2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU Owners Manual

One key is used for the
ignition and all other locks.
When a new vehicle is delivered, the key has a
bar-coded key tag. This tag may be removed by your
dealer before it is delivered.
Each tag has a key code on it that tells your dealer or a
quali®ed locksmith how to make extra keys. Keep the
tag in a safe place. If you lose your keys, you'll be able
to have one made easily using this tag. If you need
a new key, go to your dealer for the correct key code.
See
Roadside Assistance Program on page 7-5for more
information.
Notice:Your vehicle has a number of features that
can help prevent theft. You can have a lot of trouble
getting into your vehicle if you ever lock your keys
inside. You may even have to damage your vehicle to
get in. So be sure you have spare keys.
Remote Keyless Entry System
If equipped, the keyless entry system operates on a
radio frequency subject to Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) Rules and with Industry Canada.
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause interference, and
2. This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation of the device.
This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry Canada.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause interference, and
2. This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation of the device.
Changes or modi®cations to this system by other than
an authorized service facility could void authorization to
use this equipment.
2-3

At times you may notice a decrease in range. This is
normal for any remote keyless entry system. If the
transmitter does not work or if you have to stand closer
to your vehicle for the transmitter to work, try this:
·Check the distance. You may be too far from your
vehicle. You may need to stand closer during
rainy or snowy weather.
·Check the location. Other vehicles or objects may
be blocking the signal. Take a few steps to the
left or right, hold the transmitter higher, and
try again.
·Check to determine if battery replacement is
necessary. See ªBattery Replacementº under
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation on
page 2-4.
·If you are still having trouble, see your dealer or
a quali®ed technician for service.
Remote Keyless Entry System
Operation
The following functions are
available with the keyless
entry system:
Q(Lock):Press the lock button to lock all of the
doors. The interior lamps will turn off after all of
the doors are closed.
2-4

W(Unlock):Press the unlock button once to unlock
the driver's door. Press the button again within ®ve
seconds for all remaining doors to unlock. The interior
lamps will stay on for 10 seconds or until the ignition
is turned on.
V(Remote Trunk Release):Press the remote trunk
release button to unlock and release the trunk lid.
You can open the trunk with the transmitter when the
vehicle speed is less than 2 mph (3 km/h), when
the parking brake is engaged, or when the ignition is off.
The interior lamps will come on for 10 seconds or
until the ignition is turned to ON.
L(Remote Alarm):Press the horn button for the
horn to sound and the headlamps and the parking lamps
to ¯ash for up to two minutes. The interior lamps will
come on and remain on while the horn is sounding and
the lamps are ¯ashing. Press the horn button again,
or turn the ignition to ON, to turn off the horn and lamps.
Programmable Horn Chirp
When you use the remote keyless entry transmitter to
lock the doors or use the delayed locking feature
the parking lamps will ¯ash and the horn will chirp.
The programmable horn chirp can be disabled by
pressing and holding either of the door lock switches in
the unlock position for 10 seconds with the ignition
ON and all of the doors closed. When you hear the horn
chirp, programming is complete.
To reactivate the horn chirp feature, repeat the above
procedure.
Matching Transmitter(s) to Your
Vehicle
Each remote keyless entry transmitter is coded to
prevent another transmitter from unlocking your vehicle.
If a transmitter is lost or stolen, a replacement can
be purchased through your dealer. Remember to bring
any remaining transmitters with you when you go to
your dealer. When the dealer matches the replacement
transmitter to your vehicle, any remaining transmitters
must also be matched. Once your dealer has coded the
new transmitter, the lost transmitter will not unlock
your vehicle. Each vehicle can have a maximum of four
transmitters matched to it.
2-5

Battery Replacement
Under normal use, the battery in your remote keyless
entry transmitter should last about four years.
You can tell the battery is weak if the transmitter won't
work at the normal range in any location. If you have
to get close to your vehicle before the transmitter works,
it's probably time to change the battery.
Notice:When replacing the battery, use care not to
touch any of the circuitry. Static from your body
transferred to these surfaces may damage the
transmitter.To replace the battery in the remote keyless entry
transmitter:
1. Use a ¯at object like a coin to separate the bottom
half from the top half of the transmitter.
2. Remove the battery and replace it with the new
one. Make sure the positive side of the battery
faces up. Use one three-volt, CR2032, or
equivalent, type battery.
3. Put the two halves back together. Make sure the
cover is on tightly, so water won't get in.
2-6

Doors and Locks
Door Locks
{CAUTION:
Unlocked doors can be dangerous.
·Passengers Ð especially children Ð can
easily open the doors and fall out of a
moving vehicle. When a door is locked, the
handle will not open it. You increase the
chance of being thrown out of the vehicle
in a crash if the doors are not locked. So,
wear safety belts properly and lock the
doors whenever you drive.
·Young children who get into unlocked
vehicles may be unable to get out. A child
can be overcome by extreme heat and can
suffer permanent injuries or even death
from heat stroke. Always lock your vehicle
whenever you leave it.
·Outsiders can easily enter through an
unlocked door when you slow down or
stop your vehicle. Locking your doors can
help prevent this from happening.There are several ways to lock and unlock your vehicle.
From the outside, use your key or remote keyless
entry system, if your vehicle is equipped with this
feature. If your vehicle has remote keyless entry, only
the driver's door has a lock cylinder.
From the inside, you can lock and unlock the door by
moving the manual lever forward or rearward.
2-7

Power Door Locks
With the power door locks,
you can unlock or lock all
the doors on your
vehicle using either the
driver's or front
passenger's door lock
switch.
Pull up on the switch to unlock all the doors. Push down
on it to lock all the doors.
The rear doors do not have power door lock switches.
Rear seat passengers must use the manual levers
to lock or unlock the rear doors.
Door Ajar Reminder
If one of the doors on your vehicle is not closed properly,
while the ignition is on and the shift lever is moved from
PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N), you will hear a chime. Also,
the door ajar light on the instrument panel will come on
and stay on until the doors are closed.
Delayed Locking
This feature will allow the driver to delay the actual
locking of the vehicle. This feature will not operate if the
key is left in the ignition. See
Lockout Protection on
page 2-11later in this section.
When LOCK on the driver's power door lock switch is
pressed, with the key removed from the ignition and the
driver's door open, three chimes will be heard. The
doors will not lock. Seven seconds after the driver's door
has been closed, all of the doors will lock and the
parking lamps will ¯ash twice. The horn will also chirp if
the horn chirp feature is enabled. See ªProgrammable
Horn Chirpº listed previously for more information.
If the driver opens another door before the seven
seconds, the doors will not lock until seven seconds
after the last door is closed.
If the power door lock switch is pressed to LOCK twice
when leaving the vehicle, or the lock symbol button
on the remote keyless entry transmitter is pressed, the
doors will lock immediately.
If the power door lock switch is pressed to unlock, the
doors will unlock immediately and not lock automatically
after the doors are closed.
2-8

Programmable Automatic Door
Locks
With this feature, when you close all the doors, turn on
the ignition and shift out of PARK (P), all of the doors
will lock. If someone needs to get out while the vehicle is
running, have that person use either the manual lock
lever or the power door lock switch. When the door
is closed again, it will lock automatically when the
vehicle reaches about 5 mph (8 km/h). All doors will
automatically unlock when the shift lever is moved
to PARK (P) and the key is turned to OFF.
Customizing the Automatic Door Locks
One of four operating modes may be selected and
programmed by the driver:
Mode 1:All doors automatically lock when the transaxle
is shifted out of PARK (P). The doors will remain
locked unless manually unlocked or the lock button is
pressed. All doors will unlock when the transaxle is
shifted into PARK (P) and the key is turned to OFF.
Mode 2:This mode is only available with the remote
keyless entry system (if equipped). All doors
automatically lock when the transaxle is shifted out of
PARK (P). Automatic driver's door only unlock when the
transaxle is shifted into PARK (P) and the key is
turned to OFF.Mode 3:All doors automatically lock when the transaxle
is shifted out of PARK (P). No automatic door unlock.
Mode 4:No automatic door lock or unlock.
Before your vehicle was shipped from the factory it was
programmed in Mode 1. To determine the current
mode of the vehicle or to change to a different mode,
do the following:
1. Ensure the shift lever is in PARK (P) and all doors
are fully closed throughout this procedure. Turn the
ignition to ON.
2. Press and hold LOCK on either power door lock
switch for 10 seconds. Release the switch when
you hear the chime.
3. Count the number of chimes you hear. The number
of chimes tells you which mode your vehicle is in.
You can change the mode by pressing and
holding LOCK on the power door lock switch (two
chimes for Mode 2, three chimes for Mode 3
and four chimes for Mode 4).
4. Repeat Step 2 until you hear the number of chimes
that matches the mode you want.
The mode you selected is now set.
2-9

Rear Door Security Locks
Your vehicle has rear door security locks that help
prevent passengers from opening the rear doors of your
vehicle from the inside.
The lever for this feature
is located on the inside of
the rear door.
To use the security locks, do the following:
1. Slide the lever up.
2. Close the door.
3. Do the same thing to the other rear door.The rear doors on your vehicle cannot be opened from
the inside when this feature is in use. If you want to
open a rear door while the security lock is on, do
the following:
1. Unlock the door from the inside.
2. Then open the door from the outside.
If you do not cancel the security lock feature, adults or
older children who ride in the rear won't be able to
open the rear door from the inside. You should let adults
and older children know how these security locks
work, and how to cancel the locks.
To cancel a rear door lock, do the following:
1. Unlock the door from the inside and open it from
the outside.
2. Slide the lever down.
3. Do the same to the other rear door.
The rear doors will now work normally.
2-10