2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU Owners Manual

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-10122664) - 2017 - crc - 5/23/16
296 Vehicle Care
Caution (Continued)
for the cooling system. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants0377.
Never dispose of engine coolant byputting it in the trash, or by pouringit on the ground, or into sewers,streams or bodies of water. Havethe coolant changed by anauthorized service center, familiarwith legal requirements regardingused coolant disposal. This will helpprotect the environment and yourhealth.
Checking Coolant
The vehicle must be on a levelsurface when checking the coolantlevel.
Check to see if coolant is visible inthe coolant surge tank. If the coolantinside the coolant surge tank isboiling, do not do anything else untilit cools down.
If coolant is visible but the coolantlevel is not at or above the markpointed to, add a 50/50 mixture ofclean, drinkable water andDEX-COOL coolant.
Be sure the cooling system is coolbefore this is done.
If no coolant is visible in the coolantsurge tank, add coolant as follows:
How to Add Coolant to the
Coolant Surge Tank
{Warning
Yo u c a n b e b u r n e d i f y o u s p i l l
coolant on hot engine parts.
Coolant contains ethylene glycol
and it will burn if the engine parts
are hot enough. Do not spill
coolant on a hot engine.
Caution
This vehicle has a specific
coolant fill procedure. Failure to
follow this procedure could cause
the engine to overheat and be
severely damaged.
{Warning
Steam and scalding liquids from a
hot cooling system can blow out
and burn you badly. Never turn
the cap when the cooling system,
including the surge tank pressure
cap, is hot. Wait for the cooling
system and surge tank pressure
cap to cool.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-10122664) - 2017 - crc - 5/23/16
Vehicle Care 297
The coolant surge tank pressurecap can be removed when thecooling system, including the surgetank pressure cap and upperradiator hose, is no longer hot.
1. Turn the pressure cap slowlycounterclockwise. If a hiss isheard, wait for that to stop.Ahissmeansthereisstillsome pressure left.
2. Keep turning the cap andremove it.
1.5L L4 Turbo and 2.0L L4 Turbo
Coolant Surge Tank
1.8L L4 Hybrid Coolant
Surge Tank
3. Fill the coolant surge tank withthe proper mixture to the markpointed to on the coolantsurge tank.
4. With the coolant surge tankcap off, start the engine and letit run until the upper radiatorhose starts getting hot. Watchout for the engine cooling fan.By this time, the coolant levelinside the coolant surge tankmay be lower. If the level islower, add more of the propermixture to the coolant surge
tank until the level reaches themark pointed to on the coolantsurge tank.
5. Replace the cap tightly.
Caution
If the pressure cap is not tightly
installed, coolant loss and
possible engine damage may
occur. Be sure the cap is properly
and tightly secured.
Engine Overheating
The vehicle has an engine coolanttemperature gauge on theinstrument cluster to warn of engineoverheating. SeeEngine CoolantTe m p e r a t u r e G a u g e011 9.
If the decision is made not to lift thehood when this warning appears,get service help right away. Contactyour dealer for additionalinformation.
If the decision is made to lift thehood, make sure the vehicle isparked on a level surface.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-10122664) - 2017 - crc - 5/23/16
298 Vehicle Care
Then check to see if the enginecooling fans are running. If theengine is overheating, both fansshould be running. If they are not,do not continue to run the engineand have the vehicle serviced.
Caution
Running the engine without
coolant may cause damage or a
fire. Vehicle damage would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
If Steam Is Coming from the
Engine Compartment
{Warning
Steam from an overheated engine
can burn you badly, even if you
just open the hood. Stay away
from the engine if you see or hear
steam coming from it. Just turn it
off and get everyone away from
the vehicle until it cools down.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
Wait until there is no sign of
steam or coolant before you open
the hood.
If you keep driving when the
engine is overheated, the liquids
in it can catch fire. You or others
could be badly burned. Stop the
engine if it overheats, and get out
of the vehicle until the engine
is cool.
If No Steam Is Coming from
the Engine Compartment
If an engine overheat warning isdisplayed but no steam can be seenor heard, the problem may not betoo serious. Sometimes the enginecan get a little too hot when thevehicle:
.Climbs a long hill on a hot day.
.Stops after high-speed driving.
.Idles for long periods in traffic.
If the overheat warning is displayedwith no sign of steam:
1. Turn the air conditioning off.
2. Turn the heater on to thehighest temperature and to thehighest fan speed. Open thewindows as necessary.
3. When it is safe to do so, pull offthe road, shift to P (Park) orN(Neutral), and let theengine idle.
If the engine coolant temperaturegauge is no longer in the overheatzone, the vehicle can be driven.Continue to drive the vehicle slowlyfor about 10 minutes. Keep a safedistance from the vehicle in front.If the warning does not come backon, continue to drive normally andhave the cooling system checkedfor proper fill and function.
If the warning continues, pull over,stop, and park the vehicleright away.
If there is no sign of steam, idle theengine for three minutes whileparked. If the warning is stilldisplayed, turn off the engine until itcools down.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-10122664) - 2017 - crc - 5/23/16
Vehicle Care 299
Washer Fluid
What to Use
When windshield washer fluid isneeded, be sure to read themanufacturer's instructions beforeuse. If operating the vehicle in anarea where the temperature may fallbelow freezing, use a fluid that hassufficient protection againstfreezing.
Adding Washer Fluid
Open the cap with the washersymbol on it. Add washer fluid untilthe tank is full. SeeEngineCompartment Overview0283forreservoir location.
Caution
.Do not use washer fluid thatcontains any type of waterrepellent coating. This cancause the wiper blades tochatter or skip.
.Do not use engine coolant(antifreeze) in thewindshield washer. It candamage the windshieldwasher system and paint.
.Do not mix water withready-to-use washer fluid.Water can cause thesolution to freeze anddamage the washer fluidtank and other parts of thewasher system.
.When using concentratedwasher fluid, follow themanufacturer instructions foradding water.
.Fill the washer fluid tankonly three-quarters full whenit is very cold. This allowsfor fluid expansion if
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
freezing occurs, which coulddamage the tank if it iscompletely full.
Brakes
Disc brake pads have built-in wearindicators that make a high-pitchedwarning sound when the brake padsare worn and new pads are needed.The sound can come and go or canbe heard all the time when thevehicle is moving, except whenapplying the brake pedal firmly.
{Warning
The brake wear warning sound
means that soon the brakes will
not work well. That could lead to
acrash.Whenthebrakewear
warning sound is heard, have the
vehicle serviced.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-10122664) - 2017 - crc - 5/23/16
300 Vehicle Care
Caution
Continuing to drive with worn-out
brake pads could result in costly
brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climatescan cause a brake squeal when thebrakes are first applied or lightlyapplied. This does not meansomething is wrong with the brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts arenecessary to help prevent brakepulsation. When tires are rotated,inspect brake pads for wear andevenly tighten wheel nuts in theproper sequence to torquespecifications. SeeCapacities andSpecifications0381.
Brake pads should be replaced ascomplete sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedaldoes not return to normal height,or if there is a rapid increase inpedal travel. This could be a signthat brake service may be required.
Replacing Brake System Parts
Always replace brake system partswith new, approved replacementparts. If this is not done, the brakesmay not work properly. The brakingperformance expected can changein many other ways if the wrongreplacement brake parts areinstalled or if parts are improperlyinstalled.
Brake Fluid
The brake master cylinder reservoiris filled with GM approved DOT 3brake fluid as indicated on thereservoir cap. SeeEngineCompartment Overview0283forthe location of the reservoir.
Checking Brake Fluid
With the vehicle in P (Park) on alevel surface, the brake fluid levelshould be between the minimumand maximum marks on the brakefluid reservoir.
There are only two reasons why thebrake fluid level in the reservoir maygo down:
.Normal brake lining wear. Whennew linings are installed, thefluid level goes back up.
.Afluidleakinthebrakehydraulic system. Have thebrake hydraulic system fixed.With a leak, the brakes will notwork well.
Always clean the brake fluidreservoir cap and the area aroundthe cap before removing it.
Do not top off the brake fluid.Adding fluid does not correct a leak.If fluid is added when the linings areworn, there will be too much fluidwhen new brake linings areinstalled. Add or remove fluid, asnecessary, only when work is doneon the brake hydraulic system.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-10122664) - 2017 - crc - 5/23/16
Vehicle Care 301
{Warning
If too much brake fluid is added, it
can spill on the engine and burn,
if the engine is hot enough. You
or others could be burned, and
the vehicle could be damaged.
Add brake fluid only when work is
done on the brake hydraulic
system.
When the brake fluid falls to a lowlevel, the brake warning light comeson. SeeBrake System WarningLight0124.
Brake fluid absorbs water over timewhich degrades the effectiveness ofthe brake fluid. Replace brake fluidat the specified intervals to preventincreased stopping distance. SeeMaintenance Schedule0369.
What to Add
Use only GM approved DOT 3brake fluid from a clean, sealedcontainer. SeeRecommendedFluids and Lubricants0377.
{Warning
The wrong or contaminated brake
fluid could result in damage to the
brake system. This could result in
the loss of braking leading to a
possible injury. Always use the
proper GM approved brake fluid.
Caution
If brake fluid is spilled on the
vehicle's painted surfaces, the
paint finish can be damaged.
Immediately wash off any painted
surface.
Battery - North America
The original equipment battery ismaintenance free. Do not removethe cap and do not add fluid.
The non-hybrid vehicle has astandard 12-volt battery under thehood. SeeEngine CompartmentOverview0283.
Refer to the replacement numbershown on the original battery labelwhen a new 12-volt battery isneeded.
Hybrid Vehicle
The hybrid vehicle 12-volt battery isin the trunk on the driver side.Hybrid vehicles also have a highvoltage battery. Only a trainedservice technician with the properknowledge and tools should inspect,test, or replace the high voltagebattery. See your dealer if the highvoltage battery needs service. Thedealer has information on how torecycle the high voltage battery.
The hybrid high voltage battery iscooled with air drawn from thevehicle interior. The cold air intakefor the battery is under the rearseat. Do not block the area in frontof the cold air intake.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-10122664) - 2017 - crc - 5/23/16
302 Vehicle Care
{Warning
Damage to the high voltage
battery or high voltage system
can create a risk of electric shock,
overheating, or fire.
If the vehicle is damaged from a
moderate to severe crash, flood,
fire, or other event, the vehicle
should be inspected as soon as
possible. Until the vehicle has
been inspected, store it outside at
least 15 m (50 ft) from any
structure or anything that can
burn. Ventilate the vehicle by
opening a window or a door.
Contact Customer Assistance as
soon as possible to determine
whether an inspection is needed.
SeeCustomer Assistance
Offices0385.
Stop/Start System
If equipped with the 1.5L L4 engine,the vehicle has a stop/start systemto shut off the engine to helpconserve fuel. SeeStarting theEngine0227.
Vehicles with a 1.5L engine have anAbsorbed Glass Mat (AGM) 12-voltbattery. Installation of a standard12-volt battery will result in reduced12-volt battery life.
When using a 12-volt batterycharger on the 12-volt AGM battery,some chargers have an AGMbattery setting on the charger.If available, use the AGM setting onthe charger, to limit charge voltageto 14.8 volts.
{Warning
WA R N I N G :Battery posts,
terminals, and related
accessories contain lead and lead
compounds, chemicals known to
the State of California to cause
cancer and birth defects or other
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
reproductive harm. Batteries also
contain other chemicals known to
the State of California to cause
cancer.WASH HANDS AFTER
HANDLING.
SeeCalifornia Proposition
65 Warning0279.
Vehicle Storage
{Warning
Batteries have acid that can burn
you and gas that can explode.
Yo u c a n b e b a d l y h u r t i f y o u a r e
not careful. SeeJump Starting -
North America0352for tips on
working around a battery without
getting hurt.
Infrequent Usage: Remove the12-volt battery black, negative (✓)cable from the battery to keep thebattery from running down.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-10122664) - 2017 - crc - 5/23/16
Vehicle Care 303
Extended Storage: Remove the12-volt battery black, negative (✓)cable from the battery or use abattery trickle charger.
Remember to reconnect the batterywhen ready to drive the vehicle.
Starter Switch Check
{Warning
When you are doing this
inspection, the vehicle could
move suddenly. If the vehicle
moves, you or others could be
injured.
1. Before starting this check, besure there is enough roomaround the vehicle.
2. Apply both the parking brakeand the regular brake.
Do not use the acceleratorpedal, and be ready to turn offthe engine immediately if itstarts.
3. Try to start the engine in eachgear. The vehicle should startonly in P (Park) or N (Neutral).If the vehicle starts in any otherposition, contact your dealer forservice.
Automatic Transmission
Shift Lock Control
Function Check
{Warning
When you are doing this
inspection, the vehicle could
move suddenly. If the vehicle
moves, you or others could be
injured.
1. Before starting this check, besure there is enough roomaround the vehicle. It should beparked on a level surface.
2. Apply the parking brake. Beready to apply the regularbrake immediately if the vehiclebegins to move.
3. With the engine off, turn theignition on, but do not start theengine. Without applying theregular brake, try to move theshift lever out of P (Park) withnormal effort. If the shift levermoves out of P (Park), contactyour dealer for service.
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check
{Warning
When you are doing this check,
the vehicle could begin to move.
Yo u o r o t h e r s c o u l d b e i n j u r e d
and property could be damaged.
Make sure there is room in front
of the vehicle in case it begins to
roll. Be ready to apply the regular
brake at once should the vehicle
begin to move.