Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348460) - 2018 - crc - 5/3/17
218 Driving and Operating
Starting the Engine
Move the shift lever to P (Park) or
N (Neutral). The engine will not start
in any other position. To restart the
engine when the vehicle is already
moving, use N (Neutral) only.
For hybrid vehicles, the engine will
only start if required for cabin
warming or high voltage battery
charging. The vehicle ready light will
be illuminated when the vehicle is
ready to be driven.
Caution
Do not try to shift to P (Park) if the
vehicle is moving. If you do, you
could damage the transmission.
Shift to P (Park) only when the
vehicle is stopped.
Caution
If you add electrical parts or
accessories, you could change
the way the engine operates. Any(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
resulting damage would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
SeeAdd-On Electrical Equipment
0 267.
Starting Procedure 1. With the Keyless Access system, the RKE transmitter
must be in the vehicle. Press
ENGINE START/STOP with the
brake pedal applied. When the
engine begins cranking, let go
of the button.
The idle speed will go down as
the engine gets warm. Do not
race the engine immediately
after starting it.
If the RKE transmitter is not in
the vehicle, if there is
interference, or the RKE
transmitter battery is low, the
Driver Information Center (DIC)
will display a message. See
Driver Information Center
(DIC) (Uplevel) 0134 orDriver
Information Center (DIC) (Base
Level) 0131 andRemote
Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation 032.
Caution
Cranking the engine for long
periods of time, by returning the
ignition to the START position
immediately after cranking has
ended, can overheat and damage
the cranking motor, and drain the
battery. Wait at least 15 seconds
between each try, to let the
cranking motor cool down.
2. If the engine does not start after five to 10 seconds,
especially in very cold weather
(below −18 °C or 0 °F), it could
be flooded with too much
gasoline. Try pushing the
accelerator pedal all the way to
the floor and holding it there as
you hold ENGINE START/
STOP, for up to a maximum of
15 seconds. Wait at least
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348460) - 2018 - crc - 5/3/17
222 Driving and Operating
If you are towing a trailer and
parking on a hill, seeDriving
Characteristics and Towing Tips
0 262.
Shifting out of Park
This vehicle is equipped with an
electronic shift lock release system.
The shift lock release is designed to
prevent movement of the shift lever
out of P (Park), unless the ignition is
on and the brake pedal is applied.
The shift lock release is always
functional except in the case of an
uncharged or low voltage (less than
9-volt) battery.
If the vehicle has an uncharged
battery or a battery with low voltage,
try charging or jump starting the
battery. See Jump Starting - North
America 0343.
To shift out of P (Park): 1. Apply the brake pedal.
2. Turn the ignition on.
3. Press the shift lever button.
4. Move the shift lever to the desired position. If still unable to shift out of P (Park):
1. Fully release the shift lever button.
2. Hold the brake pedal down and press the shift lever button
again.
3. Move the shift lever to the desired position.
If you are still having a problem
shifting, see your dealer.
Parking over Things
That Burn
{Warning
Things that can burn could touch
hot exhaust parts under the
vehicle and ignite. Do not park
over papers, leaves, dry grass,
or other things that can burn.
Extended Parking
It is better not to park with the
vehicle running. If the vehicle is left
while running, follow the proper
steps to be sure the vehicle will not move and there is adequate
ventilation.
See
Shifting Into Park 0221 and
Engine Exhaust 0223.
If the vehicle is left parked while
running and the Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) transmitter is outside
the vehicle, the vehicle will turn off
after one hour. If the vehicle is left
parked while running and the RKE
transmitter is inside, the vehicle will
turn off after two hours.
The timer will reset if the vehicle is
taken out of P (Park) while it is
running.
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348460) - 2018 - crc - 5/3/17
270 Vehicle Care
California Perchlorate
Materials Requirements
Certain types of automotive
applications, such as airbag
initiators, seat belt pretensioners,
and lithium batteries contained in
Remote Keyless Entry transmitters,
may contain perchlorate materials.
Special handling may be necessary.
For additional information, see
www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/
perchlorate.
Accessories and
Modifications
Adding non-dealer accessories or
making modifications to the vehicle
can affect vehicle performance and
safety, including such things as
airbags, braking, stability, ride and
handling, emissions systems,
aerodynamics, durability, and
electronic systems like antilock
brakes, traction control, and stability
control. These accessories or
modifications could even cause
malfunction or damage not covered
by the vehicle warranty.Damage to suspension components
caused by modifying vehicle height
outside of factory settings will not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Damage to vehicle components
resulting from modifications or the
installation or use of non-GM
certified parts, including control
module or software modifications, is
not covered under the terms of the
vehicle warranty and may affect
remaining warranty coverage for
affected parts.
GM Accessories are designed to
complement and function with other
systems on the vehicle. See your
dealer to accessorize the vehicle
using genuine GM Accessories
installed by a dealer technician.
Also, see
Adding Equipment to the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle 083.
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own
Service Work
{Warning
It can be dangerous to work on
your vehicle if you do not have
the proper knowledge, service
manual, tools, or parts. Always
follow owner ’s manual procedures
and consult the service manual
for your vehicle before doing any
service work.
If doing some of your own service
work, use the proper service
manual. It tells you much more
about how to service the vehicle
than this manual can. To order the
proper service manual, see Service
Publications Ordering Information
0 384.
This vehicle has an airbag system.
Before attempting to do your own
service work, see Servicing the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle 082.
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348460) - 2018 - crc - 5/3/17
Index 405
How to Wear Seat BeltsProperly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
HVAC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196, 199
I
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Indicator Pedestrian Ahead . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Vehicle Ahead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Infants and Young Children, Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Information Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Infotainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . . . . 388
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . 112, 114
Instrument Panel Overview . . . . . . . 6
Interior Rearview Mirrors . . . . . . . . . 50
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
J
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 343
K
Keyless EntryRemote (RKE) System . . . . . . . . . 32
Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
L
Labeling, Tire Sidewall . . . . . . . . . . 311
Lamps Courtesy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Daytime Running (DRL) . . . . . . 156
Dome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Exterior Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Exterior Lamps OffReminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Exterior Lighting Battery
Saver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
License Plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Malfunction Indicator (Check Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
On Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . . . 253
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . . . 255
Lane Keep Assist Light . . . . . . . . . 125
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
LATCH System Replacing Parts after a
Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
LATCH, Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296 Lighting
Entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Exit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Illumination Control . . . . . . . . . . . 158
LED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Lights Airbag Readiness . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Antilock Brake System
(ABS) Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Brake System Warning . . . . . . . 124
Charging System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Check Engine (Malfunction Indicator) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Door Ajar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . 124
Engine Oil Pressure . . . . . . . . . . 128
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
High-Beam On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . 156
Lane Keep Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Low Fuel Warning . . . . . . . 128, 129
Seat Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . . . 120
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Service Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
StabiliTrak OFF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348460) - 2018 - crc - 5/3/17
Index 407
OrderingService Publications . . . . . . . . . . 384
Outlets Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Overheating, Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
P
Park Shifting Into . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Shifting Out of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Parking
Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Brake and P (Park)Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 294
Extended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Over Things That Burn . . . . . . . 222
Parking Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Parking or Backing Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . 243
Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Passenger Compartment Air Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Passenger Sensing System . . . . . 78
Pedestrian Ahead Indicator . . . . . 126
Perchlorate Materials Requirements, California . . . . . . 270 Personalization
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Phone Apple CarPlay andAndroid Auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Bluetooth . . . . . . . . . . . 182, 183, 187
Hands-Free . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Port USB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Power Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Flows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Indicator Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Protection, Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Retained Accessory (RAP) . . . 221
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts . . . . 70
Privacy Vehicle Data Recording . . . . . . . 387
Program Courtesy Transportation . . . . . . 381
Proposition
65 Warning,
California . . . . . . . . . . . .269, 291, 343, Back Cover
R
Radio Frequency Statement . . . . 385
Radio Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
RadiosAM-FM Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Satellite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Reading Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Ready Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Rear Seat Armrest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . . 243
Rearview Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Automatic Dimming . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 369
Records Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 371
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . 347
Regenerative Braking . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Reimbursement Program,
GM Mobility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Replacement Parts Airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 370