ABS CHEVROLET MALIBU 2020 User Guide

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13555849) - 2020 - CRC - 8/16/19
206 Driving and Operating
When parking your vehicle and your
trailer 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, gradually release the
brake pedal to allow the chocks
to absorb the load of the trailer.
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.
.Start the engine.
. Shift into a gear.
. 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 used to tow trailers. See
Maintenance Schedule 0304. It is
especially important to check the
automatic transmission fluid, engine
oil, axle lubricant, belts, cooling
system, and brake system before
and during each trip.
Check periodically that all nuts and
bolts on the trailer hitch are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer
Towing
The cooling system may temporarily
overheat during severe operating
conditions. See Engine Overheating
0 228.
Trailer Towing
Caution
Towing a trailer improperly can
damage the vehicle and result in
costly repairs not covered by the
vehicle warranty. To tow a trailer
correctly, follow the directions in
this section and see your dealer
for important information about
towing a trailer with the vehicle.
Trailer Weight
{Warning
Never exceed the towing capacity
for your vehicle.
Safe trailering requires monitoring
the weight, speed, altitude, road
grades, outside temperature,
dimensions of the front of the trailer,
and how frequently the vehicle is
used to tow a trailer.
Before towing a trailer, always
separately weigh:

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13555849) - 2020 - CRC - 8/21/19
232 Vehicle Care
When the brake fluid falls to a low
level, the brake warning light comes
on. SeeBrake System Warning
Light 0106.
Brake fluid absorbs water over time
which degrades the effectiveness of
the brake fluid. Replace brake fluid
at the specified intervals to prevent
increased stopping distance. See
Maintenance Schedule 0304.
What to Add
Use only GM approved DOT 3
brake fluid from a clean, sealed
container. See Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants 0313.
{Warning
The wrong or contaminated brake
fluid could result in damage to the
brake system. This could result in
the loss of braking leading to a
possible injury. Always use the
proper GM approved brake fluid.
Caution
If brake fluid is spilled on the
vehicle's painted surfaces, the
paint finish can be damaged.
Immediately wash off any painted
surface.
Battery - North America
The original equipment battery is
maintenance free. Do not remove
the cap and do not add fluid.
The vehicle has a standard 12-volt
battery under the hood. See Engine
Compartment Overview 0216.
Refer to the replacement number
shown on the original battery label
when a new 12-volt battery is
needed.
Stop/Start System
If equipped with the 1.5L L4 engine,
the vehicle has a Stop/Start system
to shut off the engine to help
conserve fuel. See Stop/Start
System 0158. Vehicles with a 1.5L engine have an
Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) 12-volt
battery. Installation of a standard
12-volt battery will result in reduced
12-volt battery life.
When using a 12-volt battery
charger on the 12-volt AGM battery,
some chargers have an AGM
battery setting on the charger.
If available, use the AGM setting on
the charger, to limit charge voltage
to 14.8 volts.
{Warning
WARNING:
Battery posts,
terminals, and related
accessories contain lead and lead
compounds, chemicals known to
the State of California to cause
cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm. Batteries also
contain other chemicals known to
the State of California to cause
cancer. WASH HANDS AFTER
HANDLING. For more information
go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/
passenger-vehicle.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13555849) - 2020 - CRC - 8/21/19
Vehicle Care 247
RelaysUsage
42 –
64 Starter motor
66 Powertrain
71 –
73 Air conditioning
80 Starter pinion
90 –
94 –
98 –Instrument Panel Fuse
Block
The instrument panel fuse block is
on the driver side of the instrument
panel. To access the fuses:
1. Pull out at the center of the right edge, and swing the cover
out and to the left.
2. Remove the cover.
To reinstall the cover, line up the
tabs on the left edge, and press the
cover into place.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13555849) - 2020 - CRC - 8/21/19
Vehicle Care 285
7. Place the floor cover on thewheel.
The compact spare is for temporary
use only. Replace the compact
spare tire with a full-size tire as
soon as you can.
Compact Spare Tire
{Warning
Driving with more than one
compact spare tire at a time could
result in loss of braking and
handling. This could lead to a
crash and you or others could be
injured. Use only one compact
spare tire at a time.
If this vehicle has a compact spare
tire, it was fully inflated when new;
however, it can lose air over time.
Check the inflation pressure
regularly. It should be 420 kPa
(60 psi).
Stop as soon as possible and check
that the spare tire is correctly
inflated after being installed on the vehicle. The compact spare tire is
designed for temporary use only.
The vehicle will perform differently
with the spare tire installed and it is
recommended that the vehicle
speed be limited to 80 km/h
(50 mph). To conserve the tread of
the spare tire, have the standard tire
repaired or replaced as soon as
convenient and return the spare tire
to the storage area.
When using a compact spare tire,
the AWD (if equipped), ABS, and
Traction Control systems may
engage until the spare tire is
recognized by the vehicle,
especially on slippery roads. Adjust
driving to reduce possible
wheel slip.
Caution
When the compact spare is
installed, do not take the vehicle
through an automatic car wash
with guide rails. The compact
spare can get caught on the rails
which can damage the tire, wheel,
and other parts of the vehicle.
Do not use the compact spare on
other vehicles.
Do not mix the compact spare tire or
wheel with other wheels or tires.
They will not fit. Keep the spare tire
and its wheel together.
Caution
Tire chains will not fit the compact
spare. Using them can damage
the vehicle and the chains. Do not
use tire chains on the compact
spare.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13555849) - 2020 - CRC - 8/21/19
292 Vehicle Care
Caution
Towing the vehicle from the rear
could damage it. Also, repairs
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. Never have the
vehicle towed from the rear.
Appearance Care
Exterior Care
Locks
Locks are lubricated at the factory.
Use a de-icing agent only when
absolutely necessary, and have the
locks greased after using. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants0313.
Washing the Vehicle
To preserve the vehicle's finish,
wash it often and out of direct
sunlight.
Caution
Do not use petroleum-based,
acidic, or abrasive cleaning
agents as they can damage the
vehicle's paint, metal, or plastic
parts. If damage occurs, it would
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Approved cleaning
products can be obtained from
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
your dealer. Follow all
manufacturer directions regarding
correct product usage, necessary
safety precautions, and
appropriate disposal of any
vehicle care product.
Caution
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.
Caution
Do not power wash any
component under the hood that
has this
esymbol.
(Continued)

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13555849) - 2020 - CRC - 8/16/19
346 Index
IndexA
Accessories andModifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Accessory Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Active Fuel Management . . . . . . . 162
Adaptive Cruise Control . . . . . . . . 174
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . 210
Additional Information OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337
Additional Maintenance
and Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Adjustments Lumbar, Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine . . . . . . . 223
Air Conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . 134, 137
Air Filter
Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Air Filter, Passenger Compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Airbag System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
How Does an AirbagRestrain? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Passenger Sensing System . . . . 59
What Makes an Airbag Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Airbag System (cont'd)
What Will You See after an
Airbag Inflates? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
When Should an Airbag
Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Where Are the Airbags? . . . . . . . . 55
Airbags Adding Equipment to theVehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Passenger Status Indicator . . . 103
Readiness Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Servicing Airbag-Equipped Vehicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Alarm Vehicle Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Alert Lane Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Side Blind Zone (SBZA) . . . . . . 193
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . 166 Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Appearance Care
Exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Interior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
Armrest Rear Seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13555849) - 2020 - CRC - 8/16/19
Index 351
I
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
IndicatorPedestrian Ahead . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Vehicle Ahead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Infants and Young Children, Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Information Publication Ordering . . . . . . . . . . 329
Infotainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . . . . 334
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . 96, 97
Instrument Panel Overview . . . . . . . 5
Interior Rearview Mirrors . . . . . . . . . 28
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
J
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
K
Keyless Entry
Remote (RKE) System . . . . . . . . . . 8
Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
L
Labeling, Tire Sidewall . . . . . . . . . . 252 Lamps
Courtesy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Daytime Running (DRL) . . . . . . 127
Dome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Exterior Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Exterior Lamps OffReminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
License Plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Malfunction Indicator (Check Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
On Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112
Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . . . 194
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . . . 196
Lane Keep Assist Light . . . . . . . . . 108
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
LATCH System Replacing Parts after aCrash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
LATCH, Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Lighting Entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Exit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Illumination Control . . . . . . . . . . . 129 Lighting (cont'd)
LED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Lights Airbag Readiness . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Antilock Brake System
(ABS) Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Brake System Warning . . . . . . . 106
Charging System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Check Engine (Malfunction Indicator) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112
Door Ajar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . 106
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning . . . . . . . .110
Engine Oil Pressure . . . . . . . . . . .110
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
High-Beam On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . 127
Lane Keep Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Low Fuel Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Seat Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . . . 102
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Service Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
StabiliTrak OFF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110