heating CHEVROLET MALIBU 2018 Owner's Manual

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348460) - 2018 - crc - 5/3/17
In Brief 17
Climate Controls
If equipped with one of these systems, it controls the heating, cooling, and
ventilation.
Climate Control System
1. Fan Control
2. MAX Defrost
3. A/C (Air Conditioning) or Max/ Eco Air Conditioning (Stop/
Start Only)
4. TEMP (Temperature Control) 5. Driver and Passenger Heated
Seats (If Equipped)
6. Recirculation
7. Air Delivery Mode Controls
8. Rear Window Defogger

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348460) - 2018 - crc - 5/3/17
26 In Brief
Hybrid Features
Hybrid Vehicle Operation
The hybrid vehicle combines
gasoline and electric propulsion to
drive the vehicle. The gas engine
will automatically start to provide
power. It will shut off to save fuel.
The engine may remain
running when:
.There is aggressive acceleration
or climbing hills.
. Vehicle speed is greater than
88 km/h (55 mph).
. The high voltage battery is
charging.
. The heater is being used.
The engine and transmission work
together to provide the required
power at the highest efficiency. This
may result in higher engine speeds.
See Driving for Better Fuel
Economy 029.
High Voltage Safety
Information
{Warning
Exposure to high voltage can
cause shock, burns, and even
death. The high voltage
components in the vehicle can
only be serviced by technicians
with special training.
High voltage components are
identified by labels. Do not
remove, open, take apart,
or modify these components.
High voltage cable or wiring has
orange covering or labels. Do not
probe, tamper with, cut, or modify
high voltage cable or wiring.
This vehicle has a high voltage
battery and a standard 12-volt
battery.
If the vehicle is in a crash, the
sensing system may shut down the
high voltage system. When this
occurs, the high voltage battery is
disconnected and the vehicle will not start. The SERVICE VEHICLE
SOON message in the Driver
Information Center (DIC) will be
displayed. Before the vehicle can be
operated again, it must be serviced
at your dealer.
{Warning
Damage to the high voltage
battery or high voltage system
can create a risk of electric shock,
overheating, or fire.
If the vehicle is damaged from a
moderate to severe crash, flood,
fire, or other event, the vehicle
should be inspected as soon as
possible. Until the vehicle has
been inspected, store it outside at
least 15 m (50 ft) from any
structure or anything that can
burn. Ventilate the vehicle by
opening a window or a door.
Contact Customer Assistance as
soon as possible to determine
whether an inspection is needed.
See
Customer Assistance Offices
0 377.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348460) - 2018 - crc - 5/3/17
106 Instruments and Controls
Heated Steering Wheel
(:If equipped with a heated
steering wheel, press to turn on or
off. A light on the button displays
when the feature is turned on.
The steering wheel takes about
three minutes to start heating.
Horn
Pressaon the steering wheel pad
to sound the horn.
Windshield Wiper/Washer
The windshield wiper/washer lever
is on the side of the steering
column. With the ignition on or in
ACC/ACCESSORY, move the
windshield wiper lever to select the
wiper speed.
HI : Use for fast wipes.
LO : Use for slow wipes.
INT : Move the lever up to INT for
intermittent wipes, then turn the
band up for more frequent wipes or
down for less frequent wipes.
OFF : Use to turn the wipers off.
1X : For a single wipe, briefly move
the lever down. For several wipes,
hold the lever down.
Clear snow and ice from the wiper
blades and windshield before using
them. If frozen to the windshield,
carefully loosen or thaw them.
Damaged blades should be
replaced. See Wiper Blade
Replacement 0294.
Heavy snow or ice can overload the
wiper motor. If the wiper motor
overheats, the windshield wipers will
stop until the motor cools and the
wiper control is turned off. See
Electrical System Overload 0301.
Wiper Parking
If the ignition is turned off while the
wipers are on LO, HI, or INT, they
will immediately stop.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348460) - 2018 - crc - 5/3/17
Instruments and Controls 119
Power Indicator Gauge
(Hybrid)
The power gauge indicates the
vehicle's power usage in propelling
or slowing the vehicle. The green
area indicates regenerative braking.
The white area indicates power
provided by the engine and/or
battery. The yellow area shows high
power usage. Operating the vehicle
closer to the zero power position
both during acceleration and braking
will result in higher efficiency.
Engine Coolant
Temperature Gauge
Metric Uplevel
English Uplevel
This gauge shows the engine
coolant temperature.
If the pointer moves toward the
warning area at the high end of the
gauge, the engine is too hot.
This reading indicates the same
thing as the warning light. It means
that the engine coolant has
overheated. If the vehicle has been
operating under normal driving
conditions, pull off the road, stop the
vehicle, and turn off the engine as
soon as possible. See Engine
Overheating 0288.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348460) - 2018 - crc - 5/3/17
196 Climate Controls
Climate Controls
Climate Control Systems
Climate Control Systems . . . . . 196
Dual Automatic ClimateControl System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Air Vents
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Maintenance
Passenger Compartment AirFilter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Climate Control Systems
The heating, cooling, and ventilation for the vehicle can be controlled with
this system.
1. Fan Control
2. MAX Defrost
3. A/C (Air Conditioning) or Max/
Eco Air Conditioning (Stop/
Start Only)
4. TEMP (Temperature Control)
5. Driver and Passenger Heated Seats (If Equipped)
6. Recirculation 7. Air Delivery Mode Controls
8. Rear Window Defogger
TEMP : Turn the knob clockwise or
counterclockwise to increase or
decrease the temperature setting.
^: Turn the knob clockwise or
counterclockwise to increase or
decrease the fan speed or turn the
fan off.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348460) - 2018 - crc - 5/3/17
Climate Controls 199
Dual Automatic Climate Control System
The heating, cooling, and ventilation for the vehicle can be controlled with
this system.
1. Driver and PassengerVentilated Seats (If Equipped)
2. Driver and Passenger Temperature Controls
3. MAX Defrost
4. Air Delivery Mode Controls
5. A/C (Air Conditioning) or Max/ Eco Air Conditioning (Stop/
Start Only) 6. Driver and Passenger Heated
Seats (If Equipped)
7. SYNC
8. AUTO (Automatic Operation)
9. Fan Controls
10. Power (On/Off)
11. Recirculation
12. Rear Window Defogger Automatic Operation
The system automatically controls
the fan speed, air delivery, air
conditioning, and recirculation in
order to heat or cool the vehicle to
the desired temperature.
When AUTO is lit, all four functions
operate automatically. Each function
can also be manually set and the
selected setting is displayed.
Functions not manually set will
continue to be automatically
controlled, even if the AUTO
indicator is not lit.
For automatic operation:
1. Press AUTO.
2. Set the temperature. Allow the system time to stabilize. Adjust
the temperature as needed for
best comfort.
To improve fuel efficiency and to
cool the vehicle faster with A/C on,
the system will automatically turn on
recirculation in warm weather. The
recirculation light will not be lit.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348460) - 2018 - crc - 5/3/17
210 Driving and Operating
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. Water
can build up under the vehicle's
tires so they actually ride on the
water. This can happen if the road is
wet enough and you are going fast
enough. When the vehicle is
hydroplaning, it has little or no
contact with the road.
There is no hard and fast rule about
hydroplaning. The best advice is to
slow down when the road is wet.
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 proper
tread depth. See Tires0308.
. Turn off cruise control.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or through
mountains is different than driving
on flat or rolling terrain. Tips include:
.Keep the vehicle serviced and in
good shape.
. Check all fluid levels and brakes,
tires, cooling system, and
transmission.
. Shift to a lower gear when going
down steep or long hills.
{Warning
Using the brakes to slow the
vehicle on a long downhill slope
can cause brake overheating, can
reduce brake performance, and
could result in a loss of braking.
Shift the transmission to a lower
gear to let the engine assist the
brakes on a steep downhill slope.
{Warning
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral)
or with the ignition off is
dangerous. This can cause
overheating of the brakes and
loss of steering. Always have the
engine running and the vehicle
in gear.
. Drive at speeds that keep the
vehicle in its own lane. Do not
swing wide or cross the
center line.
. Be alert on top of hills;
something could be in your lane
(e.g., stalled car, accident).
. Pay attention to special road
signs (e.g., falling rocks area,
winding roads, long grades,
passing or no-passing zones)
and take appropriate action.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348460) - 2018 - crc - 5/3/17
264 Driving and Operating
brakes might have to be used so
much that they would get hot and no
longer work well.
The vehicle can tow in D (Drive).
Use a lower gear if the transmission
shifts too often.
When towing at high altitude on
steep uphill grades, engine coolant
boils at a lower temperature than at
normal altitudes. If the engine is
turned off immediately after towing
at high altitude on steep uphill
grades, the vehicle could show
signs similar to engine overheating.
To avoid this, let the engine run
while parked, preferably on level
ground, with the transmission in
P (Park) for a few minutes before
turning the engine off. If the
overheat warning comes on, see
Engine Overheating0288.Parking on Hills
{Warning
Parking the vehicle on a hill with
the trailer attached can be
dangerous. If something goes
wrong, the rig could start to move.
People can be injured, and both
the vehicle and the trailer can be
damaged. When possible, always
park the rig on a flat surface.
If parking the rig on a hill: 1. Press the brake pedal, but do not shift into P (Park) yet. Turn
the wheels into the curb if
facing downhill or into traffic if
facing uphill.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the brake pedal
until the chocks absorb
the load.
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
while you:
1.1. Start the engine.
1.2. Shift into a gear.
1.3. Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer
Towing
The vehicle needs service more
often when pulling a trailer. See the
Maintenance Schedule 0360.
Things that are especially important
in trailer operation are automatic
transmission fluid, engine oil, axle
lubricant, belts, cooling system, and
brake system. Inspect these before
and during the trip.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348460) - 2018 - crc - 5/3/17
Driving and Operating 265
Check periodically to see that all
hitch nuts and bolts are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer
Towing
The cooling system may temporarily
overheat during severe operating
conditions. SeeEngine Overheating
0 288.
Trailer Towing
Before pulling a trailer, three
important considerations have to do
with weight:
.
Weight of the trailer.
. Weight of the trailer tongue.
. Total weight on your vehicle's
tires.
Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
It should never weigh more than
454 kg (1,000 lb). But even that can
be too heavy.
It depends on how the rig is used.
For example, speed, altitude, road
grades, outside temperature, the dimensions of the front of the trailer,
and how much the vehicle is used
to pull a trailer are all important.
It can depend on any special
equipment on the vehicle, and the
amount of tongue weight the vehicle
can carry. See
“Weight of the Trailer
Tongue” following.
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
weight.
Ask your dealer for trailering
information or advice, or write us at
our Customer Assistance Offices.
See Customer Assistance Offices
0 377.
Weight of the Trailer Tongue
The tongue load (1) of any trailer is
an important weight to measure
because it affects the total gross
weight of the vehicle. The Gross
Vehicle Weight (GVW) includes the
curb weight of the vehicle, any cargo carried in it, and the people
who will be riding in the vehicle as
well as the trailer tongue weight.
Vehicle options, equipment,
passengers, and cargo in the
vehicle reduce the amount of
tongue weight the vehicle can carry,
which will also reduce the trailer
weight the vehicle can tow. See
Vehicle Load Limits
0212.
The trailer tongue (1) should weigh
10–15 % of the total loaded trailer
weight (2).

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348460) - 2018 - crc - 5/3/17
268 Vehicle Care
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 269
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 270
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 281
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 282
Cooling System (Engine) . . . . . 283
Cooling System (Power Electronics) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 288
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Battery - North America . . . . . . 291 Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 293
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 294
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 294
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker, and Parking
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps, and Back-Up
Lamps (LS and LT) . . . . . . . . . . 298
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps, and Back-Up
Lamps (LTZ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . 300
Electrical System
High Voltage Devices and Wiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Electrical System Overload . . . 301
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 301 Engine Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 311
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
Tire Pressure for High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326