2021 CHEVROLET MALIBU Cooling fan

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
14584249) - 2021 - CRC - 11/9/20
Lighting 109
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 0100.
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 0100.
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 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-minute timer, 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-
14584249) - 2021 - CRC - 11/9/20
164 Climate Controls
Climate Controls
Climate Control Systems
Climate Control Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Dual Automatic Climate ControlSystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Air Vents
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Maintenance
Passenger Compartment Air Filter . . . . . 170
Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Climate Control Systems
The heating, cooling, and ventilation for the vehicle can be controlled with this system.
1. Fan Control
2. MAX Defrost
3. A/C (Air Conditioning)
4. TEMP (Temperature Control)
5. Recirculation
6. Air Delivery Mode Controls
7. Rear Window Defogger
TEMP : Turn the knob clockwise or
counterclockwise to increase or decrease the
temperature setting.^: Turn the knob clockwise or
counterclockwise to increase or decrease the
fan speed or turn the fan off. The fan speed
appears in the display screen.
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:

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
14584249) - 2021 - CRC - 11/9/20
166 Climate Controls
Dual Automatic Climate Control System
The heating, cooling, and ventilation for the vehicle can be controlled with this system.
1. Driver and Passenger Ventilated Seats (IfEquipped)
2. Driver and Passenger Temperature Controls
3. MAX Defrost
4. Air Delivery Mode Controls
5. A/C (Air Conditioning)
6. Driver and Passenger Heated Seats (If Equipped) 7. SYNC
8. AUTO (Automatic Operation)
9. Fan Controls
10. Power (On/Off)
11. Recirculation
12. Rear Window Defogger
Climate Control Display
1. Driver and Passenger Temperature Settings
2. Fan Control
3. Driver and Passenger Temperature Controls
4. Sync (Synchronized Temperature)
5. Recirculation
6. Air Delivery Mode Controls
7. Auto (Automatic Operation)
8. A/C (Air Conditioning)
9. On/Off (Power)

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
14584249) - 2021 - CRC - 11/9/20
232 Vehicle Care
1.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0237.
2. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil0234.
3. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine Oil0234.
4. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System 0238.
5. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brakes0243.
6. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Cooling System 0238.
7. Battery - North America 0244.
8. Remote Positive (+) Battery Terminal (Under Cover). See Jump Starting - North
America 0290.
9. Engine Compartment Fuse Block 0254.
10. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Washer Fluid 0242.
11. Remote Negative (-) Battery Terminal. SeeJump Starting - North America
0 290.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
14584249) - 2021 - CRC - 11/9/20
Vehicle Care 233
2.0L L4 Turbo Engine
1. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0237.
2. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil0234.
3. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine Oil0234.
4. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System 0238.
5. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brakes0243. 6. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap.
See Cooling System 0238.
7. Battery - North America 0244.
8. Remote Positive (+) Battery Terminal (Under Cover). See Jump Starting - North
America 0290. 9.
Engine Compartment Fuse Block 0254.
10. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Washer Fluid 0242.
11. Remote Negative (-) Battery Terminal. SeeJump Starting - North America
0 290.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
14584249) - 2021 - CRC - 11/9/20
Vehicle Care 239
1.5L L4 Turbo Engine
2.0L L4 Turbo Engine
1. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View)2. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap
{Warning
An underhood electric fan can start up
even when the engine is not running and
can cause injury. Keep hands, clothing,
and tools away from any underhood
electric fan.
{Warning
Do not touch heater or radiator hoses,
or other engine parts. They can be very
hot and can burn you. Do not run the
engine if there is a leak; all coolant could
leak out. That could cause an engine fire
and can burn you. Fix any leak before
driving the vehicle.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in the vehicle is
filled with DEX-COOL engine coolant mixture.
See
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
0 312 and
Maintenance Schedule 0304. The following explains the cooling system
and how to check and add coolant when it
is low. If there is a problem with engine
overheating, see
Engine Overheating 0241.
What to Use
{Warning
Plain water, or other liquids such as
alcohol, can boil before the proper
coolant mixture will. With plain water or
the wrong mixture, the engine could get
too hot but there would not be an
overheat warning. The engine could catch
fire and you or others could be burned.
Use a 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and DEX-COOL coolant. This mixture:
.Gives freezing protection down to −37 °C
(−34 °F), outside temperature.
.Gives boiling protection up to 129 °C
(265 °F), engine temperature.
.Protects against rust and corrosion.
.Will not damage aluminum parts.
.Helps keep the proper engine
temperature.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
14584249) - 2021 - CRC - 11/9/20
Vehicle Care 241
Warning (Continued)
including the pressure cap, is hot. Wait
for the cooling system and pressure cap
to cool.
Caution
Failure to follow the specific coolant fill
procedure could cause the engine to
overheat and could cause system
damage. If coolant is not visible in the
surge tank, contact your dealer.
The coolant surge tank pressure cap can be
removed when the cooling system, including
the surge tank pressure cap and upper
radiator hose, is no longer hot.
1. Turn the pressure cap slowly counterclockwise. If a hiss is heard, wait
for that to stop. A hiss means there is
still some pressure left. 2. Keep turning the cap and remove it.
3. Fill the coolant surge tank with the
proper mixture to 5-10 mm (0.2-0.4 in)
above the mid-point on the coolant
surge tank.
4. With the coolant surge tank cap off, start the engine and let it run until the
upper radiator hose starts getting hot.
Watch out for the engine cooling fan. By
this time, the coolant level inside the
coolant surge tank may be lower. If the
level is lower, add more of the proper
mixture to the coolant surge tank until
the level reaches 5-10 mm (0.2-0.4 in)
above the mid-point on the coolant
surge tank. 5. Replace the cap tightly.
6. Check the level in the surge tank when
the cooling system has cooled down.
If the coolant is not at the proper level,
repeat Steps 1–6 and reinstall the
pressure cap. If the coolant still is not at
the proper level when the system cools
down again, see your dealer.
Caution
If the pressure cap is not tightly installed,
coolant loss and engine damage may
occur. Be sure the cap is properly and
tightly secured.
Engine Overheating
The vehicle has an engine coolant
temperature gauge on the instrument
cluster to warn of engine overheating. See
Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge 084.
If the decision is made not to lift the hood
when this warning appears, get service help
right away. Contact your dealer for
additional information.
If the decision is made to lift the hood,
make sure the vehicle is parked on a level
surface.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
14584249) - 2021 - CRC - 11/9/20
242 Vehicle Care
Then check to see if the engine cooling fans
are running. If the engine is overheating,
both fans should be running. If they are not,
do not continue to run the engine. Have the
vehicle serviced.
Caution
Do not run the engine if there is a leak
in the engine cooling system. This can
cause a loss of all coolant and can
damage the system and vehicle. Have
any leaks fixed right away.
If Steam Is Coming from the Engine
Compartment
{Warning
Steam and scalding liquids from a hot
cooling system are under pressure.
Turning the pressure cap, even a little,
can cause them to come out at high
speed and you could be burned. Never
turn the cap when the cooling system,
including the pressure cap, is hot. Wait
for the cooling system and pressure cap
to cool.
If No Steam Is Coming from the Engine
Compartment
If an engine overheat warning is displayed
but no steam can be seen or heard, the
problem may not be too serious. Sometimes
the engine can get a little too hot when the
vehicle:
.Climbs a long hill on a hot day.
.Stops after high-speed driving.
.Idles for long periods in traffic.
If the overheat warning is displayed with no
sign of steam: 1. Turn the air conditioning off.
2. Turn the heater on to the highest temperature and to the highest fan
speed. Open the windows as necessary.
3. When it is safe to do so, pull off the road, shift to P (Park) or N (Neutral), and
let the engine idle.
If the engine coolant temperature gauge is
no longer in the overheat zone, the vehicle
can be driven. Continue to drive the vehicle
slowly for about 10 minutes. Keep a safe
distance from the vehicle in front. If the
warning does not come back on, continue to
drive normally and have the cooling system
checked for proper fill and function. If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and
park the vehicle right away.
If there is no sign of steam, idle the engine
for three minutes while parked. If the
warning is still displayed, turn off the
engine until it cools down.
Washer Fluid
What to Use
When windshield washer fluid is needed, be
sure to read the manufacturer's instructions
before use. If operating the vehicle in an
area where the temperature may fall below
freezing, use a fluid that has sufficient
protection against freezing.
Adding Washer Fluid
Open the cap with the washer symbol on it.
Add washer fluid until the tank is full. See
Engine Compartment Overview
0231 for
reservoir location.