CHEVROLET MALIBU 2013 8.G Owners Manual

Black plate (25,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 6/6/12
Vehicle Care 10-25
.If brake fluid is spilled on the
vehicle's painted surfaces,
the paint finish can be
damaged. Be careful not to
spill brake fluid on the
vehicle. If you do, wash it off
immediately.
Battery
This vehicle has a standard 12-volt
battery. Refer to the replacement
number on the original battery label
when a new standard 12-volt battery
is needed.
eAssist vehicles also have a high
voltage battery. Only a trained
service technician with the proper
knowledge and tools should inspect,
test, or replace the high voltage
battery. See your dealer if the high
voltage battery needs service. The
dealer has information on how to
recycle the high voltage battery.
There is also information available
at http://www.recyclemybattery.com.
The eAssist system high voltage
battery is cooled with air drawn from
the vehicle interior. The cold air
intake for the battery is behind the
rear seat, on the filler panel. Do not
cover the intake.
{WARNING
Battery posts, terminals, and
related accessories contain lead
and lead compounds, chemicals
known to the State of California to
cause cancer and reproductive
harm. Wash hands after handling.
Vehicle Storage
{WARNING
Batteries have acid that can burn
you and gas that can explode.
You can be badly hurt if you are
not careful. SeeJump Starting
(with or without eAssist) on
page 10‑92 orJump Starting
(On-board with eAssist Only) on
page 10‑90 for tips on working
around a battery without
getting hurt.
Infrequent Usage: Remove the
12-volt battery black, negative (−)
cable from the battery to keep the
battery from running down.
Extended Storage: Remove the
12-volt battery black, negative (−)
cable from the battery or use a
battery trickle charger.
Remember to reconnect the battery
when ready to drive the vehicle.

Black plate (26,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 6/6/12
10-26 Vehicle Care
Starter Switch Check
{WARNING
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 brake and the regular brake.
See Parking Brake on
page 9‑29.
Do not use the accelerator
pedal, and be ready to turn off
the engine immediately if it
starts.
3. Try to start the engine in each gear. The vehicle should start
only in P (Park) or N (Neutral). If the vehicle starts in any other
position, contact your dealer for
service.Automatic Transmission
Shift Lock Control
Function Check
{WARNING
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. It should be
parked on a level surface.
2. Firmly apply the parking brake. See Parking Brake on
page 9‑29.
Be ready to apply the regular
brake immediately if the vehicle
begins to move. 3. With the engine off, turn the
ignition on, but do not start the
engine. Without applying the
regular brake, try to move the
shift lever out of P (Park) with
normal effort. If the shift lever
moves out of P (Park), contact
your dealer for service.
Ignition Transmission
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 LOCK/OFF.
Contact your dealer if service is
required.

Black plate (27,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 6/6/12
Vehicle Care 10-27
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check
{WARNING
When you are doing this check,
the vehicle could begin to move.
You or others could be injured
and property could be damaged.
Make sure there is room in front
of the vehicle in case it begins to
roll. Be ready to apply the regular
brake at once should the vehicle
begin to move.
Park on a fairly steep hill, with the
vehicle facing downhill. Keeping
your foot on the regular brake, set
the parking brake.
.To check the parking brake's
holding ability: With the engine
running and the transmission in
N (Neutral), slowly remove foot
pressure from the regular brake
pedal. Do this until the vehicle is
held by the parking brake only.
.To check the P (Park)
mechanism's holding ability:
With the engine running, shift to
P (Park). Then release the
parking brake followed by the
regular brake.
Contact your dealer if service is
required.
Wiper Blade Replacement
Windshield wiper blades should be
inspected for wear or cracking. See
Maintenance Schedule on
page 11‑2.
It is a good idea to clean the wiper
blade assembly on a regular basis.
When worn, or cleaning is
ineffective, replace the wiper blade.
For proper windshield wiper blade
length and type, see Maintenance
Replacement Parts on page 11‑14.
Notice: Allowing the wiper arm to
touch the windshield when no
wiper blade is installed could
damage the windshield. Any
damage that occurs would not be covered by your warranty. Do not
allow the wiper arm to touch the
windshield.
To replace the wiper blade:
1. Pull the wiper assembly away
from the windshield.
2. Lift up on the latch in the middleof the wiper blade where the
wiper arm attaches.

Black plate (28,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 6/6/12
10-28 Vehicle Care
3. With the latch open, pull thewiper blade down toward the
windshield far enough to release
it from the J-hooked end of the
wiper arm.
4. Remove the wiper blade.
5. Reverse Steps 1–3 for wiper blade replacement.Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp aim has been preset and
should need no further adjustment.
If the vehicle is damaged in a crash,
the headlamp aim may be affected.
If adjustment to the headlamps is
necessary, see your dealer.
Bulb Replacement
For the proper type of replacement
bulbs, see Replacement Bulbs on
page 10‑36.
For any bulb‐changing procedure
not listed in this section, contact
your dealer.
Halogen Bulbs
{WARNING
Halogen bulbs have pressurized
gas inside and can burst if you
drop or scratch the bulb. You or
others could be injured. Be sure
to read and follow the instructions
on the bulb package.

Black plate (29,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 6/6/12
Vehicle Care 10-29
High Intensity Discharge
(HID) Lighting
{WARNING
The low beam high intensity
discharge lighting system
operates at a very high voltage.
If you try to service any of the
system components, you could be
seriously injured. Have your
dealer or a qualified technician
service them.
The vehicle may have HID
headlamps. After an HID headlamp
bulb has been replaced, you may
notice that the beam is a slightly
different shade than it was originally.
This is normal.
LED Lighting
This vehicle has several LED lamps.
For replacement of any LED lighting
assembly, contact your dealer.
Headlamps, Front Turn
Signal, Sidemarker, and
Parking Lamps
Base Headlamp Assembly
The base model vehicle has
halogen high-beam and low-beam
headlamps, a parking lamp, a
sidemarker lamp, and two turn
signal lamps on the headlamp
assembly.Passenger Side Shown, Driver
Side Similar
1. High-Beam Headlamp
2. Low-Beam Headlamp
3. Sidemarker Lamp
4. Parking/Turn Signal Lamp
To replace one of the headlamp
bulbs:
1. Open the hood. See Hood on
page 10‑5.

Black plate (30,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 6/6/12
10-30 Vehicle Care
2. For the driver side bulb, removethe windshield washer bottle
filler neck by firmly pulling it
straight up and out of the bottle.
3. Remove the cap from the back of the headlamp assembly by
turning it counterclockwise.
4. Disconnect the electrical connector.
5. Remove the bulb from the lamp assembly by turning
counterclockwise.
6. Install a new bulb in the lamp assembly.
7. Connect the electrical connector.
8. Replace the cap from the back of the headlamp assembly by
turning it clockwise.
9. For the driver side, reinstall the windshield washer bottle filler
neck by firmly pushing it straight
into the bottle. Ensure that the
filler neck clip engages into the
underhood electrical center
retainer.Uplevel Headlamp Assembly
The uplevel model vehicle has
halogen high-beam and low-beam
headlamps, a parking lamp, a
sidemarker lamp, and two turn
signal lamps on the headlamp
assembly.
Passenger Side Shown, Driver
Side Similar
1. High-Beam Headlamp
2. Turn Signal Lamps
3. Low-Beam Headlamp
4. Parking Lamp
5. Sidemarker Lamp To replace one of these bulbs:
High-Beam Headlamp
1. Open the hood. See
Hood on
page 10‑5.
2. For the driver side bulb, remove the windshield washer bottle
filler neck by firmly pulling it
straight up and out of the bottle.
3. Remove the cap from the back of the headlamp assembly by
turning it counterclockwise.
4. Disconnect the electricalconnector (1).

Black plate (31,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 6/6/12
Vehicle Care 10-31
5. Disengage the spring clip (2)from the bulb by pressing down
on the end and then swing
upward.
6. Remove the bulb from the lamp assembly.
7. Install a new bulb in the lamp assembly.
8. Install the spring clip (2).
9. Connect the electrical connector (1).
10. Replace the cap from the back of the headlamp assembly by
turning it clockwise.
11. For the driver side, reinstall the windshield washer bottle filler
neck by firmly pushing it
straight into the bottle. Ensure
that the filler neck clip engages
into the underhood electrical
center retainer. Low-Beam Headlamp
1. For the driver side bulb, remove
the windshield washer bottle
filler neck by firmly pulling it
straight up and out of the bottle.
2. Remove the cap from the back of the headlamp assembly by
turning it counterclockwise.
3. Disconnect the electrical connector.
4. Remove the bulb from the lamp assembly by turning
counterclockwise.
5. Install a new bulb in the lamp assembly.
6. Connect the electrical connector.
7. Replace the cap from the back of the headlamp assembly by
turning it clockwise. 8. For the driver side, reinstall the
windshield washer bottle filler
neck by firmly pushing it straight
into the bottle. Ensure that the
filler neck clip engages into the
underhood electrical center
retainer.
HID Headlamp Assembly
The HID assembly has a high
intensity discharge (HID) high/low
beam, a DRL/parking lamp,
sidemarker lamp, and a turn signal
lamp on the headlamp assembly.
For replacement of the headlamp on
an HID assembly, contact your
dealer. See High Intensity
Discharge (HID) Lighting on
page 10‑29.

Black plate (32,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 6/6/12
10-32 Vehicle Care
Passenger Side Shown, Driver
Side Similar
1. Turn Signal Lamp
2. DRL/Parking Lamp
3. Sidemarker Lamp
Front Turn Signal, Parking, and
Sidemarker Lamps
To replace one of these lamps on a
base, uplevel, or HID assembly:
1. For the driver side bulb, removethe windshield washer bottle
filler neck by firmly pulling it
straight up and out of the bottle. 2. Remove the bulb socket from
the headlamp assembly by
turning it counterclockwise.
3. Remove the bulb from the socket.
4. Replace the bulb in the bulb socket.
5. Install the bulb socket in the headlamp assembly by turning it
clockwise.
6. For the driver side, reinstall the windshield washer bottle filler
neck by firmly pushing it straight
into the bottle. Ensure that the
filler neck clip engages into the
underhood electrical center
retainer.
Fog Lamps
To replace the front fog lamp bulb:
1. Remove the five access panelfasteners under the front fascia.
2. Lower the panel far enough to access the fog lamp bulb.

Black plate (33,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 6/6/12
Vehicle Care 10-33
3. Remove the bulb by turning itcounterclockwise and pulling it
straight out of the assembly.
4. Disconnect the electrical connector from the fog lamp bulb
assembly.
5. Install the new bulb by turning it clockwise into the assembly.
6. Reverse Steps 1–4 to reinstall.
Taillamps, Turn Signal,
Stoplamps, and Back-Up
Lamps (LS and LT)
1. Back-Up Lamp
2. Taillamp
Trunk Deck Inboard Taillamp and
Back-Up Lamp
1. Open the trunk. See Trunk on
page 2‑11.
2. Remove the push pins and pull back the trunk deck trim. 3. Remove the bulb socket by
turning counterclockwise and
pulling straight out.
4. Remove the bulb from the socket.
5. Install the new bulb in the bulb socket.
6. Install the bulb socket by turning clockwise.
7. Install the trunk deck trim.
1. Stoplamp/Taillamp
2. Turn Signal Lamp

Black plate (34,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 6/6/12
10-34 Vehicle Care
Notice:Improper lamp assembly
removal and installation can
cause leaks and water intrusion
which may cause damage to the
taillamp. Do not remove the
taillamp assembly to replace a
bulb. Use the trunk opening to
access the bulb.
To replace any one of these bulbs:
Stoplamp/Taillamp and Turn
Signal Lamp
1. Open the trunk. See Trunk on
page 2‑11.
2. Remove the push pins and pull the trunk trim away from the
taillamp assembly.
3. Remove the bulb socket from the taillamp assembly by turning
it counterclockwise.
4. Remove the bulb from the socket by turning the bulb
counterclockwise one-quarter
turn and pulling it straight out.
5. Install a new bulb into the socket. 6. Install the bulb socket into the
taillamp assembly by turning it
clockwise.
7. Install the trunk trim and push pins.
Taillamps, Turn Signal,
Stoplamps, and Back-Up
Lamps (LTZ)
The trunk deck inboard taillamp is
an LED. To replace the taillamp see
your dealer.
Back-Up Lamp
1. Open the trunk. See Trunk on
page 2‑11.
2. Remove the push pins and pull back the trunk deck trim.
3. Remove the bulb socket byturning counterclockwise and
pulling straight out.
4. Remove the bulb from the socket.
5. Install the new bulb in the bulb socket.
6. Install the bulb socket by turning clockwise.
7. Install the trunk deck trim.