Black plate (27,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7575972) - 2015 - crc - 4/1/14
Instruments and Controls 5-27
Engine Power Messages
ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED
This message displays when the
vehicle's engine power is reduced.
Reduced engine power can affect
the vehicle's ability to accelerate.
If this message is on, but there is no
reduction in performance, proceed
to your destination. The
performance may be reduced the
next time the vehicle is driven. The
vehicle may be driven at a reduced
speed while this message is on, but
maximum acceleration and speed
may be reduced. Anytime this
message stays on, the vehicle
should be taken to your dealer for
service as soon as possible.
Fuel System Messages
FUEL LEVEL LOW
This message displays when the
vehicle is low on fuel. Refuel as
soon as possible.
TIGHTEN GAS CAP
This message displays when the
fuel cap is not on tight. Tighten the
fuel cap.
Key and Lock Messages
NO REMOTE DETECTED
This message displays when the
transmitter battery is weak on
vehicles with Keyless Access. See
“Starting the Vehicle with a Low
Transmitter Battery”underRemote
Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation on page 2-3.
REPLACE BATTERY IN
REMOTE KEY
This message displays when the
battery in the Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) transmitter needs to be
replaced. See “Battery
Replacement” underRemote
Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation on page 2-3.
USE TRANSMITTER POCKET
TO START
This message displays when trying
to start the vehicle if an RKE
transmitter is not detected. The
transmitter battery may be weak.
See “Starting the Vehicle with a Low
Transmitter Battery” underRemote
Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation on page 2-3.
Lamp Messages
AUTOMATIC LIGHT CONTROL
ON/OFF
This message is displayed when the
automatic light control has been
turned on or off. See Automatic
Headlamp System on page 6-3.
CHECK XXX TURN
SIGNAL LAMP
When one of the turn signals is out,
this message displays to show
which bulb needs to be replaced.
Black plate (28,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7575972) - 2015 - crc - 4/1/14
5-28 Instruments and Controls
SeeBulb Replacement on
page 10-25 andReplacement Bulbs
on page 10-32.
TURN SIGNAL ON
This message is displayed if the
turn signal has been left on. Turn off
the turn signal.
Object Detection System
Messages
FORWARD COLLISION
ALERT OFF
If your vehicle has the Forward
Collision Alert (FCA) system, this
message may display if the FCA
system cannot activate due to a
temporary condition. See Forward
Collision Alert (FCA) System on
page 9-34.
FRONT CAMERA BLOCKED,
CLEAN WINDSHIELD
This message displays when the
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and
Forward Collision Alert (FCA)
systems are disabled because the camera view is blocked and cannot
operate properly. It may also
activate during heavy rain or due to
road spray. To clean the system,
clean the outside of the windshield
area in front of the LDW/FCA
camera sensor.
LANE DEPARTURE WARNING
UNAVAILABLE
This message may appear if LDW
does not activate due to a
temporary condition.
PARK ASSIST OFF
This message displays when the
parking assist system has been
turned off or when there is a
temporary condition causing the
system to be disabled. See
Parking
Assist on page 9-36.
SERVICE FRONT CAMERA
This message displays when the
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and
Forward Collision Alert (FCA)
systems are disabled and need
service. See your dealer.
SERVICE PARK ASSIST
This message displays if there is a
problem with the Rear Parking
Assist (RPA) system. Do not use
this system to help you park. See
Parking Assist on page 9-36. See
your dealer for service.
SERVICE SIDE DETECTION
SYSTEM
If this message appears, the system
needs service. Take the vehicle to
your dealer.
SIDE BLIND ZONE ALERT OFF
This message indicates that the
driver has turned the system off.
SIDE DETECTION SYSTEM
UNAVAILABLE
This message indicates that the
SBZA system is disabled because
the sensor is blocked and cannot
detect vehicles in the blind zone.
The sensor may be blocked by mud,
dirt, snow, ice, or slush. This
Black plate (4,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7575972) - 2015 - crc - 4/1/14
6-4 Lighting
Turn and Lane-Change
Signals
Move the turn signal lever all the
way up or down to signal a turn.
An arrow on the instrument cluster
flashes in the direction of the turn or
lane change.
Raise or lower the lever until the
arrow starts to flash to signal a lane
change. Hold it there until the lane
change is completed. If the lever is
briefly pressed and released, the
turn signal flashes three times.
The turn signal can be turned off
manually by moving the lever back
to its original position.If after signaling a turn or lane
change, the arrow flashes rapidly or
does not come on, a signal bulb
may be burned out.
Have any burned out bulbs
replaced. If a bulb is not burned out,
check the fuse. See
Fuses on
page 10-34.
Fog Lamps
To turn on the fog lamps,
if equipped, the ignition and the
headlamps or parking lamps must
be on. If the fog lamps are turned on while
the exterior lamp control is in the
AUTO position, the headlamps
come on automatically.
#(Fog Lamps, If Equipped):
Press to turn on or off. An indicator
light on the instrument cluster
comes on when the fog lamps
are on.
Some localities have laws that
require the headlamps to be on
along with the fog lamps.
Black plate (50,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7575972) - 2015 - crc - 4/1/14
9-50 Driving and Operating
Making Turns
{Caution
Making very sharp turns while
trailering could cause the trailer to
come in contact with the vehicle.
The vehicle could be damaged.
Avoid making very sharp turns
while trailering.
When turning with a trailer, make
wider turns than normal so the
trailer will not strike soft shoulders,
curbs, road signs, trees or other
objects. Use the turn signal well in
advance and avoid jerky or sudden
maneuvers.
Turn Signals When Towing a
Trailer
The turn signal indicators on the
instrument cluster flash whenever
signaling a turn or lane change.
Properly hooked up, the trailer lamps also flash, telling other
drivers the vehicle is turning,
changing lanes or stopping.
When towing a trailer, the arrows on
the instrument cluster flash for turns
even if the bulbs on the trailer are
burned out. Check occasionally to
be sure the trailer bulbs are still
working.
Driving on Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower
gear before starting down a long or
steep downgrade. If the
transmission is not shifted down, the
brakes might have to be used so
much that they would get hot and no
longer work well.
The vehicle can tow in D (Drive).
Use a lower gear if the transmission
shifts too often.
When towing at high altitude on
steep uphill grades, engine coolant
boils at a lower temperature than at
normal altitudes. If the engine is
turned off immediately after towing
at high altitude on steep uphillgrades, the vehicle could show
signs similar to engine overheating.
To avoid this, let the engine run
while parked, preferably on level
ground, with the transmission in
P (Park) for a few minutes before
turning the engine off. If the
overheat warning comes on, see
Engine Overheating on page 10-17.
Parking on Hills
{Warning
Parking the vehicle on a hill with
the trailer attached can be
dangerous. If something goes
wrong, the rig could start to move.
People can be injured, and both
the vehicle and the trailer can be
damaged. When possible, always
park the rig on a flat surface.
Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7575972) - 2015 - crc - 4/1/14
Vehicle Care 10-1
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . 10-3
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-5
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-8
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . 10-10
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-11
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . 10-11
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-13
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-14
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . 10-17
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-18
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-19
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-20 Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-21
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . 10-22
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-23
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-23
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . 10-23
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-24
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . 10-25
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-25
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-25
High Intensity Discharge(HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-25
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-25
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker, and
Parking Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-26
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-29
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps, and Back-Up
Lamps (LS and LT) . . . . . . . . 10-29 Taillamps, Turn Signal,
Stoplamps, and Back-Up
Lamps (LTZ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-30
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . 10-32
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . 10-32
Electrical System
High Voltage Devices and Wiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-33
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-33
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-34
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-34
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-38
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-40
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-41
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-42
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-42
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . 10-42
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . 10-44
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-45
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-48
Tire Pressure for High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-49
Black plate (26,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7575972) - 2015 - crc - 4/1/14
10-26 Vehicle Care
Headlamps, Front Turn
Signal, Sidemarker, and
Parking Lamps
Base Headlamp Assembly
The base model vehicle has
halogen high-beam and low-beam
headlamps, a parking lamp, a
sidemarker lamp, and two turn
signal lamps on the headlamp
assembly.
Passenger Side Shown, Driver
Side Similar
1. High-Beam Headlamp2. Low-Beam Headlamp
3. Sidemarker Lamp
4. Parking/Turn Signal Lamp
To replace one of the headlamp
bulbs:
1. Open the hood. See
Hood on
page 10-4.
2. For the driver side bulb, remove the windshield washer bottle
filler neck by firmly pulling it
straight up and out of the bottle.
3. Remove the cap from the back of the headlamp assembly by
turning it counterclockwise.
4. Disconnect the electrical connector.
5. Remove the bulb from the lamp assembly by turning
counterclockwise.
6. Install a new bulb in the lamp assembly.
7. Connect the electrical connector. 8. Replace the cap from the back
of the headlamp assembly by
turning it clockwise.
9. For the driver side, reinstall the windshield washer bottle filler
neck by firmly pushing it straight
into the bottle. Ensure that the
filler neck clip engages into the
underhood electrical center
retainer.
Uplevel Headlamp Assembly
The uplevel model vehicle has
halogen high-beam and low-beam
headlamps, a parking lamp, a
sidemarker lamp, and two turn
signal lamps on the headlamp
assembly.
Black plate (27,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7575972) - 2015 - crc - 4/1/14
Vehicle Care 10-27
Passenger Side Shown, Driver
Side Similar
1. High-Beam Headlamp
2. Turn Signal Lamps
3. Low-Beam Headlamp
4. Parking Lamp
5. Sidemarker Lamp
To replace one of these bulbs:
High-Beam Headlamp
1. Open the hood. SeeHood on
page 10-4.
2. For the driver side bulb, remove the windshield washer bottle
filler neck by firmly pulling it
straight up and out of the bottle.
3. Remove the cap from the back of the headlamp assembly by
turning it counterclockwise.
4. Disconnect the electrical
connector (1).
5. Disengage the spring clip (2) from the bulb by pressing down
on the end and then swing
upward.
6. Remove the bulb from the lamp assembly.
7. Install a new bulb in the lamp assembly.
8. Install the spring clip (2).
9. Connect the electrical connector (1). 10. Replace the cap from the back
of the headlamp assembly by
turning it clockwise.
11. For the driver side, reinstall the windshield washer bottle filler
neck by firmly pushing it
straight into the bottle. Ensure
that the filler neck clip engages
into the underhood electrical
center retainer.
Low-Beam Headlamp
1. For the driver side bulb, remove the windshield washer bottle
filler neck by firmly pulling it
straight up and out of the bottle.
2. Remove the cap from the back of the headlamp assembly by
turning it counterclockwise.
3. Disconnect the electrical connector.
4. Remove the bulb from the lamp assembly by turning
counterclockwise.
5. Install a new bulb in the lamp assembly.
Black plate (28,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7575972) - 2015 - crc - 4/1/14
10-28 Vehicle Care
6. Connect the electrical connector.
7. Replace the cap from the backof the headlamp assembly by
turning it clockwise.
8. For the driver side, reinstall the windshield washer bottle filler
neck by firmly pushing it straight
into the bottle. Ensure that the
filler neck clip engages into the
underhood electrical center
retainer.
HID Headlamp Assembly
The HID assembly has a high
intensity discharge (HID) high/low
beam, a DRL/parking lamp,
sidemarker lamp, and a turn signal
lamp on the headlamp assembly.
For replacement of the headlamp on
an HID assembly, contact your
dealer. See High Intensity
Discharge (HID) Lighting on
page 10-25.
Passenger Side Shown, Driver
Side Similar
1. Turn Signal Lamp
2. DRL/Parking Lamp
3. Sidemarker Lamp
Front Turn Signal, Parking, and
Sidemarker Lamps
To replace one of these lamps on a
base, uplevel, or HID assembly:
1. For the driver side bulb, remove the windshield washer bottle
filler neck by firmly pulling it
straight up and out of the bottle. 2. Remove the bulb socket from
the headlamp assembly by
turning it counterclockwise.
3. Remove the bulb from the socket.
4. Replace the bulb in the bulb socket.
5. Install the bulb socket in the headlamp assembly by turning it
clockwise.
6. For the driver side, reinstall the windshield washer bottle filler
neck by firmly pushing it straight
into the bottle. Ensure that the
filler neck clip engages into the
underhood electrical center
retainer.