2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU check engine

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9087641) - 2016 - crc - 9/3/15
126 Instruments and Controls
This light should come on briefly as
the engine is started. If it does not
come on, have the vehicle serviced
by your dealer.
If the light comes on and stays on, it
means that oil is not flowing through
the engine properly. The vehicle
could be low on oil and might have
some other system problem. See
your dealer.
Low Fuel Warning Light
(Uplevel)
This light is near the fuel gauge and
comes on briefly when the ignition is
turned on as a check to show it is
working.
It also comes on when the fuel tank
is low on fuel. The light turns off
when fuel is added. If it does not,
have the vehicle serviced.
Low Fuel Warning Light
(Base Level)
Metric Shown
This light comes on for a few
seconds when the ignition is turned
on as a check to indicate it is
working. If it does not come on,
have it fixed.
The low fuel warning light comes on
and a chime sounds when the
vehicle is low on fuel. The light turns
off when fuel is added to the
fuel tank.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9087641) - 2016 - crc - 9/3/15
128 Instruments and Controls
Adaptive Cruise Control Light
This light in the Driver Information
Center (DIC) comes on when the
Adaptive Cruise Control (if
equipped) is active. SeeAdaptive
Cruise Control 0246
ii.
Door Ajar Light (Uplevel)
This light comes on when a door is
open or not securely latched. Before
driving, check that all doors are
properly closed.
Information Displays
Center Stack Display
Infotainment and vehicle
personalization information displays
in the center stack screen. See:
.
The infotainment manual and
Infotainment 0168
ii.
. Vehicle Personalization 0145
ii.
The center stack controls only need
a light touch to operate and work
best with bare hands. The controls
will work with most gloves although
they may take longer to respond.
Use the finger pad rather than the
finger tip to minimize response time.
If the controls are not responding,
remove the gloves.
Power Flows (Hybrid)
To view the Power Flow screens in
the center stack display, touch
[
on the Home screen or on the
Application Tray on the top of the
infotainment system touch screen.
Then touch the Flow button at the
bottom of the touch screen. These screens indicate the current
operating condition and the energy
flow between the engine, generator,
and high voltage battery.
Engine Power
–Engine is being
used to propel the vehicle, charge
the battery, or warm the cabin.
Battery Power –Vehicle is being
propelled by the battery.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9087641) - 2016 - crc - 9/3/15
Instruments and Controls 133
oorp:Pressoto open
application menus on the left.
Press
pto open interaction menus
on the right.
V: Press to select a menu item.
Press and hold to reset values on
certain screens, or on the main view
reset info pages to the original
setting.
DIC Info Page Options
The info pages on the DIC can be
turned on or off through the
Settings menu.
1. Press
oto access the cluster
applications.
2. Press
worxto scroll to the
Settings application.
3. Press
Vto enter the
Settings menu.
4. Scroll to Info Pages and press
p.
5. Press
worxto move
through the list of possible
information displays. 6. Press
Vwhile an item is
highlighted to select or
deselect that item. When an
item is selected, a checkmark
will appear next to it.
DIC Info Pages
The following is the list of all
possible DIC info page displays.
Some may not be available for your
particular vehicle. Some items may
not be turned on by default but can
be turned on through the Settings
app. See “DIC Info Page Options”
earlier in this section.
Speed : Shows the vehicle speed in
either kilometers per hour (km/h) or
miles per hour (mph).
Trip A or Trip B : Shows the
current distance traveled, in either
kilometers (km) or miles (mi), since
the trip odometer was last reset.
This also shows the approximate
average liters per 100 kilometers (L/
100 km) or miles per gallon (mpg).
This number is calculated based on
the number of L/100 km (mpg)
recorded since the last time this
menu item was reset. This number reflects only the approximate
average fuel economy that the
vehicle has right now, and will
change as driving conditions
change.
Press and hold
Vwhile this display
is active to reset the trip odometer
and the average fuel economy. Trip
A and Trip B can also be reset by
pressing
pand choosing reset.
Fuel Range : Shows the
approximate distance the vehicle
can be driven without refueling.
LOW will be displayed when the
vehicle is low on fuel. The fuel
range estimate is based on an
average of the vehicle's fuel
economy over recent driving history
and the amount of fuel remaining in
the fuel tank.
Oil Life : Shows an estimate of the
oil's remaining useful life.
If REMAINING OIL LIFE 99% is
displayed, that means 99% of the
current oil life remains.
When the remaining oil life is low,
the CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message will appear on the display.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9087641) - 2016 - crc - 9/3/15
Instruments and Controls 139
severe damage. This message
clears when the engine has cooled
to a safe operating temperature.
Engine Oil Messages
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
This message displays when the
engine oil needs to be changed.
When the engine oil is changed, be
sure to reset the Oil Life System.
SeeEngine Oil Life System 0291
ii,
Driver Information Center (DIC)
(Base Level) 0129
iior Driver
Information Center (DIC) (Uplevel)
0 132
ii,Engine Oil 0289ii, and
Maintenance Schedule 0368ii.
ENGINE OIL HOT, IDLE
ENGINE
This message displays when the
engine oil temperature is too hot.
Stop and allow the vehicle to idle
until it cools down.
OIL PRESSURE LOW— STOP
ENGINE
This message displays if low oil
pressure levels occur. Stop the
vehicle as soon as safely possible and do not operate it until the cause
of the low oil pressure has been
corrected. Check the oil as soon as
possible and have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer.
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 KEY WAS
DETECTED PLACE KEY IN
TRANSMITTER POCKET THEN
START YOUR VEHICLE
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 031
ii.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9087641) - 2016 - crc - 9/3/15
140 Instruments and Controls
NO REMOTE DETECTED
This message displays when the
transmitter battery may be weak.
See“Starting the Vehicle with a Low
Transmitter Battery” underRemote
Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation 031
ii.
NO REMOTE DETECTED
PRESS BRAKE TO RESTART
This message displays when
attempting to turn off the vehicle
and the RKE transmitter is no longer
detected. Restarting is allowed
without the RKE transmitter for
five minutes. Press the brake pedal
and ENGINE START/STOP to
restart the vehicle.
NUMBER OF KEYS
PROGRAMMED
This message displays when
programming new keys to the
vehicle.
REMOTE LEFT IN VEHICLE
This message displays when
leaving the vehicle with the RKE
transmitter still inside.
REPLACE BATTERY IN
REMOTE KEY
This message displays when the
battery in the RKE transmitter needs
to be replaced.
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 0163
ii.
CHECK XXX TURN
SIGNAL LAMP
When one of the turn signals is out,
this message displays to show
which bulb needs to be replaced.
See Bulb Replacement 0306
iiand
Replacement Bulbs 0310ii.
TURN SIGNAL ON
This message is displayed if the
turn signal has been left on. Turn off
the turn signal.
Object Detection System
Messages
24 GHz RADARS OFF
This message displays when driving
in certain areas where there may be
radar interference. Adaptive Cruise
Control (ACC), Forward Collision
Alert (FCA), and the Front
Automatic Braking (FAB) System
may not work or may not work as
well. The vehicle does not need
service.
AUTOMATIC COLLISION
PREP OFF
This message displays when the
Front Automatic Braking (FAB)
System has been turned off. See
Front Automatic Braking (FAB)
System 0259
ii.
AUTOMATIC COLLISION PREP
REDUCED
This message displays when the
Front Automatic Braking (FAB)
System has been set to the Alert
setting. This setting disables FAB
functions but if the vehicle has

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9087641) - 2016 - crc - 9/3/15
220 Driving and Operating
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. Water
can build up under the vehicle's
tires so they actually ride on the
water. This can happen if the road is
wet enough and you are going fast
enough. When the vehicle is
hydroplaning, it has little or no
contact with the road.
There is no hard and fast rule about
hydroplaning. The best advice is to
slow down when the road is wet.
Other Rainy Weather Tips
Besides slowing down, other wet
weather driving tips include:
.Allow extra following distance.
. Pass with caution.
. Keep windshield wiping
equipment in good shape.
. Keep the windshield washer fluid
reservoir filled.
. Have good tires with proper
tread depth. See Tires0318
ii.
. Turn off cruise control.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or through
mountains is different than driving
on flat or rolling terrain. Tips include:
.Keep the vehicle serviced and in
good shape.
. Check all fluid levels and brakes,
tires, cooling system, and
transmission.
. Shift to a lower gear when going
down steep or long hills.
{Warning
Using the brakes to slow the
vehicle on a long downhill slope
can cause brake overheating, can
reduce brake performance, and
could result in a loss of braking.
Shift the transmission to a lower
gear to let the engine assist the
brakes on a steep downhill slope.
{Warning
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral)
or with the ignition off is
dangerous. This can cause
overheating of the brakes and
loss of steering. Always have the
engine running and the vehicle
in gear.
. Drive at speeds that keep the
vehicle in its own lane. Do not
swing wide or cross the
center line.
. Be alert on top of hills;
something could be in your lane
(e.g., stalled car, accident).
. Pay attention to special road
signs (e.g., falling rocks area,
winding roads, long grades,
passing or no-passing zones)
and take appropriate action.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9087641) - 2016 - crc - 9/3/15
242 Driving and Operating
vehicle wheel brakes to assist the
driver in keeping the vehicle on the
intended path.
If cruise control is being used and
traction control or StabiliTrak begins
to limit wheel spin, cruise control will
disengage. Cruise control may be
turned back on when road
conditions allow.
Both systems come on
automatically when the vehicle is
started and begins to move. The
systems may be heard or felt while
they are operating or while
performing diagnostic checks. This
is normal and does not mean there
is a problem with the vehicle.
It is recommended to leave both
systems on for normal driving
conditions, but it may be necessary
to turn TCS off if the vehicle gets
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow.
SeeIf the Vehicle Is Stuck 0222
iiand “Turning the Systems Off and
On” later in this section.
The indicator light for both systems
is in the instrument cluster. This
light will:
.
Flash when TCS is limiting
wheel spin.
. Flash when StabiliTrak is
activated.
. Turn on and stay on when either
system is not working.
If either system fails to turn on or to
activate, a message displays in the
Driver Information Center (DIC),
and
dcomes on and stays on to
indicate that the system is inactive
and is not assisting the driver in
maintaining control. The vehicle is
safe to drive, but driving should be
adjusted accordingly.
If
dcomes on and stays on:
1. Stop the vehicle. 2. Turn the engine off and wait
15 seconds.
3. Start the engine.
Drive the vehicle. If
dcomes on
and stays on, the vehicle may need
more time to diagnose the problem.
If the condition persists, see your
dealer.
Turning the Systems Off
and On
The button for TCS and StabiliTrak
is on the center console.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9087641) - 2016 - crc - 9/3/15
268 Driving and Operating
higher. Do not use gasoline with an
octane rating below 87; as it may
cause engine damage and will lower
fuel economy.
For vehicles with the 2.0L L4
engine, use premium unleaded
gasoline meeting ASTM
specification D4814 with a posted
octane rating of 91 or higher.
Regular unleaded gasoline rated at
87 octane or higher can be used,
but acceleration and fuel economy
will be reduced, and an audible
knocking noise may be heard. If this
occurs, use a gasoline rated at
91 octane or higher as soon as
possible. Otherwise, the engine
could be damaged. If heavy
knocking is heard when using
gasoline with a 91 octane rating or
higher, the engine needs service.
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 thevehicle 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.
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. See
Malfunction Indicator
Lamp (Check Engine Light) 0120
ii.
If this occurs, return to your
authorized dealer for diagnosis. If it