Black plate (2,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2012
5-2 Instruments and Controls
Controls
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 upor 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.
Steering Wheel Controls
Vehicles with audio steering wheel
controls could differ depending on
the vehicle's options. Some audio
controls can be adjusted at the
steering wheel.
e+ /e− (Volume): Press to
increase or to decrease the radio
volume.
worx/c(Next/Previous):
Press to change radio stations,
select tracks on a CD, or to select
tracks and navigate folders on an
iPod
®or USB device.
To change radio stations:
.Press and releaseworx/c
to go to the next or previous
radio station stored as a preset.
.Press and holdworx/cto
go to the next or previous radio
station in the selected band with
a strong signal.
Black plate (3,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-3
To select tracks on a CD:
Press and release
worx/cto
go to the next or previous track.
To select tracks on an iPod or USB
device:
1. Press and hold
worx/c
while listening to a song until the
contents of the current folder
display on the radio display.
2. Press and release
worx/c
to scroll up or down the list, then
press and hold
wto play the
highlighted track. To navigate folders on an iPod or
USB device:
1. Press and hold
worx/c
while listening to a song until the
contents of the current folder
display on the radio display.
2. Press and hold
x/cto go
back to the previous folder list.
3. Press and release
worx/c
to scroll up or down the list.
.To select a folder, press
and hold
wwhen the folder
is highlighted.
.To go back further in the
folder list, press and
hold
x/c.
x/c(End/Mute): Press to
reject an incoming call, or end a
current call. Press to silence the
vehicle speakers only. Press again
to turn the sound on.
b/g(Voice Recognition): For
vehicles with Bluetooth®or OnStar®
systems press and holdb/gfor
longer than two seconds to interact
with those systems. See Bluetooth
on page 7‑25 andOnStar Overview
on page 14‑1 for more information.
Horn
Pressaon the steering wheel pad
to sound the horn.
Black plate (4,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2012
5-4 Instruments and Controls
Windshield Wiper/Washer
The windshield wiper lever is on the
right side of the steering wheel.
Move the lever to control the
windshield wipers.
9(Off):Turns the windshield
wipers off.
3(Intermittent; Speed Sensitive
Wipers): For intermittent or speed
sensitive operation. While in this
position, turn the
xband up or
down to vary frequency.
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 also increases or
decreases.
6(Low Speed): Slow wipes.
1(High Speed): Fast wipes.
8(Mist):Single wipe, move the
lever down, then release it. Several
wipes, hold the lever down.
Clear ice and snow from the wiper
blades before using them.
If frozen to the windshield, carefully
loosen or thaw them. Damaged
wiper blades should be replaced.
Heavy snow or ice can overload the
wiper motor. A circuit breaker stops
the motor until it cools. 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
Press the button at the end of the
windshield wiper lever until the
washers begin.
{WARNING
In freezing weather, do not use
the washer until the windshield is
warmed. Otherwise the washer
fluid 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.
Black plate (18,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2012
5-18 Instruments and Controls
Emissions Inspection and
Maintenance Programs
Some local governments may have
programs to inspect the on-vehicle
emission control equipment.
For the inspection, the emission
system test equipment is connected
to the vehicle’s Data Link
Connector (DLC).
The DLC is under the instrument
panel to the left of the steering
wheel. See your dealer if assistance
is needed.The vehicle may not pass
inspection if:
.The malfunction indicator lamp is
on with the engine running, or if
the light does not come on when
the ignition is turned to ON/RUN
while the engine is off.
.The OBD II (On-Board
Diagnostics) system determines
that critical emission control
systems have not been
completely diagnosed. The
vehicle would be considered not
ready for inspection. This can
happen if the 12-volt battery has
recently been replaced or run
down. The diagnostic system is
designed to evaluate critical
emission control systems during
normal driving. This can take
several days of routine driving.
If this has been done and the
vehicle still does not pass the
inspection for lack of OBD II
system readiness, your dealer
can prepare the vehicle for
inspection.
Brake System Warning
Light
The vehicle brake system consists
of two hydraulic circuits. If one
circuit is not working, the remaining
circuit can still work to stop the
vehicle. For normal braking
performance, both circuits need to
be working
If the warning light comes on, there
is a brake problem. Have the brake
system inspected right away.
MetricEnglish
This light comes on briefly when the
ignition key is turned to ON/RUN.
If it does not come on then, have it
fixed so it will be ready to warn if
there is a problem.
Black plate (24,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2012
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).
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 (1,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2012
Lighting 6-1
Lighting
Exterior Lighting
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . 6-1
Exterior Lamps OffReminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2
Automatic Headlamp System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3
Delayed Headlamps . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
Hazard Warning Flashers . . . . . 6-4
Turn and Lane-Change Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Interior Lighting
Instrument Panel Illumination Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Dome Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Reading Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Lighting Features
Entry/Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Parade Dimming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Battery Load Management . . . . 6-6
Battery Power Protection . . . . . . 6-7
Exterior Lighting
Exterior Lamp Controls
The band on the lever located on
the left side of the steering column,
operates the exterior lamps.
The exterior lamp control has the
following four positions:
2(Headlamps): Turns on the
headlamps, parking lamps, and
taillamps.
;(Parking Lamps): Turns on the
parking lamps and taillamps only.
AUTO (Automatic Headlamp
System): Automatically turns on
the Daytime Running Lamps during
daytime, and the headlamps,
parking lamps, and taillamps at
night.
Black plate (5,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2012
Lighting 6-5
The lever returns to its starting
position when it is released.
If a turn signal arrow flashes rapidly
or does not come on, a signal bulb
may need to be replaced. See
Fuses on page 10‑34.
Fog Lamps
For vehicles with fog lamps, the
button for this feature is located on
the instrument panel, to the left of
the steering wheel.The ignition must be on for the fog
lamps to work.
#:
Press to turn the fog lamps on
or off. An indicator light comes on
when the fog lamps are on.
The parking lamps automatically
turn on and off when the fog lamps
are turned on and off.
The fog lamps turn off while the
high-beam headlamps are
turned on.
Some localities have laws that
require the headlamps to be on
along with the fog lamps.
Interior Lighting
Instrument Panel
Illumination Control
The knob for this control is located
on the instrument panel to the left of
the steering column.
D (Instrument Panel
Brightness): Turn the knob
clockwise or counterclockwise to
brighten or dim the lights. Turn the
knob completely clockwise to turn
on the interior lamps.