2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU Owners Manual

The main components of the instrument panel are the following:
A. Air Outlets. SeeOutlet Adjustment on page 3-29.
B. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever. SeeTurn
Signal/Multifunction Lever on page 3-7.
C. Instrument Panel Cluster. SeeInstrument Panel
Cluster on page 3-31.
D. Windshield Wiper and Washer Lever. See
Windshield Wipers on page 3-9andWindshield
Washer on page 3-10.
E. Instrument Panel Storage. SeeInstrument Panel
Storage on page 2-52.
F. Audio System. SeeAudio System(s) on page 3-59.
G. Adjustable Pedal Buttons (If Equipped). See
Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal on page 2-26.
Instrument Panel Brightness Control. SeeInstrument
Panel Brightness on page 3-16. Fog Lamps Button.
SeeFog Lamps on page 3-16.
H. Driver Storage Compartment. SeeDriver Storage
Compartment on page 2-53.
I. Hood Release. SeeHood Release on page 5-12.
J. Cruise Controls. SeeCruise Control on page 3-10.
Driver Information Center (DIC) Buttons. See
Driver Information Center (DIC) on page 3-46.
K. Tilt Lever. SeeTilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel
on page 3-7.L. Horn. SeeHorn on page 3-6.
M. Audio Steering Wheel Controls (If Equipped).
SeeAudio Steering Wheel Controls on page 3-79.
N. Ignition Switch. SeeIgnition Positions on page 2-22.
O. Climate Control System or Automatic Climate
Control System. SeeClimate Control System on
page 3-21orAutomatic Climate Control System on
page 3-24.
P. Hazard Warning Flashers Button. SeeHazard
Warning Flashers on page 3-6.
Q. Shift Lever. SeeAutomatic Transmission Operation
(Four Speed Transmission) on page 2-28or
Automatic Transmission Operation (Six Speed
Transmission) on page 2-30.
R. Front Storage Area. SeeFront Storage Area on
page 2-52. Accessory Power Outlet. SeeAccessory
Power Outlet(s) on page 3-19.
S. Passenger Airbag Status Indicator. SeePassenger
Airbag Status Indicator on page 3-35.
T. Traction Control Button. SeeTraction Control
System (TCS) on page 4-6.
U. Glove Box. SeeGlove Box on page 2-52.
3-5

Hazard Warning Flashers
The hazard warning ashers let you warn the police and
others that you have a problem. The front and rear
turn signal lamps will ash on and off.
The hazard warning
asher button is on the
instrument panel.
Press the button to make the front and rear turn signal
lamps ash on and off. Press again to turn the
ashers completely off.
The hazard warning ashers work even if the key is not
in the ignition switch.
Other Warning Devices
If you carry reective triangles, you can set them up at
the side of the road about 300 feet (100 m) behind
your vehicle.
Horn
Press near or on the horn symbols on the steering
wheel pad to sound the horn.
3-6

Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel
A tilt and telescope wheel lets you adjust the position of
the steering wheel.
The lever is located on the left side of the steering
column.
To tilt and telescope the steering wheel, pull down the
lever. Then move the steering wheel up or down or
backward or forward into a comfortable position. Pull the
lever up to lock the steering wheel in place.
Do not adjust the tilt and telescope lever while driving.
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
The lever on the left side of the steering column
includes the following:
GTurn and Lane-Change Signals. SeeTurn and
Lane-Change Signals on page 3-8.
53Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer. See
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer on page 3-8.
Flash-to-Pass. SeeFlash-to-Pass on page 3-8.
OExterior Lamp Control. SeeHeadlamps
on page 3-13.
3-7

Turn and Lane-Change Signals
The turn signal has two upward (for right) and two
downward (for left) positions. These positions let you
signal a turn or a lane change.
To signal a turn, move the lever all the way up or down.
When the turn is nished, the lever returns automatically
to the normal position.
An arrow on the instrument
panel cluster ashes in the
direction of the turn or
lane change.
To signal a lane change, raise or lower the lever until
the arrow starts to ash. Hold it there until you complete
your lane change. The lever returns by itself when it
is released.
If the arrows ash rapidly or do not go on at all as you
signal a turn or lane change, a signal bulb could be
burned out and other drivers will not see your turn signal.
Replace burned out bulbs to help avoid an accident.
Also, check the appropriate fuses. SeeFuses on
page 5-99.
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
To change the headlamps from low beam to high beam,
push the turn signal/multifunction lever away from you.
This light comes on in the
instrument panel cluster
if the high beam lamps
are turned on while
the ignition is in ON/RUN.
To change the headlamps from high beam to low beam,
pull the turn signal lever toward you.
Flash-to-Pass
This feature lets you use your high-beam headlamps to
signal a driver in front of you that you want to pass.
To use it, pull the turn signal/multifunction lever toward
you until the high-beam headlamps come on, then
release the lever to turn them off.
3-8

Windshield Wipers
Use this lever, located on the right side of the steering
wheel, to operate the windshield wipers.
9(Off):Move the lever to this position to turn off the
windshield wipers.
&(Intermittent; Speed Sensitive Wipers):Move the
lever to this position for intermittent or speed sensitive
operation. The amount of delay time varies between
wiping cycles due to the delay setting selected or
the speed of the vehicle. As vehicle speed is increased
or decreased, the wiper interval will also increase or
decrease.
x(Delay):While the lever is in the intermittent
position, turn the intermittent adjust band with this
symbol on it up or down to select a shorter or longer
delay between wiping cycles. To the left of the
adjust band are bars, increasing in size from bottom
to top, that indicate the frequency of the wipes.
Smaller bars mean the wipers movement is less
frequent. Larger bars mean the movement is more
frequent.
6(Low Speed):Move the lever up to the rst
setting past intermittent, for steady wiping at low speed.
1(High Speed):Move the lever up to the second
setting past intermittent, for wiping at a high speed.
8(Mist):Move the lever all the way down to
this position for a single wiping cycle. Hold it there until
the windshield wipers start; then let go. The windshield
wipers stop after one wiping cycle. If additional
wiping cycles are needed, hold the lever down longer.
Damaged wiper blades can prevent you from seeing well
enough to drive safely. Clear ice and snow from the
wiper blades before using them to prevent damage.
If the wiper blades are frozen to the windshield, carefully
loosen or thaw them. If your blades do become
damaged, get new blades.
3-9

Heavy snow or ice can overload the wiper motor.
A circuit breaker stops the motor until it cools. Clear
away snow or ice to prevent an overload. If the motor
gets stuck, turn the wipers off, clear away the snow
or ice, and then turn the wipers back on.
As an added safety feature, if the wipers are on for
more than 15 seconds, the vehicle’s headlamps turn on
automatically. They turn off 15 seconds after the
wipers are turned off.
Windshield Washer
To wash the windshield, press the button at the end of
the lever until the washers begin.
{CAUTION:
In freezing weather, do not use your washer
until the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the
washer uid can form ice on the windshield,
blocking your vision.
When the button is released, the washers stop, but the
wipers continue to wipe about three times or resume
the previous speed.
Cruise Control
Cruise control lets you maintain a speed of about
25 mph (40 km/h) or more without keeping your foot on
the accelerator. This can really help on long trips.
Cruise control does not work at speeds below 25 mph
(40 km/h).
{CAUTION:
Cruise control can be dangerous where you
cannot drive safely at a steady speed. So, do
not use your cruise control on winding roads
or in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous on slippery
roads. On such roads, fast changes in tire
traction can cause excessive wheel slip, and
you could lose control. Do not use cruise
control on slippery roads.
3-10

Setting Cruise Control
{CAUTION:
If you leave your cruise control on when you
are not using cruise, you might hit a button
and go into cruise when you do not want to.
You could be startled and even lose control.
Keep the cruise control switch off until you
want to use cruise control.
The cruise control buttons
are located on the steering
wheel.
I(On/Off):Press to turn the cruise control system
on and off.RES+ (Resume):Press to resume a set speed and to
accelerate the speed.
SET−(Set):Press to set a speed and to decrease
the speed.
To set a speed do the following:
1. Press
Ito turn cruise control on. The indicator
light on the button comes on.
2. Get up to the desired speed.
3. Press the SET−and release it. The cruise symbol
displays in the instrument panel cluster to show the
system is engaged.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
When the brakes are applied, the cruise control shuts off.
If the vehicle is in cruise control and the Traction
Control System (TCS) or Enhanced Traction System
(ETS) begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise control
automatically disengages. SeeTraction Control System
(TCS) on page 4-6andElectronic Stability Control
(ESC) on page 4-8. When road conditions allow, the
cruise control can be used again.
3-11

Resuming a Set Speed
Suppose the cruise control is set at a desired speed
and then the brakes are applied. This disengages
the cruise control. The cruise symbol in the instrument
panel cluster also goes out indicating cruise is no
longer engaged. To return to the previously set speed,
you do not need to repeat the set process again.
Once at a speed of about 25 mph (40 km/h) or more,
you can briey press the RES+.
This takes the vehicle back up to the previously chosen
speed and stays there.
Increasing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed.
If the cruise control system is already engaged,
press the RES+. Hold it there until the desired
speed is reached and then release the button.
To increase the vehicle speed in very small
amounts, briey press the RES+ and then release
it. Each time this is done, the vehicle goes about
1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster.
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
If the cruise control system is already engaged:
Push and hold the SET−until the desired lower
speed is reached, then release it.
To slow down in very small amounts, briey push
the SET−. Each time this is done, the vehicle
goes about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using
Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase the vehicle’s
speed. When you take your foot off the pedal, the vehicle
slows down to the previously set cruise control speed.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control works on hills depends
upon the vehicle’s speed, load, and the steepness of the
hills. When going up steep hills, you might have to
step on the accelerator pedal to maintain the vehicle’s
speed. When going downhill, you might have to brake or
shift to a lower gear to keep the vehicle at a lower
speed. Of course, applying the brakes ends cruise
control. Many drivers nd this to be too much trouble
and do not use cruise control on steep hills.
3-12