Page 234 of 358

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13555849) - 2020 - CRC - 8/21/19
Vehicle Care 233
SeeCalifornia Proposition
65 Warning 0213 and the back
cover.
Vehicle Storage
{Warning
Batteries have acid that can burn
you and gas that can explode.
You can be badly hurt if you are
not careful. See Jump Starting -
North America 0286 for tips on
working around a battery without
getting hurt.
Infrequent Usage: Remove the
12-volt battery black, negative (−)
cable from the battery to keep the
battery from running down.
Extended Storage: Remove the
12-volt battery black, negative (−)
cable from the battery or use a
battery trickle charger.
Remember to reconnect the battery
when ready to drive the vehicle.
Negative Battery Cable
Disconnection
{Warning
Before disconnecting the negative
battery cable, turn off all features,
turn the ignition off, and remove
the key, if equipped, from the
vehicle. If this is not done, you or
others could be injured, and the
vehicle could be damaged.
Caution
If the battery is disconnected with
the ignition on or the vehicle in
Retained Accessory Power
(RAP), the OnStar back-up
battery will be permanently
discharged and will need to be
replaced.
1. Make sure the lamps, features, and accessories are turned off.
2. Turn the ignition off and remove the key, if equipped. For vehicles equipped with the 2.0L
engine:
1. Loosen the negative battery
cable nut (1).
2. Remove the negative battery cable clamp (2) from the
negative battery post.
3. Cover the negative battery cable clamp, and negative
battery post with a
non-conductive material to
prevent any contact with the
negative battery cable.
Page 235 of 358

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13555849) - 2020 - CRC - 8/21/19
234 Vehicle Care
Negative Battery Cable
ReconnectionCaution
When reconnecting the battery:. Use the original nut from the
vehicle to secure the
negative battery cable. Do
not use a different nut.
If you need a replacement
nut, see your dealer.
. Tighten the nut with a hand
tool. Do not use an impact
wrench or power tools to
tighten the nut.
The vehicle could be damaged if
these guidelines are not followed.
Caution
Do not use paints, lubricants,
or corrosion inhibitors on the nut
that secures the negative battery
cable to the vehicle. This could
damage the vehicle. For vehicles equipped with the 2.0L
engine:
1. Install the negative battery cable clamp to the negative
battery post.
2. Tighten the negative battery cable nut.
3. Turn the ignition on.
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, be sure there is enough room
around the vehicle.
2. Apply both the parking brake and the regular brake. Do not use the accelerator
pedal, and be ready to turn off
the engine immediately if it
starts.
3. Try to start the engine in each gear. The vehicle should start
only in P (Park) or N (Neutral).
If the vehicle starts in any other
position, contact your dealer for
service.
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, be sure there is enough room
around the vehicle. It should be
parked on a level surface.
Page 236 of 358

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13555849) - 2020 - CRC - 8/21/19
Vehicle Care 235
2. Apply the parking brake. Beready to apply the regular
brake immediately if the vehicle
begins to move.
3. With the engine off, turn the ignition on, but do not start the
engine. Without applying the
regular brake, try to move the
shift lever out of P (Park) with
normal effort. If the shift lever
moves out of P (Park), contact
your dealer for service.
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check
{Warning
When you are doing this check,
the vehicle could begin to move.
You or others could be injured
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. Park on a fairly steep hill, with the
vehicle facing downhill. Keeping
your foot on the regular brake, set
the parking brake.
.
To check the parking brake's
holding ability: With the engine
running and the transmission in
N (Neutral), slowly remove foot
pressure from the regular brake
pedal. Do this until the vehicle is
held by the parking brake only.
. To check the P (Park)
mechanism's holding ability:
With the engine running, shift to
P (Park). Then release the
parking brake followed by the
regular brake.
Contact your dealer if service is
required.
Wiper Blade Replacement
Windshield wiper blades should be
inspected for wear or cracking.
It is a good idea to clean the wiper
blade assembly on a regular basis.
When worn, or when cleaning is
ineffective, replace the wiper blade. For proper windshield wiper blade
length and type, see
Maintenance
Replacement Parts 0314.
Caution
Allowing the wiper arm to touch
the windshield when no wiper
blade is installed could damage
the windshield. Any damage that
occurs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Do not allow
the wiper arm to touch the
windshield.
To replace the wiper blade: 1. Pull the wiper assembly away from the windshield.
Page 243 of 358

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13555849) - 2020 - CRC - 8/21/19
242 Vehicle Care
Electrical System
Overload
The vehicle has fuses and circuit
breakers to protect against an
electrical system overload.
When the current electrical load is
too heavy, the circuit breaker opens
and closes, protecting the circuit
until the current load returns to
normal or the problem is fixed. This
greatly reduces the chance of circuit
overload and fire caused by
electrical problems.
Fuses and circuit breakers protect
power devices in the vehicle.
Replace a bad fuse with a new one
of the identical size and rating.
If there is a problem on the road and
a fuse needs to be replaced, the
same amperage fuse can be
borrowed. Choose some feature of
the vehicle that is not needed and
replace it as soon as possible.
Headlamp Wiring
An electrical overload may cause
the lamps to go on and off, or in
some cases to remain off. Have the
headlamp wiring checked
right away.
Windshield Wipers
If the wiper motor overheats due to
heavy snow or ice, the windshield
wipers will stop until the motor cools
and will then restart.
Although the circuit is protected
from electrical overload, overload
due to heavy snow or ice may
cause wiper linkage damage.
Always clear ice and heavy snow
from the windshield before using the
windshield wipers.
If the overload is caused by an
electrical problem and not snow or
ice, be sure to get it fixed.
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers
The wiring circuits in the vehicle are
protected from short circuits by a
combination of fuses and circuitbreakers. This greatly reduces the
chance of damage caused by
electrical problems.
{Danger
Fuses and circuit breakers are
marked with their ampere rating.
Do not exceed the
specified amperage rating when
replacing fuses and circuit
breakers. Use of an oversized
fuse or circuit breaker can result
in a vehicle fire. You and others
could be seriously injured or
killed.
To check a fuse, look at the
silver-colored band inside the fuse.
If the band is broken or melted,
replace the fuse. Be sure to replace
a bad fuse with a new one of the
identical size and rating.
Fuses of the same amperage can
be temporarily borrowed from
another fuse location, if a fuse goes
out. Replace the fuse as soon as
possible.
Page 246 of 358

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13555849) - 2020 - CRC - 8/21/19
Vehicle Care 245
The vehicle may not be equipped
with all of the fuses, relays, and
features shown.Fuses Usage
1 –
2 –
3 Antilock brake system pump/Electric brake
boost
5 –
6 Rear closure
7 –
8 Memory seat module
9 Electric brake boost/ Pedestrian friendly
alert function –HEV
10 Automatic occupant sensing/Airbag –HEV
11 DC DC converter 1
12 Rear window defogger
13 Heated mirrors
14 – Fuses Usage
15 Passive entry/Passive start
16 Front wiper
17 Passenger power seat
18 Antilock brake system valve
19 Driver power seat
21 Sunroof
22 Parking lamp
23 Automatic headlamp leveling/Adaptive
forward lighting
24 –
26 Transmission control module/Ignition
27 Instrument panel/ Body/Ignition
28 –
29 Rear vision camera/ Ventilated seats
30 Malfunction indicator lamp/Ignition Fuses Usage
32 Canister vent solenoid/Evap leak
check module
33 Front heated seat
34 Battery system manager/Accessory
power module
fan–HEV
35 Body control module 6/Body control
module 7
36 Fuel module
38 –
39 –
40 Steering column lock
41 –
43 Heated steering wheel
44 Headlamp leveling
45 –
46 Engine control module/Ignition
47 –
Page 247 of 358
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13555849) - 2020 - CRC - 8/21/19
246 Vehicle Care
FusesUsage
48 Electric brake boost–HEV
49 DC DC converter 2
50 –
51 –
52 –
53 –
54 –
55 –
56 Starter motor
57 –
58 –
59 High-beam headlamps Left/Right
60 Cooling fan
61 –
62 –
63 –
65 Air conditioning
67 – Fuses
Usage
68 –
69 –
70 –
72 Starter pinion
74 –
75 Engine control module main
76 Engine control module sense
78 Horn
79 Washer pump
81 Transmission control module/Engine control
module
82 –
83 Ignition coil
84 Powertrain on engine
85 Shunt
86 Shunt
87 –
88 Aeroshutter Fuses
Usage
89 –
91 –
92 Traction power inverter module/Motor
generator unit
pump–HEV/
Transmission oil
pump –non HEV
93 Automatic headlamp leveling
95 –
96 –
97 –
99 Coolant pump
Relays Usage
4 –
20 Rear window defogger
25 Front wiper control
31 Run/Crank
37 Front wiper speed
Page 248 of 358
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13555849) - 2020 - CRC - 8/21/19
Vehicle Care 247
RelaysUsage
42 –
64 Starter motor
66 Powertrain
71 –
73 Air conditioning
80 Starter pinion
90 –
94 –
98 –Instrument Panel Fuse
Block
The instrument panel fuse block is
on the driver side of the instrument
panel. To access the fuses:
1. Pull out at the center of the right edge, and swing the cover
out and to the left.
2. Remove the cover.
To reinstall the cover, line up the
tabs on the left edge, and press the
cover into place.
Page 249 of 358
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13555849) - 2020 - CRC - 8/21/19
248 Vehicle Care
The vehicle may not be equipped
with all of the fuses, relays, and
features shown.Fuses Usage
F1 Left power windows
F2 Right power windows
F3 – Fuses Usage
F4 Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
blower
F5 Body control module 2 (without Stop/Start
option)
F6 Left rear heated seat
F7 Right rear heated seat Fuses Usage
F8 Body control module 3
F9 Engine control module/Rear
battery-HEV
F10 Body control module 2 (with Stop/Start
option)
F11 –
F12 –
F13 –
F14 –
F15 Transmission control module (with Stop/
Start option)
F16 Amplifier
F17 Seat power lumbar
F18 –
F19 –
F20 Body control module 1 (without Stop/Start
option)
F21 Body control module 4