Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12461813) - 2019 - crc - 12/11/18
246 Vehicle Care
2. PressVon the DIC controls
and hold down for a few
seconds to clear the CHANGE
ENGINE OIL SOON message
and reset the oil life at 100%.
Be careful not to reset the oil
life display accidentally at any
time other than after the oil is
changed. It cannot be reset
accurately until the next oil
change.
The system is reset when the
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message is off and the REMAINING
OIL LIFE message is displayed.
If the CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message comes back on when the
vehicle is started, the engine oil life
system has not been reset. Repeat
the procedure.
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 leakoccurs, take the vehicle to your
dealer and have it repaired as soon
as possible.
Caution
Use of the incorrect automatic
transmission fluid may damage
the vehicle, and the damage may
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Always use the correct
automatic transmission fluid. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants0338.
Change the fluid at the intervals
listed inMaintenance Schedule
0329, and be sure to use the fluid
listed inRecommended Fluids and
Lubricants0338.
Engine Air Filter Life
System
When to Change Engine Air
Filter
If equipped, this feature provides an
indication of when to change the
engine air filter. It is based on
driving conditions, which can cause
when to change to vary greatly. It is
possible an air filter change may not
be indicated for up to four years.
When the "Replace at Next Oil
Change" message displays, the
engine air filter should be replaced
at the time of the next engine oil
change. When the "Replace Engine
Air Filter Now" message displays,
the engine air filter should be
replaced as soon as possible. Reset
the engine air filter life system after
the engine air filter is replaced. See
your dealer for service and to reset
the system.
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12461813) - 2019 - crc - 12/11/18
324 Vehicle Care
Fabric/Carpet/Suede
Start by vacuuming the surface
using a soft brush attachment. If a
rotating vacuum brush attachment is
being used, only use it on the floor
carpet. Before cleaning, gently
remove as much of the soil as
possible:
.
Gently blot liquids with a paper
towel. Continue blotting until no
more soil can be removed.
.
For solid soils, remove as much
as possible prior to vacuuming.
To clean:
1. Saturate a clean, lint-free
colorfast cloth with water.
Microfiber cloth is
recommended to prevent lint
transfer to the fabric or carpet.
2. Remove excess moisture by
gently wringing until water does
not drip from the cleaning cloth.
3. Start on the outside edge of the
soil and gently rub toward the
center. Fold the cleaning clothto a clean area frequently to
prevent forcing the soil in to the
fabric.
4. Continue gently rubbing the
soiled area until there is no
longer any color transfer from
the soil to the cleaning cloth.
5. If the soil is not completely
removed, use a mild soap
solution followed only by plain
water.
If the soil is not completely
removed, it may be necessary to
use a commercial upholstery
cleaner or spot lifter. Test a small
hidden area for colorfastness before
using a commercial upholstery
cleaner or spot lifter. If ring
formation occurs, clean the entire
fabric or carpet.
After cleaning, use a paper towel to
blot excess moisture.
Cleaning High Gloss Surfaces
and Vehicle Information and
Radio Displays
Use a microfiber cloth on high gloss
surfaces or vehicle displays. First,
use a soft bristle brush to remove
dirt that can scratch the surface.
Then gently clean by rubbing with a
microfiber cloth. Never use window
cleaners or solvents. Periodically
hand wash the microfiber cloth
separately, using mild soap. Do not
use bleach or fabric softener. Rinse
thoroughly and air dry before
next use.
Caution
Do not attach a device with a
suction cup to the display. This
may cause damage and would
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty.
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12461813) - 2019 - crc - 12/11/18
Service and Maintenance 327
Service and
Maintenance
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 327
Maintenance Schedule
Maintenance Schedule . . . . . . . 329
Special Application Services
Special Application
Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 334
Additional Maintenance
and Care
Additional Maintenance
and Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 335
Recommended Fluids,
Lubricants, and Parts
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 338
Maintenance Replacement
Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 339
Maintenance Records
Maintenance Records . . . . . . . . 341
General Information
Your vehicle is an important
investment. This section describes
the required maintenance for the
vehicle. Follow this schedule to help
protect against major repair
expenses resulting from neglect or
inadequate maintenance. It may
also help to maintain the value of
the vehicle if it is sold. It is the
responsibility of the owner to have
all required maintenance performed.
Your dealer has trained technicians
who can perform required
maintenance using genuine
replacement parts. They have
up-to-date tools and equipment for
fast and accurate diagnostics. Many
dealers have extended evening and
Saturday hours, courtesy
transportation, and online
scheduling to assist with service
needs.
Your dealer recognizes the
importance of providing
competitively priced maintenance
and repair services. With trained
technicians, the dealer is the placefor routine maintenance such as oil
changes and tire rotations and
additional maintenance items like
tires, brakes, batteries, and wiper
blades.
Caution
Damage caused by improper
maintenance can lead to costly
repairs and may not be covered
by the vehicle warranty.
Maintenance intervals, checks,
inspections, recommended fluids,
and lubricants are important to
keep the vehicle in good working
condition.
Do not have chemical flushes that
are not approved by GM
performed on the vehicle. The
use of flushes, solvents, cleaners,
or lubricants that are not
approved by GM could damage
the vehicle, requiring expensive
repairs that are not covered by
the vehicle warranty.
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12461813) - 2019 - crc - 12/11/18
Service and Maintenance 329
Maintenance
Schedule
Owner Checks and Services
At Each Fuel Stop
.
Check the engine oil level. See
Engine Oil0242.
Once a Month
.
Check the tire inflation
pressures. SeeTire Pressure
0284.
.
Inspect the tires for wear. See
Tire Inspection0291.
.
Check the windshield washer
fluid level. SeeWasher Fluid
0254.
Engine Oil Change
When the CHANGE ENGINE OIL
SOON message displays, have the
engine oil and filter changed within
the next 1 000 km/600 mi. If driven
under the best conditions, the
engine oil life system may not
indicate the need for vehicle service
for up to a year. The engine oil andfilter must be changed at least once
a year and the oil life system must
be reset. Your trained dealer
technician can perform this work.
If the engine oil life system is reset
accidentally, service the vehicle
within 5 000 km/3,000 mi since the
last service. Reset the oil life
system when the oil is changed.
SeeEngine Oil Life System0245.
Air Conditioning Desiccant
(Replace Every Seven Years)
The air conditioning system requires
maintenance every seven years.
This service requires replacement of
the desiccant to help the longevity
and efficient operation of the air
conditioning system. This service
can be complex. See your dealer.
Tire Rotation and Required
Services Every 12 000 km/
7,500 mi
Rotate the tires, if recommended for
the vehicle, and perform the
following services. SeeTire
Rotation0291..
Check engine oil level and oil
life percentage. If needed,
change engine oil and filter, and
reset oil life system. SeeEngine
Oil0242and
Engine Oil Life System0245.
.
Check engine coolant level. See
Cooling System (Power
Electronics)0253or
Cooling System (Engine)0248.
.
Check windshield washer fluid
level. SeeWasher Fluid0254.
.
Check tire inflation pressures.
SeeTire Pressure0284.
.
Inspect tire wear. SeeTire
Inspection0291.
.
Visually check for fluid leaks.
.
Inspect engine air cleaner filter.
SeeEngine Air Cleaner/Filter
0247.
.
Inspect brake system. See
Exterior Care0318.
.
Visually inspect steering,
suspension, and chassis
components for damage,
including cracks or tears in the
rubber boots, loose or missing
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12461813) - 2019 - crc - 12/11/18
Service and Maintenance 335
Additional
Maintenance and Care
Your vehicle is an important
investment and caring for it properly
may help to avoid future costly
repairs. To maintain vehicle
performance, additional
maintenance services may be
required.
It is recommended that your dealer
perform these services—their
trained dealer technicians know
your vehicle best. Your dealer can
also perform a thorough
assessment with a multi-point
inspection to recommend when your
vehicle may need attention.
The following list is intended to
explain the services and conditions
to look for that may indicate
services are required.
Battery
The 12-volt battery supplies power
to start the engine and operate any
additional electrical accessories..
To avoid break-down or failure to
start the vehicle, maintain a
battery with full cranking power.
.
Trained dealer technicians have
the diagnostic equipment to test
the battery and ensure that the
connections and cables are
corrosion-free.
Belts
.
Belts may need replacing if they
squeak or show signs of
cracking or splitting.
.
Trained dealer technicians have
access to tools and equipment
to inspect the belts and
recommend adjustment or
replacement when necessary.
Brakes
Brakes stop the vehicle and are
crucial to safe driving.
.
Signs of brake wear may include
chirping, grinding, or squealing
noises, or difficulty stopping..
Trained dealer technicians have
access to tools and equipment
to inspect the brakes and
recommend quality parts
engineered for the vehicle.
Fluids
Proper fluid levels and approved
fluids protect the vehicle’s systems
and components. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants0338for GM approved
fluids.
.
Engine oil and windshield
washer fluid levels should be
checked at every fuel fill.
.
Instrument cluster lights may
come on to indicate that fluids
may be low and need to be
filled.
Hoses
Hoses transport fluids and should
be regularly inspected to ensure
that there are no cracks or leaks.
With a multi-point inspection, your
dealer can inspect the hoses and
advise if replacement is needed.
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12461813) - 2019 - crc - 12/11/18
338 Service and Maintenance
Recommended Fluids, Lubricants, and Parts
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
Usage Fluid/Lubricant
Automatic Transmission (1.8L and
2.0L Engines)DEXRON-VI Automatic Transmission Fluid.
Automatic Transmission (1.5L Engine) Continuously Variable Ratio Transmission (CVT) Fluid. (GM Part No.
19355873, in Canada 19355874).
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). SeeCooling System (Power Electronics)0253or
Cooling System (Engine)0248.
Engine Oil Engine oil meeting the dexos1 specification of the proper SAE viscosity
grade. ACDelco dexos1 full synthetic is recommended. SeeEngine Oil
0242.
Hood Latch Assembly, Secondary
Latch, Pivots, Spring Anchor, and
Release PawlLubriplate 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 19353127).
Key Lock Cylinders, Hood and Door
HingesMulti-Purpose Lubricant, Superlube (GM Part No. 12346241, in
Canada 10953474).
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12461813) - 2019 - crc - 12/11/18
378 Index
Lights (cont'd)
Lane Keep Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Low Fuel Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Seat Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . . . 122
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Service Electric Parking
Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
StabiliTrak OFF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Traction Control System
(TCS)/StabiliTrak . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Traction Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Vehicle Ready . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Locks
Automatic Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Lockout Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Power Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . . . 131
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Lower Anchors and Tethers
for Children (LATCH
System) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Lumbar Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57M
Maintenance
Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341
Maintenance and Care
Additional . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 335
Maintenance Schedule . . . . . . . . . 329
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 338
Malfunction Indicator Lamp . . . . . 124
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Memory Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Memory Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Messages
Engine Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Vehicle Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Mirrors
Automatic Dimming
Rearview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Convex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Folding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Heated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Manual Rearview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Tilt in Reverse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Mirrors, Interior Rearview . . . . . . . . 49
Monitor System, Tire
Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
N
Navigation
Connected Services . . . . . . . . . . 368
Net, Convenience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . 176
O
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Trip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
Off-Road
Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Oil
Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 245
Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Older Children, Restraints . . . . . . . 86
Online Owner Center . . . . . . . . . . . 349
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359
OnStar Additional
Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 362
OnStar Emergency . . . . . . . . . . . . . 361
OnStar Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360
OnStar Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 362
Outlets
Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110
Overheating, Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . 253