
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
16273584) - 2023 - CRC - 9/28/22
230 Vehicle Care
1.5L L4 Turbo Engine Shown
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 Lubricants0294
and
Maintenance Schedule 0290.
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 0232.
What to Use
{Warning
Plain water, or other liquids such as
alcohol, can boil before the proper
coolant mixture will. With plain water or
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
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.
Caution
Do not use anything other than a mix of
DEX-COOL coolant that meets GM
Standard GMW3420 and clean, drinkable
water. Anything else can cause damage
to the engine cooling system and the
vehicle, which would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
16273584) - 2023 - CRC - 9/28/22
Vehicle Care 281
If using an automatic car wash, follow the
car wash instructions. The windshield wiper
and rear window wiper, if equipped, must
be off. Remove any accessories that may be
damaged or interfere with the car wash
equipment.
Rinse the vehicle well, before washing and
after, to remove all cleaning agents
completely. If they are allowed to dry on
the surface, they could stain.
Dry the finish with a soft, clean chamois or
an all-cotton towel to avoid surface
scratches and water spotting.
Cleaning Underhood Components
Caution
Do not power wash any component
under the hood that has this
e
symbol.
This could cause damage that would not
be covered by the vehicle warranty.
Solvents or aggressive cleaners may harm
underhood components. The usages of these
chemicals should be avoided.
Recommend water only. A pressure washer may be used, but care
must be utilized. The following criteria must
be followed:
.Water pressure must be kept below
14 000 KPa (2,000 PSI).
.Water temperature must be below 80 °C
(180 °F).
.Spray nozzle with a 40 degree wide angle
spray pattern or wider must be used.
.Nozzle must be kept at least 30 cm (1 ft)
away from all surfaces.
Finish Care
Application of aftermarket clearcoat sealant/
wax materials is not recommended.
If painted surfaces are damaged, see your
dealer to have the damage assessed and
repaired. Foreign materials such as calcium
chloride and other salts, ice melting agents,
road oil and tar, tree sap, bird droppings,
chemicals from industrial chimneys, etc., can
damage the vehicle's finish if they remain
on painted surfaces. Wash the vehicle as
soon as possible. If necessary, use
non-abrasive cleaners that are marked safe
for painted surfaces to remove foreign
matter.
Occasional hand waxing or mild polishing
should be done to remove residue from the
paint finish. See your dealer for approved
cleaning products.
Do not apply waxes or polishes to uncoated
plastic, vinyl, rubber, decals, simulated
wood, or flat paint as damage can occur.
Caution
Machine compounding or aggressive
polishing on a basecoat/clearcoat paint
finish may damage it. Use only
non-abrasive waxes and polishes that are
made for a basecoat/clearcoat paint finish
on the vehicle.
To keep the paint finish looking new, keep
the vehicle garaged or covered whenever
possible.
Protecting Exterior Bright Metal Moldings
Caution
Failure to clean and protect the bright
metal moldings can result in a hazy
white finish or pitting. This damage
would not be covered by the vehicle
warranty.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
16273584) - 2023 - CRC - 9/28/22
Index 323
Driving (cont'd)Characteristics and Towing Tips . . . . . . . . 213
Defensive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Distracted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
If the Vehicle is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Impaired . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Dual Automatic Climate Control System . . . . 159
E
ElectricBrake Boost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Parking Brake Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Electrical Equipment, Add-On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
System Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Electrical System Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . 245
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . 249 Emergency
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Air Filter Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Check Light (Malfunction Indicator) . . . . . 88
Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Coolant Temperature Warning Light . . . . 92
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Oil Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Running While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Equipment, Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Event Data Recorders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Extender, Seat Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Exterior
Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Lamps Off Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Lighting Battery Saver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Flashers, Hazard Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269 Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Fluid Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Folding Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Frequency Statement
Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Front Heated and Ventilated Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Pedestrian Braking (FPB) System . . . . . . . 205
Front Seats
Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
16273584) - 2023 - CRC - 9/28/22
Index 325
InformationPublication Ordering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Infotainment Using the System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
Inspection Multi-Point Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Instrument Panel Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Interior Rearview Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2, 109
J
Jack Auxiliary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
K
Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Remote . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Remote Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
L
Labeling, Tire Sidewall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
LampsCourtesy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Daytime Running (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Dome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 Lamps (cont'd)
Exterior Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Exterior Lamps Off Reminder . . . . . . . . . . 103
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver . . . . . . . . 108
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
License Plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Malfunction Indicator (Check
Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
On Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Lane
Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Keep Assist Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
LATCH System
Replacing Parts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . 67
LATCH, Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Lighting
Entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Exit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Illumination Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
LED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239 Lights
Airbag Readiness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Brake System Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Charging System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Check Engine (Malfunction Indicator) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Cruise Control Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Door Ajar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Engine Oil Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Gauges and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
High-Beam On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Lane Keep Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Low Fuel Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Seat Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Service Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . 90
StabiliTrak OFF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Traction Control System (TCS)/StabiliTrak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Traction Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91