Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13555849) - 2020 - CRC - 8/16/19
124 Instruments and Controls
SeeHeated and Ventilated Front
Seats 041 and
Remote Vehicle Start 016.
Touch Off, On-Driver and
Passenger, or On-Driver.
Passive Door Unlock
This setting specifies which doors
unlock when using the button on the
driver door handle to unlock the
vehicle.
Touch All Doors or Driver Door Only.
Passive Door Lock
This setting specifies if the vehicle
will automatically lock, or lock and
provide an alert after all the doors
are closed, and you walk away from
the vehicle with the RKE transmitter.
See Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation 08.
Touch Off, On with Horn
Chirp, or On.
Remote Left in Vehicle Alert
This feature sounds an alert when
the RKE transmitter is left in the
vehicle. This menu also enables
Remote No Longer in Vehicle Alert. Touch Off or On.
Seating Position
Touch and the following may
display:
.
Seat Entry Memory
. Seat Exit Memory
Seat Entry Memory
This feature automatically recalls
the previously stored 1 or 2 button
positions when the ignition is
changed from off to on or ACC/
ACCESSORY. See Memory Seats
0 38.
Touch Off or On.
Seat Exit Memory
This feature automatically recalls
the previously stored exit button
positions when the ignition is
changed from on or ACC/
ACCESSORY to off if the driver
door is open or opened. See
Memory Seats 038.
Touch Off or On.
Teen Driver
See “Teen Driver” under“Settings”
in the infotainment manual.
Valet Mode
This will lock the infotainment
system and steering wheel controls.
It may also limit access to vehicle
storage locations, if equipped.
To enable valet mode:
1. Enter a four-digit code on the keypad.
2. Touch Enter to go to the confirmation screen.
3. Re-enter the four-digit code.
Touch Lock or Unlock to lock or
unlock the system. Touch Back to
go back to the previous menu.
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13555849) - 2020 - CRC - 8/16/19
Lighting 127
The high beams may not turn off
automatically if the system cannot
detect another vehicle's lamps
because of any of the following:
.The other vehicle's lamps are
missing, damaged, obstructed
from view, or otherwise
undetected.
. The other vehicle's lamps are
covered with dirt, snow, and/or
road spray.
. The other vehicle's lamps cannot
be detected due to dense
exhaust, smoke, fog, snow, road
spray, mist, or other airborne
obstructions.
. The vehicle's windshield is dirty,
cracked, or obstructed by
something that blocks the view
of the light sensor.
. The vehicle is loaded such that
the front end points upward,
causing the light sensor to aim
high and not detect headlamps
and taillamps.
. Driving on winding or hilly roads. The IntelliBeam system may need to
be disabled if any of the above
conditions exist.
Exterior Lamps Off
Reminder
A warning chime sounds if the driver
door is opened while the ignition is
off and the exterior lamps are on.
Headlamp High/
Low-Beam Changer
3
:
Push the turn signal lever away
from you and release, to turn the
high beams on. To return to low
beams, push the lever again or pull
it toward you and release.
This indicator light turns on in the
instrument cluster when the
high-beam headlamps are on.
Flash-to-Pass
To flash the high beams, pull the
turn signal lever toward you, and
release.
Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL)
DRL can make it easier for others to
see the front of your vehicle during
the day. Fully functional DRL are
required on all vehicles first sold in
Canada.
The DRL system comes on in
daylight when the following
conditions are met:
. The ignition is on.
. The exterior lamp control is in
AUTO, if equipped.
. The light sensor determines it is
daytime.
. The vehicle is not in P (Park).
When the DRL are on, the taillamps,
sidemarker lamps, instrument panel
lights, and other lamps will not
be on.
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13555849) - 2020 - CRC - 8/16/19
128 Lighting
The DRL turn off when the
headlamps are turned to
Oor(,
or when the ignition is off. For
vehicles first sold in Canada, the
DRL can only be turned off when
the vehicle is parked.
Automatic Headlamp
System
The headlamps come on
automatically when the exterior
lamp control is set to AUTO and it is
dark enough outside.
There is a light sensor on top of the
instrument panel. Do not cover the
sensor, otherwise the headlamps
will come on when they are not
needed.
The system may also turn on the
headlamps when driving through a
parking garage or tunnel.
When it is bright enough outside,
the headlamps will turn off or may
change to Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL).
The automatic headlamp system
turns off when the exterior lamp
control is turned to
Oor the ignition
is off.
Lights On with Wipers
If the windshield wipers are
activated in daylight with the engine
on, and the exterior lamp control is
in AUTO, the headlamps, parking
lamps, and other exterior lamps
come on. The transition time for the
lamps coming on varies based on
wiper speed. When the wipers are not operating, these lamps turn off.
Move the exterior lamp control to
O
or;to disable this feature.
Hazard Warning Flashers
With Stop/Start Disable Button
Shown, Without Similar
|:Press this button to make the
front and rear turn signal lamps
flash on and off. Press again to turn
the flashers off.
The hazard warning flashers turn on
automatically if the airbags deploy.
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13555849) - 2020 - CRC - 8/16/19
Lighting 131
If equipped, the rear reading lamps
are in the headliner.
Press the button near each lamp to
turn reading lamps on or off.
Lighting Features
Entry Lighting
Some exterior lamps and most of
the interior lamps turn on briefly at
night or in areas with limited lighting
when the Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) transmitter
Kbutton is
pressed. See Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) System Operation 08. After
about 30 seconds the exterior lamps
turn off, then the dome lamps and
remaining interior lamps dim to off.
Entry lighting can be disabled
manually by turning the ignition on
or to ACC/ACCESSORY, or by
pressing
Qon the RKE transmitter.
This feature can be changed. See
Vehicle Personalization 0120.
Exit Lighting
Some exterior lamps and interior
lights come on at night, or in areas
with limited lighting, when the driver
door is opened after the ignition is
turned off. The dome lamp comes
on after the ignition is turned off. The exterior lamps and dome lamp
remain on for a set amount of time,
then automatically turn off.
The exterior lamps turn off
immediately by turning the exterior
lamp control off.
This feature can be changed. See
Vehicle Personalization
0120.
Battery Load
Management
The vehicle has Electric Power
Management (EPM) that estimates
the battery's temperature and state
of charge. It then adjusts the voltage
for best performance and extended
life of the battery.
When the battery's state of charge
is low, the voltage is raised slightly
to quickly bring the charge back up.
When the state of charge is high,
the voltage is lowered slightly to
prevent overcharging. If the vehicle
has a voltmeter gauge or a voltage
display on the Driver Information
Center (DIC), you may see the
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13555849) - 2020 - CRC - 8/16/19
132 Lighting
voltage move up or down. This is
normal. If there is a problem, an
alert will be displayed.
The battery can be discharged at
idle if the electrical loads are very
high. This is true for all vehicles.
This is because the generator
(alternator) may not be spinning fast
enough at idle to produce all of the
power needed for very high
electrical loads.
A high electrical load occurs when
several of the following are on, such
as: headlamps, high beams, rear
window defogger, climate control fan
at high speed, heated seats, engine
cooling fans, trailer loads, and loads
plugged into accessory power
outlets.
EPM works to prevent excessive
discharge of the battery. It does this
by balancing the generator's output
and the vehicle's electrical needs.
It can increase engine idle speed to
generate more power whenever
needed. It can temporarily reduce
the power demands of some
accessories.Normally, these actions occur in
steps or levels, without being
noticeable. In rare cases at the
highest levels of corrective action,
this action may be noticeable to the
driver. If so, a DIC message might
be displayed and it is recommended
that the driver reduce the electrical
loads as much as possible.
Battery Power Protection
The battery saver feature is
designed to protect the vehicle's
battery.
If some interior lamps are left on
and the ignition is turned off, the
battery rundown protection system
automatically turns the lamp off after
some time.
Exterior Lighting Battery
Saver
The exterior lamps turn off about
10 minutes after the ignition is
turned off, if the parking lamps or
headlamps have been manually left
on. This protects against draining
the battery. To restart the 10-minutetimer, turn the exterior lamp control
to the off position and then back to
the parking lamp or headlamp
position.
To keep the lamps on for more than
10 minutes, the ignition must be on
or in ACC/ACCESSORY.
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13555849) - 2020 - CRC - 8/16/19
Climate Controls 135
Air Delivery Mode Controls :
Press the air delivery mode buttons
to change the direction of the
airflow. The indicator light in the
selected button will turn on. The
current mode appears in the display
screen.
To change the current mode, select
one or more of the following modes:
0:Clears the windows of fog or
moisture. Air is directed to the
windshield.
{: Air is directed to the
instrument panel outlets.
z: Air is directed to the floor
outlets.
0MAX : Air is directed to the
windshield and the fan runs at a
higher speed. This mode overrides
the previous mode selected and
clears fog or frost from the
windshield more quickly. When the
button is pressed again, the system
returns to the previous mode setting
and fan speed. The current mode
setting and fan speed appear in the
display screen. For best results, clear all snow and
ice from the windshield before
defrosting.
A/C :
Press to turn the air
conditioning system on or off. This
status appears in the display
screen. If the fan control is turned
off or the outside temperature falls
below freezing, the air conditioner
will not run.
@: Press to turn on recirculation.
An indicator light comes on and the
status appears in the display
screen. Air is recirculated to quickly
cool the inside of the vehicle or to
reduce the entry of outside air and
odors.
Ionizer : If equipped, this feature
helps to clean the air inside the
vehicle and remove contaminants
such as pollen, odors, and dust.
If the climate control system is on
and the ionizer is enabled, the
ionizer status indicator will be lit on
the climate control display. To turn
the ionizer on or off, see “Climate
and Air Quality” underVehicle
Personalization 0120.
Rear Window Defogger
K:Press to turn the rear window
defogger on or off. An indicator light
on the button comes on to show that
the rear window defogger is on. The
defogger turns off when the ignition
is turned to off or to ACC/
ACCESSORY.
The upper lines on the rear window
are antenna grids and are not
intended to defrost the glass.
The rear window defogger can be
set to automatic operation. See
“Climate and Air Quality” under
Vehicle Personalization 0120.
When Auto Rear Defog is selected,
the rear window defogger turns on
automatically when the interior
temperature is cold and the outside
temperature is about 7 °C (44 °F)
and below. The auto rear defogger
turns off automatically.
If the vehicle is equipped with
heated outside mirrors, they turn on
when the rear window defogger
button is on and help to clear fog or
frost from the surface of the mirror.
See Heated Mirrors 027.
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13555849) - 2020 - CRC - 8/16/19
140 Climate Controls
system does not detect possible
window fogging, it returns to normal
operation.
To turn Auto Defog off or on, see
“Climate and Air Quality”under
Vehicle Personalization 0120.
Rear Window Defogger
K:Press to turn the rear window
defogger on or off. An indicator light
on the button comes on to show that
the rear window defogger is on. The
rear window defogger only works
when the ignition is on. The
defogger turns off when the ignition
is turned off or to ACC/
ACCESSORY.
The upper lines on the rear window
are antenna grids and are not
intended to defrost the glass.
The rear window defogger can be
set to automatic operation. See
“Climate and Air Quality” under
Vehicle Personalization 0120.
When Auto Rear Defog is selected,
the rear window defogger turns on
automatically when the interior
temperature is cold and the outside temperature is about 7 °C (45 °F)
and below. The auto rear defogger
turns off automatically.
If equipped with heated outside
mirrors, they turn on when the rear
window defogger button is on and
help to clear fog or frost from the
surface of the mirror. See
Heated
Mirrors 027.
Caution
Do not try to clear frost or other
material from the inside of the
front windshield and rear window
with a razor blade or anything
else that is sharp. This may
damage the rear window
defogger grid and affect the
radio's ability to pick up stations
clearly. The repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Driver and Passenger Heated and
Ventilated Seats : If equipped,
press
LorMto heat the driver or
passenger seat. If equipped, press
{orCto
ventilate the driver or passenger
seat. See Heated and Ventilated
Front Seats 041.
Remote Start Climate Control
Operation : If equipped with remote
start, the climate control system
may run when the vehicle is started
remotely. The system will determine
the best mode and temperature
setting for operation. Once the
vehicle is started with the Engine
Start/Stop button, the climate control
system will begin to operate at the
last customer selected operating
mode and temperature. If equipped
with heated or ventilated seats, they
may come on during a remote start.
See Remote Vehicle Start 016 and
Heated and Ventilated Front Seats
0 41.
Sensor
The solar sensor, on top of the
instrument panel near the
windshield, monitors the solar heat.
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13555849) - 2020 - CRC - 8/16/19
Driving and Operating 143
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Driving for Better FuelEconomy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 148
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 149
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 151
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 155
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Stop/Start System . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160 Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Parking over Things
That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Active Fuel Management . . . . . 162
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Running the Vehicle While
Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 164
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . 168
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . 169
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Adaptive Cruise Control . . . . . . 174
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . 182
Assistance Systems forParking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . 183
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . 194
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . 196
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Recommended Fuel (1.5L Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Recommended Fuel (2.0L Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 199
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202