2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU Owners Manual

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Instruments and Controls 5-23
Security Light
The security light should come on
briefly as the engine is started. If the
system is working normally the
indicator light turns off. If it does not
come on, have the vehicle serviced
by your dealer.
If the light stays on and the engine
does not start, there could be a
problem with the theft-deterrent
system.
This light is also used to indicate the
status of the anti-theft alarm system
when the ignition is turned off.
The light will flash rapidly if the
alarm system is arming and one ormore of the monitored entry points
is not closed. The light will stay on if
the alarm is arming and all entry
points are closed.
For information regarding this light
and the vehicle's security system,
see
Anti-theft Alarm System on
page 2‑11.High-Beam On Light
The high‐beam on light comes on
when the high-beam headlamps are
in use.
See Headlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer on page 6‑2 for more
information.
Cruise Control Light
The cruise control light comes on
whenever the cruise control is set.
The light goes out when the cruise
control is turned off. See Cruise
Control on page 9‑33 for more
information.

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5-24 Instruments and Controls
Information Displays
Driver Information
Center (DIC)
Your vehicle has a Driver
Information Center (DIC). The DIC
display gives you the status of many
of your vehicle's systems. The DIC
is also used to display driver
personalization menu modes and
warning/status messages. All
messages will appear in the DIC
display, located at the bottom of the
instrument panel cluster.
The DIC buttons are located on the
left side of the steering wheel.INFO (Information):
Press this
button to scroll through the vehicle
information mode displays.
r(Reset): Press this button to
reset some vehicle information
mode displays, select a
personalization menu mode setting,
or acknowledge a warning
message.
Press and hold the information and
reset buttons at the same time for
one second, then release the
buttons to enter the personalization
menu. See Vehicle Personalization
on page 5‑31 for more information.
The DIC comes on when the
ignition is on. The DIC has different
modes which can be accessed
by pressing the DIC buttons.
The button functions are detailed
in the following.
Information Modes
INFO (Information): Press this
button to scroll through the following
vehicle information modes:
Outside Air Temperature
The outside air temperature will be
displayed at the same time as the
Odometer and the Trip Odometer.
The temperature outside of the
vehicle will be displayed in either
degrees Celsius (°C) or degrees
Fahrenheit (°F). The outside air
temperature appears on the left
side of the DIC display and the
odometer, or trip odometer, appears
on the right side of the display.
Odometer
Press the information button until
the outside air temperature and the
odometer displays. This mode
shows the total distance the
vehicle has been driven in either
kilometers (km) or miles (mi).

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Instruments and Controls 5-25
To change the DIC display to
English or metric units, see“UNITS”
under Vehicle Personalization on
page 5‑31.
Trip Odometer
Press the information button until
the outside air temperature along
with A or B displays. These modes
show the current distance traveled
since the last reset for each trip
odometer in either kilometers (km)
or miles (mi). Both odometers can
be used at the same time.
To reset the trip odometer to zero,
press and hold the reset button for a
few seconds while the desired trip
odometer is displayed.
FUEL RANGE
Press the information button until
FUEL RANGE displays. This mode
shows the remaining distance you
can drive without refueling in either
kilometers (km) or miles (mi). It is
based on fuel economy and the fuel
remaining in the tank. When the fuel level is low, FUEL
RANGE LOW displays.
The fuel economy data used to
determine fuel range is an average
of recent driving conditions. As your
driving conditions change, this data
is gradually updated. The FUEL
RANGE mode cannot be reset.
MPG (L/100 KM) AVG (Average)
Press the information button until
MPG (L/100 KM) AVG displays.
This mode shows how many liters
per 100 kilometers (L/100 km) or
miles per gallon (mpg) your vehicle
is getting based on current and past
driving conditions.
To reset the average fuel economy,
press and hold the reset button
while MPG (L/100 KM) AVG is
displayed. Average fuel economy is
then calculated starting from that
point. If the average fuel economy is
not reset, it is continually updated
each time you drive.
MPG (L/100 KM) INST
(Instantaneous)
Press the information button until
MPG (L/100 KM) INST displays.
This mode shows the current fuel
economy at a particular moment
and changes frequently as driving
conditions change. This mode
shows the instantaneous fuel
economy in liters per 100 kilometers
(L/100 km) or miles per gallon
(mpg). Unlike average fuel
economy, this screen cannot be
reset.
AV (Average) SPEED
Press the information button until
AV SPEED displays. This mode
shows the vehicle's average speed
in kilometers per hour (km/h) or
miles per hour (mph).
To reset the average vehicle speed,
press and hold the reset button
while AV SPEED is displayed.

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5-26 Instruments and Controls
OIL LIFE
Press the information button until
OIL LIFE displays. The engine oil
life system shows an estimate of the
oil's remaining useful life. It shows
100% when the system is reset
after an oil change. It alerts you to
change the oil on a schedule
consistent with your driving
conditions.
In addition to the engine oil life
system monitoring the oil life,
additional maintenance is
recommended in the Maintenance
Schedule in this manual. See
Engine Oil on page 10‑10and
Maintenance Schedule on
page 11‑2.
Always reset the engine oil life
system after an oil change. See
“How to Reset the Engine Oil Life
System” underEngine Oil Life
System on page 10‑12. Tire Pressure
On vehicles with the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS), the
pressure for each tire can be viewed
in the DIC. The tire pressure is
shown in either kilopascals (kPa)
or pounds per square inch (psi).
Press the information button until
LF ## PSI (kPa) ## RF displays
for the front tires. Press the
information button again until
LR ## PSI (kPa) ## RR displays
for the rear tires.
If a low tire pressure condition is
detected by the system while
driving, a message advising you to
add air will appear in the display.
See
Tire Pressure on page 10‑50
and Tire Messages on page 5‑30
for more information.Vehicle Messages
The following messages appear if
there is a problem detected in one
of your vehicle's systems.
A message clears when the
vehicle's condition is no longer
present. To acknowledge a
message and clear it from the
display, press and hold any of the
DIC buttons. If the condition is still
present, the warning message
comes back on the next time the
vehicle is turned off and back on.
With most messages, a warning
chime sounds when the message
displays. Your vehicle may have
other warning messages.

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Instruments and Controls 5-27
Brake System Messages
BRAKE FLUID
This message displays, while the
ignition is on, when the brake fluid
level is low. The brake system
warning light on the instrument
panel cluster also comes on. See
Brake System Warning Light on
page 5‑18for more information.
Have the brake system serviced by
your dealer as soon as possible.
PUSH PARK PEDAL
This message displays if the parking
brake is left engaged. See Parking
Brake on page 9‑29 for more
information.
Cruise Control Messages
CRUISE ENGAGED
This message displays when the
cruise control system is active.
See Cruise Control on page 9‑33 for
more information.
Door Ajar Messages
DOOR AJAR
This message displays if one or
more of the vehicle's doors are not
closed properly. Make sure that the
door(s) are closed completely.
TRUNK AJAR
This message displays when the
trunk is not closed completely.
Make sure that the trunk is closed
completely. See Trunk on page 2‑9
for more information.
Engine Oil Messages
CHANGE OIL SOON
This message displays when the life
of the engine oil has expired and it
should be changed.
When this message is
acknowledged and cleared from
the display, the engine oil life
system must still be reset
separately. See Engine Oil Life System on page 10‑12,
Engine Oil
on page 10‑10, and Maintenance
Schedule on page 11‑2 for more
information.
Engine Power Messages
ENG (Engine) PWR (Power)
REDUCED
This message displays when the
vehicle's engine power is reduced.
Reduced engine power can affect
the vehicle's ability to accelerate.
If this message is on, but there is
no reduction in performance,
proceed to your destination.
The performance may be reduced
the next time the vehicle is driven.
The vehicle may be driven at a
reduced speed while this message
is on, but acceleration and speed
may be reduced. Anytime this
message stays on, the vehicle
should be taken to your dealer for
service as soon as possible.

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5-28 Instruments and Controls
Fuel System Messages
CHECK GAS CAP
This message displays if the fuel
cap has not been fully tightened.
Recheck the fuel cap to make sure
that it is on properly. A few driving
trips with the cap properly installed
should turn the message off.
LOW FUEL
This message displays when your
vehicle is low on fuel. Refill the fuel
tank as soon as possible. SeeFuel
Gauge on page 5‑12, Fuel on
page 9‑36, and Filling the Tank on
page 9‑40 for more information.
Key and Lock Messages
KEY FOB BATT (Battery) LOW
This message displays if the
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter battery is low. Replace
the battery in the transmitter.
See“Battery Replacement” under
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation on page 2‑3.
Lamp Messages
AUTO (Automatic)
LIGHTS OFF
This message displays if the
automatic headlamp system is
disabled with the headlamp switch.
See Automatic Headlamp System
on page 6‑3 for more information.
AUTO (Automatic) LIGHTS ON
This message displays if the
automatic headlamp system is
enabled with the headlamp switch.
SeeAutomatic Headlamp System
on page 6‑3 for more information.
Ride Control System
Messages
ESC (Electronic Stability
Control) ACTIVE
If your vehicle has Electronic
Stability Control (ESC), this
message displays and the ESC/TCS
light on the instrument panel cluster
flashes when ESC is assisting you with directional control of the
vehicle. You may feel or hear the
system working and see this
message displayed in the DIC.
Slippery road conditions may exist
when this message is displayed,
so adjust your driving accordingly.
This message may stay on for a
few seconds after ESC stops
assisting you with directional
control of the vehicle. This is normal
when the system is operating.
See
Electronic Stability Control
(ESC) on page 9‑32 andElectronic
Stability Control (ESC)/Traction
Control System (TCS) Indicator/
Warning Light on page 5‑20 for
more information.
ESC (Electronic Stability
Control) OFF
If your vehicle has Electronic
Stability Control (ESC), this
message displays and the ESC/TCS
light on the instrument panel cluster
comes on solid when ESC is turned
off. Adjust your driving accordingly.

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Instruments and Controls 5-29
SeeElectronic Stability Control
(ESC) on page 9‑32 andElectronic
Stability Control (ESC)/Traction
Control System (TCS) Indicator/
Warning Light on page 5‑20 for
more information.
LOW TRACTION
If your vehicle has the Traction
Control System (TCS), this
message displays and the ESC/TCS
light on the instrument panel cluster
flashes when the system is actively
limiting wheel spin. Slippery road
conditions may exist if this message
is displayed, so adjust your driving
accordingly. This message stays on
for a few seconds after the system
stops limiting wheel spin. See
Traction Control System (TCS) on
page 9‑30 andElectronic Stability
Control (ESC)/Traction Control
System (TCS) Indicator/Warning
Light on page 5‑20 for more
information.
SERVICE ESC (ELECTRONIC
STABILITY CONTROL)
If your vehicle has Electronic
Stability Control (ESC), this
message displays and a chime
sounds if there has been a problem
detected with ESC. The ESC/TCS
light also appears on the instrument
panel cluster. This light stays on
solid as long as the detected
problem remains present. When this
message displays, the system is
not working. Adjust your driving
accordingly. See Electronic Stability
Control (ESC) on page 9‑32 and
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)/
Traction Control System (TCS)
Indicator/Warning Light on
page 5‑20 for more information.
If this message turns on while you
are driving, pull off the road as soon
as possible and stop carefully.
Try resetting the system by turning
the ignition off and then back on. If this message still stays on or
turns back on again while you are
driving, your vehicle needs service.
Have the ESC inspected by your
dealer as soon as possible.
SERVICE TRACTION
If your vehicle has the Traction
Control System (TCS), this
message displays and a chime
sounds when the system is not
functioning properly. The ESC/TCS
light also appears on the instrument
panel cluster. This light stays on
solid as long as the detected
problem remains present. When this
message displays, the system is
not working. Adjust your driving
accordingly. See
Traction Control
System (TCS) on page 9‑30 and
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)/
Traction Control System (TCS)
Indicator/Warning Light on
page 5‑20 for more information.
Have the system serviced by your
dealer as soon as possible.

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5-30 Instruments and Controls
TRACTION OFF
If your vehicle has the Traction
Control System (TCS), this
message displays and the ESC/TCS
light on the instrument panel cluster
comes on solid when the system is
turned off. Adjust your driving
accordingly. SeeTraction Control
System (TCS) on page 9‑30 and
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)/
Traction Control System (TCS)
Indicator/Warning Light on
page 5‑20 for more information.
Airbag System Messages
SERVICE AIR BAG
This message displays when there
is a problem with the airbag system.
Have your vehicle serviced by your
dealer immediately.
Service Vehicle Messages
ENGINE DISABLED
This message displays if the starting
of the engine is disabled. Have your
vehicle serviced by your dealer
immediately.
POWER STEERING
On some vehicles, this message
displays if a problem has been
detected with the electric power
steering. Have your vehicle serviced
by your dealer immediately.
Tire Messages
SVC (Service) TIRE MONITOR
On vehicles with the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS), this
message displays if a part on the
TPMS is not working properly.
The tire pressure light also flashes
and then remains on during the
same ignition cycle. See Tire
Pressure Light on page 5‑21. Several conditions may cause this
message to appear. See
Tire
Pressure Monitor Operation on
page 10‑53 for more information.
If the warning comes on and stays
on, there may be a problem with the
TPMS. See your dealer.
TIRE LOW ADD AIR
On vehicles with the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS), this
message displays when the
pressure in one or more of the
vehicle's tires is low on air. The low
tire pressure warning light also
comes on. See Tire Pressure Light
on page 5‑21. If this message
appears on the DIC, stop as soon
as you can. Have the tire pressures
checked and set to those shown on
the Tire Loading Information label.
See Tires on page 10‑42, Vehicle
Load Limits on page 9‑11, and Tire
Pressure on page 10‑50. The DIC
also shows the tire pressure values.
See Driver Information Center (DIC)
on page 5‑24.