2018 CHEVROLET MALIBU check transmission fluid

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348460) - 2018 - crc - 5/3/17
210 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 Tires0308.
. 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-
11348460) - 2018 - crc - 5/3/17
268 Vehicle Care
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 269
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 270
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 281
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 282
Cooling System (Engine) . . . . . 283
Cooling System (Power Electronics) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 288
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Battery - North America . . . . . . 291 Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 293
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 294
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 294
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker, and Parking
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps, and Back-Up
Lamps (LS and LT) . . . . . . . . . . 298
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps, and Back-Up
Lamps (LTZ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . 300
Electrical System
High Voltage Devices and Wiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Electrical System Overload . . . 301
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 301 Engine Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 311
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
Tire Pressure for High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348460) - 2018 - crc - 5/3/17
282 Vehicle Care
Automatic Transmission
Fluid
It is not necessary to check the
transmission fluid level.
A transmission fluid leak is the only
reason for fluid loss. If a leak
occurs, take the vehicle to your
dealer and have it repaired as soon
as possible.
Change the fluid at the intervals
listed inMaintenance Schedule
0 360, and be sure to use the fluid
listed in Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0369.
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
The engine air cleaner/filter is in the
engine compartment on the
passenger side of the vehicle. See
Engine Compartment Overview
0273.
When to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
For intervals on changing and
inspecting the engine air cleaner/
filter, see Maintenance Schedule
0 360.
How to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
Do not start the engine or have the
engine running with the engine air
cleaner/filter housing open. Before
removing the engine air cleaner/
filter, make sure that the engine air
cleaner/filter housing and nearby
components are free of dirt and
debris. Remove the engine air
cleaner/filter. Lightly tap and shake
the engine air cleaner/filter (away
from the vehicle), to release loose
dust and dirt. Inspect the engine air
cleaner/filter for damage, and
replace if damaged. Do not clean
the engine air cleaner/filter or
components with water or
compressed air.
To inspect or replace the engine air
cleaner/filter:
1.5L L4 Turbo Engine
1.8L L4 Hybrid Engine

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348460) - 2018 - crc - 5/3/17
Service and Maintenance 363
Maintenance Schedule
Additional Required
Services - Normal12 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. (1.8L
Hybrid only.)@
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)

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
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