Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 6/6/12
2013 Chevrolet Malibu Owner ManualM
In Brief. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Initial Drive Information . . . . . . . . 1-4
Vehicle Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
eAssist Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-22
Performance and
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-24
Keys, Doors, and Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
Keys and Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11
Vehicle Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13
Exterior Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-15
Interior Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-16
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-17
Roof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-19
Seats and Restraints . . . . . . . . . 3-1
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-11
Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-19
Child Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-32 Storage
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Storage Compartments . . . . . . . . 4-1
Additional Storage Features . . . 4-3
Instruments and Controls . . . . 5-1
Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7
Information Displays . . . . . . . . . . 5-24
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-28
Vehicle Personalization . . . . . . . 5-35
Universal Remote System . . . . 5-40
Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Exterior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Interior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Lighting Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-14
Audio Players . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-22
Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-35 Climate Controls
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1
Climate Control Systems . . . . . . 8-1
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-7
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-8
Driving and Operating . . . . . . . . 9-1
Driving Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Starting and Operating . . . . . . . 9-14
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-25
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 9-26
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-28
Ride Control Systems . . . . . . . . 9-32
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-34
Object Detection Systems . . . . 9-37
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-44
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-50
Conversions and Add-Ons . . . 9-50
Vehicle Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-1
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
Vehicle Checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . 10-28
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-28
Electrical System . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-37
Black plate (5,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 6/6/12
Introduction v
Vehicle Symbol Chart
Here are some additional symbols
that may be found on the vehicle
and what they mean. For more
information on the symbol, refer to
the Index.
9:Airbag Readiness Light
#:Air Conditioning
!:Antilock Brake System (ABS)
%:Audio Steering Wheel Controls
or OnStar®
$: Brake System Warning Light
":Charging System
I:Cruise Control
B: Engine Coolant Temperature
O:Exterior Lamps
g:First Responder
#:Fog Lamps
.: Fuel Gauge
+:Fuses
3: Headlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer
j: LATCH System Child
Restraints
*: Malfunction Indicator Lamp
::Oil Pressure
O:Power
/:Remote Vehicle Start
>:Safety Belt Reminders
7:Tire Pressure Monitor
d:Traction Control/StabiliTrak®
M:Windshield Washer Fluid
Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 6/6/12
In Brief 1-1
In Brief
Instrument Panel
Instrument Panel Overview . . . . 1-2
Initial Drive Information
Initial Drive Information . . . . . . . . 1-4
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
Memory Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
Second Row Seats . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Heated Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Head Restraint Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Passenger Sensing System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11
Mirror Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12
Interior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12 Exterior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-13
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . 1-14
Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Vehicle Features
Radio(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Satellite Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Portable Audio Devices . . . . . . 1-17
Bluetooth
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . 1-18
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-18
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . 1-19
Driver Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-19
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-19
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-20
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-20
Ultrasonic Parking Assist . . . . 1-20
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-20
Universal Remote System . . . 1-21
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-21
eAssist Features
eAssist®Overview . . . . . . . . . . . 1-22
High Voltage Safety Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-22
Driver Efficiency Gauge . . . . . . 1-23
Automatic Engine Start/Stop Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-23
Regenerative Braking . . . . . . . . 1-23
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-23
Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-24
Performance and Maintenance
Traction Control System (TCS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-24
StabiliTrak
®System . . . . . . . . . 1-24
Tire Pressure Monitor . . . . . . . . 1-24
Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-25
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . 1-25
Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol) . . . . . 1-26
Driving for Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-26
Roadside Assistance Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-26
OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-26
Black plate (3,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 6/6/12
In Brief 1-3
1.Air Vents on page 8‑7.
2. Turn and Lane-Change Lever. See Turn and Lane-Change
Signals on page 6‑4.
Driver Information Center
Buttons. See Driver Information
Center (DIC) on page 5‑24.
3. Instrument Cluster on page 5‑8.
Driver Information Center (DIC)
on page 5‑24.
4. Windshield Wiper/Washer on
page 5‑3.
5. Storage Area. See Instrument
Panel Storage on page 4‑1.
6. Light Sensor. See Automatic
Headlamp System on page 6‑3.
7. Infotainment Display.
8. Infotainment on page 7‑1.
AM-FM Radio on page 7‑14.
9. CD Player on page 7‑22. 10.
Exterior Lamp Controls on
page 6‑1.
Fog Lamps on page 6‑4.
Instrument Panel Illumination
Control on page 6‑5.
11. Hood Release. See Hood on
page 10‑5.
12. Storage Compartment. See Instrument Panel Storage on
page 4‑1.
13. Data Link Connector (Out of View). See Malfunction
Indicator Lamp on page 5‑14.
14. Cruise Control on page 9‑34.
Lane Departure Warning
(LDW) on page 9‑43 (If
Equipped).
Forward Collision Alert (FCA)
System on page 9‑37 (If
Equipped).
15. Steering Wheel Adjustment on
page 5‑2. 16.
Horn on page 5‑3.
Driver Airbag. See Where Are
the Airbags? on page 3‑21.
17. Steering Wheel Controls on
page 5‑2.
18. Ignition Positions (Key Access)
on page 9‑14 orIgnition
Positions (Keyless Access) on
page 9‑16.
19. Heated Front Seats on
page 3‑8 (If Equipped).
20. Power Door Locks on
page 2‑9.
Hazard Warning Flashers on
page 6‑4.
Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator. See Passenger
Sensing System on page 3‑26.
21. Ultrasonic Parking Assist on
page 9‑39 (If Equipped).
Traction Control System (TCS)
on page 9‑32.
StabiliTrak
®System on
page 9‑33.
Black plate (10,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 6/6/12
1-10 In Brief
Second Row Seats
The rear seatbacks can be folded
down to increase cargo space.
SeeRear Seats on page 3‑9.
Heated Seats
Uplevel Climate Control System
Shown, Base Similar
If available, the buttons are on the
climate control panel. To operate,
the engine must be running. Press
MorLto heat the driver or
passenger seat cushion and
seatback. Indicator lights on the
button show the current setting.
Press the button once for the
highest setting. With each press of
the button, the heated seat will
change to the next lower setting,
and then to the off setting. The
lights indicate three for the highest
setting and one for the lowest.
See Heated Front Seats on
page 3‑8.
Head Restraint
Adjustment
Do not drive until the head restraints
for all occupants are installed and
adjusted properly.
To achieve a comfortable seating
position, change the seatback
recline angle as little as necessary
while keeping the seat and the head
restraint height in the proper
position. See
Head Restraints on page 3‑2
and Seat Adjustment on page 3‑3.
Safety Belts
Refer to the following sections for
important information on how to use
safety belts properly:
.Safety Belts on page 3‑11.
.How to Wear Safety Belts
Properly on page 3‑12.
.Lap-Shoulder Belt on page 3‑13.
Black plate (11,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 6/6/12
In Brief 1-11
.Lower Anchors and Tethers for
Children (LATCH System) on
page 3‑40.
Passenger Sensing
System
The passenger sensing system
turns off the front outboard
passenger frontal airbag and knee
airbag under certain conditions. No
other airbag is affected by the
passenger sensing system.
The passenger airbag status
indicator will light on the center
stack when the vehicle is started.
SeePassenger Sensing System on
page 3‑26 for important information.
Mirror Adjustment
Exterior 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.
Interior Mirror
Adjustment
Hold the rearview mirror in the
center and move it to view the area
behind the vehicle.
Manual Rearview Mirror
For vehicles with a manual rearview
mirror, push the tab forward for
daytime use and pull it rearward for
nighttime use to avoid glare from
the headlamps from behind. See
Manual Rearview Mirror on
page 2‑16.
Automatic Dimming Rearview
Mirror
For vehicles with an automatic
dimming rearview mirror, the mirror
will automatically reduce the glare
from the headlamps from behind.
The dimming feature comes on
when the vehicle is started.
See Automatic Dimming Rearview
Mirror on page 2‑16.
Black plate (12,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 6/6/12
1-12 In Brief
Steering Wheel
Adjustment
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. Push the lever up to lock the steering wheel in place.
Do not adjust the steering wheel
while driving.
Interior Lighting
Dome Lamps
The interior lamps control in the
overhead console controls both the
front and rear interior lamps.
To operate, press the buttons:
E: Turns the lamps off.
1: Turns the lamps on when any
door is opened.
+: Keeps the lamps on all
the time. Reading Lamps
There are front and rear reading
lamps in the overhead console and
the headliner.
Front Reading Lamps
Black plate (13,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 6/6/12
In Brief 1-13
Rear Reading Lamps
#or$:Press the button near
each lamp to turn it on or off.
For more information, see
Instrument Panel Illumination
Control on page 6‑5.
Exterior Lighting
This control is on the instrument
panel on the left side of the steering
wheel.
O: Turns off the exterior lamps.
The knob returns to the AUTO
position after it is released. Turn to
Oagain to reactivate the
AUTO mode.
In Canada, the headlamps will
automatically reactivate once the
vehicle is shifted out of P (Park).
AUTO: Automatically turns the
exterior lamps on and off,
depending on outside lighting.
;: Turns on the parking lamps
together with the following:
.Sidemarker Lamps
.Taillamps
.License Plate Lamps
.Instrument Panel Lights
2: Turns on the headlamps
together with the following:
.Sidemarker Lamps
.Taillamps
.License Plate Lamps
.Instrument Panel Lights
.Parking Lamps
See:
.Exterior Lamp Controls on
page 6‑1.
.Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
on page 6‑2.
.Fog Lamps on page 6‑4.