2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU instrument panel

Storage Areas
Glove Box
To open, pull the handle up.
Cupholders
There are removable cupholders located in front of the
center console. See “Center Console Storage Area”
later on in this section for information on how to access
them. To remove the cupholders, press and hold the
tab at the rear of the cupholders and lift up and
rearward. This will disengage the two forward tabs.
To reinstall, place the two forward tabs in the slots
and push the rear of the cupholder down.
If your vehicle has rear seat cupholders, pull down the
door on the back of the center console to access them.
Instrument Panel Storage
Your vehicle has an instrument panel storage area,
with a removable liner, located above the radio.
To open, slide the latch toward you.
Front Storage Area
There is a storage area in front of the shifter.
To access, push the bottom of the door. It will open
automatically.
Center Console Storage
Your vehicle has a center console storage area. Inside
the center console is a storage tray and a main storage
bin. To access the storage tray, pull up on the driver side
latch. To access the main storage bin, pull up on the
passenger side latch. Inside is a removable bin divider
to customize the storage compartment. There also may
be a storage pocket at the rear of the center console.
The armrest on top of the center console can be
adjusted to a rearward, middle, and forward position.
To adjust, pull or push the front of the armrest to
the desired position.
In front of the main storage bin is another storage area.
To access, push down and then forward on the rear
of the cover. Inside is a storage tray and removable
cupholders.
2-52

Driver Storage Compartment
The driver’s storage compartment is located near the
left side of the steering column on the bottom of
the instrument panel. Pull the cover down to open.
It can be used to store small items. The entire bin can
be removed for cleaning.
Convenience Net
The vehicle may have a convenience net in the rear.
Store small loads as far forward as possible. The
net should not be used to store heavy loads.
Sunroof
On vehicles with a sunroof,
the switch is located on
the headliner between the
map lamps.The sunroof only operates when the ignition is in
ON/RUN, ACC/ACCESSORY, or if Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) is active. SeeRetained Accessory
Power (RAP) on page 2-24.
Press and release the back of the switch to open the
sunroof to the vent position. From the vent position,
press and release the back of the switch to
express-open the sunroof. To stop the sunroof from
express opening, press the switch again. If the
sunshade is closed, it will open automatically when the
sunroof opens past the vented position.
A deector will automatically raise when the sunroof is
opened. The deector will retract when the sunroof
is closed.
To close the sunroof, press the front of the switch and
hold it until the sunroof is closed. The sunroof will stop if
the switch is released. Close the sunshade by hand.
The sunroof glass panel cannot be opened or closed if
the vehicle has an electrical failure.
Notice:If you force the sunshade forward of the
sliding glass panel, damage will occur and the
sunroof may not open or close properly. Always
close the glass panel before closing the sunshade.
2-53

Instrument Panel Overview...............................3-4
Hazard Warning Flashers................................3-6
Other Warning Devices...................................3-6
Horn .............................................................3-6
Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel...................3-7
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.........................3-7
Turn and Lane-Change Signals........................3-8
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer..................3-8
Flash-to-Pass.................................................3-8
Windshield Wipers..........................................3-9
Windshield Washer.......................................3-10
Cruise Control..............................................3-10
Headlamps..................................................3-13
Headlamps on Reminder................................3-14
Headlamps Off in Park..................................3-14
Delayed Headlamps......................................3-14
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL).......................3-14
Automatic Headlamp System..........................3-15
Fog Lamps ..................................................3-16
Instrument Panel Brightness...........................3-16
Dome Lamp .................................................3-17
Entry/Exit Lighting.........................................3-17
Parade Dimming...........................................3-17
Front Reading Lamps....................................3-17
Overhead Console Reading Lamps.................3-17
Rear Reading Lamps....................................3-18
Trunk Lamp.................................................3-18Battery Run-Down Protection..........................3-18
Accessory Power Outlet(s).............................3-19
Power Outlet 115 Volt Alternating Current........3-20
Climate Controls............................................3-21
Climate Control System.................................3-21
Automatic Climate Control System...................3-24
Outlet Adjustment.........................................3-29
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators...........
.3-30
Instrument Panel Cluster................................3-31
Speedometer and Odometer...........................3-32
Trip Odometer..............................................3-32
Tachometer.................................................3-32
Safety Belt Reminders...................................3-33
Airbag Readiness Light..................................3-34
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator...................3-35
Charging System Light..................................3-37
Brake System Warning Light..........................3-37
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning Light.....3-38
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)/Traction
Control System (TCS) Indicator/
Warning Light............................................3-39
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light......3-40
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage..................3-40
Tire Pressure Light.......................................3-41
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.............................3-41
Oil Pressure Light.........................................3-44
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-1

Security Light...............................................3-44
Cruise Control Light......................................3-44
Highbeam On Light.......................................3-45
Fuel Gage...................................................3-45
Driver Information Center (DIC).......................3-46
DIC Operation and Displays...........................3-46
DIC Warnings and Messages.........................3-48
DIC Vehicle Personalization............................3-53Audio System(s).............................................3-59
Setting the Clock..........................................3-60
Radio(s)......................................................3-62
Using an MP3..............................................3-73
XM Radio Messages.....................................3-78
Theft-Deterrent Feature..................................3-79
Audio Steering Wheel Controls.......................3-79
Radio Reception...........................................3-80
Backglass Antenna.......................................3-81
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System.............3-81
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-2

Instrument Panel Overview
3-4

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

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