2022 CHEVROLET MALIBU cruise control

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
14584249) - 2021 - CRC - 11/9/20
172 Driving and Operating
Driving and Operating
Driving Information
Driving for Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . 173
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Impaired Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Stop/Start System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . 186
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . 187
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . 188
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Brakes
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic StabilityControl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Adaptive Cruise Control (Advanced) . . . . 197
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Assistance Systems for Parking orBacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . 209
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) . . . 211 Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB)
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Recommended Fuel (1.5L Engine) . . . . . . . 218
Recommended Fuel (2.0L Engine) . . . . . . 218
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . 220
Trailer Towing
General Towing Information . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Driving Characteristics and Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . 226

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
14584249) - 2021 - CRC - 11/9/20
Driving and Operating 173
Driving Information
Driving for Better Fuel Economy
Driving habits can affect fuel mileage. Here
are some driving tips to get the best fuel
economy possible:
.Set the climate controls to the desired
temperature after the engine is started,
or turn them off when not required.
.Avoid fast starts and accelerate smoothly.
.Brake gradually and avoid abrupt stops.
.Avoid idling the engine for long periods
of time.
.When road and weather conditions are
appropriate, use cruise control.
.Always follow posted speed limits or
drive more slowly when conditions
require.
.Keep vehicle tires properly inflated.
.Combine several trips into a single trip.
.Replace the vehicle's tires with the same
TPC Spec number molded into the tire's
sidewall near the size.
.Follow recommended scheduled
maintenance.
Distracted Driving
Distraction comes in many forms and can
take your focus from the task of driving.
Exercise good judgment and do not let other
activities divert your attention away from
the road. Many local governments have
enacted laws regarding driver distraction.
Become familiar with the local laws in
your area.
To avoid distracted driving, keep your eyes
on the road, keep your hands on the
steering wheel, and focus your attention on
driving.
.Do not use a phone in demanding driving
situations. Use a hands-free method to
place or receive necessary phone calls.
.Watch the road. Do not read, take notes,
or look up information on phones or
other electronic devices.
.Designate a front seat passenger to
handle potential distractions.
.Become familiar with vehicle features
before driving, such as programming
favorite radio stations and adjusting
climate control and seat settings. Program
all trip information into any navigation
device prior to driving.
.Wait until the vehicle is parked to
retrieve items that have fallen to the
floor.
.Stop or park the vehicle to tend to
children.
.Keep pets in an appropriate carrier or
restraint.
.Avoid stressful conversations while
driving, whether with a passenger or on a
cell phone.
{Warning
Taking your eyes off the road too long or
too often could cause a crash resulting in
injury or death. Focus your attention on
driving.
Refer to the infotainment section for more
information on using that system and the
navigation system, if equipped, including
pairing and using a cell phone.
Defensive Driving
Defensive driving means “always expect the
unexpected.” The first step in driving
defensively is to wear the seat belt. See
Seat Belts 038.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
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Driving and Operating 177
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.
SeeTires 0259.
.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 assist. 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, crash).
.Pay attention to special road signs (e.g.,
falling rocks area, winding roads, long
grades, passing or no-passing zones) and
take appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Snow or ice between the tires and the road
creates less traction or grip, so drive
carefully. Wet ice can occur at about 0 °C
(32 °F) when freezing rain begins to fall.
Avoid driving on wet ice or in freezing rain
until roads can be treated.
For Slippery Road Driving:
.Accelerate gently. Accelerating too quickly
causes the wheels to spin and makes the
surface under the tires slick.
.Turn on Traction Control. See Traction
Control/Electronic Stability Control 0193.
.The Antilock Brake System (ABS) improves
vehicle stability during hard stops, but
the brakes should be applied sooner than
when on dry pavement. See Antilock
Brake System (ABS) 0191.
.Allow greater following distance and
watch for slippery spots. Icy patches can
occur on otherwise clear roads in shaded
areas. The surface of a curve or an
overpass can remain icy when the
surrounding roads are clear. Avoid sudden
steering maneuvers and braking while
on ice.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
14584249) - 2021 - CRC - 11/9/20
178 Driving and Operating
.Turn off cruise control.
Blizzard Conditions
Stop the vehicle in a safe place and signal
for help. Stay with the vehicle unless there
is help nearby. If possible, use Roadside
Assistance. SeeRoadside Assistance Program
0 323. To get help and keep everyone in the
vehicle safe:
.Turn on the hazard warning flashers.
.Tie a red cloth to an outside mirror.
{Warning
Snow can trap engine exhaust under the
vehicle. This may cause exhaust gases to
get inside. Engine exhaust contains
carbon monoxide (CO), which cannot be
seen or smelled. It can cause
unconsciousness and even death.
If the vehicle is stuck in snow:
.Clear snow from the base of the
vehicle, especially any blocking the
exhaust pipe.
.Open a window about 5 cm (2 in) on
the vehicle side that is away from the
wind, to bring in fresh air.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Fully open the air outlets on or under
the instrument panel.
.Adjust the climate control system to
circulate the air inside the vehicle and
set the fan speed to the highest
setting. See“Climate Control Systems.”
For more information about CO, see
Engine Exhaust 0188.
To save fuel, run the engine for short
periods to warm the vehicle and then shut
the engine off and partially close the
window. Moving about to keep warm also
helps.
If it takes time for help to arrive, when
running the engine, push the accelerator
pedal slightly so the engine runs faster than
the idle speed. This keeps the battery
charged to restart the vehicle and to signal
for help with the headlamps. Do this as
little as possible, to save fuel.
If the Vehicle Is Stuck
Slowly and cautiously spin the wheels to
free the vehicle when stuck in sand, mud,
ice, or snow. If stuck too severely for the traction system
to free the vehicle, turn the traction system
off and use the rocking method. See
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control
0
193.
{Warning
If the vehicle's tires spin at high speed,
they can explode, and you or others
could be injured. The vehicle can
overheat, causing an engine compartment
fire or other damage. Spin the wheels as
little as possible and avoid going above
56 km/h (35 mph).
Rocking the Vehicle to Get it Out
Turn the steering wheel left and right to
clear the area around the front wheels. Turn
off any traction system. Shift back and forth
between R (Reverse) and a low forward gear,
spinning the wheels as little as possible. To
prevent transmission wear, wait until the
wheels stop spinning before shifting gears.
Release the accelerator pedal while shifting,
and press lightly on the accelerator pedal
when the transmission is in gear. Slowly
spinning the wheels in the forward and
reverse directions causes a rocking motion
that could free the vehicle. If that does not

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
14584249) - 2021 - CRC - 11/9/20
194 Driving and Operating
braking pressure to any one of the vehicle
wheel brakes to assist the driver in keeping
the vehicle on the intended path.
If cruise control is being used and traction
control or StabiliTrak/ESC begins to limit
wheel spin, cruise control will disengage.
Cruise control may be turned back on when
road conditions allow.
Both systems come on automatically when
the vehicle is started and begins to move.
The systems may be heard or felt while
they are operating or while performing
diagnostic checks. This is normal and does
not mean there is a problem with the
vehicle.
It is recommended to leave both systems on
for normal driving conditions, but it may be
necessary to turn TCS off if the vehicle gets
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow. SeeIf the
Vehicle Is Stuck 0178 and “Turning the
Systems Off and On” later in this section.The indicator light for both systems is in the
instrument cluster. This light will:
.Flash when TCS is limiting wheel spin.
.Flash when StabiliTrak/ESC is activated.
.Turn on and stay on when either system
is not working.
If either system fails to turn on or to
activate, a message displays in the Driver
Information Center (DIC), and
dcomes on
and stays on to indicate that the system is
inactive and is not assisting the driver in
maintaining control. The vehicle is safe to
drive, but driving should be adjusted
accordingly.
If
dcomes on and stays on:
1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Turn the engine off and wait 15 seconds.
3. Start the engine.
Drive the vehicle. If
dcomes on and stays
on, the vehicle may need more time to
diagnose the problem. If the condition
persists, see your dealer.
Turning the Systems Off and On
Caution
Do not repeatedly brake or accelerate
heavily when TCS is off. The vehicle
driveline could be damaged.
To turn off only TCS, press and release
g.
The traction off light
idisplays in the
instrument cluster.
To turn TCS on again, press and release
g.
The traction off light
idisplayed in the
instrument cluster will turn off.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
14584249) - 2021 - CRC - 11/9/20
Driving and Operating 195
To turn off both TCS and StabiliTrak/ESC,
press and hold
guntil the traction off light
iand StabiliTrak/ESC OFF lightgcome on
and stay on in the instrument cluster.
To turn TCS and StabiliTrak/ESC on again,
press and release
g. The traction off light
iand StabiliTrak/ESC OFF lightgin the
instrument cluster turn off.
Adding accessories can affect the vehicle
performance. See Accessories and
Modifications 0229.
Cruise Control
Cruise control lets the vehicle maintain a
speed of about 40 km/h (25 mph) or more
without keeping your foot on the
accelerator. Cruise control does not work at
speeds below 40 km/h (25 mph).
{Warning
Cruise control can be dangerous where
you cannot drive safely at a steady
speed. Do not use cruise control on
winding roads or in heavy traffic.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
Cruise control can be dangerous on
slippery roads. On such roads, fast
changes in tire traction can cause
excessive wheel slip, and you could lose
control. Do not use cruise control on
slippery roads.
With the Traction Control System (TCS) or
StabiliTrak/Electronic Stability Control (ESC),
the system may begin to limit wheel spin
while you are using cruise control. If this
happens, cruise control will automatically
disengage. See Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0193. If a collision alert
occurs when cruise control is activated,
cruise control is disengaged. See Forward
Collision Alert (FCA) System 0209. When
road conditions allow you to safely use it
again, cruise control can be turned back on.
Cruise control will disengage if either TCS or
StabiliTrak/ESC is turned off.
If the brakes are applied, cruise control
disengages.
5: Press to turn the cruise control system
on and off. A white indicator comes on in
the instrument cluster when cruise is
turned on.
*: Press to disengage cruise control
without erasing the set speed from memory.
+RES : If there is a set speed in memory,
press to resume that speed or press and
hold to accelerate. If cruise control is already
active, use to increase vehicle speed.
−SET : Press briefly to set the speed and
activate cruise control. If cruise control is
already active, use to decrease vehicle
speed.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
14584249) - 2021 - CRC - 11/9/20
196 Driving and Operating
Setting Cruise Control
If
5is on when not in use, -SET or +RES
could get bumped and go into cruise when
not desired. Keep
5off when cruise is not
being used.
To set a speed:
1. Press
5to turn the cruise system on.
2. Get up to the desired speed.
3. Press and release -SET. The desired set speed briefly appears in the instrument
cluster.
4. Remove your foot from the accelerator pedal.
The cruise control indicator on the
instrument cluster turns green after cruise
control has been set to the desired speed.
See Instrument Cluster 080.
Resuming a Set Speed
If cruise control is set at a desired speed
and then the brakes are applied, cruise
control is disengaged without erasing the
set speed from memory.
Once the vehicle speed reaches about
40 km/h (25 mph) or more, briefly press
+RES. The vehicle returns to the previous set
speed. Increasing Speed While Using Cruise Control
If the cruise control system is already
activated:
.Press and hold +RES until the vehicle
accelerates to the desired speed, then
release it.
.To increase the speed in small increments,
briefly press +RES. For each press, the
vehicle goes about 1 km/h (1 mph) faster.
The speedometer reading can be displayed
in either English or metric units. See Driver
Information Center (DIC) (Base Level) 094 or
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Uplevel)
0 96. The increment value used depends on
the units displayed.
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise Control
If the cruise control system is already
activated:
.Press and hold -SET until the desired
lower speed is reached, then release it.
.To slow down in small increments, briefly
press -SET. For each press, the vehicle
goes about 1 km/h (1 mph) slower. The speedometer reading can be displayed
in either English or metric units. See
Driver
Information Center (DIC) (Base Level) 094 or
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Uplevel)
0 96. The increment value used depends on
the units displayed.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using Cruise
Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase the
vehicle speed. When you take your foot off
the pedal, the vehicle will slow down to the
previous set cruise speed. While pressing the
accelerator pedal or shortly following the
release to override cruise control, briefly
pressing -SET will result in cruise control set
to the current vehicle speed.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well the cruise control works on hills
depends upon the vehicle speed, load, and
the steepness of the hills. When going up
steep hills, you might have to step on the
accelerator pedal to maintain the vehicle
speed. When going downhill, you might
have to brake or shift to a lower gear to
keep your speed down. If the brake pedal is
applied, cruise control will disengage.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
14584249) - 2021 - CRC - 11/9/20
Driving and Operating 197
Ending Cruise Control
There are four ways to end cruise control:
.Step lightly on the brake pedal.
.Press*.
.Shift the transmission to N (Neutral).
.Press5to turn cruise control system off
completely.
Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed is erased from
memory if
5is pressed or if the vehicle is
turned off.
Adaptive Cruise Control
(Advanced)
If equipped with Adaptive Cruise Control
(ACC), it allows you to select the cruise
control set speed and following gap. Read
this entire section before using this system.
The following gap is the following time
between your vehicle and a vehicle detected
directly ahead in your path moving in the
same direction. If no vehicle is detected in
your path, ACC works like regular cruise
control. ACC uses camera and radar sensors.
See Radio Frequency Statement 0328. If a vehicle is detected in your path, ACC can
apply acceleration or limited, moderate
braking to maintain the selected following
gap. To disengage ACC, apply the brake.
If ACC is controlling your vehicle speed
when the Traction Control System (TCS) or
StabiliTrak/Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
system activates, the ACC may automatically
disengage. See
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0193. When road
conditions allow ACC to be safely used, the
ACC can be turned back on.
Disabling the TCS or StabiliTrak/ESC system
will disengage and prevent engagement
of ACC.
ACC can reduce the need for you to
frequently brake and accelerate, especially
when used on expressways, freeways, and
interstate highways. When used on other
roads, you may need to take over the
control of braking or acceleration more
often.
{Warning
ACC has limited braking ability and may
not have time to slow the vehicle down
enough to avoid a collision with another
vehicle you are following. This can occur
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
when vehicles suddenly slow or stop
ahead, or enter your lane. Also see
“Alerting the Driver”in this section.
Complete attention is always required
while driving and you should be ready to
take action and apply the brakes. See
Defensive Driving 0173.
{Warning
ACC will not detect or brake for children,
pedestrians, animals, or other objects.
Do not use ACC when:
.On winding and hilly roads or when
the sensors are blocked by snow, ice,
or dirt. The system may not detect a
vehicle ahead. Keep the entire front of
the vehicle clean.
.Visibility is low, such as in fog, rain,
or snow conditions. ACC performance
is limited under these conditions.
.On slippery roads where fast changes
in tire traction can cause excessive
wheel slip.