Keys and Locks Keys { W ARNING Leaving children in a vehicle with the ignition key is dangerous for many reasons. Children or others could be badly injured or even killed. They could operate the power windows or other controls or even make the vehicle move. The wind[...]

  • Page 33

    Black plate (3,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Keys, Doors and Windows 2-3 . Check the transmitter's battery . See “ Battery Replacement ” later in this section. . If the transmitter is still not working correctly , see your dealer or a qualified technician for service. Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System Operation The Remote Keyles[...]

  • Page 34

    Black plate (4,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 2-4 Keys, Doors and Windows See “ EXT (Exterior) LIGHTS ” under V ehicle Personalization on page 5 ‑ 30 for additional information. Pressing K on the RKE transmitter disarms the anti-theft alarm system. See Anti-Theft Alarm System on page 2 ‑ 1 1 . V (Remote T runk Release): Press and [...]

  • Page 35

    Black plate (5,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Keys, Doors and Windows 2-5 3. Insert the new battery , positive side facing up. Replace with a CR2032 or equivalent battery . 4. Snap the transmitter back together . Remote V ehicle Start Y our vehicle may have a remote starting feature that allows you to start the engine from outside the veh[...]

  • Page 36

    Black plate (6,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 2-6 Keys, Doors and Windows If it is the first remote start since the vehicle has been driven, repeat the previous steps, while the engine is still running, to extend the engine running time by 10 minutes from the time you repeat the steps for remote starting. The remote start running time can[...]

  • Page 37

    Black plate (7,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Keys, Doors and Windows 2-7 Door Locks { W ARNING Unlocked doors can be dangerous. . Passengers, especially children, can easily open the doors and fall out of a moving vehicle. When a door is locked, the handle will not open it. The chance of being thrown out of the vehicle in a crash is incr[...]

  • Page 38

    Black plate (8,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 2-8 Keys, Doors and Windows Delayed Locking This feature will delay the actual locking of the doors and arming of the theft-deterrent system for five seconds when the power door lock switch or remote keyless entry transmitter is used to lock the vehicle. If any door is open when locking the ve[...]

  • Page 39

    Black plate (9,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Keys, Doors and Windows 2-9 Open the rear doors to access the security locks on the inside edge of each door . T o set the locks, insert a key into the slot and turn it to the horizontal position. The door can only be opened from the outside with the door unlocked. T o return the door to norma[...]

  • Page 40

    Black plate (10,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 2-10 Keys, Doors and Windows Remote T runk Release Press the button located on the driver door near the map pocket to open the trunk. The trunk can only be opened while the vehicle is in P (Park) or when the ignition is off. Close the trunk by pulling on the handle. Emergency T runk Release H[...]

  • Page 41

    Black plate (11,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Keys, Doors and Windows 2-1 1 V ehicle Security This vehicle has theft-deterrent features; however , they do not make it impossible to steal. Anti-Theft Alarm System Y our vehicle may have an anti-theft alarm system. Arming the System With the ignition off, press the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE[...]

  • Page 42

    Black plate (12,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 2-12 Keys, Doors and Windows When an alarm event has finished, the system will re-arm itself automatically . How to T urn Off the System Alarm T o turn off the system alarm: . Press the lock button on the RKE transmitter . The system will then re-arm itself. . Press the unlock button on the R[...]

  • Page 43

    Black plate (13,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Keys, Doors and Windows 2-13 If the engine still does not start, and the key appears to be undamaged or the light continues to stay on, try another ignition key . If the engine does not start with the other key , the vehicle needs service. If the vehicle does start, the first key may be damag[...]

  • Page 44

    Black plate (14,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 2-14 Keys, Doors and Windows Power Mirrors Controls for the outside power mirrors are located on the driver door . T o adjust the mirrors: 1. Move the selector switch located below the four-way control pad to the left or right to choose either the driver side or passenger side mirror . 2. Pre[...]

  • Page 45

    Black plate (15,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Keys, Doors and Windows 2-15 to subscribe to OnStar ® . See the OnStar ® owner's guide for more information about the services OnStar ® provides. See Compass on page 5 ‑ 4 for more information. O (On/Off): Press to turn the dimming feature on or off. Automatic Dimming Mirror Operati[...]

  • Page 46

    Black plate (16,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 2-16 Keys, Doors and Windows Power Windows The power window switches are located on the armrest on the driver's door . In addition, there is a switch on each passenger door . Express-Down Window The driver window has an express-down feature. This switch is labeled AUTO. Press the front a[...]

  • Page 47

    Black plate (17,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Keys, Doors and Windows 2-17 Express Window Anti-Pinch Feature If any object is in the path of the window when the express ‐ up is active, the window stops at the obstruction and auto ‐ reverse to a preset factory position. Weather conditions such as severe icing may also cause the window[...]

  • Page 48

    Black plate (18,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 2-18 Keys, Doors and Windows Sun Visors Pull the sun visor down to block glare. Detach the sun visor from the center mount to pivot to the side window , or to extend along the rod, if available. Roof Sunroof On vehicles with a sunroof, the switch is located on the headliner between the map la[...]

  • Page 49

    Black plate (19,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Keys, Doors and Windows 2-19 A deflector will automatically raise when the sunroof is opened. The deflector will retract when the sunroof is closed. T o close the sunroof, press the front of the switch and hold it until the sunroof is closed. The sunroof will stop if the switch is released. C[...]

  • Page 50

    Black plate (20,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 2-20 Keys, Doors and Windows 2 NOTES[...]

  • Page 51

    Black plate (1,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Seats and Restraints 3-1 Seats and Restraints Head Restraints Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2 Front Seats Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3 Power Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . 3-4 Lumbar Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4 Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . [...]

  • Page 52

    Black plate (2,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 3-2 Seats and Restraints Head Restraints The vehicle's front and rear seats have adjustable head restraints in the outboard seating positions. { W ARNING With head restraints that are not installed and adjusted properly , there is a greater chance that occupants will suffer a neck/ spinal[...]

  • Page 53

    Black plate (3,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Seats and Restraints 3-3 Front Seats Seat Adjustment Seat Position { W ARNING Y ou can lose control of the vehicle if you try to adjust a manual driver 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 [...]

  • Page 54

    Black plate (4,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 3-4 Seats and Restraints Power Seat Adjustment { W ARNING Y ou can lose control of the vehicle if you try to adjust the 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 seat only when the ve[...]

  • Page 55

    Black plate (5,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Seats and Restraints 3-5 Reclining Seatbacks { W ARNING Sitting in a reclined position when the vehicle is in motion can be dangerous. Even when buckled up, the safety belts cannot do their job when reclined like this. The shoulder belt cannot do its job because it will not be against your bod[...]

  • Page 56

    Black plate (6,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 3-6 Seats and Restraints Manual Reclining Seatbacks { W ARNING Y ou can lose control of the vehicle if you try to adjust a manual driver 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 seat[...]

  • Page 57

    Black plate (7,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Seats and Restraints 3-7 Power Reclining Seatbacks T o adjust a power seatback, if equipped: . T ilt the top of the control rearward to recline. . T ilt the top of the control forward to raise. Heated Front Seats { W ARNING If you cannot feel temperature change or pain to the skin, the seat he[...]

  • Page 58

    Black plate (8,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 3-8 Seats and Restraints Rear Seats Folding the Seatback Either side of the seatback can be folded down for more cargo space. Adjust the seatback only when the vehicle is not moving. Notice: Folding a rear seat with the safety belts still fastened may cause damage to the seat or the safety bel[...]

  • Page 59

    Black plate (9,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Seats and Restraints 3-9 { W ARNING If either 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 seatbacks to be sure they are locked. T o raise the seatback: 1. Push the seatback up and back[...]

  • Page 60

    Black plate (10,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 3-10 Seats and Restraints 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 safety belts they could have been badly h[...]

  • Page 61

    Black plate (11,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Seats and Restraints 3-1 1 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... or the instrument panel... or the safety belts![...]

  • Page 62

    Black plate (12,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 3-12 Seats and Restraints With safety belts, you slow down as the vehicle does. Y ou get more time to stop. Y ou stop over more distance, and your strongest bones take the forces. That is why safety belts make such good sense. Questions and Answers About Safety Belts Q: Will I be trapped in t[...]

  • Page 63

    Black plate (13,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Seats and Restraints 3-13 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly This section 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 infants. If a child will be riding in the vehicle, [...]

  • Page 64

    Black plate (14,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 3-14 Seats and Restraints Q: What is wrong with this? A: The shoulder belt is too loose. It will not give as much protection this way . { W ARNING Y ou can be seriously hurt if the shoulder belt is too loose. In a crash, you would move forward too much, which could increase injury . The shoul[...]

  • Page 65

    Black plate (15,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Seats and Restraints 3-15 { W ARNING Y ou can be seriously hurt if the lap belt is too loose. In a crash, you could slide under the lap belt and apply force on your abdomen. This could cause serious or even fatal injuries. The lap belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching th[...]

  • Page 66

    Black plate (16,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 3-16 Seats and Restraints Q: What is wrong with this? A: The belt is over an armrest. { W ARNING Y ou can be seriously injured if the belt goes over an armrest like this. The belt would be much too high. In a crash, you can slide under the belt. The belt force would then be applied on the abd[...]

  • Page 67

    Black plate (17,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Seats and Restraints 3-17 { W ARNING Y ou 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 [...]

  • Page 68

    Black plate (18,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 3-18 Seats and Restraints Q: What is wrong with this? A: The belt is twisted across the body . { W ARNING Y ou 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 p[...]

  • Page 69

    Black plate (19,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Seats and Restraints 3-19 3. 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 3 ‑ 23 . Position the release button on the buckle so that the safety belt could be quick[...]

  • Page 70

    Black plate (20,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 3-20 Seats and Restraints Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster Y our vehicle has a shoulder belt height adjuster for the driver and right front passenger position. Adjust the height so the shoulder portion of the belt is on the shoulder and not falling off of it. The belt should be close to, but not[...]

  • Page 71

    Black plate (21,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Seats and Restraints 3-21 Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides This vehicle may have rear shoulder belt comfort guides. If not, they are available through your dealer . The guides may provide added safety belt comfort for older children who have outgrown booster seats and for some adults. When ins[...]

  • Page 72

    Black plate (22,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 3-22 Seats and Restraints 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. { W ARNING 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[...]

  • Page 73

    Black plate (23,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Seats and Restraints 3-23 T o remove and store the comfort guide, squeeze the belt edges together so that the safety belt can be removed from the guide. Pull the guide upward to expose its storage clip, and then slide the guide onto the clip. T urn the guide and clip inward and slide them in [...]

  • Page 74

    Black plate (24,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 3-24 Seats and Restraints Safety System Check Now and then, check that the safety belt reminder light, safety belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors, and anchorages are working properly . Look for any other loose or damaged safety belt system parts that might keep a safety belt system from [...]

  • Page 75

    Black plate (25,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Seats and Restraints 3-25 See your dealer to have the safety belt assemblies inspected or replaced. New parts and repairs may be necessary even if the safety belt system was not being used at the time of the crash. Have the safety belt pretensioners checked if the vehicle has been in a crash,[...]

  • Page 76

    Black plate (26,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 3-26 Seats and Restraints Here are the most important things to know about the airbag system: { W ARNING Y ou can be severely injured or killed in a crash if you are not wearing your safety belt — even if you have airbags. Airbags are designed to work with safety belts, but do not replace t[...]

  • Page 77

    Black plate (27,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Seats and Restraints 3-27 There is an airbag readiness light on the instrument panel cluster , which shows the airbag symbol. The system checks the airbag electrical system for malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical problem. See Airbag Readiness Light on page 5 ‑ 13 for[...]

  • Page 78

    Black plate (28,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 3-28 Seats and Restraints Driver Side shown, Passenger Side similar The seat-mounted side impact airbags for the driver and right front passenger are in the side of the seatbacks closest to the door . Driver Side shown, Passenger Side similar The roof-rail airbags for the driver , right front[...]

  • Page 79

    Black plate (29,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Seats and Restraints 3-29 When Should an Airbag Inflate? Frontal airbags are designed to inflate in moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal crashes to help reduce the potential for severe injuries mainly to the driver's or right front passenger's head and chest. However , they ar[...]

  • Page 80

    Black plate (30,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 3-30 Seats and Restraints Seat-mounted side impact and roof-rail airbags are not intended to inflate in frontal impacts, near-frontal impacts, rollovers, or rear impacts. A seat-mounted side impact airbag is intended to deploy on the side of the vehicle that is struck. A roof-rail airbag is i[...]

  • Page 81

    Black plate (31,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Seats and Restraints 3-31 Airbags should never be regarded as anything more than a supplement to safety belts. What Will Y ou See After an Airbag Inflates? After the frontal airbags and seat-mounted side impact airbags inflate, they quickly deflate, so quickly that some people may not even re[...]

  • Page 82

    Black plate (32,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 3-32 Seats and Restraints Additional windshield breakage may also occur from the right front passenger airbag. . Airbags are designed to inflate only once. After an airbag inflates, you will need some new parts for the airbag system. If you do not get them, the airbag system will not be there[...]

  • Page 83

    Black plate (33,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Seats and Restraints 3-33 The passenger sensing system works with sensors that are part of the right front passenger seat. The sensors are designed to detect the presence of a properly-seated occupant and determine if the right front passenger frontal airbag and seat ‐ mounted side impact a[...]

  • Page 84

    Black plate (34,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 3-34 Seats and Restraints . The system determines that a small child is present in a child restraint. . The system determines that a small child is present in a booster seat. . A right front passenger takes his/her weight off of the seat for a period of time. . The right front passenger seat [...]

  • Page 85

    Black plate (35,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Seats and Restraints 3-35 4. Reinstall the child restraint following the directions provided by the child restraint manufacturer and refer to Securing Child Restraints (Rear Seat) on page 3 ‑ 55 or Securing Child Restraints (Front Passenger Seat) on page 3 ‑ 57 . 5. If, after reinstalling[...]

  • Page 86

    Black plate (36,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 3-36 Seats and Restraints Additional Factors Affecting System Operation Safety belts help keep the passenger in position on the seat during vehicle maneuvers and braking, which helps the passenger sensing system maintain the passenger airbag status. See “ Safety Belts ” and “ Child Rest[...]

  • Page 87

    Black plate (37,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Seats and Restraints 3-37 Adding Equipment to the Airbag-Equipped V ehicle Q: Is there anything I might add to or change about the vehicle that could keep the airbags from working properly? A: Y es. If you add things that change the vehicle's frame, bumper system, height, front end or si[...]

  • Page 88

    Black plate (38,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 3-38 Seats and Restraints In addition, your dealer and the service manual have information about the location of the airbag sensors, sensing and diagnostic module and airbag wiring. Airbag System Check The airbag system does not need regularly scheduled maintenance or replacement. Make sure t[...]

  • Page 89

    Black plate (39,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Seats and Restraints 3-39 Child Restraints Older Children Older children who have outgrown booster seats should wear the vehicle safety belts. The manufacturer's instructions that come with the booster seat state the weight and height limitations for that booster . Use a booster seat wit[...]

  • Page 90

    Black plate (40,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 3-40 Seats and Restraints According to accident statistics, children and infants are safer when properly restrained in a child restraint system or infant restraint system secured in a rear seating position. In a crash, children who are not buckled up can strike other people who are buckled up[...]

  • Page 91

    Black plate (41,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Seats and Restraints 3-41 Infants and Y oung Children Everyone in a vehicle needs protection! This includes infants and all other children. Neither the distance traveled nor the age and size of the traveler changes the need, for everyone, to use safety restraints. In fact, the law in every st[...]

  • Page 92

    Black plate (42,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 3-42 Seats and Restraints { W ARNING Never do this. Children who are up against, or very close to, any airbag when it inflates can be seriously injured or killed. Never put a rear-facing child restraint in the right front seat. Secure a rear-facing child restraint in a rear seat. It is also b[...]

  • Page 93

    Black plate (43,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Seats and Restraints 3-43 { W ARNING T o reduce the risk of neck and head injury during a crash, infants need complete support. This is because an infant's neck is not fully developed and its head weighs so much compared with the rest of its body . In a crash, an infant in a rear-facing [...]

  • Page 94

    Black plate (44,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 3-44 Seats and Restraints (B) Forward-Facing Child Seat A forward-facing child seat (B) provides restraint for the child's body with the harness. (C) Booster Seats A booster seat (C) is a child restraint designed to improve the fit of the vehicle's safety belt system. A booster seat[...]

  • Page 95

    Black plate (45,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Seats and Restraints 3-45 endangered in a crash if the child restraint is not properly secured in the vehicle. When securing an add-on child restraint, refer to the instructions that come with the restraint which may be on the restraint itself or in a booklet, or both, and to this manual. The[...]

  • Page 96

    Black plate (46,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 3-46 Seats and Restraints A label on your sun visor says, “ Never put a rear-facing child seat in the front. ” This is because the risk to the rear-facing child is so great, if the airbag deploys. { W ARNING A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be seriously injured or killed if th[...]

  • Page 97

    Black plate (47,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Seats and Restraints 3-47 If you secure a child restraint in the left or center rear seat using LA TCH, review the following illustrations. Depending on where you place the child restraint, you may not be able to access certain safety belt assemblies or LA TCH anchors for additional passenger[...]

  • Page 98

    Black plate (48,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 3-48 Seats and Restraints Lower Anchors and T ethers for Children (LA TCH System) The LA TCH system holds a child restraint during driving or in a crash. This system is designed to make installation of a child restraint easier . The LA TCH system uses anchors in the vehicle and attachments on[...]

  • Page 99

    Black plate (49,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Seats and Restraints 3-49 T op T ether Anchor A top tether (A, C) anchors the top of the child restraint to the vehicle. A top tether anchor is built into the vehicle. The top tether attachment (B) on the child restraint connects to the top tether anchor in the vehicle in order to reduce the [...]

  • Page 100

    Black plate (50,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 3-50 Seats and Restraints T o assist you in locating the lower anchors, each rear anchor position has a label, near the crease between the seatback and the seat cushion. T o assist you in locating the top tether anchors, the top tether anchor symbol is located on the cover . The top tether an[...]

  • Page 101

    Black plate (51,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Seats and Restraints 3-51 Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the LA TCH System { W ARNING If a LA TCH-type child restraint is not attached to anchors, the child restraint will not be able to protect the child correctly . In a crash, the child could be seriously injured or killed. Install[...]

  • Page 102

    Black plate (52,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 3-52 Seats and Restraints Y ou cannot secure three child restraints using the LA TCH anchors in the rear seat at the same time, but you can install two of them. If you want to do this, install one LA TCH child restraint in the passenger-side position, and install the other one either in the d[...]

  • Page 103

    Black plate (53,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Seats and Restraints 3-53 2. If the child restraint manufacturer recommends that the top tether be attached, attach and tighten the top tether to the top tether anchor , if equipped. Refer to the child restraint instructions and the following steps: 2.1. Find the top tether anchor . Open the [...]

  • Page 104

    Black plate (54,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 3-54 Seats and Restraints If the position you are using has an adjustable headrest or head restraint and you are using a single tether , route the tether under the headrest or head restraint and in between the headrest or head restraint posts. See Head Restraints on page 3 ‑ 2 . If the posi[...]

  • Page 105

    Black plate (55,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Seats and Restraints 3-55 Replacing LA TCH System Parts After a Crash { W ARNING A crash can damage the LA TCH system in the vehicle. A damaged LA TCH system may not properly secure the child restraint, resulting in serious injury or even death in a crash. T o help make sure the LA TCH system[...]

  • Page 106

    Black plate (56,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 3-56 Seats and Restraints If more than one child restraint needs to be installed in the rear seat, be sure to read Where to Put the Restraint on page 3 ‑ 45 . 1. Put the child restraint on the seat. 2. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulder portions of the vehicle's safe[...]

  • Page 107

    Black plate (57,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Seats and Restraints 3-57 5. T o tighten the belt, push down on the child restraint, pull the shoulder portion of the belt to tighten the lap portion of the belt, and feed the shoulder belt back into the retractor . When installing a forward-facing child restraint, it may be helpful to use yo[...]

  • Page 108

    Black plate (58,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 3-58 Seats and Restraints A label on the sun visor says, “ Never put a rear-facing child seat in the front. ” This is because the risk to the rear-facing child is so great, if the airbag deploys. { W ARNING A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be seriously injured or killed if the[...]

  • Page 109

    Black plate (59,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Seats and Restraints 3-59 Y ou will be using the lap-shoulder belt to secure the child restraint in this position. Follow the instructions that came with the child restraint. 1. Move the seat as far back as it will go before securing the forward-facing child restraint. When the passenger sens[...]

  • Page 110

    Black plate (60,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 3-60 Seats and Restraints 6. T o tighten the belt, push down on the child restraint, pull the shoulder portion of the belt to tighten the lap portion of the belt, and feed the shoulder belt back into the retractor . When installing a forward-facing child restraint, it may be helpful to use yo[...]

  • Page 111

    Black plate (1,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Storage 4-1 Storage Storage Compartments Instrument Panel Storage . . . . 4-1 Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1 Cupholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1 Front Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2 Center Console Storage . . . . . . 4-3 Additional Storage[...]

  • Page 112

    Black plate (2,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 4-2 Storage For vehicles with rear seat cupholders, access them by pulling down on the door at the back of the center console. Front Storage Storage is available in front of the shift lever . Open it by pushing on the bottom of the door . A driver side storage compratment is located near the s[...]

  • Page 113

    Black plate (3,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Storage 4-3 Center Console Storage The center console storage has a tray and a main storage area. Pull up on the driver side latch to access the tray . Pull up on the passenger side latch to access the main storage. It is equipped with a removable divider and a storage pocket may be at the rea[...]

  • Page 114

    Black plate (4,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 4-4 Storage 2 NOTES[...]

  • Page 115

    Black plate (1,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Instruments and Controls 5-1 Instruments and Controls Controls Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . 5-2 Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . 5-2 Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3 Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . . 5-3 Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4 Cl[...]

  • Page 116

    Black plate (2,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 5-2 Instruments and Controls Controls Steering Wheel Adjustment The lever is located on the left side of the steering wheel column. T o adjust the steering wheel: 1. Pull the lever down. 2. Move the steering wheel up or down. 3. Pull or push the steering wheel closer or away from you. 4. Pull [...]

  • Page 117

    Black plate (3,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Instruments and Controls 5-3 T o select tracks on an iPod or USB device: 1. Press and hold w or x c while listening to a song until the contents of the current folder display on the radio display . 2. Press and release w or x c to scroll up or down the list, then press and hold w to play the h[...]

  • Page 118

    Black plate (4,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 5-4 Instruments and Controls The amount of delay time varies between wiping cycles due to the delay setting selected or the speed of the vehicle. As vehicle speed is increased or decreased, the wiper interval also increases or decreases. 6 (Low Speed): Slow wipes. 1 (High Speed): Fast wipes. 8[...]

  • Page 119

    Black plate (5,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Instruments and Controls 5-5 Compass V ariance The mirror is set in zone eight. It is necessary to adjust the compass to compensate for compass variance if the vehicle is driven outside zone eight. Under certain circumstances, such as a long distance, cross-country trip, it is necessary to adj[...]

  • Page 120

    Black plate (6,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 5-6 Instruments and Controls 4. Press the H button again until the clock display stops flashing to set the currently displayed time; otherwise, the flashing stops after five seconds and the current time displayed is automatically set. T o change the time default setting from 12 hour to 24 hour[...]

  • Page 121

    Black plate (7,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Instruments and Controls 5-7 Power Outlets Accessory power outlets can be used to plug in electrical equipment, such as a cell phone or MP3 player . There are two accessory power outlets. One accessory power outlet is located inside the storage bin below the climate controls and the other outl[...]

  • Page 122

    Black plate (8,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 5-8 Instruments and Controls If you try to connect equipment using more than 150 watts or a system fault is detected, a protection circuit shuts off the power supply and the indicator light turns off. T o reset the circuit, unplug the item and plug it back in or turn the Remote Accessory Power[...]

  • Page 123

    Black plate (9,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Instruments and Controls 5-9 Instrument Cluster English shown, Metric similar[...]

  • Page 124

    Black plate (10,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 5-10 Instruments and Controls Speedometer The speedometer shows the vehicle's speed in either kilometers per hour (km/h) or miles per hour (mph). Odometer The odometer shows how far the vehicle has been driven, in either kilometers or miles. This vehicle has a tamper ‐ resistant odomet[...]

  • Page 125

    Black plate (11,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Instruments and Controls 5-1 1 Metric When the ignition is on, the fuel gauge shows how much fuel is left in the fuel tank. When the indicator nears empty , a message in the Driver Information Center (DIC) displays. See Fuel System Messages on page 5 ‑ 27 for more information. The vehicle s[...]

  • Page 126

    Black plate (12,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 5-12 Instruments and Controls Metric This gauge shows the engine coolant temperature. If the pointer moves towards the H (United States) or to the shaded thermostat symbol area (Canada), the engine is too hot. A temperature indicator light turns on and a chime sounds. The vehicle is operated [...]

  • Page 127

    Black plate (13,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Instruments and Controls 5-13 The front passenger safety belt reminder light and chime may turn on if an object is put on the seat such as a briefcase, handbag, grocery bag, laptop, or other electronic device. T o turn off the reminder light and/or chime, remove the object from the seat or bu[...]

  • Page 128

    Black plate (14,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 5-14 Instruments and Controls United States Canada and Mexico When the vehicle is started, the passenger airbag status indicator will light ON and OFF , or the symbol for on and off, for several seconds as a system check. If you are using remote start to start the vehicle from a distance, if [...]

  • Page 129

    Black plate (15,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Instruments and Controls 5-15 Charging System Light This light comes on briefly when the ignition key is turned to ST ART , but the engine is not running, as a check to show it is working. If it does not, have the vehicle serviced by your dealer . The light should go out once the engine start[...]

  • Page 130

    Black plate (16,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 5-16 Instruments and Controls costly repairs not covered by the vehicle warranty . This could also result in a failure to pass a required Emission Inspection/ Maintenance test. See Accessories and Modifications on page 10 ‑ 3 . This light comes on during a malfunction in one of two ways: Li[...]

  • Page 131

    Black plate (17,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Instruments and Controls 5-17 If none of the above have made the light turn off, your dealer can check the vehicle. The dealer has the proper test equipment and diagnostic tools to fix any mechanical or electrical problems that might have developed. Emissions Inspection and Maintenance Progra[...]

  • Page 132

    Black plate (18,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 5-18 Instruments and Controls Brake System W arning Light The vehicle brake system consists of two hydraulic circuits. If one circuit is not working, the remaining circuit can still work to stop the vehicle. For normal braking performance, both circuits need to be working If the warning light[...]

  • Page 133

    Black plate (19,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Instruments and Controls 5-19 Antilock Brake System (ABS) W arning Light For vehicles with the Antilock Brake System (ABS), this light comes on briefly when the engine is started. If it does not, have the vehicle serviced by your dealer . If the system is working normally the indicator light [...]

  • Page 134

    Black plate (20,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 5-20 Instruments and Controls If the indicator/warning light is on and flashing, the TCS or the ESC system is actively working. Check the DIC messaging for details to determine which system is working. If the LOW TRACTION message appears, the system is limiting wheel spin. If the ESC ACTIVE m[...]

  • Page 135

    Black plate (21,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Instruments and Controls 5-21 When the Light is On Steady This indicates that one or more of the tires are significantly underinflated. A tire pressure message can accompany the light. See Tire Messages on page 5 ‑ 29 for more information. Stop as soon as possible, and inflate the tires to [...]

  • Page 136

    Black plate (22,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 5-22 Instruments and Controls Security Light For information regarding this light and the vehicle's security system, see Content Theft Deterrent. High-Beam On Light The high-beam on light comes on when the high-beam headlamps are in use. See Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer on page 6 ‑ 2[...]

  • Page 137

    Black plate (23,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Instruments and Controls 5-23 The DIC buttons are located on the left side of the steering wheel. INFO (Information): Press this button to scroll through the vehicle information mode displays. r (Reset): Press this button to reset some vehicle information mode displays, select a personalizati[...]

  • Page 138

    Black plate (24,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 5-24 Instruments and Controls FUEL RANGE Press the information button until FUEL RANGE displays. This mode shows the remaining distance you can drive without refueling in either kilometers (km) or miles (mi). It is based on fuel economy and the fuel remaining in the tank. When the fuel level [...]

  • Page 139

    Black plate (25,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Instruments and Controls 5-25 In addition to the engine oil life system monitoring the oil life, additional maintenance is recommended in the Maintenance Schedule in this manual. See Engine Oil on page 10 ‑ 9 and Scheduled Maintenance on page 1 1 ‑ 2 . Always reset the engine oil life sys[...]

  • Page 140

    Black plate (26,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 5-26 Instruments and Controls Brake System Messages BRAKE FLUID This message displays, while the ignition is on, when the brake fluid level is low . The brake system warning light on the instrument panel cluster also comes on. See Brake System Warning Light on page 5 ‑ 18 for more informati[...]

  • Page 141

    Black plate (27,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Instruments and Controls 5-27 Fuel System Messages CHECK GAS CAP This message displays if the fuel cap has not been fully tightened. Recheck the fuel cap to make sure that it is on properly . A few driving trips with the cap properly installed should turn the message off. LOW FUEL This messag[...]

  • Page 142

    Black plate (28,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 5-28 Instruments and Controls ESC (Electronic Stability Control) OFF If your vehicle has Electronic Stability Control (ESC), this message displays and the ESC/TCS light on the instrument panel cluster comes on solid when ESC is turned off. Adjust your driving accordingly . See Electronic Stab[...]

  • Page 143

    Black plate (29,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Instruments and Controls 5-29 TRACTION OFF If your vehicle has the T raction Control System (TCS), this message displays and the ESC/TCS light on the instrument panel cluster comes on solid when the system is turned off. Adjust your driving accordingly . See T raction Control System (TCS) on [...]

  • Page 144

    Black plate (30,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 5-30 Instruments and Controls V ehicle Reminder Messages ICE POSSIBLE This message displays when the outside air temperature is cold enough to create icy road conditions. Adjust your driving accordingly . W asher Fluid Messages LOW W ASHER FLUID This message displays when the vehicle's w[...]

  • Page 145

    Black plate (31,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Instruments and Controls 5-31 Personalization Menu Modes OIL LIFE RESET When this feature is displayed, you can reset the engine oil life system. T o reset the system, see Engine Oil Life System on page 10 ‑ 13 . See “ OIL LIFE ” under Driver Information Center (DIC) on page 5 ‑ 22 fo[...]

  • Page 146

    Black plate (32,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 5-32 Instruments and Controls UNLOCK HORN This feature, which allows the vehicle's horn to chirp on the first press of the unlock button on the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter , can be enabled or disabled. When UNLOCK HORN appears on the display , press and hold the reset button f[...]

  • Page 147

    Black plate (33,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Instruments and Controls 5-33 OFF: The doors will lock immediately when pressing the power lock switch or the lock button on the RKE transmitter . See Power Door Locks on page 2 ‑ 7 , Delayed Locking on page 2 ‑ 8 , and Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System Operation on page 2 ‑ 3 for more [...]

  • Page 148

    Black plate (34,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 5-34 Instruments and Controls ON (default): The exterior perimeter lighting will turn on when the unlock button on the RKE transmitter is pressed. See Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System Operation on page 2 ‑ 3 for more information. T o select a setting and move on to the next feature, press [...]

  • Page 149

    Black plate (1,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Lighting 6-1 Lighting Exterior Lighting Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . 6-1 Exterior Lamps Off Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2 Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2 Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2 Daytime Ru[...]

  • Page 150

    Black plate (2,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 6-2 Lighting AUTO (Automatic Headlamp System): Automatically turns on the Daytime Running Lamps during daytime, and the headlamps, parking lamps, and taillamps at night. P (Off/On): Turn the band to this position to turn on the Automatic Headlamp System. In Canada, this position only works whe[...]

  • Page 151

    Black plate (3,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Lighting 6-3 . The light sensor detects daytime light. . The parking brake is released or the vehicle is not in P (Park). When the DRL system is on, the taillamps, sidemarker lamps, parking lamps, and instrument panel lights are not on unless you turn the exterior lamps control to the parking [...]

  • Page 152

    Black plate (4,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 6-4 Lighting Hazard W arning Flashers | (Hazard W arning Flasher): Press this button located on the instrument panel, to make the front and rear turn signal lamps flash on and off. This warns others that you are having trouble. Press | again to turn the flashers off. T urn and Lane-Change Sign[...]

  • Page 153

    Black plate (5,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Lighting 6-5 Interior Lighting Instrument Panel Illumination Control The knob for this control is located on the instrument panel to the left of the steering column. D (Instrument Panel Brightness): T urn the knob clockwise or counterclockwise to brighten or dim the lights. Turn the knob compl[...]

  • Page 154

    Black plate (6,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 6-6 Lighting Parade Dimming Parade dimming is a separate lighting mode that comes on while the parking lamps are turned on during the day . It prevents the display lights and indicator lights from being dim, while the parking lamps are used during the day . Battery Load Management The vehicle [...]

  • Page 155

    Black plate (7,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Lighting 6-7 Battery Power Protection The vehicle has a battery run-down protection feature designed to protect the vehicle's battery . When any interior lamp (trunk, reading, or visor vanity) is left on while the ignition is turned off, the battery run-down protection system will automat[...]

  • Page 156

    Black plate (8,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 6-8 Lighting 2 NOTES[...]

  • Page 157

    Black plate (1,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Infotainment System 7-1 Infotainment System Introduction Infotainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1 Theft-Deterrent Feature . . . . . . . 7-2 Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-3 Radio AM-FM Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-7 Satellite Radio . . . . . . [...]

  • Page 158

    Black plate (2,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 7-2 Infotainment System T o minimize taking your eyes off the road while driving, do the following while the vehicle is parked: . Become familiar with the operation and controls of the audio system. . Set up the tone, speaker adjustments, and preset radio stations. For more information, see De[...]

  • Page 159

    Black plate (3,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Infotainment System 7-3 Operation Radio with CD (Base)[...]

  • Page 160

    Black plate (4,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 7-4 Infotainment System Radio with CD (MP3) and USB Port shown, Radio with CD (MP3) similar The vehicle has one of these radios as its infotainment system. Softkeys The Radio with CD (MP3) and USB Port, and the Radio with CD (MP3) have five softkeys located below the radio display . Softkeys a[...]

  • Page 161

    Black plate (5,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Infotainment System 7-5 4. Press the softkey under the desired Speed Compensated V olume setting (OFF , Low , Med, or High) to select the level of radio volume compensation. The display times out after approximately 10 seconds. Each higher setting allows for more radio volume compensation at f[...]

  • Page 162

    Black plate (6,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 7-6 Infotainment System EQ (Equalization): Press this button to choose bass and treble equalization settings designed for different types of music. Selecting MANUAL or changing bass or treble, returns the EQ to the manual bass and treble settings. Unique EQ settings can be saved for each sourc[...]

  • Page 163

    Black plate (7,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Infotainment System 7-7 Radio Messages Calibration Error: Displays if the radio is no longer calibrated properly for the vehicle. The vehicle must be returned to your dealer for service. Loc or Locked: Displays when the TheftLock ® system has activated. T ake the vehicle to your dealer for se[...]

  • Page 164

    Black plate (8,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 7-8 Infotainment System Finding a Station BAND: Press to choose between FM1, FM2, AM, or XM ™ (if equipped) on the Radio with CD (Base). Press to choose between FM, AM, XM (if equipped) on the Radio with CD (MP3) and USB Port, or the Radio with CD (MP3). f (T une): Turn to select radio stati[...]

  • Page 165

    Black plate (9,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Infotainment System 7-9 Radios that have a F A V button store radio stations as favorites, up to 36 stations can be programmed as favorites using the 6 softkeys below the radio station frequency tabs and by using the F A V button. Press the F A V button to go through up to 6 pages of favorites[...]

  • Page 166

    Black plate (10,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 7-10 Infotainment System Satellite Radio XM ™ Satellite Radio Service XM is a satellite radio service that is based in the 48 contiguous United States and 10 Canadian provinces. XM Satellite Radio has a wide variety of programming and commercial-free music, coast-to-coast, and in digital-qu[...]

  • Page 167

    Black plate (11,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Infotainment System 7-1 1 ¨ SEEK: Press to go to the next XM channel. . T o scan stations, press and hold ¨ SEEK for a few seconds until the radio beeps once. The radio goes to a station, plays for a few seconds, then goes to the next station. Press ¨ SEEK again to stop scanning. s REV : P[...]

  • Page 168

    Black plate (12,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 7-12 Infotainment System Storing XM Channels Drivers are encouraged to store radio station while the vehicle is parked, see Defensive Driving on page 9 ‑ 2 . T une to stored radio stations using the presets, favorites button, and steering wheel controls, if the vehicle has this feature. Up [...]

  • Page 169

    Black plate (13,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Infotainment System 7-13 Channel Unauth : This channel is blocked or cannot be received with your XM Subscription package. Channel Unavail: This previously assigned channel is no longer assigned. T une to another station. If this station was one of the presets, choose another station for that[...]

  • Page 170

    Black plate (14,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 7-14 Infotainment System Radio Reception Frequency interference and static can occur during normal radio reception if items such as cell phone chargers, vehicle convenience accessories, and external electronic devices are plugged into the accessory power outlet. If there is interference or st[...]

  • Page 171

    Black plate (15,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Infotainment System 7-15 Backglass Antenna The AM-FM antenna is integrated with the rear window defogger , located in the rear window . Make sure that the inside surface of the rear window is not scratched and that the lines on the glass are not damaged. If the inside surface is damaged, it c[...]

  • Page 172

    Black plate (16,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 7-16 Infotainment System load one CD at a time, and keep the CD player and the loading slot free of foreign materials, liquids, and debris. If an error displays, see “ CD Messages ” later in this section. Care of CDs Store a disc in its original case or a protective case and away from dir[...]

  • Page 173

    Black plate (17,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Infotainment System 7-17 s REV (Reverse): Press and hold to reverse playback quickly within a track. Sound is heard at a reduced volume and the elapsed time of the track displays. Release to resume playing the track. FWD (Fast Forward): Press and hold to advance playback quickly within a tr[...]

  • Page 174

    Black plate (18,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 7-18 Infotainment System Root Directory The root directory is treated as a folder . Files are stored in the root directory when the disc or storage device does not contain folders. Files accessed from the root directory of a disc display as F1 ROOT . Empty Folder Folders that do not contain f[...]

  • Page 175

    Black plate (19,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Infotainment System 7-19 ¨ SEEK: Press to go to the next track. Press and hold or press multiple times to continue moving forward through tracks. s REV (Reverse): Press and hold to reverse playback quickly . Sound is heard at a reduced volume and the elapsed time of the track displays. Relea[...]

  • Page 176

    Black plate (20,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 7-20 Infotainment System When the scan is finished, the disc begins playing files in order by artist. The current artist playing is shown on the second line of the display . Once all songs by that artist are played, the player moves to the next artist in alphabetical order and begins playing [...]

  • Page 177

    Black plate (21,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Infotainment System 7-21 Drivers are encouraged to set up any auxiliary device while the vehicle is in P (Park). See Defensive Driving on page 9 ‑ 2 for more information on driver distraction. Using the 3.5 mm (1/8 in) Auxiliary Input Jack The radio system may have a 3.5 mm (1/8 in) auxilia[...]

  • Page 178

    Black plate (22,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 7-22 Infotainment System Files accessed from the root directory of a USB device display as F1 ROOT . Empty Folder Folders that do not contain files are skipped, and the player advances to the next folder that contains files. File Naming The song name that displays is the song name that is con[...]

  • Page 179

    Black plate (23,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Infotainment System 7-23 Older iPod's that are not supported can still be used by connecting it to the 3.5 mm (1/8 in) auxiliary input jack using a 3.5 mm (1/8 in) cable. Using a USB Storage Device or iPod The buttons and knobs on the radio and the softkeys below the radio display are us[...]

  • Page 180

    Black plate (24,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 7-24 Infotainment System 4. T urn f to scroll through the files in the selected folder . 5. Press f to select the desired file to be played. T o skip through large lists, the five softkeys can be used to navigate in the following order: . First softkey , first item in the list. . Second softk[...]

  • Page 181

    Black plate (25,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Infotainment System 7-25 > (Shuffle Off): Press the softkey below 2 to turn shuffle off. This is the default mode when a USB storage device or iPod is first connected. 2 (Shuffle All Songs / Shuffle Songs): Press the softkey below = or < to shuffle all songs on the USB storage device or[...]

  • Page 182

    Black plate (26,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 7-26 Infotainment System . See “ Storing and Deleting Phone Numbers ” in this section for more information. { W ARNING When using a cell phone, it can be distracting to look too long or too often at the screen of the phone or the infotainment (navigation) system. T aking your eyes off the[...]

  • Page 183

    Black plate (27,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Infotainment System 7-27 Pairing A Bluetooth cell phone must be paired to the Bluetooth system and then connected to the vehicle before it can be used. See your cell phone manufacturers user guide for Bluetooth functions before pairing the cell phone. If a Bluetooth phone is not connected, ca[...]

  • Page 184

    Black plate (28,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 7-28 Infotainment System Listing All Paired and Connected Phones The system can list all cell phones paired to it. If a paired cell phone is also connected to the vehicle, the system responds with “ is connected ” after that phone name. 1. Press and hold b g for two seconds. 2. Say “ Bl[...]

  • Page 185

    Black plate (29,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Infotainment System 7-29 Using the “ Store ” Command 1. Press and hold b g for two seconds. 2. Say “ Store. ” 3. Say the phone number or group of numbers you want to store all at once with no pauses, then follow the directions given by the system to save a name tag for this number . U[...]

  • Page 186

    Black plate (30,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 7-30 Infotainment System Digit Dial: This command allows a phone number to be dialed by entering the digits one at a time. Re ‐ dial : This command is used to dial the last number used on the cell phone. Using the “ Dial ” or “ Call ” Command 1. Press and hold b g for two seconds. 2[...]

  • Page 187

    Black plate (31,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Infotainment System 7-31 . Press b g again to return to the original call. . T o ignore the incoming call, no action is required. . Press x c to disconnect the current call and switch to the call on hold. Three ‐ W ay Calling Three ‐ way calling must be supported on the cell phone and ena[...]

  • Page 188

    Black plate (32,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 7-32 Infotainment System V oice Pass-Thru V oice pass ‐ thru allows access to the voice recognition commands on the cell phone. See your cell phone manufacturers user guide to see if the cell phone supports this feature. T o access contacts stored in the cell phone: 1. Press and hold b g fo[...]

  • Page 189

    Black plate (1,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Climate Controls 8-1 Climate Controls Climate Control Systems Climate Control Systems . . . . . . 8-1 Automatic Climate Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-5 Air V ents Air V ents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9 Climate Control Systems The heating, cool[...]

  • Page 190

    Black plate (2,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 8-2 Climate Controls Operation T emperature Control: Turn clockwise or counterclockwise to increase or decrease the temperature inside the vehicle. When it is cold outside − 18°C (0°F) or lower , use the engine coolant heater , if vehicle has one, to provide warmer air faster to the vehicl[...]

  • Page 191

    Black plate (3,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Climate Controls 8-3 T o help clear the windshield quickly , do the following: 1. Select 0 . 2. Select the highest temperature. 3. Select the highest fan speed. # (Air Conditioning): Press to turn the air conditioning system on or off. An indicator light comes on to show it is on. The air-cond[...]

  • Page 192

    Black plate (4,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 8-4 Climate Controls Rear Window Defogger The rear window defogger uses a warming grid to remove fog or frost from the rear window . < REAR: Press to turn the rear window defogger on or of f. An indicator light comes on to show that the rear window defogger is on. Be sure to clear as much s[...]

  • Page 193

    Black plate (5,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Climate Controls 8-5 Automatic Climate Control System For vehicles with this system, the heating, cooling, and ventilation can be automatically controlled. A. Fan Control B. Air Conditioning C. Recirculation D. Outside Air E. Rear Window Defogger F . Air Delivery Mode Control G. Display H. T e[...]

  • Page 194

    Black plate (6,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 8-6 Climate Controls 2. Set the temperature. An initial setting of 73°F (23°C) is recommended. Allow about 20 minutes for the system to regulate. Press w or x to adjust the temperature setting as necessary . If the temperature is set at 60°F (15°C) the system remains at the maximum cooling[...]

  • Page 195

    Black plate (7,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Climate Controls 8-7 windshield. The air conditioning indicator light blinks three times if the compressor is turned off while in this mode. # (Air Conditioning): Press turn the air conditioning on and off. An indicator light turns on to show the air conditioning is on. When air conditioning i[...]

  • Page 196

    Black plate (8,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 8-8 Climate Controls When the weather is cool or damp, operating the system in recirculation for extended periods of time can cause fogging of the vehicle's windows. T o clear the fog, select either defog or defrost. Make sure the air conditioning is on. Allow the air conditioning to run [...]

  • Page 197

    Black plate (9,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Climate Controls 8-9 Air V ents Use the lever located in the center of each outlet by moving it either up and down or side-to-side, to change the direction and amount of airflow in the vehicle. Operation Tips . Clear away any ice, snow , or leaves from the air inlets at the base of the windshi[...]

  • Page 198

    Black plate (10,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 8-10 Climate Controls 2 NOTES[...]

  • Page 199

    Black plate (1,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Driving and Operating 9-1 Driving and Operating Driving Information Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2 Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2 Control of a V ehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3 Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3 Steering . . . . . .[...]

  • Page 200

    Black plate (2,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 9-2 Driving and Operating Driving Information Defensive Driving Defensive driving means “ always expect the unexpected. ” The first step in driving defensively is to wear the safety belt. See Safety Belts on page 3 ‑ 9 . { W ARNING Assume that other road users (pedestrians, bicyclists, a[...]

  • Page 201

    Black plate (3,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Driving and Operating 9-3 Police records show that almost 40 percent of all motor vehicle-related deaths involve alcohol. In most cases, these deaths are the result of someone who was drinking and driving. In recent years, more than 17,000 annual motor vehicle-related deaths have been associat[...]

  • Page 202

    Black plate (4,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 9-4 Driving and Operating And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly with the surface of the road, whether it is pavement or gravel; the condition of the road, whether it is wet, dry , or icy; tire tread; the condition of the brakes; the weight of the vehicle; and the amount of bra[...]

  • Page 203

    Black plate (5,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Driving and Operating 9-5 Steering Tips It is important to take curves at a reasonable speed. T raction in a curve depends on the condition of the tires and the road surface, the angle at which the curve is banked, and vehicle speed. While in a curve, speed is the one factor that can be contro[...]

  • Page 204

    Black plate (6,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 9-6 Driving and Operating Off-Road Recovery The vehicle's right wheels can drop off the edge of a road onto the shoulder while driving. If the level of the shoulder is only slightly below the pavement, recovery should be fairly easy . Ease off the accelerator and then, if there is nothing[...]

  • Page 205

    Black plate (7,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Driving and Operating 9-7 While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try to avoid sudden steering, acceleration, or braking, including reducing vehicle speed by shifting to a lower gear . Any sudden changes could cause the tires to slide. Y ou might not realize the surface is slippery u[...]

  • Page 206

    Black plate (8,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 9-8 Driving and Operating Other Rainy Weather Tips Besides slowing down, other wet weather driving tips include: . Allow extra following distance. . Pass with caution. . Keep windshield wiping equipment in good shape. . Keep the windshield washer fluid reservoir filled. . Have good tires with [...]

  • Page 207

    Black plate (9,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Driving and Operating 9-9 { W ARNING Coasting downhill in N (Neutral) or with the ignition off is dangerous. The brakes will have to do all the work of slowing down and they could get so hot that they would not work well. Y ou would then have poor braking or even none going down a hill. Y ou c[...]

  • Page 208

    Black plate (10,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 9-10 Driving and Operating Blizzard Conditions Being stuck in snow can be a serious situation. Stay with the vehicle unless there is help nearby . If possible, use the Roadside Assistance Program (U.S. and Canada) on page 13 ‑ 8 or Roadside Assistance Program (Mexico) on page 13 ‑ 10 . T [...]

  • Page 209

    Black plate (11,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Driving and Operating 9-1 1 feel really uncomfortable from the cold. Moving about to keep warm also helps. If it takes some time for help to arrive, now and then when you run the engine, push the accelerator pedal slightly so the engine runs faster than the idle speed. This keeps the battery [...]

  • Page 210

    Black plate (12,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 9-12 Driving and Operating V ehicle Load Limits It is very important to know how much weight the vehicle can carry . This weight is called the vehicle capacity weight and includes the weight of all occupants, cargo and all nonfactory ‐ installed options. T wo labels on the vehicle show how [...]

  • Page 211

    Black plate (13,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Driving and Operating 9-13 Rating (GA WR) for the front and rear axle. See “ Certification Label ” later in this section. Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit 1. Locate the statement “ The combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs ” on your vehic[...]

  • Page 212

    Black plate (14,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 9-14 Driving and Operating Example 2 A. V ehicle Capacity Weight for Example 2 = 453 kg (1,000 lbs). B. Subtract Occupant Weight @ 68 kg (150 lbs) × 5 = 340 kg (750 lbs). C. Available Cargo Weight = 1 13 kg (250 lbs). Example 3 A. V ehicle Capacity Weight for Example 3 = 453 kg (1,000 lbs). [...]

  • Page 213

    Black plate (15,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Driving and Operating 9-15 occupants, fuel, and cargo. Never exceed the GVWR for the vehicle, or the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) for either the front or rear axle. And, if there is a heavy load, it should be spread out. See “ Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit ” earlier in this [...]

  • Page 214

    Black plate (16,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 9-16 Driving and Operating Starting and Operating New V ehicle Break-In Notice: The vehicle does not need an elaborate break-in. But it will perform better in the long run if you follow these guidelines: . Do not drive at any one constant speed, fast or slow, for the first 805 km (500 miles).[...]

  • Page 215

    Black plate (17,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Driving and Operating 9-17 and turn it only with your hand. If the key cannot be turned by hand, see your dealer . 9 (STOPPING THE ENGINE/ LOCK/OFF): When the vehicle is stopped, turn the ignition switch to LOCK/OFF to turn the engine off. Retained Accessory Power (RAP) will remain active. Se[...]

  • Page 216

    Black plate (18,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 9-18 Driving and Operating Starting the Engine Move the shift lever to P (Park) or N (Neutral). The engine will not start in any other position. T o restart the engine when the vehicle is already moving, use N (Neutral) only . Notice: Do not try to shift to P (Park) if the vehicle is moving. [...]

  • Page 217

    Black plate (19,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Driving and Operating 9-19 Before adding electrical equipment, check with your dealer . If you do not, the engine might not perform properly . Any resulting damage would not be covered by the vehicle warranty . Engine Heater The engine coolant heater can provide easier starting and better fue[...]

  • Page 218

    Black plate (20,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 9-20 Driving and Operating Retained Accessory Power (RAP) These vehicle accessories can be used for up to 10 minutes after the engine is turned off: . Audio System . Power Windows . Heated Seats (if equipped) . Sunroof (if equipped) These features continue to work up to 10 minutes after the i[...]

  • Page 219

    Black plate (21,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Driving and Operating 9-21 Leaving the V ehicle with the Engine Running { W ARNING It can be dangerous to leave the vehicle with the engine running. The vehicle could move suddenly if the shift lever is not fully in P (Park) with the parking brake firmly set. And, if you leave the vehicle wit[...]

  • Page 220

    Black plate (22,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 9-22 Driving and Operating T o shift out of P (Park): 1. Apply the brake pedal. 2. Press the shift lever button. 3. Move the shift lever to the desired position. If still unable to shift out of P (Park): 1. Fully release the shift lever button. 2. Hold the brake pedal down and press the shift[...]

  • Page 221

    Black plate (23,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Driving and Operating 9-23 W ARNING (Continued) . There are holes or openings in the vehicle body from damage or after-market modifications that are not completely sealed. If unusual fumes are detected or if it is suspected that exhaust is coming into the vehicle: . Drive it only with the win[...]

  • Page 222

    Black plate (24,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 9-24 Driving and Operating Automatic T ransmission The automatic transmission has a shift lever located on the console between the seats. P (Park): This position locks the front wheels. It is the best position to use when you start the engine because the vehicle cannot move easily . { W ARNIN[...]

  • Page 223

    Black plate (25,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Driving and Operating 9-25 N (Neutral): In this position, the engine does not connect with the wheels. T o restart the engine when the vehicle is already moving, use N (Neutral) only . Also, use N (Neutral) when the vehicle is being towed. { W ARNING Shifting into a drive gear while the engin[...]

  • Page 224

    Black plate (26,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 9-26 Driving and Operating 2. Press the + (plus) end of the button on the side of the shifter to upshift, or push the − (minus) end of the button to downshift. The Driver Information Center (DIC) in the instrument cluster will change from the currently displayed message to the letter “ M [...]

  • Page 225

    Black plate (27,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Driving and Operating 9-27 Brakes Antilock Brake System (ABS) This vehicle has the Antilock Brake System (ABS), an advanced electronic braking system that helps prevent a braking skid. When the engine is started and the vehicle begins to drive away , ABS checks itself. A momentary motor or cl[...]

  • Page 226

    Black plate (28,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 9-28 Driving and Operating Parking Brake T o set the parking brake, push down the parking brake pedal with your left foot. If the ignition is on, the brake system warning light will come on. See Brake System Warning Light on page 5 ‑ 18 . T o release the parking brake, hold the regular brak[...]

  • Page 227

    Black plate (29,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Driving and Operating 9-29 Ride Control Systems T raction Control System (TCS) The vehicle may have a T raction Control System (TCS) that limits wheel spin. This is especially useful in slippery road conditions. The system operates only if it senses that the front wheels are spinning too much[...]

  • Page 228

    Black plate (30,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 9-30 Driving and Operating T o turn the system off or on, press and release this button located on the center console. The DIC will display the appropriate message as described previously when the button is pressed. T raction Control Operation T raction control limits wheel spin by reducing e[...]

  • Page 229

    Black plate (31,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Driving and Operating 9-31 Electronic Stability Control (ESC) The vehicle has an Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system which combines antilock brake, traction and stability control systems and helps the driver maintain directional control of the vehicle in most driving conditions. When yo[...]

  • Page 230

    Black plate (32,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 9-32 Driving and Operating The ESC/TCS button is located on the instrument panel. The traction control system can be turned off or back on by pressing the ESC/TCS button. T o disable both traction control and ESC, press and hold the button briefly . When the ESC system is turned off, the TRAC[...]

  • Page 231

    Black plate (33,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Driving and Operating 9-33 { W ARNING Cruise control can be dangerous where you cannot drive safely at a steady speed. So, do not use the cruise control on winding roads or in heavy traffic. Cruise control can be dangerous on slippery roads. On such roads, fast changes in tire traction can ca[...]

  • Page 232

    Black plate (34,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 9-34 Driving and Operating Resuming a Set Speed If the cruise control is set at a desired speed and then the brakes are applied, the cruise control is disengaged without erasing the set speed from memory . The cruise symbol in the instrument panel cluster also goes out indicating cruise is no[...]

  • Page 233

    Black plate (35,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Driving and Operating 9-35 Fuel Use of the recommended fuel is an important part of the proper maintenance of this vehicle. T o help keep the engine clean and maintain optimum vehicle performance, we recommend the use of gasoline advertised as TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline. Look for the TOP TIE[...]

  • Page 234

    Black plate (36,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 9-36 Driving and Operating audible knocking noise, commonly referred to as spark knock, might be heard when driving. If this occurs, use a gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher as soon as possible. If heavy knocking is heard when using gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher , the engine needs [...]

  • Page 235

    Black plate (37,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Driving and Operating 9-37 regulations. T o help keep fuel injectors and intake valves clean and avoid problems due to dirty injectors or valves, look for gasoline that is advertised as TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline. Look for the TOP TIER label on the fuel pump to ensure gasoline meets enhanced[...]

  • Page 236

    Black plate (38,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 9-38 Driving and Operating Many service stations will not have an 85% ethanol fuel (E85) pump available. The U.S. Department of Energy has an alternative fuels website (www .afdc.energy .gov/afdc/ locator/stations/) that can help you find E85 fuel. Those stations that do have E85 should have [...]

  • Page 237

    Black plate (39,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Driving and Operating 9-39 Filling the T ank { W ARNING Fuel vapor burns violently and a fuel fire can cause bad injuries. T o help avoid injuries to you and others, read and follow all the instructions on the fuel pump island. T urn off the engine when refueling. Do not smoke near fuel or wh[...]

  • Page 238

    Black plate (40,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 9-40 Driving and Operating { W ARNING Fuel can spray out on you if you open the fuel cap too quickly . If you spill fuel and then something ignites it, you could be badly burned. This spray can happen if the tank is nearly full, and is more likely in hot weather . Open the fuel cap slowly and[...]

  • Page 239

    Black plate (41,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Driving and Operating 9-41 W ARNING (Continued) . Bring the fill nozzle in contact with the inside of the fill opening before operating the nozzle. Contact should be maintained until the filling is complete. . Do not smoke while pumping fuel. . Do not use a cellular phone while pumping fuel. [...]

  • Page 240

    Black plate (42,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 9-42 Driving and Operating Driving Characteristics and T owing Tips { W ARNING The driver can lose control when pulling a trailer if the correct equipment is not used or the vehicle is not driven properly . For example, if the trailer is too heavy , the brakes may not work well — or even at[...]

  • Page 241

    Black plate (43,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Driving and Operating 9-43 Driving with a T railer T owing a trailer requires experience. Get familiar with handling and braking with the added trailer weight. The vehicle is now longer and not as responsive as the vehicle is by itself. Check all trailer hitch parts and attachments, safety ch[...]

  • Page 242

    Black plate (44,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 9-44 Driving and Operating T urn Signals When T owing a T railer The turn signal indicators on the instrument panel flash whenever signaling a turn or lane change. Properly hooked up, the trailer lamps also flash, telling other drivers the vehicle is turning, changing lanes or stopping. When [...]

  • Page 243

    Black plate (45,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Driving and Operating 9-45 4. Reapply the brake pedal. Then apply the parking brake and shift into P (Park). 5. Release the brake pedal. Leaving After Parking on a Hill 1. Apply and hold the brake pedal. 2. Start the engine. 3. Shift into a gear . 4. Release the parking brake. 5. Let up on th[...]

  • Page 244

    Black plate (46,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 9-46 Driving and Operating Maximum trailer weight is calculated assuming only the driver is in the tow vehicle and it has all the required trailering equipment. The weight of additional optional equipment, passengers and cargo in the tow vehicle must be subtracted from the maximum trailer wei[...]

  • Page 245

    Black plate (47,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Driving and Operating 9-47 T owing Equipment Hitches Use the correct hitch equipment. See your dealer or a hitch dealer for assistance. . The rear bumper on the vehicle is not intended for hitches. Do not attach rental hitches or other bumper-type hitches to it. Use only a frame-mounted hitch[...]

  • Page 246

    Black plate (48,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 9-48 Driving and Operating 2 NOTES[...]

  • Page 247

    Black plate (1,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 V ehicle Care 10-1 V ehicle Care General Information General Information . . . . . . . . . . 10-2 California Proposition 65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3 California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . 10-3 Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3[...]

  • Page 248

    Black plate (2,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 10-2 V ehicle Care When It Is Time for New T ires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-59 Buying New T ires . . . . . . . . . . . 10-59 Different Size T ires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-61 Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-6[...]

  • Page 249

    Black plate (3,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 V ehicle Care 10-3 California Proposition 65 W arning Most motor vehicles, including this one, contain and/or emit chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. Engine exhaust, many parts and systems, many fluids, and some component we[...]

  • Page 250

    Black plate (4,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 10-4 V ehicle Care GM Accessories are designed to complement and function with other systems on the vehicle. Y our GM dealer can accessorize the vehicle using genuine GM Accessories. When you go to your GM dealer and ask for GM Accessories, you will know that GM-trained and supported service t[...]

  • Page 251

    Black plate (5,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 V ehicle Care 10-5 Hood T o open the hood: 1. Pull the hood release handle with this symbol on it. It is located inside the vehicle to the left of the steering column. 2. Then go to the front of the vehicle and push the secondary hood release handle toward the driver side of the vehicle. 3. Li[...]

  • Page 252

    Black plate (6,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 10-6 V ehicle Care Engine Compartment Overview 2.4 L L4 Engine[...]

  • Page 253

    Black plate (7,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 V ehicle Care 10-7 A. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on page 10 ‑ 14 . B. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System on page 10 ‑ 16 . C. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “ When to Add Engine Oil ” under Engine Oil on page 10 ‑ 9 . D. Engine Oil Dipstick (Out of View). See “ Checking [...]

  • Page 254

    Black plate (8,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 10-8 V ehicle Care 3.6 L V6 Engine[...]

  • Page 255

    Black plate (9,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 V ehicle Care 10-9 A. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on page 10 ‑ 14 . B. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir . See Power Steering Fluid on page 10 ‑ 22 . C. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “ When to Add Engine Oil ” under Engine Oil on page 10 ‑ 9 . D. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “ Checking Engine Oi[...]

  • Page 256

    Black plate (10,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 10-10 V ehicle Care Checking Engine Oil It is a good idea to check the engine oil level at each fuel fill. In order to get an accurate reading, the vehicle must be on level ground. The engine oil dipstick handle is a yellow loop. See Engine Compartment Overview on page 10 ‑ 6 for the locati[...]

  • Page 257

    Black plate (11,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 V ehicle Care 10-1 1 Selecting the Right Engine Oil Selecting the right engine oil depends on both the proper oil specification and viscosity grade: Specification Use and ask for engine oils with the dexos ™ certification mark. Oils meeting the requirements of the vehicle should have the de[...]

  • Page 258

    Black plate (12,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 10-12 V ehicle Care Cold T emperature Operation: In an area of extreme cold, where the temperature falls below − 29°C ( − 20°F), an SAE 0W-30 oil should be used. An oil of this viscosity grade will provide easier cold starting for the engine at extremely low temperatures. When selecting[...]

  • Page 259

    Black plate (13,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 V ehicle Care 10-13 Engine Oil Life System When to Change Engine Oil This vehicle has a computer system that indicates when to change the engine oil and filter . This is based on engine revolutions and engine temperature, and not on mileage. Based on driving conditions, the mileage at which a[...]

  • Page 260

    Black plate (14,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 10-14 V ehicle Care If the CHANGE OIL SOON message comes back on when the vehicle is started, the engine oil life system has not reset. Repeat the procedure. Automatic T ransmission Fluid It is not necessary to check the transmission fluid level. A transmission fluid leak is the only reason f[...]

  • Page 261

    Black plate (15,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 V ehicle Care 10-15 T o inspect or replace the engine air cleaner/filter: 1. Remove the spring clamps that hold the cover on. 2. Lift off the cover . 3. Inspect or replace the engine air cleaner/filter . 4. Align the filter correctly using the alignment tab. 5. Install the cover by guiding th[...]

  • Page 262

    Black plate (16,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 10-16 V ehicle Care Cooling System The cooling system allows the engine to maintain the correct working temperature. 3.6 L V6 Engine Shown, 2.4 L L4 Engine Similar A. Engine Cooling Fans (Out of View) B. Engine Coolant Surge T ank C. Pressure Cap { W ARNING An electric engine cooling fan unde[...]

  • Page 263

    Black plate (17,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 V ehicle Care 10-17 What to Use { W ARNING Adding only plain water or some other liquid to the cooling system can be dangerous. Plain water and other liquids, can boil before the proper coolant mixture will. The coolant warning system is set for the proper coolant mixture. With plain water or[...]

  • Page 264

    Black plate (18,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 10-18 V ehicle Care The coolant level should be at or above the FULL COLD mark on the coolant surge tank. If it is not, there may be a leak at the pressure cap or in the radiator hoses, heater hoses, radiator , water pump, or somewhere else in the cooling system. How to Add Coolant to the Coo[...]

  • Page 265

    Black plate (19,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 V ehicle Care 10-19 1. Remove the coolant surge tank pressure cap when the cooling system, including the coolant surge tank pressure cap and upper radiator hose, is no longer hot. T urn the pressure cap slowly counterclockwise about two or two and one-half turns. If a hiss is heard, wait for [...]

  • Page 266

    Black plate (20,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 10-20 V ehicle Care Engine Overheating The vehicle has several indicators to warn of engine overheating. There is an engine coolant temperature gauge as well as an engine coolant temperature warning light on the vehicle's instrument panel cluster . See Engine Coolant T emperature Gauge o[...]

  • Page 267

    Black plate (21,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 V ehicle Care 10-21 If the overheat warning is displayed with no sign of steam: 1. T urn the air off. 2. T urn the heater on to the highest temperature and to the highest fan speed. Open the windows as necessary . 3. In heavy traffic, let the engine idle in N (Neutral) while stopped. If it is[...]

  • Page 268

    Black plate (22,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 10-22 V ehicle Care Power Steering Fluid See Engine Compartment Overview on page 10 ‑ 6 for reservoir location. When to Check Power Steering Fluid Power steering fluid is used in all vehicles with the V6 engine. V ehicles with the 4-cylinder engine have electric power steering and do not us[...]

  • Page 269

    Black plate (23,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 V ehicle Care 10-23 W asher Fluid What to Use When windshield washer fluid is needed, be sure to read the manufacturer's instructions before use. If operating the vehicle in an area where the temperature may fall below freezing, use a fluid that has sufficient protection against freezing[...]

  • Page 270

    Black plate (24,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 10-24 V ehicle Care Brakes This vehicle has disc brakes. Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that make a high-pitched warning sound when the brake pads are worn and new pads are needed. The sound can come and go or be heard all the time the vehicle is moving, except when applying th[...]

  • Page 271

    Black plate (25,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 V ehicle Care 10-25 Brake Fluid The brake master cylinder reservoir is filled with DOT 3 brake fluid as indicated on the reservoir cap. See Engine Compartment Overview on page 10 ‑ 6 for the location of the reservoir . There are only two reasons why the brake fluid level in the reservoir mi[...]

  • Page 272

    Black plate (26,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 10-26 V ehicle Care Always clean the brake fluid reservoir cap and the area around the cap before removing it. This helps keep dirt from entering the reservoir . { W ARNING With the wrong kind of fluid in the brake hydraulic system, the brakes might not work well. This could cause a crash. Al[...]

  • Page 273

    Black plate (27,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 V ehicle Care 10-27 Starter Switch Check { W ARNING When you are doing this inspection, the vehicle could move suddenly . If the vehicle moves, you or others could be injured. 1. Before starting this check, be sure there is enough room around the vehicle. 2. Firmly apply both the parking brak[...]

  • Page 274

    Black plate (28,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 10-28 V ehicle Care Ignition T ransmission Lock Check While parked, and with the parking brake set, try to turn the ignition to LOCK/OFF in each shift lever position. . The ignition should turn to LOCK/OFF only when the shift lever is in P (Park). . The ignition key should come out only in LO[...]

  • Page 275

    Black plate (29,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 V ehicle Care 10-29 Wiper Blade Replacement Windshield wiper blades should be inspected for wear or cracking. See Scheduled Maintenance on page 1 1 ‑ 2 for more information. It is a good idea to clean or replace the wiper blade assembly on a regular basis or when worn. For proper windshield[...]

  • Page 276

    Black plate (30,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 10-30 V ehicle Care Bulb Replacement For the proper type of replacement bulbs, see Replacement Bulbs on page 10 ‑ 34 . For any bulb ‐ changing procedure not listed in this section, contact your dealer . Halogen Bulbs { W ARNING Halogen bulbs have pressurized gas inside and can burst if yo[...]

  • Page 277

    Black plate (31,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 V ehicle Care 10-31 2. Remove the two rear convenience net hooks holding the trunk trim and move the trim aside. 3. Remove the three wing nuts (A), which hold the taillamp assembly , from inside the trunk. 4. Remove the taillamp assembly . 5. T urn the bulb socket (B) counterclockwise to remo[...]

  • Page 278

    Black plate (32,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 10-32 V ehicle Care T aillamps, T urn Signal, and Stoplamps (L TZ) A. Back ‐ up Lamp B. Stoplamp, T aillamp and T urn Signal Lamp 1. Open the trunk. See T runk on page 2 ‑ 9 for more information. 2. Remove the two rear convenience net hooks holding the trunk trim and move the trim aside. [...]

  • Page 279

    Black plate (33,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 V ehicle Care 10-33 5. Disconnect the wiring harness connector (C) from the LED (B). 6. T urn the LED (B) counterclockwise to remove it. 7. Install a new LED (B). 8. Reverse Steps 2 through 6 to reinstall the taillamp assembly (A). Back-Up Lamps 1. Open the trunk. See T runk on page 2 ‑ 9 f[...]

  • Page 280

    Black plate (34,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 10-34 V ehicle Care 4. T urn the bulb socket (B) counterclockwise to remove from the lamp assembly . 5. Pull the bulb (A) from the socket (B). 6. Install the new bulb. 7. Reverse Steps 1 through 4 to reinstall. License Plate Lamp T o replace the license plate lamp bulb: 1. Remove the license [...]

  • Page 281

    Black plate (35,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 V ehicle Care 10-35 Electrical System Electrical System Overload The vehicle has fuses and circuit breakers to protect against an electrical system overload. When the current electrical load is too heavy , the circuit breaker opens and closes, protecting the circuit until the current load ret[...]

  • Page 282

    Black plate (36,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 10-36 V ehicle Care T o identify and check fuses, circuit breakers, and relays, see Engine Compartment Fuse Block on page 10 ‑ 36 , Instrument Panel Fuse Block on page 10 ‑ 38 , and Rear Compartment Fuse Block on page 10 ‑ 40 . Engine Compartment Fuse Block The engine compartment fuse b[...]

  • Page 283

    Black plate (37,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 V ehicle Care 10-37 Fuses Usage 7 Left Headlamp Low-Beam 8 Horn 9 Right Headlamp Low-Beam 10 Front Fog Lamps 1 1 Left Headlamp High-Beam 12 Right Headlamp High-Beam 13 Engine Control Module BA TT 14 Windshield Wiper 15 Antilock Brake System (IGN 1) 16 Engine Control Module IGN 1 17 Cooling Fa[...]

  • Page 284

    Black plate (38,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 10-38 V ehicle Care Fuses Usage 55 DC/AC Inverter 56 Antilock Brake System BA TT Relays Usage 28 Cooling Fan 1 29 Cooling Fan Series/ Parallel 30 Cooling Fan 2 31 Starter 32 Run/Crank, Ignition 33 Powertrain 34 Air Conditioning Clutch 35 High Beam Relays Usage 36 Front Fog Lamps 37 Horn 38 Lo[...]

  • Page 285

    Black plate (39,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 V ehicle Care 10-39 The vehicle may not be equipped with all of the fuses, relays and features shown. Fuses Usage POWER MIRRORS Power Mirrors EPS Electronic Power Steering Fuses Usage RUN/CRANK Cruise Control Switch, Passenger Airbag Status Indicator Fuses Usage HV AC BLOWER HIGH Heating V en[...]

  • Page 286

    Black plate (40,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 10-40 V ehicle Care Fuses Usage STRG WHL ILLUM Steering Wheel Illumination NOT INST ALLED Not Used RADIO Audio System INTERIOR LIGHTS Interior Lamps NOT INST ALLED Not Used POWER WINDOWS Power Windows HV AC CTRL (IGN) Heating V entilation Air Conditioning Control (Ignition) HV AC BLOWER Heati[...]

  • Page 287

    Black plate (41,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 V ehicle Care 10-41 The vehicle may not be equipped with all of the fuses, relays, and features shown. Fuses Usage 1 Passenger Seat Controls 2 Driver Seat Controls 3 Not Used Fuses Usage 4 Not Used 5 Emission 2, Canister V ent Solenoid 6 Park Lamps, Instrument Panel Dimming Fuses Usage 7 Not [...]

  • Page 288

    Black plate (42,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 10-42 V ehicle Care Fuses Usage 22 T runk Release 23 Rear Defog 24 Heated Mirrors 25 Fuel Pump Relays Usage 26 Rear Window Defogger 27 Park Lamps 28 Not Used 29 Not Used Relays Usage 30 Not Used 31 Not Used 32 Not Used 33 Back-up Lamps 34 Not Used 35 Not Used 36 T runk Release 37 Fuel Pump 38[...]

  • Page 289

    Black plate (43,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 V ehicle Care 10-43 W ARNING (Continued) . Underinflated tires pose the same danger as overloaded tires. The resulting crash could cause serious injury . Check all tires frequently to maintain the recommended pressure. T ire pressure should be checked when the tires are cold. . Overinflated t[...]

  • Page 290

    Black plate (44,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 10-44 V ehicle Care See your dealer for details regarding winter tire availability and proper tire selection. Also, see Buying New Tires on page 10 ‑ 59 . If using snow tires: . Use tires of the same brand and tread type on all four wheel positions. . Use only radial ply tires of the same s[...]

  • Page 291

    Black plate (45,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 V ehicle Care 10-45 Passenger (P ‐ Metric) Tire Example (A) Tire Size : The tire size is a combination of letters and numbers used to define a particular tire's width, height, aspect ratio, construction type, and service description. See the “ T ire Size ” illustration later in thi[...]

  • Page 292

    Black plate (46,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 10-46 V ehicle Care (G) Maximum Cold Inflation Load Limit : Maximum load that can be carried and the maximum pressure needed to support that load. Compact Spare Tire Example (A) Tire Ply Material : The type of cord and number of plies in the sidewall and under the tread. (B) T emporary Use On[...]

  • Page 293

    Black plate (47,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 V ehicle Care 10-47 (G) TPC Spec (Tire Performance Criteria Specification) : Original equipment tires designed to GM's specific tire performance criteria have a TPC specification code molded onto the sidewall. GM's TPC specifications meet or exceed all federal safety guidelines. Tir[...]

  • Page 294

    Black plate (48,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 10-48 V ehicle Care Tire T erminology and Definitions Air Pressure : The amount of air inside the tire pressing outward on each square inch of the tire. Air pressure is expressed in psi (pounds per square inch) or kPa (kilopasca l). Accessory Weight : The combined weight of optional accessori[...]

  • Page 295

    Black plate (49,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 V ehicle Care 10-49 GA WR RR : Gross Axle Weight Rating for the rear axle. See V ehicle Load Limits on page 9 ‑ 12 . Intended Outboard Sidewall : The side of an asymmetrica l tire, that must always face outward when mounted on a vehicle. Kilopascal (kPa) : The metric unit for air pressure. [...]

  • Page 296

    Black plate (50,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 10-50 V ehicle Care Radial Ply Tire : A pneumatic tire in which the ply cords that extend to the beads are laid at 90 degrees to the centerline of the tread. Rim : A metal support for a tire and upon which the tire beads are seated. Sidewall : The portion of a tire between the tread and the b[...]

  • Page 297

    Black plate (51,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 V ehicle Care 10-51 Tire Pressure T ires need the correct amount of air pressure to operate effectively . Notice: Neither tire underinflation nor overinflation is good. Underinflated tires, or tires that do not have enough air , can result in: . Tire overloading and over-heating which could l[...]

  • Page 298

    Black plate (52,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 10-52 V ehicle Care How to Check Use a good quality pocket-type gauge to check tire pressure. Y ou cannot tell if the tires are properly inflated simply by looking at them. Radial tires may look properly inflated even when they are underinflated. Check the tire's inflation pressure when [...]

  • Page 299

    Black plate (53,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 V ehicle Care 10-53 Tire Pressure Monitor System The T ire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) uses radio and sensor technology to check tire pressure levels. The TPMS sensors monitor the air pressure in your tires and transmit tire pressure readings to a receiver located in the vehicle. Each tire[...]

  • Page 300

    Black plate (54,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 10-54 V ehicle Care Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Industry Canada See Radio Frequency Statement on page 13 ‑ 19 for information regarding Part 15 of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules and Industry Canada Standards RSS-210/220/310. Tire Pressure Monitor Operation[...]

  • Page 301

    Black plate (55,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 V ehicle Care 10-55 Notice: Tire sealant materials are not all the same. A non-approved tire sealant could damage the TPMS sensors. TPMS sensor damage caused by using an incorrect tire sealant is not covered by the vehicle warranty . Always use only the GM-approved tire sealant available thro[...]

  • Page 302

    Black plate (56,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 10-56 V ehicle Care . Operating electronic devices or being near facilities using radio wave frequencies similar to the TPMS could cause the TPMS sensors to malfunction. If the TPMS is not functioning properly , it cannot detect or signal a low tire condition. See your dealer for service if t[...]

  • Page 303

    Black plate (57,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 V ehicle Care 10-57 8. The driver side rear turn signal comes on to indicate that corner sensor is ready to be learned. Proceed to the driver side rear tire, and repeat the procedure in Step 5. 9. After hearing the single horn chirp for the driver side rear tire, two additional horn chirps so[...]

  • Page 304

    Black plate (58,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 10-58 V ehicle Care Any time you notice unusual wear , rotate the tires as soon as possible and check wheel alignment. Also check for damaged tires or wheels. See When It Is Time for New Tires on page 10 ‑ 59 and Wheel Replacement on page 10 ‑ 64 . When rotating the vehicle's tires, [...]

  • Page 305

    Black plate (59,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 V ehicle Care 10-59 When It Is Time for New Tires Factors such as maintenance, temperatures, driving speeds, vehicle loading, and road conditions affect the wear rate of the tires. T readwear indicators are one way to tell when it is time for new tires. T readwear indicators appear when the t[...]

  • Page 306

    Black plate (60,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 10-60 V ehicle Care GM's exclusive TPC Spec system considers over a dozen critical specifications that impact the overall performance of the vehicle, including brake system performance, ride and handling, traction control, and tire pressure monitoring performance. GM's TPC Spec numb[...]

  • Page 307

    Black plate (61,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 V ehicle Care 10-61 If you must replace the vehicle's tires with those that do not have a TPC Spec number , make sure they are the same size, load range, speed rating, and construction type (radial and bias ‐ belted tires) as the vehicle's original tires. V ehicles that have a tir[...]

  • Page 308

    Black plate (62,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 10-62 V ehicle Care Uniform Tire Quality Grading Quality grades can be found where applicable on the tire sidewall between tread shoulder and maximum section width. For example: T readwear 200 T raction AA T emperature A The following information relates to the system developed by the United [...]

  • Page 309

    Black plate (63,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 V ehicle Care 10-63 T raction – AA, A, B, C The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A, B, and C. Those grades represent the tire's ability to stop on wet pavement as measured under controlled conditions on specified government test surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire [...]

  • Page 310

    Black plate (64,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 10-64 V ehicle Care Wheel Replacement Replace any wheel that is bent, cracked, or badly rusted or corroded. If wheel nuts keep coming loose, the wheel, wheel bolts, and wheel nuts should be replaced. If the wheel leaks air , replace it. Some aluminum wheels can be repaired. See your dealer if[...]

  • Page 311

    Black plate (65,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 V ehicle Care 10-65 Tire Chains { W ARNING Do not use tire chains. There is not enough clearance. Tire chains used on a vehicle without the proper amount of clearance can cause damage to the brakes, suspension or other vehicle parts. The area damaged by the tire chains could cause you to lose[...]

  • Page 312

    Black plate (66,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 10-66 V ehicle Care AA rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a skid and may require the same correction as used in a skid. Stop pressing the accelerator pedal and steer to straighten the vehicle. It may be very bumpy and noisy . Gently brake to a stop, well off the road, if po[...]

  • Page 313

    Black plate (67,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 V ehicle Care 10-67 This vehicle may come with a jack and spare tire or a tire sealant and compressor kit. T o use the jacking equipment to change a spare tire safely , follow the instructions below . Then see Tire Changing on page 10 ‑ 75 . T o use the tire sealant and compressor kit, see [...]

  • Page 314

    Black plate (68,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 10-68 V ehicle Care { W ARNING Overinflating a tire could cause the tire to rupture and you or others could be injured. Be sure to read and follow the tire sealant and compressor kit instructions and inflate the tire to its recommended pressure. Do not exceed the recommended pressure. { W ARN[...]

  • Page 315

    Black plate (69,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 V ehicle Care 10-69 Tire Sealant Read and follow the safe handling instructions on the label adhered to the compressor . Check the tire sealant expiration date on the sealant canister . The sealant canister should be replaced before its expiration date. Replacement sealant canisters are avail[...]

  • Page 316

    Black plate (70,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 10-70 V ehicle Care 5. Attach the sealant/air hose (F) onto the tire valve stem. T urn it clockwise until it is tight. 6. Plug the power plug (G) into the accessory power outlet in the vehicle. Unplug all items from other accessory power outlets. See Power Outlets on page 5 ‑ 7 . If the veh[...]

  • Page 317

    Black plate (71,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 V ehicle Care 10-71 1 1. Press the on/off button (A) to turn the tire sealant and compressor kit off. The tire is not sealed and will continue to leak air until the vehicle is driven and the sealant is distributed in the tire; therefore, Steps 12 through 18 must be done immediately after Step[...]

  • Page 318

    Black plate (72,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 10-72 V ehicle Care 20. Wipe off any sealant from the wheel, tire, and vehicle. 21. Dispose of the used sealant canister and sealant/air hose (F) assembly at a local dealer or in accordance with local state codes and practices. 22. Replace it with a new canister available from your dealer . 2[...]

  • Page 319

    Black plate (73,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 V ehicle Care 10-73 6. Plug the power plug (G) into the accessory power outlet in the vehicle. Unplug all items from other accessory power outlets. See Power Outlets on page 5 ‑ 7 . If the vehicle has an accessory power outlet, do not use the cigarette lighter . If the vehicle only has a ci[...]

  • Page 320

    Black plate (74,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 10-74 V ehicle Care Removal and Installation of the Sealant Canister T o remove the sealant canister: 1. Remove the plastic cover . 2. Unscrew the connector (B) from the canister (A). 3. Pull up on the canister (A) to remove it. 4. Replace with a new canister which is available from your deal[...]

  • Page 321

    Black plate (75,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 V ehicle Care 10-75 Tire Changing Removing the Spare Tire and T ools The equipment you will need is in the trunk. 1. Open the trunk. See T runk on page 2 ‑ 9 for more information. 2. Remove the spare tire cover . 3. T urn the wing nut counterclockwise and remove it. Then remove the compact [...]

  • Page 322

    Black plate (76,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 10-76 V ehicle Care 3. Extend the handle on the wheel wrench by pressing the button and pulling on the end of the wrench. Y ou must do this before using the wheel wrench. Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the Spare Tire 1. Do a safety check before proceeding. See If a Tire Goes Flat on pa[...]

  • Page 323

    Black plate (77,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 V ehicle Care 10-77 5. Position the lift head at the jack location nearest the flat tire. Make sure all of the jack lift head is touching the jacking flange under the body . Do not place the jack under a body panel. 6. Put the compact spare tire near the flat tire. { W ARNING Getting under a [...]

  • Page 324

    Black plate (78,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 10-78 V ehicle Care 8. Remove all of the wheel nuts. 9. Remove the flat tire. { W ARNING Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to which it is fastened, can make wheel nuts become loose after time. The wheel could come off and cause an accident. When changing a wheel, remove any rust or dir[...]

  • Page 325

    Black plate (79,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 V ehicle Care 10-79 13. Lower the vehicle by turning the wrench counterclockwise. Lower the jack completely . { W ARNING Wheel nuts that are improperly or incorrectly tightened can cause the wheels to become loose or come off. The wheel nuts should be tightened with a torque wrench to the pro[...]

  • Page 326

    Black plate (80,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 10-80 V ehicle Care Storing a Flat Tire and T ools { W ARNING Storing a jack, a tire, or other equipment in the passenger compartment of the vehicle could cause injury . In a sudden stop or collision, loose equipment could strike someone. Store all these in the proper place. T o store the fla[...]

  • Page 327

    Black plate (81,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 V ehicle Care 10-81 6. Place the jack over the bolt (A) on the floor , making sure it contacts the bolt. Thread the jack retainer nut until it contacts the jack. 7. With the valve stem up, place the tire on the compartment floor with the rear of the tire under the trim panel. The tire may not[...]

  • Page 328

    Black plate (82,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 10-82 V ehicle Care Storing the Spare Tire and T ools { W ARNING Storing a jack, a tire, or other equipment in the passenger compartment of the vehicle could cause injury . In a sudden stop or collision, loose equipment could strike someone. Store all these in the proper place. 1. Open the tr[...]

  • Page 329

    Black plate (83,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 V ehicle Care 10-83 6. Place the compact spare into the tire compartment with the stow bolt going through the center hole of the wheel. 7. T urn the spare tire retainer nut until it firmly contacts the wheel. Do not over tighten. Compact Spare Tire { W ARNING Driving with more than one compac[...]

  • Page 330

    Black plate (84,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 10-84 V ehicle Care Jump Starting For more information about the vehicle battery , see Battery on page 10 ‑ 26 . If the battery has run down, you may want to use another vehicle and some jumper cables to start your vehicle. Be sure to use the following steps to do it safely . { W ARNING Bat[...]

  • Page 331

    Black plate (85,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 V ehicle Care 10-85 needed. This will avoid sparks and help save both batteries. And it could save the radio! 4. Open the hoods and locate the batteries. Find the positive (+) and negative ( − ) terminal locations on each vehicle. Y our vehicle's positive (+) terminal and negative ( ?[...]

  • Page 332

    Black plate (86,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 10-86 V ehicle Care Do not connect positive (+) to negative ( − ) or you will get a short that would damage the battery and maybe other parts too. And do not connect the negative ( − ) cable to the negative ( − ) terminal on the dead battery because this can cause sparks. 6. Connect the[...]

  • Page 333

    Black plate (87,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 V ehicle Care 10-87 Notice: If the jumper cables are connected or removed in the wrong order , electrical shorting may occur and damage the vehicle. The repairs would not be covered by the vehicle warranty . Always connect and remove the jumper cables in the correct order , making sure that t[...]

  • Page 334

    Black plate (88,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 10-88 V ehicle Care T owing T owing the V ehicle Notice: T o avoid damage, the disabled vehicle should be towed with all four wheels off the ground. Care must be taken with vehicles that have low ground clearance and/or special equipment. Always flatbed on a car carrier . Consult your dealer [...]

  • Page 335

    Black plate (89,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 V ehicle Care 10-89 Dinghy T owing When dinghy towing, the vehicle should be run at the beginning of each day and at each RV fuel stop for about five minutes. This will ensure proper lubrication of transmission components. T o dinghy tow the vehicle from the front with all four wheels on the [...]

  • Page 336

    Black plate (90,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 10-90 V ehicle Care Dolly T owing T ow the vehicle with the two rear wheels on the ground and the front wheels on a dolly: T o tow the vehicle with two wheels on the ground and a dolly: 1. Put the front wheels on a dolly . 2. Put the gear shift lever in P (Park). 3. Set the parking brake. 4. [...]

  • Page 337

    Black plate (91,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 V ehicle Care 10-91 Notice: Machine compounding or aggressive polishing on a basecoat/clearcoat paint finish may damage it. Use only non-abrasive waxes and polishes that are made for a basecoat/ clearcoat paint finish on the vehicle. Foreign materials such as calcium chloride and other salts,[...]

  • Page 338

    Black plate (92,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 10-92 V ehicle Care High pressure car washes could cause water to enter the vehicle. Avoid using high pressure washes closer than 30 cm (12 in) to the surface of the vehicle. Use of power washers exceeding 8,274 kPa (1,200 psi) can result in damage or removal of paint and decals. Notice: Conv[...]

  • Page 339

    Black plate (93,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 V ehicle Care 10-93 Windshield and Wiper Blades Clean the outside of the windshield with glass cleaner . Clean the rubber blades using a lint ‐ free cloth or paper towel soaked with windshield washer fluid or a mild detergent. Wash the windshield thoroughly when cleaning the blades. Bugs, r[...]

  • Page 340

    Black plate (94,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 10-94 V ehicle Care At least every spring, flush these materials from the underbody with plain water . Clean any areas where mud and debris can collect. Dirt packed in close areas of the frame should be loosened before being flushed. Y our dealer or an underbody car washing system can do this[...]

  • Page 341

    Black plate (95,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 V ehicle Care 10-95 Do not clean the interior using the following cleaners or techniques: . Never use a knife or any other sharp object to remove a soil from any interior surface. . Never use a stiff brush. It can cause damage. . Never apply heavy pressure or rub aggressively with a cleaning [...]

  • Page 342

    Black plate (96,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 10-96 V ehicle Care Leather Leather , and lighter colored leather in particular , will need more frequent cleaning to prevent the buildup of dust, dirt, and colors transferred from other items so that these do not become permanent stains. T o remove dust, a soft cloth dampened with water can [...]

  • Page 343

    Black plate (97,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 V ehicle Care 10-97 Care of Safety Belts Keep belts clean and dry . { W ARNING Do not bleach or dye safety belts. It may severely weaken them. In a crash, they might not be able to provide adequate protection. Clean safety belts only with mild soap and lukewarm water . Floor Mats { W ARNING I[...]

  • Page 344

    Black plate (98,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 10-98 V ehicle Care The driver side floor mat is held in place by two hooks. Removing and Replacing the Floor Mat 1. Pull up on the rear of the mat to remove it from the hooks. 2. Reinstall the floor mat by lining up the openings in the floor mat over the hooks and push it down into position.[...]

  • Page 345

    Black plate (1,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Service and Maintenance 1 1-1 Service and Maintenance General Information General Information . . . . . . . . . . 1 1-1 Scheduled Maintenance Scheduled Maintenance . . . . . 1 1-2 Recommended Fluids, Lubricants, and Parts Recommended Fluids and Lubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 [...]

  • Page 346

    Black plate (2,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 1 1-2 Service and Maintenance { W ARNING Performing maintenance work can be dangerous. Some jobs can cause serious injury . Perform maintenance work only if you have the required know-how and the proper tools and equipment. If in doubt, see your dealer to have a qualified technician do the wor[...]

  • Page 347

    Black plate (3,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Service and Maintenance 1 1-3 Y our dealer has trained service technicians who will perform this work and reset the system. If the engine oil life system is reset accidentally , service the vehicle within 5 000 km/3,000 miles since the last service. Reset the oil life system whenever the oil i[...]

  • Page 348

    Black plate (4,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 1 1-4 Service and Maintenance . Body hinges and latches, key lock cylinders, folding seat hardware, and rear compartment hinges lubrication. See Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 1 1 ‑ 6 . More frequent lubrication may be required when the vehicle is exposed to a corrosive environmen[...]

  • Page 349

    Black plate (5,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Service and Maintenance 1 1-5 . Hood/Decklid/Liftgate/Liftglass Support Gas Strut Service: Visually inspect gas strut, if equipped, for signs of wear , cracks, or other damage. Check the hold open ability of the gas strut. Contact your dealer if service is required. First Engine Oil Change Aft[...]

  • Page 350

    Black plate (6,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 1 1-6 Service and Maintenance Recommended Fluids, Lubricants, and Parts Recommended Fluids and Lubricants Usage Fluid/Lubricant Engine Oil The engine requires engine oil approved to the dexos specification. Oils meeting this specification can be identified with the dexos certification mark. Lo[...]

  • Page 351

    Black plate (7,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Service and Maintenance 1 1-7 Usage Fluid/Lubricant Hood and Door Hinges Multi-Purpose Lubricant, Superlube (GM Part No. 12346241, in Canada 10953474). Weatherstrip Conditioning Weatherstrip Lubricant (GM Part No. 3634770, in Canada 10953518) or Dielectric Silicone Grease (GM Part No. 12345579[...]

  • Page 352

    Black plate (8,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 1 1-8 Service and Maintenance Maintenance Records After the scheduled services are performed, record the date, odometer reading, who performed the service, and the type of services performed in the boxes provided. Retain all maintenance receipts. Maintenance Record Date Odometer Reading Servic[...]

  • Page 353

    Black plate (9,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Service and Maintenance 1 1-9 Maintenance Record (cont.) Date Odometer Reading Serviced By Services Performed[...]

  • Page 354

    Black plate (10,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 1 1-10 Service and Maintenance Maintenance Record (cont.) Date Odometer Reading Serviced By Services Performed[...]

  • Page 355

    Black plate (1,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 T echnical Data 12-1 T echnical Data V ehicle Identification V ehicle Identification Number (VIN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-1 Service Parts Identification Label . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-1 V ehicle Data Capacities and Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-2 [...]

  • Page 356

    Black plate (2,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 12-2 T echnical Data V ehicle Data Capacities and Specifications Application Capacities Metric English Air Conditioning Refrigerant R134a For the air conditioning system refrigerant charge amount, see the refrigerant label located under the hood. See your dealer for more information. Engine Co[...]

  • Page 357

    Black plate (3,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 T echnical Data 12-3 Application Capacities Metric English T ransmission Fluid* 6 — Speed Automatic T ransmission (RPO X23F) — (Drain and Refill) 5.0 L 5.3 qt 6 — Speed Automatic T ransmission (RPO 6T70) — (Drain and Refill) 6.0 L 6.3 qt Wheel Nut T orque 140 Y 100 ft lb *See Automatic[...]

  • Page 358

    Black plate (4,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 12-4 T echnical Data Engine Drive Belt Routing 2.4L L4 Engine 3.6L V6 Engine[...]

  • Page 359

    Black plate (1,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Customer Information 13-1 Customer Information Customer Information Customer Satisfaction Procedure (U.S. and C a n a d a ) .................... 1 3 - 1 Customer Satisfaction Procedure (Mexico) . . . . . . . . 13-3 Customer Assistance Offices (U.S. and Canada) . . . . . . . . . 13-5 Customer A[...]

  • Page 360

    Black plate (2,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 13-2 Customer Information STEP TWO: If after contacting a member of dealership management, it appears your concern cannot be resolved by the dealership without further help, in the U.S., call the Chevrolet Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-222-1020. In Canada, call General Motors of Canada C[...]

  • Page 361

    Black plate (3,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Customer Information 13-3 STEP THREE — Canadian Owners: In the event that you do not feel your concerns have been addressed after following the procedure outlined in Steps One and T wo, General Motors of Canada Limited wants you to be aware of its participation in a no-charge Mediation/Arbit[...]

  • Page 362

    Black plate (4,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 13-4 Customer Information Customer Assistance Procedure Owner satisfaction and goodwill are very important to your dealer and General Motors. Normally , any problem with the transaction, sale, or usage of the vehicle must be handled by your dealer sales or service departments. However , we rec[...]

  • Page 363

    Black plate (5,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Customer Information 13-5 See Customer Assistance Offices (U.S. and Canada) on page 13 ‑ 5 or Customer Assistance Offices (Mexico) on page 13 ‑ 5 for more information. Customer Assistance Offices (U.S. and Canada) Chevrolet encourages customers to call the toll-free number for assistance. [...]

  • Page 364

    Black plate (6,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 13-6 Customer Information Mexico From Mexico City 5329-081 1 From Other Mexico Locations 01-800-466-081 1 United States and Canada 1-866-466-8190 Costa Rica 00-800-052-1005 Guatemala 1-800-999-5252 Panama 00-800-052-0001 Dominican Republic 1-888-751-5301 El Salvador 800-6273 Honduras 800-0122-[...]

  • Page 365

    Black plate (7,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Customer Information 13-7 Other Helpful Links Chevrolet — www .chevrolet.com Chevrolet Merchandise — www .chevymall.com Help Center — www .chevrolet.com/ pages/mds/helpcenter/faq.do . F AQ . Contact Us My GM Canada www.gm.ca My GM Canada is a password-protected section of www .gm.ca wher[...]

  • Page 366

    Black plate (8,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 13-8 Customer Information General Motors of Canada also has a Mobility Program. Call 1-800-GM-DRIVE (463-7483) for details. TTY users call 1-800-263-3830. Roadside Assistance Program (U.S. and Canada) For U.S. ‐ purchased vehicles, call 1 ‐ 800 ‐ 243 ‐ 8872; (T ext T elephone (TTY): 1 [...]

  • Page 367

    Black plate (9,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Customer Information 13-9 Services Provided . Emergency Fuel Delivery: Delivery of enough fuel for the vehicle to get to the nearest service station. . Lock ‐ Out Service: Service to unlock the vehicle if you are locked out. A remote unlock may be available if you have OnStar . For security [...]

  • Page 368

    Black plate (10,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 13-10 Customer Information . T rip Interruption Benefits and Assistance: Must be over 250 kilometers from where your trip was started to qualify . General Motors of Canada Limited requires pre-authorization, original detailed receipts, and a copy of the repair orders. Once authorization has b[...]

  • Page 369

    Black plate (11,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Customer Information 13-1 1 Courtesy T ransportation Program (U.S. and Canada) T o enhance your ownership experience, we and our participating dealers are proud to offer Courtesy T ransportation, a customer support program for vehicles with the Bumper-to-Bumper (Base W arranty Coverage period[...]

  • Page 370

    Black plate (12,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 13-12 Customer Information Courtesy Rental V ehicle The dealer may arrange to provide you with a courtesy rental vehicle or reimburse you for a rental vehicle that you obtain if the vehicle is kept for an overnight warranty repair . Rental reimbursement will be limited and must be supported b[...]

  • Page 371

    Black plate (13,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Customer Information 13-13 Recycled original equipment parts may also be used for repair . These parts are typically removed from vehicles that were total losses in prior crashes. In most cases, the parts being recycled are from undamaged sections of the vehicle. A recycled original equipment[...]

  • Page 372

    Black plate (14,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 13-14 Customer Information If a Crash Occurs If there has been an injury , call emergency services for help. Do not leave the scene of a crash until all matters have been taken care of. Move the vehicle only if its position puts you in danger , or you are instructed to move it by a police off[...]

  • Page 373

    Black plate (15,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Customer Information 13-15 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 the repair professional, and insist on Genuine GM parts. Re[...]

  • Page 374

    Black plate (16,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 13-16 Customer Information Current and Past Models T echnical Service Bulletins and Manuals are available for current and past model GM vehicles. 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, [...]

  • Page 375

    Black plate (17,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Customer Information 13-17 Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian Government If you live in Canada, and you believe that the vehicle has a safety defect, notify Transport Canada immediately , and notify General Motors of Canada Limited. Call them at 1-800-333-0510 or write to: T ransport Ca[...]

  • Page 376

    Black plate (18,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 13-18 Customer Information Event Data Recorders This vehicle has an Event Data Recorder (EDR). The main purpose of an EDR is to record, in certain crash or near crash-like situations, such as an airbag deployment or hitting a road obstacle, data that will assist in understanding how a vehicle[...]

  • Page 377

    Black plate (19,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 Customer Information 13-19 OnStar ® If the vehicle is equipped with an active OnStar system, that system may also record data in crash or near crash ‐ like situations. The OnStar T erms and Conditions provides information on data collection and use and is available in the OnStar glove box [...]

  • Page 378

    Black plate (20,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 13-20 Customer Information 2 NOTES[...]

  • Page 379

    Black plate (1,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 INDEX i-1 A Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3 Accessory Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-20 Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-47 Adjustments Lumbar , Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4 Air Cleaner/Filter , Engine . . . [...]

  • Page 380

    Black plate (2,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 i-2 INDEX Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-24 Antilock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-27 Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-28 Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-25 Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .[...]

  • Page 381

    Black plate (3,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 INDEX i-3 Collision Damage Repair . . . . . 13-12 Compact Spare T ire . . . . . . . . . . 10-83 Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4 Compressor Kit, Tire Sealant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-67 Control of a V ehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3 Convenien[...]

  • Page 382

    Black plate (4,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 i-4 INDEX E E85 Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-37 Electrical Equipment, Add-On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-47 Electrical System Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-36 Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-35 In[...]

  • Page 383

    Black plate (5,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 INDEX i-5 Front Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2 Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-35 Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-36 E85 (85% Ethanol) . . . . . . . . . . . 9-37 Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [...]

  • Page 384

    Black plate (6,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 i-6 INDEX High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . 10-52 Highway Hypnosis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-8 Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . 9-8 Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-5 Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3 How to Wear Safety Be[...]

  • Page 385

    Black plate (7,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 INDEX i-7 Lights (cont.) Engine Coolant T emperature Warning . . . . . . . 5-20 Engine Oil Pressure . . . . . . . . . . 5-21 Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2 High-Beam On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22 High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . . 6-2 Safety Belt Reminders . . .[...]

  • Page 386

    Black plate (8,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 i-8 INDEX Oil (cont.) Engine Oil Life System . . . . . 10-13 Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-26 Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-21 Older Children, Restraints . . . . . 3-39 Online Owner Center . . . . . . . . . . 13-6 OnStar ® System . . . . . . . . . . . .[...]

  • Page 387

    Black plate (9,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 INDEX i-9 Rearview Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14 Automatic Dimming . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14 Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5 Recommended Fluids and Lubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1-6 Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . 9-35 Records Maintenan[...]

  • Page 388

    Black plate (10,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 i-10 INDEX Seats Adjustment, Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3 Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2 Heated Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7 Lumbar Adjustment, Front . . . . . 3-4 Power Adjustment, Front . . . . . . 3-4 Rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .[...]

  • Page 389

    Black plate (11,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 INDEX i-1 1 T T achometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-10 T aillamps T urn Signal, and Stoplamps . . . . . . . . . 10-30, 10-32 T ext T elephone (TTY) Users . . . 13-6 Theft-Deterrent Systems . . . . . . . 2-12 Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12 T ime . . . . [...]

  • Page 390

    Black plate (12,1) Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 201 1 i-12 INDEX U Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-62 Using this Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv V V ehicle Canadian Owners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3 Identification Number (VIN) .[...]