2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU traction control

Black plate (29,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2012
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.

Black plate (30,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2012
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.

Black plate (25,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2012
Infotainment System 7-25
Phone
Bluetooth
For vehicles equipped with
Bluetooth capability, the system can
interact with many cell phones,
allowing:
.Placement and receipt of calls
in a hands-free mode.
.Sharing of the cell phone’s
address book or contact list with
the vehicle.
To minimize driver distraction,
before driving, and with the vehicle
parked:
.Become familiar with the
features of the cell phone.
Organize the phone book and
contact lists clearly and delete
duplicate or rarely used entries.
If possible, program speed dial
or other shortcuts.
.Review the controls and
operation of the infotainment
system.
.Pair cell phone(s) to the vehicle.
The system may not work with
all cell phones. See “Pairing a
Phone” in this section for more
information.
.If the cell phone has voice
dialing capability, learn to use
that feature to access the
address book or contact list.
See “Voice Pass-Thru” in this
section for more information.
.See “Storing and Deleting Phone
Numbers” in this section for
more information.
{WARNING
When using a cell phone, it can
be distracting to look too long or
too often at the screen of the
phone or the infotainment
(navigation) system. Taking your
eyes off the road too long or
too often could cause a crash
resulting in injury or death.
Focus your attention on driving.
A Bluetooth system can use a
Bluetooth‐capable cell phone with a
Hands Free Profile to make and
receive phone calls. The system
can be used while the key is in
ON/RUN or ACC/ACCESSORY
position. The range of the Bluetooth
system can be up to 9.1 m (30 ft).
Not all phones support all functions,
and not all phones work with the
in-vehicle Bluetooth system. See
www.gm.com/bluetooth for more
information on compatible phones.

Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-1
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Highway Hypnosis . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-7
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . 9-8
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-8
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 9-10
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . 9-11
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . 9-16
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-16
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . 9-18
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-20
Retained AccessoryPower (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-21 Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-21
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . 9-22
Parking over Things
That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-23
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-23
Running the Vehicle WhileParked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-24
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . 9-24
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-26
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-28
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-29
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-29
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control System (TCS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-30
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-32
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-33
Fuel
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-36
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . 9-36
Gasoline Specifications(U.S. and Canada Only) . . . . 9-37
California Fuel
Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-37
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 9-37
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-37
Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol) . . . . . 9-39
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-40
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-41
Towing
General TowingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-42
Driving Characteristics and
Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-42
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-46
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . 9-47
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-48

Black plate (2,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2012
9-2 Driving and Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving
Distraction comes in many forms
and can take your focus from the
task of driving. Exercise good
judgment and do not let other
activities divert your attention
away from the road. Many local
governments have enacted laws
regarding driver distraction.
Become familiar with the local laws
in your area.To avoid distracted driving, always
keep your eyes on the road, hands
on the wheel, and mind on the drive..Do not use a phone in
demanding driving situations.
Use a hands-free method to
place or receive necessary
phone calls.
.Watch the road. Do not read,
take notes, or look up
information on phones or other
electronic devices.
.Designate a front seat
passenger to handle potential
distractions.
.Become familiar with vehicle
features before driving, such as
programming favorite radio
stations and adjusting climate
control and seat settings.
Program all trip information into
any navigation device prior to
driving.
.Wait until the vehicle is parked
to retrieve items that have fallen
to the floor.
.Stop or park the vehicle to tend
to children.
.Keep pets in an appropriate
carrier or restraint.
.Avoid stressful conversations
while driving, whether with a
passenger or on a cell phone.
{WARNING
Taking your eyes off the road too
long or too often could cause a
crash resulting in injury or death.
Focus your attention on driving.
Refer to the Infotainment section
for more information on using that
system, including pairing and using
a cell phone.

Black plate (6,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2012
9-6 Driving and Operating
Loss of Control
Skidding
There are three types of skids that
correspond to the vehicle's three
control systems:
.Braking Skid—wheels are
not rolling.
.Steering or Cornering
Skid —too much speed or
steering in a curve causes tires
to slip and lose cornering force.
.Acceleration Skid —too much
throttle causes the driving
wheels to spin.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids
by taking reasonable care suited to
existing conditions, and by not
overdriving those conditions.
But skids are always possible. If the vehicle starts to slide, follow
these suggestions:
.Ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and quickly
steer the way you want the
vehicle to go. The vehicle may
straighten out. Be ready for a
second skid if it occurs.
.Slow down and adjust your
driving according to weather
conditions. Stopping distance
can be longer and vehicle
control can be affected when
traction is reduced by water,
snow, ice, gravel, or other
material on the road. Learn to
recognize warning clues
—such
as enough water, ice, or packed
snow on the road to make a
mirrored surface —and slow
down when you have any doubt.
.Try to avoid sudden steering,
acceleration, or braking,
including reducing vehicle
speed by shifting to a lower
gear. Any sudden changes
could cause the tires to slide.
Remember: Antilock brakes help
avoid only the braking skid.
Driving on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can reduce
vehicle traction and affect your
ability to stop and accelerate.
Always drive slower in these types
of driving conditions and avoid
driving through large puddles and
deep‐standing or flowing water.

Black plate (11,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-11
Rocking the Vehicle to
Get it Out
Turn the steering wheel left and
right to clear the area around the
front wheels. Turn off any traction or
stability system. Shift back and forth
between R (Reverse) and a forward
gear, spinning the wheels as little as
possible. To prevent transmission
wear, wait until the wheels stop
spinning before shifting gears.
Release the accelerator pedal while
shifting, and press lightly on the
accelerator pedal when the
transmission is in gear. Slowly
spinning the wheels in the forward
and reverse directions causes a
rocking motion that could free the
vehicle. If that does not get the
vehicle out after a few tries, it might
need to be towed out. If the vehicle
does need to be towed out, see
Towing the Vehicle on page 10‑87.
Vehicle Load Limits
It is very important to know how
much weight the vehicle can
carry. This weight is called the
vehicle capacity weight and
includes the weight of all
occupants, cargo and all
nonfactory‐installed options.
Two labels on the vehicle
show how much weight it may
properly carry, the Tire and
Loading Information label and
the Certification label.{WARNING
Do not load the vehicle any
heavier than the Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR), or either the
maximum front or rear Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR).
This can cause systems to
break and change the way the
vehicle handles. This could
cause loss of control and a
crash. Overloading can also
shorten the life of the vehicle.

Black plate (30,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2012
9-30 Driving and Operating
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control
System (TCS)
The vehicle may have a Traction
Control System (TCS) that limits
wheel spin. This is especially
useful in slippery road conditions.
The system operates only if it
senses that the front wheels are
spinning too much or are beginning
to lose traction. When this happens,
the system works the front brakes
and reduces engine power by
closing the throttle and managing
engine spark to limit wheel spin.
This light will flash when the traction
control system is limiting wheel spin.The system may be heard or felt
while it is working, but this is
normal.
If the vehicle is in cruise control
when TCS begins to limit wheel
spin, the cruise control will
automatically disengage. The cruise
control may be re-engaged when
road conditions allow. See
Cruise
Control on page 9‑33.
When this light is on solid and
either the SERVICE TRACTION or
TRACTION OFF message is
displayed, the system will not limit
wheel spin.
Adjust your driving accordingly.
See Ride Control System Messages
on page 5‑28 for more information. The Traction Control System is
automatically enabled whenever the
vehicle is started. To limit wheel
spin, especially in slippery road
conditions, always leave the system
enabled. TCS can be turned off if
needed.
It is recommended to leave the
system on for normal driving
conditions, but it may be necessary
to turn the system off if the vehicle
is stuck in sand, mud, ice or snow,
and you want to
“rock”the vehicle to
attempt to free it. It may also be
necessary to turn off the system
when driving in extreme off-road
conditions where high wheel spin is
required. See If the Vehicle Is Stuck
on page 9‑10.
To turn the system off or on, press
and release this button located on
the center console.