climate control CHEVROLET MALIBU 2013 8.G Owners Manual

Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 6/6/12
2013 Chevrolet Malibu Owner ManualM
In Brief. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Initial Drive Information . . . . . . . . 1-4
Vehicle Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
eAssist Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-22
Performance and
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-24
Keys, Doors, and Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
Keys and Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11
Vehicle Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13
Exterior Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-15
Interior Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-16
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-17
Roof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-19
Seats and Restraints . . . . . . . . . 3-1
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-11
Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-19
Child Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-32 Storage
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Storage Compartments . . . . . . . . 4-1
Additional Storage Features . . . 4-3
Instruments and Controls . . . . 5-1
Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7
Information Displays . . . . . . . . . . 5-24
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-28
Vehicle Personalization . . . . . . . 5-35
Universal Remote System . . . . 5-40
Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Exterior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Interior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Lighting Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-14
Audio Players . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-22
Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-35 Climate Controls
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1
Climate Control Systems . . . . . . 8-1
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-7
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-8
Driving and Operating . . . . . . . . 9-1
Driving Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Starting and Operating . . . . . . . 9-14
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-25
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 9-26
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-28
Ride Control Systems . . . . . . . . 9-32
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-34
Object Detection Systems . . . . 9-37
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-44
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-50
Conversions and Add-Ons . . . 9-50
Vehicle Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-1
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
Vehicle Checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . 10-28
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-28
Electrical System . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-37

Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 6/6/12
In Brief 1-1
In Brief
Instrument Panel
Instrument Panel Overview . . . . 1-2
Initial Drive Information
Initial Drive Information . . . . . . . . 1-4
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
Memory Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
Second Row Seats . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Heated Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Head Restraint Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Passenger Sensing System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11
Mirror Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12
Interior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12 Exterior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-13
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . 1-14
Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Vehicle Features
Radio(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Satellite Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Portable Audio Devices . . . . . . 1-17
Bluetooth
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . 1-18
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-18
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . 1-19
Driver Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-19
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-19
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-20
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-20
Ultrasonic Parking Assist . . . . 1-20
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-20
Universal Remote System . . . 1-21
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-21
eAssist Features
eAssist®Overview . . . . . . . . . . . 1-22
High Voltage Safety Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-22
Driver Efficiency Gauge . . . . . . 1-23
Automatic Engine Start/Stop Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-23
Regenerative Braking . . . . . . . . 1-23
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-23
Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-24
Performance and Maintenance
Traction Control System (TCS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-24
StabiliTrak
®System . . . . . . . . . 1-24
Tire Pressure Monitor . . . . . . . . 1-24
Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-25
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . 1-25
Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol) . . . . . 1-26
Driving for Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-26
Roadside Assistance Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-26
OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-26

Black plate (4,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 6/6/12
1-4 In Brief
22. Shift Lever. SeeAutomatic
Transmission on page 9‑26.
23. Power Outlets on page 5‑5.
24. Electric Parking Brake. See Parking Brake on page 9‑29.
25. Climate Control Systems on
page 8‑1.
Dual Automatic Climate Control
System on page 8‑3.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
(RKE) System
The Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter may work up to 20 m
(65 ft) away from the vehicle.
RKE without Remote Start
Press the button to extend the key.
The key can be used for all locks.
This key is also used for the
ignition, if the vehicle does not have
pushbutton start.
K: Press to unlock the driver door
or all doors.
Q: Press to lock all doors.
Lock and unlock feedback can be
personalized.
V: Press and hold to release the
trunk.

Black plate (5,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 6/6/12
In Brief 1-5
7:Press and release one time to
initiate vehicle locator. Press and
hold for at least three seconds to
sound the panic alarm. Press again
to cancel the panic alarm.
See Keys on page 2‑2 andRemote
Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation on page 2‑3.
Remote Vehicle Start
With this feature the engine can be
started from outside of the vehicle.
Starting the Vehicle
1. Aim the RKE transmitter at the vehicle.
2. Press and release
Q.
3. Immediately after completing Step 2, press and hold
/for at
least two seconds or until the
turn signal lamps flash. 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
start can be extended only once.
Canceling a Remote Start
To cancel a remote start, do one of
the following:
.Aim the RKE transmitter at the
vehicle and press and hold
/
until the parking lamps turn off.
.Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
.Turn the vehicle on and then
back off.
See Remote Vehicle Start on
page 2‑7.
Door Locks
To lock or unlock the doors from the
outside:
.PressQorKon the Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter.
See Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) System Operation on
page 2‑3.
.Use the key in the driver door.

Black plate (10,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 6/6/12
1-10 In Brief
Second Row Seats
The rear seatbacks can be folded
down to increase cargo space.
SeeRear Seats on page 3‑9.
Heated Seats
Uplevel Climate Control System
Shown, Base Similar
If available, the buttons are on the
climate control panel. To operate,
the engine must be running. Press
MorLto heat the driver or
passenger seat cushion and
seatback. Indicator lights on the
button show the current setting.
Press the button once for the
highest setting. With each press of
the button, the heated seat will
change to the next lower setting,
and then to the off setting. The
lights indicate three for the highest
setting and one for the lowest.
See Heated Front Seats on
page 3‑8.
Head Restraint
Adjustment
Do not drive until the head restraints
for all occupants are installed and
adjusted properly.
To achieve a comfortable seating
position, change the seatback
recline angle as little as necessary
while keeping the seat and the head
restraint height in the proper
position. See
Head Restraints on page 3‑2
and Seat Adjustment on page 3‑3.
Safety Belts
Refer to the following sections for
important information on how to use
safety belts properly:
.Safety Belts on page 3‑11.
.How to Wear Safety Belts
Properly on page 3‑12.
.Lap-Shoulder Belt on page 3‑13.

Black plate (15,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 6/6/12
In Brief 1-15
Climate Controls
The heating, cooling, and ventilation for the vehicle can be controlled with
this system.
Climate Control System
1. Fan Control
2. Air Conditioning
3. Air Delivery Modes
4. Defrost
5. Temperature Control 6. Heated Seats (If Equipped)
7. Recirculation
8. Rear Window Defogger

Black plate (16,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 6/6/12
1-16 In Brief
Dual Automatic Climate Control System
1. Driver and Passenger Temperature Controls
2. Comfort/Eco Air Conditioning
3. Air Delivery Modes
4. Defrost
5. AUTO (Automatic Operation)
6. Heated Seats (If Equipped)
7. Recirculation 8. Fan Control
9. Rear Window Defogger
10. SYNC
See
Climate Control Systems on
page 8‑1 orDual Automatic Climate
Control System on page 8‑3 (If
Equipped).
Transmission
Driver Shift Control (DSC)
DSC allows you to change gears
similar to a manual transmission. To
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 top of the shift
lever to upshift, or push
the −(minus) end of the button
to downshift.
See Manual Mode on page 9‑27.

Black plate (20,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 6/6/12
1-20 In Brief
Lane Departure
Warning (LDW)
For vehicles with LDW, it is intended
to help avoid unintentional lane
departures. It may provide a
warning if the vehicle is crossing a
lane without using a turn signal.
LDW uses a camera sensor to
detect the lane markings. It only
operates at speeds of 56 km
(35 mph) or greater.
The LDW indicator,
@, appears
green if a lane marking is detected.
It changes to amber, flashes, and
sounds three beeps if the vehicle
crosses a detected lane marking
without using the turn signal.
To turn LDW on and off, press
@on
the center stack, forward of the shift
lever. The control indicator will light
when LDW is on.
See Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
on page 9‑43.
Rear Vision
Camera (RVC)
If available, the rear vision camera
displays a view of the area behind
the vehicle when the vehicle is
shifted into R (Reverse). The
display will appear on the radio
screen.
To clean the camera lens above the
license plate, rinse it with water and
wipe it with a soft cloth.
See Rear Vision Camera (RVC) on
page 9‑40.
Ultrasonic Parking Assist
If available, this system uses
sensors on the rear bumper to
assist with parking and avoiding
objects while in R (Reverse).
It operates at speeds less than
8 km/h (5 mph). URPA uses audible
beeps to provide distance and
system information. Keep the sensors on the vehicle's
rear bumper clean to ensure proper
operation.
See
Ultrasonic Parking Assist on
page 9‑39.
Power Outlets
The 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 on the center stack
below the climate control and one
under the armrest inside the center
console storage.
Open the protective cover to use the
accessory power outlet.
See Power Outlets on page 5‑5.

Black plate (22,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 6/6/12
1-22 In Brief
eAssist Features
eAssist®Overview
If the vehicle has eAssist, there are
several additional features that
contribute to increased efficiency.
Vehicles with eAssist have an
automatic engine start/stop feature.
This feature saves fuel by shutting
the engine off when the vehicle is
stopped. When the engine shuts off
automatically, all the accessories
will continue to operate normally. In
very hot or cold conditions, the
engine will only shut off
automatically part of the time. See
Starting the Engine on page 9‑18.
There are two air conditioning
settings available. The comfort
setting maximizes cabin comfort.
The eco setting maximizes
efficiency allowing more frequent,
and longer engine stops than the
comfort setting. SeeDual Automatic
Climate Control System on
page 8‑3. This vehicle has a Hill Start Assist
(HSA) feature, which may be useful
when the vehicle is stopped on a
grade. See
Hill Start Assist (HSA)
on page 9‑31.
Vehicles with eAssist have a slightly
different instrument cluster, which
includes an efficiency gauge, and
an AUTO STOP indicator on the
tachometer. See Instrument Cluster
on page 5‑8. There is also a Power
Flow display in the Driver
Information Center (DIC). See
Driver Information Center (DIC) on
page 5‑24.
The eAssist system uses a high
voltage battery, which 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. See
Battery on page 10‑25.
High Voltage Safety
Information
Vehicles with eAssist have a
standard 12-volt battery and 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.

Black plate (7,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 6/6/12
Keys, Doors, and Windows 2-7
Remote Vehicle Start
The vehicle may have this feature
that allows the engine to be started
from outside the vehicle.
/(Remote Vehicle Start):This
button will be on the RKE
transmitter if the vehicle has remote
start.
The climate control system will use
the previous settings during a
remote start. The rear window
defogger may come on during a
remote start based on cold ambient
conditions. The rear defog indicator
light does not come on during a
remote start.
If the vehicle has heated seats, they
may come on during a remote start.
See Heated Front Seats on
page 3‑8.
Laws in some local communities
may restrict the use of remote
starters. For example, some laws
require a person using remote start to have the vehicle in view. Check
local regulations for any
requirements.
Other conditions can affect the
performance of the transmitter. See
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System on page 2‑3.
Starting the Vehicle
To start the engine using the remote
start feature:
1. Aim the RKE transmitter at the
vehicle.
2. Press and release
Q.
3. Immediately after completing Step 2, press and hold
/for at
least two seconds or until the
turn signal lamps flash. The turn
signal lamps flashing confirms
the request to remote start the
vehicle has been received.
When the engine 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
start can be extended only once.
Start the vehicle before driving.
Extending Engine Run Time
For a 10-minute extension, repeat
Steps 1–3 while the engine is still
running. The remote start can be
extended once.
When the remote start is extended,
the second 10 minutes will start
immediately.
For example, if the engine has been
running for five minutes, and
10 minutes are added, the engine
will run for a total of 15 minutes.
A maximum of two remote starts,
or a single start with an extension,
is allowed between ignition cycles.
The vehicle's ignition must be
turned on and then back off before
the remote start procedure can be
used again.