instrument cluster CHEVROLET MALIBU 2005 5.G Owners Manual

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. SeeAirbag Readiness Light on page 3-34
for more information.Where Are the Airbags?
The driver’s frontal airbag is in the middle of the
steering wheel.
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{CAUTION:
If the airbag readiness light in the instrument
panel cluster ever comes on and stays on, it
means that something may be wrong with the
airbag system. If this ever happens, have the
vehicle serviced promptly, because an
adult-size person sitting in the right front
passenger’s seat may not have the protection
of the frontal airbag. SeeAirbag Readiness
Light on page 3-34for more on this, including
important safety information.
A thick layer of additional material such as a blanket, or
aftermarket equipment such as seat covers, seat
heaters, and seat massagers, can affect how well the
passenger sensing system operates. Remove any
additional material from the seat cushion before
reinstalling or securing the child restraint or small
occupant. You may want to consider not using seat
covers or other aftermarket equipment if your vehicle
has the passenger sensing system. SeeAdding
Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on
page 1-74for more information about modications that
can affect how the system operates.The passenger sensing system may suppress the
airbag deployment when liquid is soaked into the seat. If
this happens, the off indicator in the passenger airbag
status indicator and the airbag readiness light on
the instrument panel will be lit. The system should
resume normal operation after the seat is allowed to dry.
If the system operates incorrectly after the seat has
dried, have your dealer check the system.
{CAUTION:
Stowing of articles under the passenger’s seat
or between the passenger’s seat cushion and
seatback may interfere with the proper
operation of the passenger sensing system.
1-73

Content Theft-Deterrent
Your vehicle may have a
content theft-deterrent
alarm system.
Arming the System
With the ignition off, you can arm the system by doing
any one of the following:
Press the remote keyless entry transmitter lock
button.
Press the power door lock switch while the driver’s
door is open.
Turn the driver’s door key lock cylinder clockwise.
The system will arm either:
Thirty seconds after all the doors and the liftgate
(MAXX) are closed or,
Sixty seconds with any door openIf you press the lock button on the remote keyless entry
transmitter a second time while all the doors and
liftgate are closed, the system will arm immediately. The
system will still arm in sixty seconds if a door or
liftgate is open. When the opened door or liftgate is
closed, it will also become armed.
The security light, located on the instrument panel
cluster, will turn on to indicate that arming has been
initiated. Once the system is armed, the security light will
ash once every three seconds.
If the security light is ashing twice per second, this
means that a door or the liftgate is open.
If you do not want to arm the system, you may lock the
car with the lock levers on the doors.
Disarming the System
You can disarm the system by doing any one of the
following:
Press the remote keyless entry transmitter unlock
button.
Turn the ignition on.
Turn the driver’s door key lock cylinder
counterclockwise.
Once the system is disarmed, the security light will stop
ashing.
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Instrument Panel Overview...............................3-4
Hazard Warning Flashers................................3-6
Other Warning Devices...................................3-6
Horn .............................................................3-6
Tilt Wheel.....................................................3-7
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.........................3-7
Turn and Lane-Change Signals........................3-8
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer..................3-8
Flash-to-Pass.................................................3-8
Windshield Wipers..........................................3-9
Windshield Washer.......................................3-10
Cruise Control..............................................3-10
Exterior Lamps.............................................3-13
Headlamps on Reminder................................3-16
Headlamps Off in PARK (P)...........................3-16
Delayed Headlamps......................................3-16
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL).......................3-16
Automatic Headlamp System..........................3-17
Fog Lamps ..................................................3-18
Instrument Panel Brightness...........................3-18
Dome Lamp .................................................3-18
Entry/Exit Lighting.........................................3-19
Front Reading Lamps....................................3-19
Rear Reading Lamps....................................3-19
Trunk Lamp.................................................3-19Cargo Lamp.................................................3-19
Battery Run-Down Protection..........................3-20
Accessory Power Outlet(s).............................3-20
Climate Controls............................................3-21
Climate Control System.................................3-21
Automatic Climate Control System...................3-25
Outlet Adjustment.........................................3-29
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators............3-30
Instrument Panel Cluster................................3-31
Speedometer and Odometer...........................3-32
Trip Odometer..............................................3-32
Tachometer.................................................3-32
Safety Belt Reminder Light.............................3-33
Passenger Safety Belt Reminder Light.............3-33
Airbag Readiness Light..................................3-34
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator...................3-35
Charging System Light..................................3-37
Brake System Warning Light..........................3-37
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light.............3-38
Enhanced Traction System Warning Light.........3-39
Enhanced Traction System Active Light............3-39
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light......3-40
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage..................3-40
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.............................3-41
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-1

The main components of your instrument panel are the following:
A. Side Window Outlets. SeeClimate Control System
on page 3-21.
B. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever. SeeTurn
Signal/Multifunction Lever on page 3-7.
C. Steering Wheel Controls and Cruise Controls
(If Equipped). SeeAudio Steering Wheel Controls
on page 3-119andCruise Control on page 3-10.
D. Instrument Panel Cluster. SeeInstrument Panel
Cluster on page 3-31.
E. Windshield Wiper/Washer Lever. SeeWindshield
Wipers on page 3-9.
F. Ignition Switch. SeeIgnition Positions on page 2-22.
G. Hazard Warning Flasher. SeeHazard Warning
Flashers on page 3-6.
H. Center Air Outlets. SeeClimate Control System on
page 3-21.
I. Audio System. SeeAudio System(s) on page 3-54.
J. Climate Control System. SeeClimate Control
System on page 3-21.
K. Glove Box. SeeGlove Box on page 2-44.L. Side Air Outlets. SeeClimate Control System
on page 3-21.
M. Adjustable Pedal Buttons (If Equipped). See
Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal on page 2-24.
N. Instrument Panel Brightness Control. SeeInstrument
Panel Brightness on page 3-18.
O. Fog Lamps (If Equipped). SeeFog Lamps on
page 3-18.
P. Hood Release. SeeHood Release on page 5-11.
Q. Parking Brake. SeeParking Brake on page 2-29.
R. Horn. SeeHorn on page 3-6.
S. Accessory Power Outlet. SeeAccessory Power
Outlet(s) on page 3-20.
T. Shift Lever. SeeShifting Into Park (P) on page 2-29.
U. Center Console Storage Compartment. See
Center Console Storage Area on page 2-44.
V. Traction Control Button (If Equipped). SeeEnhanced
Traction System (ETS) on page 4-8.
W. Rear Wiper/Washer Controls (If Equipped).
SeeWindshield Washer on page 3-10.
3-5

Turn and Lane-Change Signals
The turn signal has two upward (for right) and
two downward (for left) positions. These positions
allow you to signal a turn or a lane change.
To signal a turn, move the lever all the way up or
down to the latched position. When the turn is nished,
the lever will return automatically.
An arrow on the instrument
panel cluster will ash
in the direction of the turn
or lane change.
To signal a lane change, just raise or lower the lever
until the arrow starts to ash. Hold it there until you
complete your lane change. The lever will return by
itself when you release it.
A warning chime signal will come on if you have left
your turn signal on for more than 2/3 mile (1 km).
As you signal a turn or a lane change, if the arrows
ash rapidly, a signal bulb may be burned out and
other drivers won’t see your turn signal.If a bulb is burned out, replace it to help avoid an
accident. If the arrows don’t go on at all when you signal
a turn, check for burned-out bulbs and then check the
fuse. SeeFuses on page 5-83.
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
To change the headlamps from low beam to high beam,
push the turn signal/multifunction lever away from you.
When the high beams are
on, a light on the
instrument panel cluster
also will be on if the
ignition is in ON.
To change the headlamps from high beam to low beam,
pull the turn signal lever toward you.
Flash-to-Pass
This feature lets you use your high-beam headlamps
momentarily to signal a driver in front of you that
you want to pass.
To use it, pull the turn signal/multifunction lever toward
you until the high-beam headlamps come on, then
release the lever to turn them off.
3-8

The cruise control buttons are located on the steering
wheel.
J(On/Off):Press this button to turn the cruise
control system on and off.
+RES (Resume):Press this part of the button to
resume a set speed and to accelerate the speed.
−SET (Set):Press this part of the button to set a speed
and to decrease the speed.
To set a speed do the following:
1. Press the on/off button to turn cruise control on.
The indicator light on the button will come on.
2. Get to the speed you want.
3. Press the−SET part of the control button and
release it. The cruise symbol will display in the
instrument panel cluster to show the system
is engaged.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
Resuming a Set Speed
Suppose you set your cruise control at a desired
speed and then you apply the brake. This, of course,
disengages the cruise control. The cruise symbol in
the instrument panel cluster will also go out indicating
cruise is no longer engaged. To return to your
previously set speed, you do not need to go through
the set process again. Once you’re going about
25 mph (40 km/h) or more, you can press the +RES
part of the button briey.
This will take you back up to your previously chosen
speed and stay there.
3-12

Increasing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed.
Disengage the cruise control but do not turn it off.
If the cruise control system is already engaged, press
the +RES part of the button. Hold it there until you
get up to the speed you want, and then release the
button. To increase your speed in very small
amounts, press the +RES part of the button briey
and then release it. Each time you do this, your
vehicle will go about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster.
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
If the cruise control system is already engaged,
Push and hold the−SET part of the button until you
reach the lower speed you want, then release it.
To slow down in very small amounts, push the
−SET part of the button briey. Each time you
do this, you’ll go about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using
Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed.
When you take your foot off the pedal, your vehicle will
slow down to the cruise control speed you set earlier.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load and the steepness of the
hills. When going up steep hills, you may have to
step on the accelerator pedal to maintain your speed.
When going downhill, you may have to brake or shift
to a lower gear to keep your speed down. Of course,
applying the brake takes you out of cruise control.
Many drivers nd this to be too much trouble and don’t
use cruise control on steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
There are two ways to disengage the cruise control:
Step lightly on the brake pedal; when cruise control
disengages, the cruise symbol in the instrument
panel cluster will go out.
Press the on/off button, this will turn off the cruise
control system.
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition,
your cruise control set speed memory is erased.
3-13

There is a delay in the transition between the daytime
and nighttime operation of the automatic lamp control
system so that driving under bridges or bright overhead
street lights does not affect the system. The automatic
lamp control system will only be affected when the
light sensor sees a change in lighting lasting longer
than this delay.
If you start your vehicle in a dark garage, the automatic
lamp system will come on immediately. Once you
leave the garage, it will take about one minute for
the automatic lamp system to change to DRL if it is light
outside. During that delay, your instrument panel
cluster may not be as bright as usual. Make sure
your instrument panel brightness control is in the full
bright position. SeeInstrument Panel Brightness
on page 3-19.
To idle your vehicle with the system off, turn the
ignition on and rotate the exterior light switch to the
off/on position. For Canadian vehicles, the transaxle
must stay in PARK (P) for this function.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamps when you need them.Fog Lamps
If your vehicle has this
feature, the button for the
fog lamps is located on
the instrument panel, to the
left of the steering wheel.
If your vehicle has fog lamps, the ignition must be on.
Push the button to turn the fog lamps on. An indicator
light in the button will glow when the fog lamps are
on. Push the button again to turn the fog lamps off.
The fog lamps will turn off while the high-beam
headlamps are turned on.
Some localities have laws that require the headlamps
to be on along with the fog lamps.
3-18

Instrument Panel Cluster
Your instrument panel cluster is designed to let you know at a glance how your vehicle is running. You’ll know how
fast you’re going, how much fuel you’re using, and many other things you will need to drive safely and economically.
Your vehicle has this instrument panel cluster, which includes indicator warning lights and gages that are explained
on the following pages.
United States version shown, Canada Similar
3-33