2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU ignition

Black plate (29,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-29
Parking Brake
To set the parking brake, push down
the parking brake pedal with your
left foot. If the ignition is on, the
brake system warning light will
come on. SeeBrake System
Warning Light on page 5‑18.
To release the parking brake,
hold the regular brake pedal down
with your right foot. Push down
momentarily on the parking brake
pedal with your left foot until you feel the pedal release. If the parking
brake is not released when you
begin to drive, the brake system
warning light comes on and a chime
sounds as a warning that the
parking brake is still on.
The PUSH PARK PEDAL message
will also display in the Driver
Information Center (DIC) as a
reminder to release the parking
brake. See
Brake System Messages
on page 5‑27.
Notice: Driving with the parking
brake on can overheat the brake
system and cause premature
wear or damage to brake system
parts. Make sure that the parking
brake is fully released and the
brake warning light is off before
driving.
If you are towing a trailer and are
parking on a hill, see Driving
Characteristics and Towing Tips on
page 9‑42.
Brake Assist
This vehicle has a brake assist
feature designed to assist the driver
in stopping or decreasing vehicle
speed in emergency driving
conditions. This feature uses the
stability system hydraulic brake
control module to supplement the
power brake system under
conditions where the driver has
quickly and forcefully applied the
brake pedal in an attempt to quickly
stop or slow down the vehicle.
The stability system hydraulic brake
control module increases brake
pressure at each corner of the
vehicle until the ABS activates.
Minor brake pedal pulsation or
pedal movement during this time
is normal and the driver should
continue to apply the brake pedal
as the driving situation dictates.
The brake assist feature will
automatically disengage when
the brake pedal is released or
brake pedal pressure is quickly
decreased.

Black plate (35,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-35
The cruise symbol in the instrument
panel cluster also goes out
indicating cruise is no longer
engaged. Once the vehicle speed
is 40 km/h (25 mph) or greater,
press the RES+ button on the
steering wheel. The vehicle returns
to the previously set speed and
stays there.
Increasing Speed While Using
Cruise Control
If the cruise control system is
already activated,
.Press and hold the RES+ button
on the steering wheel until the
desired speed is reached, then
release it.
.To increase the vehicle speed in
small amounts, press the RES+
button briefly. Each time this is
done, the vehicle goes about
1.6 km/h (1 mph) faster.Reducing Speed While Using
Cruise Control
If the cruise control system is
already activated,
.Press and hold the SET−
on the
steering wheel until the lower
speed desired is reached, then
release it.
.To slow down in small amounts,
press the SET− button briefly.
Each time this is done, the
vehicle goes about 1.6 km/h
(1 mph) slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While
Using Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to
increase the vehicle speed. When
you take your foot off the pedal,
the vehicle will slow down to the
previously set cruise control speed.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well the cruise control works
on hills depends upon the vehicle
speed, load, and the steepness of the hills. When going up steep hills,
you might have to step on the
accelerator pedal to maintain the
vehicle speed. When going
downhill, you might have to brake or
shift to a lower gear to keep the
vehicle at a lower speed. When the
brakes are applied this ends the
cruise control.
Ending Cruise Control
There are two ways to end cruise
control:
.To disengage the cruise control,
step lightly on the brake pedal.
.To turn off cruise control, press
the
Ibutton.
Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed is
erased from memory, by pressing
the
Ibutton or if the ignition is
turned off.

Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-1
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . 10-3
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-6
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-10
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . 10-12
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-14
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . 10-14 Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-16
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-16
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . 10-20
Overheated Engine
Protection
Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . 10-21
Power Steering Fluid . . . . . . . 10-22
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-23
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-24
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-25
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-26
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . 10-27
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-28
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-28
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . 10-28
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-29
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . 10-30
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-30
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-30
Taillamps, Turn Signal, andStoplamps (LS and LT) . . . . 10-30
Back-Up Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-32
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . 10-33
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . 10-33
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-33
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-34
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-35
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-37
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-40

Black plate (13,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-13
the next 1 000 km (600 mi). It is
possible that, if driving under the
best conditions, the oil life system
might indicate that an oil change
is not necessary for up to a year.
The engine oil and filter must be
changed at least once a year and,
at this time, the system must be
reset. Your dealer has trained
service people who will perform this
work and reset the system. It is also
important to check the oil regularly
over the course of an oil drain
interval and keep it at the proper
level.
If the system is ever reset
accidentally, the oil must be
changed at 5 000 km (3,000 mi)
since the last oil change.
Remember to reset the oil life
system whenever the oil is changed.How to Reset the Engine Oil
Life System
Reset the system whenever the
engine oil is changed so that the
system can calculate the next
engine oil change. To reset the
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.
See Driver Information Center
(DIC) on page 5‑24 andEngine
Oil Messages on page 5‑27. 3. Press and hold the reset button
until the DIC display shows
ACKNOWLEDGED.
4. Turn the key to LOCK/OFF.
The system is reset when the
CHANGE OIL SOON message
is off.
If the CHANGE OIL SOON
message comes back on when the
vehicle is started, the engine oil life
system has not reset. Repeat the
procedure.

Black plate (28,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2012
10-28 Vehicle Care
Automatic Transmission
Shift Lock Control
Function Check
{WARNING
When you are doing this
inspection, the vehicle could
move suddenly. If the vehicle
moves, you or others could be
injured.
1. Before starting this check, be sure there is enough room
around the vehicle. It should be
parked on a level surface.
2. Firmly apply the parking brake. See Parking Brake on
page 9‑29.
Be ready to apply the regular
brake immediately if the vehicle
begins to move. 3. With the engine off, turn the
ignition on, but do not start the
engine. Without applying the
regular brake, try to move the
shift lever out of P (Park) with
normal effort. If the shift lever
moves out of P (Park), contact
your dealer for service.
Ignition Transmission
Lock Check
While parked, and with the parking
brake set, try to turn the ignition to
LOCK/OFF in each shift lever
position.
.The ignition should turn to
LOCK/OFF only when the shift
lever is in P (Park).
.The ignition key should come
out only in LOCK/OFF.
Contact your dealer if service is
required.
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check
{WARNING
When you are doing this check,
the vehicle could begin to move.
You or others could be injured
and property could be damaged.
Make sure there is room in front
of the vehicle in case it begins to
roll. Be ready to apply the regular
brake at once should the vehicle
begin to move.

Black plate (36,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2012
10-36 Vehicle Care
FusesUsage
4 Transmission Control
Module Ignition 1
5 Mass Airflow
Sensor (LY7)
6 Emission
7 Left Headlamp
Low-Beam
8 Horn
9 Right Headlamp
Low-Beam
10 Front Fog Lamps
11 Left Headlamp
High-Beam
12 Right Headlamp
High-Beam
13 Engine Control
Module BATT
14 Windshield Wiper
15 Antilock Brake
System (IGN 1) Fuses
Usage
16 Engine Control
Module IGN 1
17 Cooling Fan 1
18 Cooling Fan 2
19 Run Relay, Heating,
Ventilation, Air
Conditioning Blower
20 Body Control
Module 1
21 Body Control Module
Run/Crank
22 Rear Electrical
Center 1
23 Rear Electrical
Center 2
24 Antilock Brake
System
25 Body Control
Module 2
26 Starter Fuses
Usage
41 Electric Power
Steering
42 Transmission Control
Module Battery
43 Ignition Module
(LE9 & LE5);
Injectors, Ignition
Coils Odd (LY7)
44 Injectors (LE9 & LE5);
Injectors, Ignition
Coils Even (LY7)
45 Post Cat 02 Sensor
Heaters (LY7)
46 Daytime Running
Lamps
47 Center High-Mounted
Stoplamp
50 Driver Power Window
51 Not Used
52 AIR Solenoid

Black plate (37,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-37
FusesUsage
54 Regulated Voltage
Control
55 DC/AC Inverter
56 Antilock Brake
System BATT
Relays Usage
28 Cooling Fan 1
29 Cooling Fan
Series/Parallel
30 Cooling Fan 2
31 Starter
32 Run/Crank, Ignition
33 Powertrain
34 Air Conditioning
Clutch
35 High Beam Relays
Usage
36 Front Fog Lamps
37 Horn
38 Low-Beam Headlamp
39 Windshield Wiper 1
40 Windshield Wiper 2
48 Daytime Running
Lamps
49 Stoplamps
53 AIR Solenoid
Diodes Usage 27 WiperInstrument Panel Fuse
Block
The instrument panel fuse block is
located on the instrument panel
near the floor on the passenger side
of the vehicle.
Remove the panel cover to access
the fuse block, then remove the fuse
block cover to access the fuses.

Black plate (38,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2012
10-38 Vehicle Care
The vehicle may not be equipped
with all of the fuses, relays and
features shown.Fuses Usage
POWER
MIRRORS Power Mirrors
EPS Electronic Power
Steering Fuses Usage
RUN/
CRANK Cruise Control
Switch, Passenger
Airbag Status
Indicator
HVAC
BLOWER
HIGH Heating Ventilation
Air Conditioning
Blower - High
Speed Relay
CLUSTER/
THEFT Instrument Panel
Cluster, Theft
Deterrent System
ONSTAR OnStar
®
(If Equipped)
NOT
INSTALLED Not Used
AIRBAG
(IGN) Airbag (Ignition)
HVAC
CTRL
(BATT) Heating Ventilation
Air Conditioning
Control Diagnostic
Link Connector
(Battery)