2018 CHEVROLET MALIBU automatic transmission

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348460) - 2018 - crc - 5/3/17
Service and Maintenance 365
Maintenance Schedule
Additional Required
Services - Severe12 000 km/7,500 mi
24 000 km/15,000 mi
36 000 km/22,500 mi
48 000 km/30,000 mi
60 000 km/37,500 mi
72 000 km/45,000 mi
84 000 km/52,500 mi
96 000 km/60,000 mi
108 000 km/67,500 mi
120 000 km/75,000 mi
132 000 km/82,500 mi
144 000 km/90,000 mi
156 000 km/97,500 mi
168 000 km/105,000 mi 180 000 km/112,500 mi
192 000 km/120,000 mi
204 000 km/127,500 mi
216 000 km/135,000 mi
228 000 km/142,500 mi
240 000 km/150,000 mi
Rotate tires and perform Required Services.
Check engine oil level and oil life percentage.
Change engine oil and filter, if needed.@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @
Replace passenger compartment air filter. (1)@ @@@@@
Inspect evaporative control system. (2)@ @@
Replace engine air cleaner filter. (3)@@@
Change automatic transmission fluid.@@@
Replace spark plugs. (1.8L Hybrid only.) Inspect
spark plug wires.@
Replace spark plugs. (Except 1.8L Hybrid.)
Inspect spark plug wires.@ @
Drain and fill engine cooling system and Power
Electronics cooling system. (4)@
Visually inspect accessory drive belts. (5)@
Replace brake fluid. (6)
Footnotes—Maintenance
Schedule Additional Required
Services - Severe
(1) Or every two years, whichever
comes first. More frequent
passenger compartment air filter
replacement may be needed if driving in areas with heavy traffic,
poor air quality, high dust levels,
or environmental allergens.
Passenger compartment air filter
replacement may also be needed if
there is reduced airflow, window
fogging, or odors. Your GM dealer
can help determine when to replace
the filter.
(2)
Visually check all fuel and vapor
lines and hoses for proper
attachment, connection, routing, and
condition.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348460) - 2018 - crc - 5/3/17
Service and Maintenance 369
Recommended Fluids, Lubricants, and Parts
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
UsageFluid/Lubricant
Automatic Transmission DEXRON-VI Automatic Transmission Fluid.
Engine Coolant (Except 1.8L Hybrid) 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and use only DEX-COOL Coolant. Engine Coolant and Power
Electronics Cooling System (1.8L
Hybrid Only) Use Only Premix DEX-COOL Coolant (GM Part No. 12378390, in
Canada 10953456).
See
Cooling System (Engine) 0283 orCooling System (Power
Electronics) 0287.
Engine Oil Engine oil meeting the dexos1 specification of the proper SAE viscosity
grade. ACDelco dexos1 full synthetic is recommended. See Engine Oil
0 278.
Hood Latch Assembly, Secondary Latch, Pivots, Spring Anchor, and
Release Pawl Lubriplate Lubricant Aerosol (GM Part No. 89021668, in
Canada 89021674) or lubricant meeting requirements of NLGI #2 Category
LB or GC-LB.
Hydraulic Brake System DOT 3 Hydraulic Brake Fluid (GM Part No. 19353126, in Canada 19299819).
Key Lock Cylinders, Hood and Door Hinges Multi-Purpose Lubricant, Superlube (GM Part No. 12346241, in
Canada 10953474).
Weatherstrip Conditioning Weatherstrip Lubricant (GM Part No. 3634770, in Canada 10953518) or Dielectric Silicone Grease (GM Part No. 12345579, in Canada 10953481).
Windshield Washer Automotive windshield washer fluid that meets regional freeze protection requirements.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348460) - 2018 - crc - 5/3/17
374 Technical Data
Engine Specifications
EngineVIN CodeTransmission Spark Plug Gap
1.5L L4 Engine TAutomatic 0.60–0.70 mm (0.024–
0.028 in)
1.8L L4 Engine UAutomatic 0.65–0.75 mm (0.026–
0.030 in)
2.0L L4 Engine XAutomatic 0.75–0.90 mm (0.030–
0.035 in)
Engine Drive Belt Routing
1.5L L4 Engine
1.8L L4 Engine2.0L L4 Engine

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348460) - 2018 - crc - 5/3/17
Index 401
Appearance CareExterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 349
Interior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 354
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Armrest Rear Seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Assistance Program, Roadside . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Assistance Systems for Parking and Backing . . . . . . . . . . 243
Audio Theft-Deterrent Feature . . . . . . . 163
Automatic
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Forward Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Headlamp System . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Automatic Transmission Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Shift Lock Control FunctionCheck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Avoiding Untrusted Media Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176B
Backglass Antenna . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
BatteryExterior Lighting BatterySaver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Load Management . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Power Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Battery - North America . . . . 291, 343
Blade Replacement, Wiper . . . . . 294
Bluetooth Overview . . . . . . . . . . . 182, 183, 187
Brake Parking, Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
System Warning Light . . . . . . . . 124
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289 Antilock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Regenerative Braking . . . . . . . . . 230
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207 Automatic Forward . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Braking System Front Pedestrian (FPB) . . . . . . . 251
Break-In, New Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . 216
Bulb Replacement Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296 Bulb Replacement (cont'd)
Headlamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Headlamps, Front Turn
Signal, Sidemarker, and
Parking Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
License Plate Lamps . . . . . . . . . 300
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps, and
Back-up Lamps . . . . . . . . 298, 299
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324
C
Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
California Fuel Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Perchlorate MaterialsRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
California Proposition
65 Warning . . . . . . . . . .269, 291, 343,
Back Cover
Canadian Vehicle Owners . . . . . . . . 2
Capacities and Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 373
Carbon Monoxide Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Trunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .211

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348460) - 2018 - crc - 5/3/17
Index 403
Drive Belt Routing, Engine . . . . . . 374
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . 242
Driver InformationCenter (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131, 134
Driving Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . 247
Characteristics andTowing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Defensive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Drunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
For Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . 29
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . 210
If the Vehicle is Stuck . . . . . . . . . 212
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .211
Dual Automatic Climate Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
E
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . 228
Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . 124
Electrical Equipment,Add-On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Electrical System Engine Compartment FuseBlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302 Electrical System (cont'd)
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 301
Instrument Panel Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Emergency OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 390
Energy Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Check Light (MalfunctionIndicator) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Compartment Overview . . . . . . . 273
Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . 283, 287
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . 374
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Oil Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Running While Parked . . . . . . . . 223
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Equipment, Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Event Data Recorders . . . . . . . . . . 387 Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Extender, Seat Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . . 154
Exterior Lamps Off Reminder . . . 156
Exterior Lighting Battery
Saver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
F
Features
Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Filter,
Engine Air Cleaner . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Flashers, Hazard Warning . . . . . . 157
Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329 Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 357
Fluid Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 282
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Folding Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Forward Automatic Braking . . . . . 249
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Frequency Statement Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 385

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348460) - 2018 - crc - 5/3/17
408 Index
Replacing Airbag System . . . . . . . . 84
Replacing LATCH SystemParts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Replacing Seat Belt System Parts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Reporting Safety Defects Canadian Government . . . . . . . . 386
General Motors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 386
U.S. Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . 385
Restraints Where to Put . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Reverse Tilt Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Roads Driving, Wet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Roadside Assistance Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379
Roof Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Rotation, Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
Routing, Engine Drive Belt . . . . . . 374
Running the Vehicle While
Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
S
Safety Defects ReportingCanadian Government . . . . . . . . 386
General Motors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 386 Safety Defects Reporting (cont'd)
U.S. Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . 385
Safety Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Safety System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Satellite Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Scheduling Appointments . . . . . . . 381
Sealant Kit, Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331
Seat Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Extender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
How to Wear Seat Belts
Properly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Reminders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Replacing after a Crash . . . . . . . . 71
Use During Pregnancy . . . . . . . . . . 70
Seats Adjustment, Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Heated and Ventilated Front . . . . 61
Lumbar Adjustment, Front . . . . . . 57
Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Power Adjustment, Front . . . . . . . 57
Rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Securing Child Restraints . . . . 97, 99
Security Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129 Security (cont'd)
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 391
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Vehicle Alarm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204 Accessories andModifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Climate Control System . . . . . . . 196
Doing Your Own Work . . . . . . . . 270
Maintenance Records . . . . . . . . 371
Maintenance, General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359
Parts Identification Label . . . . . 372
Publications Ordering Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 384
Scheduling Appointments . . . . . 381
Service Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Services Special Application . . . . . . . . . . . 366
Servicing the Airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Shift Lock Control Function Check, Automatic
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . 253

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348460) - 2018 - crc - 5/3/17
410 Index
Towing (cont'd)Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 261
Recreational Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . 347
Trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346
Traction Control System (TCS)/StabiliTrak Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Trademarks and License Agreements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Transmission Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Fluid, Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Transportation Program, Courtesy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 381
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Trunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Turn and Lane-Change Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Turn Signal Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . 298, 299U
Umbrella Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . 326
Universal Remote System . . . . . . 150Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Updates Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
USB Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Using This Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
V
Vehicle Alarm System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Canadian Owners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Identification Number (VIN) . . . 372
Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Personalization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Remote Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Speed Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346
Vehicle Ahead Indicator . . . . . . . . 126
Vehicle Care Storing the Tire Sealantand Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . 337 Vehicle Care (cont'd)
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
Vehicle Data Recording and Privacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 387
Vehicle Ready Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Ventilation, Air . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Voltage Devices and Wiring . . . . 300
W
Warning Brake System Light . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Caution and Danger . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Lane Departure (LDW) . . . . . . . 255
Warning Lights, Gauges, and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Warnings Hazard Flashers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Wheels
Alignment and Tire Balance . . 327
Different Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325
Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328
When It Is Time for New
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
Where to Put the Restraint . . . . . . 90
Wi-Fi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 392
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50