2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU steering

Black plate (5,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2011
Introduction v
Vehicle Symbol Chart
Here are some additional symbols
that may be found on the vehicle
and what they mean. For more
information on the symbol, refer to
the Index.
9:Airbag Readiness Light
#:Air Conditioning
!:Antilock Brake System (ABS)
g:Audio Steering Wheel Controls
or OnStar®
$: Brake System Warning Light
":Charging System
I:Cruise Control
B: Engine Coolant Temperature
O:Exterior Lamps
#:Fog Lamps
.: Fuel Gauge
+:Fuses
3: Headlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer
j: LATCH System Child
Restraints
*: Malfunction Indicator Lamp
::Oil Pressure
}:Power
/:Remote Vehicle Start
>:Safety Belt Reminders
7:Tire Pressure Monitor
F:Traction Control
M:Windshield Washer Fluid

Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2011
In Brief 1-1
In Brief
Instrument Panel
Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Initial Drive Information
Initial Drive Information . . . . . . . . 1-4
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Trunk Release . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Second Row Seats . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
Heated Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8
Head Restraint Adjustment . . . . 1-8
Safety Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8
Sensing System for Passenger Airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9 Mirror Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
Steering Wheel
Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Interior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Exterior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . 1-11
Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-13
Vehicle Features
Radio(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14
Satellite Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
Portable Audio Devices (Auxiliary Input or
USB Port) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
Bluetooth
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . 1-16
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Driver Information
Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-18
Performance and Maintenance
Traction Control System (TCS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-18
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-18
Tire Pressure Monitor . . . . . . . . 1-19
Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-19
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . 1-19
Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol) . . . . . 1-20
Driving for Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-20
Roadside Assistance Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-20
OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-21

Black plate (3,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2011
In Brief 1-3
A.Air Vents on page 8‑9.
B. Turn and Lane‐Change Lever. See Turn and Lane-Change
Signals on page 6‑4.
C. Instrument Cluster
on
page 5‑10.
D. Windshield Wiper/Washer
on
page 5‑4.
E. Instrument Panel Storage
on
page 4‑1.
F. AM-FM Radio on page 7‑6.
G. Instrument Panel Illumination
Control
on page 6‑5.
H. Driver Compartment Storage. See Front Storage
on
page 4‑2. I. Hood Release. See
Hood
on
page 10‑5.
J. Cruise Control
on page 9‑34.
Driver Information Center (DIC)
Buttons. See Driver Information
Center (DIC) on page 5‑23.
K. Data Link Connector (DLC). See Malfunction Indicator Lamp
on page 5‑16.
L. Steering Wheel Adjustment
on
page 5‑2.
M. Horn on page 5‑3.
N. Steering Wheel Controls
on
page 5‑2(If Equipped).
O. Ignition Positions on page 9‑18. P.
Climate Control Systems
on
page 8‑1(If Equipped).
Automatic Climate Control
System
on page 8‑5(If Equipped) .
Q. Hazard Warning Flashers
on
page 6‑4.
R. Shift Lever. See Automatic
Transmission
on page 9‑25.
S. Front Storage
on page 4‑2.
Power Outlets on page 5‑7.
T. Passenger Sensing System
on
page 3‑31.
U. Traction Control System (TCS)
on page 9‑30.
V. Glove Box on page 4‑1.

Black plate (10,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2011
1-10 In Brief
2. Press one of the four arrowslocated on the control pad to
move the mirror to the desired
direction.
Keep the selector switch in the
center position when not adjusting
either outside mirror.
See Power Mirrors on page 2‑15.
Interior Mirror
Vehicles with an automatic dimming
rearview mirror will automatically
reduce the glare from the
headlamps of the vehicle behind.
The dimming feature comes on and
the indicator light illuminates each
time the ignition is turned to start.
SeeManual Rearview Mirror
on
page 2‑15.
Steering Wheel
Adjustment
The lever is located on the left side
of the steering wheel column.
To adjust the steering wheel:
1. Pull the lever down.
2. Move the steering wheel up or down. 3. Pull or push the steering wheel
closer or away from you.
4. Pull the lever up to lock the steering wheel in place.
Do not adjust the steering wheel
while driving.
Interior Lighting
Dome Lamps
The dome lamps come on when any
door is opened. They turn off after
all the doors are closed.
To turn the dome lamps on
manually, turn the instrument panel
brightness knob, located on the
instrument panel to the left of the
steering column, clockwise to the
farthest position. The dome lamps
will remain on whether a door is
opened or closed.

Black plate (11,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2011
In Brief 1-11
Reading Lamps
The front reading lamps are located
in the front overhead console. The
rear reading lamps are near the
dome lamp overhead near the rear
passenger seats.
For vehicles with front and/or rear
reading lamps, press the lens to
turn the lamp on and off, while the
doors are closed. These lamps
come on automatically when any
door is opened.
For more information on interior
lighting, see:
.Instrument Panel Illumination
Control on page 6‑5.
.Entry/Exit Lighting on page 6‑6.
.Parade Dimming on page 6‑6.
Exterior Lighting
P:Briefly turn to this position to
manually turn the automatic lamp
control off or on.
In Canada, this position only works
when a vehicle is in the P (Park)
position. When the vehicle is put
into D (Drive) the lights come on.
AUTO: Automatically turns on the
Daytime Running Lamps during
daytime, and the headlamps,
parking lamps, and taillamps at
night.
;: Manual operation of the parking
lamps and taillamps.
2: Manual operation of the
headlamps, parking lamps, and
taillamps. For more information, see:
.Exterior Lamp Controlson
page 6‑1.
.Delayed Headlampson
page 6‑4.
.Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)on page 6‑3.
.Automatic Headlamp Systemon
page 6‑3.
.Fog Lamps on page 6‑5.
Windshield Wiper/Washer
The windshield wiper lever is
located on the right side of the
steering column.
9: Turns the wipers off.

Black plate (16,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2011
1-16 In Brief
Bluetooth®
For vehicles with a Bluetooth
system, it allows users with a
Bluetooth‐enabled cell phone to
make and receive hands-free calls
using the vehicle’s audio system
and controls.
The Bluetooth‐enabled cell phone
must be paired with the Bluetooth
system before it can be used in the
vehicle. Not all phones will support
all functions. For more information,
visit www.gm.com/bluetooth.
For more information, see Bluetooth
on page 7‑23.
Steering Wheel Controls
If equipped, some audio controls
can be adjusted using the controls
on the right side of the steering
wheel.
e+ /e:Increases or decreases
volume.
w/x: Press to change radio
stations, select tracks on a CD, or to
select tracks and navigate folders
on an iPod
®or USB device.
b g: Press to silence the vehicle
speakers only. Press again to turn
the sound on. Press and hold longer
than two seconds to interact with
the OnStar
®or Bluetooth systems.
c: Press to reject an incoming
call, or to end a call.
For more information, see Steering
Wheel Controls on page 5‑2.
Cruise Control
The cruise control buttons are
located on the left side of the
steering wheel.

Black plate (17,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2011
In Brief 1-17
J:Press to turn the cruise control
system on and off.
RES+: Press briefly to make the
vehicle resume a previously set
speed or press and hold to
accelerate.
SET−: Press to set the speed and
activate cruise control or make the
vehicle decelerate.
For more information, see Cruise
Control on page 9‑34.
Driver Information
Center (DIC)
The DIC display is located at the
bottom of the instrument panel
cluster. It shows the status of
many vehicle systems and enables
access to the personalization menu.
The DIC buttons are located on the
left side of the steering wheel.
INFO: Press to scroll through the
vehicle information displays.
r: Press to reset some
vehicle information displays,
select a personalization setting,
or acknowledge a warning
message.
For more information, see Driver
Information Center (DIC)
on
page 5‑23.
Vehicle Personalization
Some vehicle features can be
programmed by using the DIC
buttons on the left side of the
steering wheel. These features
include:
.Oil Life Reset
.Units
.RKE Lock and Unlock Feedback
.Door Lock and Unlock Settings
.Language
See Vehicle Personalization
on
page 5‑31.

Black plate (19,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2011
In Brief 1-19
Tire Pressure Monitor
This vehicle may have a Tire
Pressure Monitor System (TPMS).
The TPMS warning light alerts you
to a significant loss in pressure of
one of the vehicle's tires. If the
warning light comes on, stop as
soon as possible and inflate the
tires to the recommended pressure
shown on the Tire and Loading
Information label. SeeVehicle Load
Limits
on page 9‑12. The warning
light will remain on until the tire
pressure is corrected.
During cooler conditions, the low tire
pressure warning light may appear
when the vehicle is first started and
then turn off. This may be an early indicator that the tire pressures are
getting low and the tires need to be
inflated to the proper pressure.
The TPMS does not replace normal
monthly tire maintenance. It is the
driver
’s responsibility to maintain
correct tire pressures.
See Tire Pressure Monitor System
on page 10‑47.
Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit
This vehicle may come with a jack
and spare tire or a tire sealant and
compressor kit. The kit can be used
to seal small punctures in the tread
area of the tire.
SeeTire Sealant and Compressor
Kit
on page 10‑61for complete
operating information.
If the vehicle came with a jack and
spare tire, see If a Tire Goes Flat
on
page 10‑59.
Engine Oil Life System
The engine oil life system calculates
engine oil life based on vehicle use
and displays the “Change Oil Soon”
DIC message when it is necessary
to change the engine oil and filter.
The oil life system should be reset
to 100% only following an oil
change.
Resetting the Oil Life System
1. Turn the ignition to ON/RUN, with the engine off.
2. Press and hold the DIC INFO and reset buttons, on the left
side of the steering wheel, at the
same time to enter the
personalization menu. The “Oil
Life Reset” message displays.
3. Press and hold the reset button until the DIC display shows
“Acknowledged.”
4. Turn the key to LOCK/OFF.
See Engine Oil Life System
on
page 10‑12.