
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9087641) - 2016 - crc - 9/3/15
116 Instruments and Controls
Fuel Gauge
Metric Uplevel Shown
English Uplevel ShownWhen the ignition is on, the fuel
gauge indicates about how much
fuel is left in the tank.
An arrow on the fuel gauge
indicates the side of the vehicle the
fuel door is on.
When the indicator nears empty, the
low fuel light comes on. There is a
small amount of fuel left, but the fuel
tank should be filled soon.
Here are four things that some
owners ask about. None of these
show a problem with the fuel gauge:
.
At the service station, the fuel
pump shuts off before the gauge
reads full.
. It takes a little more or less fuel
to fill up than the gauge
indicated. For example, the
gauge indicated the tank was
half full, but it actually took a
little more or less than half the
tank's capacity to fill the tank.
. The gauge moves a little while
turning a corner or speeding up. .
The gauge takes a few seconds
to stabilize after the ignition is
turned on, and goes back to
empty when the ignition is
turned off.
Power Indicator Gauge
(Hybrid)
The power gauge indicates the
vehicle's power usage in propelling
or slowing the vehicle. The green
area indicates regenerative braking.
The white area indicates power
provided by the engine and/or
battery. The yellow area shows high
power usage. Operating the vehicle

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9087641) - 2016 - crc - 9/3/15
Instruments and Controls 119
United States and Canada
Mexico
When the vehicle is started, the
passenger airbag status indicator
will light ON and OFF, or the symbol
for on and off, for several seconds
as a system check. Then, after
several more seconds, the status
indicator will light either ON or OFF,
or either the on or off symbol, to let
you know the status of the front
outboard passenger frontal airbag
and knee airbag.
If the word ON or the on symbol is
lit on the passenger airbag status
indicator, it means that the front outboard passenger frontal airbag
and knee airbag are allowed to
inflate.
If the word OFF or the off symbol is
lit on the airbag status indicator, it
means that the passenger sensing
system has turned off the front
outboard passenger frontal airbag
and knee airbag.
If, after several seconds, both status
indicator lights remain on, or if there
are no lights at all, there may be a
problem with the lights or the
passenger sensing system. See
your dealer for service.
{Warning
If the airbag readiness light ever
comes on and stays on, it means
that something may be wrong
with the airbag system. To help
avoid injury to yourself or others,
have the vehicle serviced right
away. See
Airbag Readiness
Light 0118
iifor more information,
including important safety
information.
Charging System Light
The charging system light comes on
briefly when the ignition is turned
on, but the engine is not running, as
a check to show the light is working.
It should go out when the engine is
started.
If the light stays on, or comes on
while driving, there may be a
problem with the electrical charging
system. Have it checked by your
dealer. Driving while this light is on
could drain the battery.
When this light comes on, or is
flashing, the Driver Information
Center (DIC) also displays a
message.
See Battery Voltage and Charging
Messages 0136
ii.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Instruments and Controls 121
previous guidelines and see your
dealer for service as soon as
possible.
If the light is on steady :A
malfunction has been detected.
Diagnosis and service may be
required.
Check the following:
. For vehicles without the capless
fuel system, a loose or missing
fuel cap may cause the light to
come on. See Filling the Tank
0 269
ii. A few driving trips with
the cap properly installed may
turn the light off.
. For vehicles with the capless
fuel system, if fuel has been
added to the vehicle using the
capless funnel adapter, make
sure that it has been removed.
See “Filling the Tank with a
Portable Gas Can” underFilling
the Tank 0269
ii. The diagnostic
system can detect if the adapter
has been left installed in the
vehicle, allowing fuel to
evaporate into the atmosphere. A few driving trips with the
adapter removed may turn off
the light.
. Poor fuel quality can cause
inefficient engine operation and
poor driveability, which may go
away once the engine is warmed
up. If this occurs, change the
fuel brand. It may require at
least one full tank of the proper
fuel to turn the light off. See Fuel
0 267
ii.
If the light remains on, see your
dealer.
Emissions Inspection and
Maintenance Programs
If the vehicle requires an Emissions
Inspection/Maintenance test, the
test equipment will likely connect to
the vehicle's Data Link
Connector (DLC).
The DLC is under the instrument
panel to the left of the steering
wheel. Connecting devices that are
not used to perform an Emissions
Inspection/Maintenance test or to
service the vehicle may affect
vehicle operation See Add-On
Electrical Equipment 0278
ii. See
your dealer if assistance is needed.
The vehicle may not pass
inspection if:
. The light is on when the engine
is running.
. The light does not come on
when the ignition is in Service
Only Mode.
. Critical emission control systems
have not been completely
diagnosed. If this happens, the
vehicle would not be ready for
inspection and might require
several days of routine driving
before the system is ready for
inspection. This can happen if
the 12-volt battery has recently
been replaced or run down, or if
the vehicle has been recently
serviced.

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 129
Regen Power Recovery–Hybrid
System is charging the high voltage
battery during coasting or braking.
Engine and Battery Power –Vehicle
is propelled with engine and battery
power.
Power Off –Propulsion system
is off.
Energy Information
(Hybrid)
To view the Consumption History
screen on 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 Info button
at the bottom of the touch screen. Consumption History
The consumption history graph
shows the average fuel economy
over the last 80 km (50 mi). Pressing
the reset button will clear the
history data.
Driver Information Center
(DIC) (Base Level)
The DIC displays are shown in the
center of the instrument cluster. See
Instrument Cluster (Base Level)
0
110
iior Instrument Cluster
(Uplevel) 0112ii. The displays show
the status of many vehicle systems.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9087641) - 2016 - crc - 9/3/15
Instruments and Controls 131
To stop the timer, pressVbriefly
while Timer is displayed. To reset
the timer to zero, press and hold
V.
Navigation : Used for the OnStar
Turn-by-Turn guidance. See OnStar
Overview 0398
ii.
Vehicle Information Menu
(VEHICLE) Items
Usew xto scroll through the
menu items. Not all items are
available on every vehicle. The
following is a list of all possible
menu items:
Remaining Oil Life : Displays 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.
See Engine Oil Messages 0139
ii.
The oil should be changed as soon
as possible. See Engine Oil0289
ii.
In addition to the engine oil life
system monitoring the oil life,
additional maintenance is recommended in the Maintenance
Schedule. See
Maintenance
Schedule 0368
ii.
The Oil Life display must be reset
after each oil change. Do not reset
the Oil Life display accidentally at
any time other than when the oil has
just been changed. It cannot be
reset accurately until the next oil
change. To reset the engine oil life
system, see Engine Oil Life System
0 291
ii.
Oil Pressure : Oil pressure is
displayed in either kilopascal (kPa)
or in pounds per square inch (psi).
Tire Pressure : Displays a vehicle
with the approximate pressures of
all four tires. Tire pressure is
displayed in either kilopascal (kPa)
or in pounds per square inch (psi).
See Tire Pressure Monitor System
0 327
iiand Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation 0328ii.
Battery Voltage : Displays the
current battery voltage, if equipped.
Battery voltage changes are normal
while driving. See Charging System
Light 0119
ii. If there is a problem
with the battery charging system, the DIC will display a message. See
Battery Voltage and Charging
Messages
0136
ii.
Coolant Temperature : Shows the
engine coolant temperature in either
degrees Celsius (°C) or degrees
Fahrenheit (°F).
Speed Warning : This display is
used to set the vehicle speed at
which the speed warning chime
sounds and the alert is displayed.
The speed can be set by pressing
Vwhile the speed warning display
is showing.
Units : Move
w xto change
between Metric or US when the Unit
display is active. Press
Vto confirm
the setting. This will change the
displays on the DIC to the type of
measurements you select.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9087641) - 2016 - crc - 9/3/15
Instruments and Controls 135
the timer to zero, press and holdV
while this display is active, orpress
pand select reset.
Speed Limit : Shows sign
information, which comes from a
roadway database in the onboard
navigation, if equipped.
Following Distance Indicator :
When Adaptive Cruise Control
(ACC) is not engaged, the current
follow time to the vehicle ahead is
displayed as a time value on this
page. When ACC has been
engaged, the display switches to the
gap setting page. This page shows
the current gap setting along with
the vehicle ahead indicator.
Battery Voltage : Displays the
current battery voltage, if equipped.
Battery voltage changes are normal
while driving. See Charging System
Light 0119
ii. If there is a problem
with the battery charging system,
the DIC will display a message. See
Battery Voltage and Charging
Messages 0136
ii. Coolant Temperature :
Shows the
engine coolant temperature in either
degrees Celsius (°C) or degrees
Fahrenheit (°F).
Oil Pressure : Oil pressure is
displayed in either kilopascal (kPa)
or in pounds per square inch (psi).
Drive Cycle Info (Hybrid) : This
screen displays the distance
traveled and average fuel economy
for the current trip. The screen will
also be shown when the vehicle is
turned off displaying the previous
trip’s information.
Efficiency Gauge (Hybrid) : This
gauge is a guide to driving in an
efficient manner by keeping the
indicator in the center of the gauge.
. Accel: If the indicator moves to
the right of the gauge,
acceleration is too aggressive to
optimize efficiency.
. Brake: If the indicator moves to
the left side of the gauge,
braking is too aggressive to
optimize efficiency. Total Power Display (Hybrid) :
Provides a numeric display of the
total power being used to propel or
stop the vehicle. The display shows
the power being provided by the
battery or charging the battery as
well as the power provided by the
engine.
EV Operation (Hybrid) :
The bar
moves from left to right as the driver
requests more power from the
propulsion system. While in EV
mode, maintaining the bar in the
green zone will allow the driver to
maximize EV operation.
Blank Page : Shows no
information.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9087641) - 2016 - crc - 9/3/15
136 Instruments and Controls
Vehicle Messages
Messages displayed on the DIC
indicate the status of the vehicle or
some action that may be needed to
correct a condition. Multiple
messages may appear one after
another.
The messages that do not require
immediate action can be
acknowledged and cleared by
pressing
V.
The messages that require
immediate action cannot be cleared
until that action is performed.
All messages should be taken
seriously; clearing the message
does not correct the problem.
The following are the possible
messages and some information
about them.
Battery Voltage and
Charging Messages
BATTERY SAVER ACTIVE
(12-Volt Battery)
This message displays when the
vehicle has detected that the battery
voltage is dropping beyond a
reasonable point. The battery saver
system starts reducing features of
the vehicle that may be noticed. At
the point that features are disabled,
this message displays. Turn off
unnecessary accessories to allow
the battery to recharge.
LOW BATTERY (12-Volt
Battery)
This message is displayed when the
battery voltage is low. See Battery -
North America 0302
ii.
SERVICE BATTERY
CHARGING SYSTEM
This message is displayed when
there is a fault in the battery
charging system. Take the vehicle to
your dealer for service.
Brake System Messages
BRAKE FLUID LOW
This message is displayed when the
brake fluid level is low. See Brake
Fluid 0301
ii.
SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST
This message may be displayed
when there is a problem with the
brake boost assist system. When
this message is displayed, the brake
boost assist motor might be heard
operating and you might notice
pulsation in the brake pedal. This is
normal under these conditions. Take
the vehicle to your dealer for
service.
SERVICE PARKING BRAKE
This message is displayed when
there is a problem with the Electric
Parking Brake. See Electric Parking
Brake 0238
ii. Take the vehicle to
your dealer.