
Chevrolet Malibu Limited Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S/Canada-
9086425) - 2016 - crc - 7/30/15
176 Driving and Operating
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Track Events and CompetitiveDriving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 180
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 181
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 183
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 187
Ignition Positions (Keyless Access) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Ignition Positions (Key Access) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192 Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Running the Vehicle WhileParked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 197
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . 201
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Driver Assistance Systems
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . 206
Parking Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208 Forward Collision Alert (FCA)
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Lane Departure
Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Fuel
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
California FuelRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 216
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Trailer Towing
General TowingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Driving Characteristics and Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223

Chevrolet Malibu Limited Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S/Canada-
9086425) - 2016 - crc - 7/30/15
Driving and Operating 215
Fuel
Use of the recommended fuel is an
important part of the proper
maintenance of this vehicle. When
driving in the U.S. and Canada, to
help keep the engine clean and
maintain optimum vehicle
performance, we recommend using
TOP TIER Detergent Gasolines.
See www.toptiergas.com for a list of
TOP TIER Detergent Gasolines.
Use regular unleaded gasoline
meeting ASTM specification D4814
with a posted octane rating of 87 or
higher. Do not use gasoline with anoctane rating below 87, as it may
cause engine damage and will lower
fuel economy.
Use of Seasonal Fuels
Use summer and winter fuels in the
appropriate season. The fuels
industry automatically modifies the
fuel for the appropriate season.
If fuel is left in the vehicle tank for
long periods of time, driving or
starting could be affected. Drive the
vehicle until the fuel is at one-half
tank or less, then refuel with the
current seasonal fuel.
Prohibited Fuels
Gasolines containing oxygenates
such as ethers and ethanol, as well
as reformulated gasolines, are
available in some cities. If these
gasolines comply with the
previously described specification,
then they are acceptable to use.
However, E85 (85% ethanol) and
other fuels containing more than
15% ethanol must be used only in
FlexFuel vehicles.
Caution
Do not use fuel containing
methanol. It can corrode metal
parts in the fuel system and also
damage plastic and rubber parts.
That damage would not be
covered under the vehicle
warranty.
Some gasolines, mainly high octane
racing gasolines, can contain an
octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT). Do not use
gasolines and/or fuel additives with
MMT as they can reduce spark plug
life and affect emission control
system performance. The
malfunction indicator lamp may turn
on. If this occurs, see your dealer
for service.

Chevrolet Malibu Limited Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S/Canada-
9086425) - 2016 - crc - 7/30/15
216 Driving and Operating
California Fuel
Requirements
If the vehicle is certified to meet
California Emissions Standards, it is
designed to operate on fuels that
meet California specifications. See
the underhood emission control
label. If this fuel is not available in
states adopting California Emissions
Standards, the vehicle will operate
satisfactorily on fuels meeting
federal specifications, but emission
control system performance might
be affected. The malfunction
indicator lamp could turn on and the
vehicle may not pass a smog-check
test. SeeMalfunction Indicator
Lamp (Check Engine Light) 0106.
If this occurs, return to your
authorized dealer for diagnosis. If it
is determined that the condition is
caused by the type of fuel used,
repairs may not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Fuels in Foreign
Countries
If planning to drive in countries
outside the U.S. or Canada, the
proper fuel might be hard to find.
Check regional auto club or fuel
retail brand websites for availability
in the country where driving. Never
use leaded gasoline, fuel containing
methanol, manganese, or any other
fuel not recommended. Costly
repairs caused by use of improper
fuel would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Fuel Additives
To keep fuel systems clean, TOP
TIER Detergent Gasoline is
recommended. See Fuel0215.
If TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline is
not available, one bottle of Fuel
System Treatment PLUS added to
the fuel tank at every engine oil
change, can help. Fuel System
Treatment PLUS is the only
gasoline additive recommended by
General Motors. It is available at
your dealer.
Filling the Tank
{Warning
Fuel vapors and fuel fires burn
violently and can cause injury or
death. . To help avoid injuries to you
and others, read and follow
all the instructions on the
fuel pump island.
. Turn off the engine when
refueling.
. Keep sparks, flames, and
smoking materials away
from fuel.
. Do not leave the fuel pump
unattended.
. Do not use a cell phone
while refueling.
. Do not reenter the vehicle
while pumping fuel.
. Keep children away from
the fuel pump and never let
children pump fuel.
(Continued)

Chevrolet Malibu Limited Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S/Canada-
9086425) - 2016 - crc - 7/30/15
352 Index
Driving (cont'd)Defensive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Drunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
For Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . 23
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . 181
If the Vehicle is Stuck . . . . . . . . . 183
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Track Events and
Competitive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Dual Automatic Climate
Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
E
Electrical Equipment,Add-On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Electrical System Engine Compartment FuseBlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Emergency OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340 Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Check and Service Engine
Soon Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Compartment Overview . . . . . . . 229
Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Cooling System Messages . . . .117
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . 324
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Oil Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
Oil Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . .110
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118
Running While Parked . . . . . . . . 197
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Equipment, Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Event Data Recorders . . . . . . . . . . 337
Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Extender, Safety Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . . 132
Exterior Lamps Off Reminder . . . 132
F
Features
Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Filter, Engine Air Cleaner . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Flashers, Hazard Warning . . . . . . 134
Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280 Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Fluid
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 233
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Fog Lamps Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . 135, 248
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Frequency Statement
Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 335
Front Fog Lamp Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Front Seats Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Heated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215 Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Economy Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23