Page 34 of 436

Black plate (2,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 6/6/12
2-2 Keys, Doors, and Windows
Keys and Locks
Keys
{WARNING
Leaving children in a vehicle with
an ignition key or Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter is
dangerous and children or others
could be seriously injured or
killed. They could operate the
power window or other controls or
make the vehicle move. The
windows will function with the key
in the ignition or with the RKE
transmitter in the vehicle, and
children or others could be caught
in the path of a closing window.
Do not leave children in a vehicle
with the ignition key or an RKE
transmitter.
The key that is part of the Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter can
be used for the ignition and all locks
if the vehicle is a key access
vehicle. If the vehicle has the
keyless ignition, the key can be
used for the locks.Press the button on the RKE
transmitter to extend the key. Press
the button and the key blade to
retract the key.
If the vehicle has an ignition and it
becomes difficult to turn the key,
inspect the key blade for debris.
Periodically clean with a brush
or pick.
See your dealer if a new key is
needed.
Page 40 of 436

Black plate (8,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 6/6/12
2-8 Keys, Doors, and Windows
Canceling a Remote Start
To cancel a remote start, do one of
the following:
.Aim the RKE transmitter at the
vehicle and press and hold
/
until the parking lamps turn off.
.Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
.Turn the vehicle on and then off.
Conditions in Which Remote Start
Will Not Work
The remote vehicle start feature will
not operate if:
.The key is in the ignition (key
access) or if the key is in the
vehicle (keyless access).
.The hood is not closed.
.The hazard warning flashers
are on.
.The malfunction indicator lamp
is on.
.The engine coolant temperature
is too high.
.The oil pressure is low.
.Two remote vehicle starts, or a
single remote start with an
extension, have already
been used.
.The vehicle is not in P (Park).
Door Locks
{WARNING
Unlocked doors can be
dangerous.
.Passengers, especially
children, can easily open the
doors and fall out of a moving
vehicle. When a door is
locked, the handle will not
open it. The chance of being
thrown out of the vehicle in a
crash is increased if the
doors are not locked. So, all
passengers should wear
safety belts properly and the (Continued)
WARNING (CONTINUED)
doors should be locked
whenever the vehicle is
driven.
.Young children who get into
unlocked vehicles may be
unable to get out. A child can
be overcome by extreme heat
and can suffer permanent
injuries or even death from
heat stroke. Always lock the
vehicle whenever leaving it.
.Outsiders can easily enter
through an unlocked door
when you slow down or stop
the vehicle. Locking the doors
can help prevent this from
happening.
Page 43 of 436

Black plate (11,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 6/6/12
Keys, Doors, and Windows 2-11
Doors
Trunk
{WARNING
Exhaust gases can enter the
vehicle if it is driven with the
liftgate, trunk/hatch open, or with
any objects that pass through the
seal between the body and the
trunk/hatch or liftgate. Engine
exhaust contains carbon
monoxide (CO) which cannot be
seen or smelled. It can cause
unconsciousness and even death.
If the vehicle must be driven with
the liftgate or trunk/hatch open:
.Close all of the windows.
.Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.(Continued)
WARNING (CONTINUED)
.Adjust the climate control
system to a setting that
brings in only outside air and
set the fan speed to the
highest setting. See “Climate
Control Systems” in the
Index.
.If the vehicle is equipped with
a power liftgate, disable the
power liftgate function.
For more information about
carbon monoxide, see Engine
Exhaust on page 9‑25.
Trunk Release
The trunk can only be opened while
the vehicle is in P (Park) or when
the ignition is off.
Press
Von the RKE transmitter.
See Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation on page 2‑3.
Unlock the trunk first by pressingK
on the center stack, front door
panel, or RKE transmitter. Then,
press the touch pad on the trunk
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp
(CHMSL).
Page 47 of 436

Black plate (15,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 6/6/12
Keys, Doors, and Windows 2-15
If the RKE transmitter appears to be
undamaged, try another transmitter.
Or, you may try placing the
transmitter in the transmitter pocket
in the center console. See“Starting
the Vehicle with a Low Transmitter
Battery” underRemote Keyless
Entry (RKE) System Operation on
page 2‑3.
If the engine does not start with the
other transmitter or when the
transmitter is in the pocket in the
center console, your vehicle needs
service. See your dealer who can
service the theft-deterrent system
and have a new transmitter
programmed to the vehicle.
Do not leave the key or device that
disarms or deactivates the
theft-deterrent system in the vehicle.Exterior Mirrors
Convex Mirrors
{WARNING
A convex mirror can make things,
like other vehicles, look farther
away than they really are. If you
cut too sharply into the right lane,
you could hit a vehicle on the
right. Check the inside mirror or
glance over your shoulder before
changing lanes.
The passenger side mirror is convex
shaped. A convex mirror's surface is
curved so more can be seen from
the driver seat.
Power Mirrors
To adjust the mirrors:
1. Turn the selector switch to L (Left) or R (Right) to choose
the driver or passenger mirror.
2. Move the control to adjust the mirror.
3. Turn the selector switch to
9to
deselect the mirror.
Page 49 of 436

Black plate (17,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 6/6/12
Keys, Doors, and Windows 2-17
Windows
{WARNING
Never leave a child, a helpless
adult, or a pet alone in a vehicle,
especially with the windows
closed in warm or hot weather.
They can be overcome by the
extreme heat and suffer
permanent injuries or even death
from heat stroke.
The vehicle aerodynamics are
designed to improve fuel economy
performance. This may result in a
pulsing sound when either rear
window is down and the front
windows are up. To reduce the
sound, open either a front window
or the sunroof (if equipped).
Power Windows
{WARNING
Children could be seriously
injured or killed if caught in the
path of a closing window. Never
leave keys in a vehicle with
children. When there are children
in the rear seat, use the window
lockout button to prevent
operation of the windows. See
Keys on page 2‑2.Push the switch down to open the
window. Pull the front of the switch
up to close it.
The power windows only operate
with the ignition in ACC/
ACCESSORY or ON/RUN/START,
or when Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) is active. See
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
on page 9‑22.
Page 54 of 436

Black plate (2,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 6/6/12
3-2 Seats and Restraints
Head Restraints
{WARNING
With head restraints that are not
installed and adjusted properly,
there is a greater chance that
occupants will suffer a neck/
spinal injury in a crash. Do not
drive until the head restraints for
all occupants are installed and
adjusted properly.
Adjust the head restraint so that the
top of the restraint is at the same
height as the top of the occupant's
head. This position reduces the
chance of a neck injury in a crash.
Front Seat
The vehicle's front seats have
adjustable head restraints in the
outboard seating positions.
To raise or lower the head restraint,
press the button located on the side
of the head restraint and pull up or
push the head restraint down and
release the button.Pull and push on the head restraint
after the button is released to make
sure that it is locked in place.
The front seat outboard head
restraints are not designed to be
removed.
Rear Seat
The vehicle's rear seats have
adjustable head restraints in the
outboard seating positions.
Page 55 of 436

Black plate (3,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 6/6/12
Seats and Restraints 3-3
The height of the head restraint can
be adjusted. Pull the head restraint
up to raise it. Try to move the head
restraint to make sure that it is
locked in place.
To lower the head restraint, press
the button, located on the top of the
seatback, and push the head
restraint down. Try to move the
head restraint after the button is
released to make sure that it is
locked in place.
If you are installing a child restraint
in the rear seat, see "Securing a
Child Restraint Designed for the
LATCH System" underLower
Anchors and Tethers for Children
(LATCH System) on page 3‑40.Front Seats
Seat Adjustment
{WARNING
You can lose control of the
vehicle if you try to adjust a driver
seat while the vehicle is moving.
Adjust the driver seat only when
the vehicle is not moving.
To adjust a manual seat:
1. Pull the handle at the front of
the seat.
2. Slide the seat to the desired position and release the handle.
3. Try to move the seat back and forth to be sure it is locked in
place.
Seat Height Adjuster
Press and hold the top or bottom of
the switch to raise or lower the seat.
Release the switch when the
desired height is reached.
Page 56 of 436

Black plate (4,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 6/6/12
3-4 Seats and Restraints
Power Seat Adjustment
To adjust a power seat, if equipped:
.Move the seat forward or
rearward by sliding the control
forward or rearward.
.Raise or lower the front part of
the seat cushion by moving the
front of the control up or down.
.Raise or lower the entire seat by
moving the entire control up
or down.
To adjust the seatback, see
Reclining Seatbacks on page 3‑4.
Lumbar Adjustment
To adjust the lumbar support,
if available:
.Press and hold the front or rear
of the control to increase or
decrease lumbar support.
.Press and hold the top or bottom
of the control to raise or lower
the height of the lumbar support.
Reclining Seatbacks
{WARNING
Sitting in a reclined position when
the vehicle is in motion can be
dangerous. Even when buckled
up, the safety belts cannot do
their job.
The shoulder belt will not be
against your body. Instead, it will
be in front of you. In a crash, you
could go into it, receiving neck or
other injuries.
The lap belt could go up over
your abdomen. The belt forces
would be there, not at your pelvic
bones. This could cause serious
internal injuries.
For proper protection when the
vehicle is in motion, have the
seatback upright. Then sit well
back in the seat and wear the
safety belt properly.