2023 CHEVROLET MALIBU heater

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
16273584) - 2023 - CRC - 9/28/22
34 Seats and Restraints
If the saved memory seat position does not
automatically recall, verify the recall is
enabled. See“Enabling Automatic Recalls”
previously in this section.
If the memory seat recalls to the wrong
position, the driver’s remote key number 1
or 2 may not match the memory button
number positions they were saved to. Try
the other remote key or try saving the
positions to the other 1 or 2 memory
button. See “Saving Seating Positions”
previously in this section.
Automatic Seat Entry Memory recalls are
only available for driver’s remote key
numbers 1 and 2. Remote keys 3–8 will not
provide Seat Entry Memory recalls.
Auto Seat Exit Memory Recall
Seat Exit Memory will begin movement to
the seating position of the
B
button when:
.The vehicle is turned off and the driver
door is open or opened within a
short time.
.A seating position has been previously
been saved to the
Bmemory button.
See “Saving Seating Positions” previously
in this section.
.Seat Exit Memory is enabled. See
“Enabling Automatic Recalls” previously in
this section.
.The shift lever is in P (Park).
Seat Exit Memory recall will continue if the
vehicle is shifted out of P (Park) prior to
reaching the saved memory position.
Seat Exit Memory is not linked to the
driver’s remote key. The seating position
saved to
Bis used for all drivers.
Cancel Memory Seating Recalls
.During any memory recall:
Press a power seat control
Press SET memory button
.During Manual memory recall:
Release 1, 2, or
Bmemory button
.During Auto Seat Entry Memory Recall:
Turn vehicle off
Press SET, 1, 2, or
Bmemory buttons
.During Auto Seat Exit Memory Recall:
Press SET, 1, 2, or
Bmemory buttons Obstructions
If something has blocked the seat while
recalling a memory position, the recall may
stop. Remove the obstruction and try the
recall again. If the memory position still
does not recall, see your dealer.
Heated and Ventilated Front
Seats
{Warning
If temperature change or pain to the skin
cannot be felt, the seat heater may cause
burns. To reduce the risk of burns, use
care when using the seat heater,
especially for long periods of time. Do
not place anything on the seat that
insulates against heat, such as a blanket,
cushion, cover, or similar item. This may
cause the seat heater to overheat. An
overheated seat heater may cause a burn
or may damage the seat.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
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Seats and Restraints 51
.There is a critical problem with the airbag
system or the passenger sensing system.
When the passenger sensing system has
turned off the front outboard passenger
frontal airbag and knee airbag, the OFF
indicator will light and stay lit as a reminder
that the airbags are off. See Passenger
Airbag Status Indicator 087.
The passenger sensing system is designed to
turn on the front outboard passenger frontal
airbag and knee airbag anytime the system
senses that a person of adult size is sitting
properly in the front outboard passenger
seat. When the passenger sensing system
has allowed the airbag(s) to be enabled, the
ON indicator will light and stay lit as a
reminder that the airbag(s) are active.
For some children, including children in child
restraints and for very small adults, the
passenger sensing system may or may not
turn off the front outboard passenger
frontal airbag and knee airbag, depending
upon the person's seating posture and body
build. Everyone in the vehicle who has
outgrown child restraints should wear a seat
belt properly —whether or not there is an
airbag for that person.{Warning
If the airbag readiness light ever comes
on and stays on, it means that
something may be wrong with the airbag
system. To help avoid injury to yourself
or others, have the vehicle serviced right
away. See Airbag Readiness Light 086
for more information, including important
safety information.
If the On Indicator Is Lit for a Child
Restraint
The passenger sensing system is designed to
turn off the front outboard passenger
frontal airbag and knee airbag if the system
determines that an infant is present in a
child restraint. If a child restraint has been
installed and the ON indicator is lit:
1. Turn the vehicle off.
2. Remove the child restraint from the vehicle.
3. Remove any additional items from the seat such as blankets, cushions, seat
covers, seat heaters, or seat massagers. 4. Reinstall the child restraint following the
directions provided by the child restraint
manufacturer and refer to Securing Child
Restraints (With the Seat Belt in the Rear
Seat) 067 or
Securing Child Restraints (With the Seat
Belt in the Front Seat) 069.
Make sure the seat belt retractor is
locked by pulling the shoulder belt all
the way out of the retractor when
installing the child restraint, even if the
child restraint is equipped with a seat
belt lock-off. When the retractor lock is
set, the belt can be tightened but not
pulled out of the retractor.
5. If, after reinstalling the child restraint and restarting the vehicle, the ON
indicator is still lit, turn the vehicle off.
Then slightly recline the vehicle seatback
and adjust the seat cushion,
if adjustable, to make sure that the
vehicle seatback is not pushing the child
restraint into the seat cushion.
Also make sure the child restraint is not
trapped under the vehicle head restraint.
If this happens, adjust the head restraint.
See Head Restraints 027.
6. Restart the vehicle.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
16273584) - 2023 - CRC - 9/28/22
52 Seats and Restraints
The passenger sensing system may or may
not turn off the airbags for a child in a child
restraint depending upon the child’s size.
It is better to secure the child restraint in a
rear seat. Never put a rear-facing child
restraint in the front seat, even if the ON
indicator is not lit.
If the Off Indicator Is Lit for an
Adult-Sized Occupant
If a person of adult size is sitting in the
front outboard passenger seat, but the OFF
indicator is lit, it could be because that
person is not sitting properly in the seat or
that the child restraint locking feature is
engaged. Use the following steps to allowthe system to detect that person and enable
the front outboard passenger frontal airbag
and knee airbag:
1. Turn the vehicle off.
2. Remove any additional material from the seat, such as blankets, cushions, seat
covers, seat heaters, or seat massagers.
3. Place the seatback in the fully upright position.
4. Have the person sit upright in the seat, centered on the seat cushion, with legs
comfortably extended.
5. If the shoulder portion of the belt is pulled out all the way, the child restraint
locking feature will be engaged. This
may unintentionally cause the passenger
sensing system to turn the airbag off for
some adult-sized occupants. If this
happens, unbuckle the belt, let the belt
go back all the way, and then buckle the
belt again without pulling the belt out
all the way.
6. Restart the vehicle and have the person remain in this position for two to
three minutes after the ON indicator
is lit.
{Warning
If the front outboard passenger airbag is
turned off for an adult-sized occupant,
the airbag will not be able to inflate and
help protect that person in a crash,
resulting in an increased risk of serious
injury or even death. An adult-sized
occupant should not ride in the front
outboard passenger seat, if the passenger
airbag OFF indicator is lit.
Additional Factors Affecting System
Operation
Seat belts help keep the passenger in
position on the seat during vehicle
maneuvers and braking, which helps the
passenger sensing system maintain the
passenger airbag status. See “Seat Belts”
and “Child Restraints” in the Index for
additional information about the importance
of proper restraint use.
A thick layer of additional material, such as
a blanket or cushion, or aftermarket
equipment such as seat covers, seat heaters,
and seat massagers can affect how well the
passenger sensing system operates. We
recommend that you not use seat covers or
other aftermarket equipment except when

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
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Seats and Restraints 53
approved by GM for your specific vehicle.
SeeAdding Equipment to the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle 053 for more
information about modifications that can
affect how the system operates.
The ON indicator may be lit if an object,
such as a briefcase, handbag, grocery bag,
laptop, or other electronic device is put on
an unoccupied seat. If this is not desired
remove the object from the seat.
{Warning
Stowing articles under the passenger seat
or between the passenger seat cushion
and seatback may interfere with the
proper operation of the passenger
sensing system.
Servicing the Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle
Airbags affect how the vehicle should be
serviced. There are parts of the airbag
system in several places around the vehicle.
Your dealer and the service manual have
information about servicing the vehicle and
the airbag system. To purchase a service
manual, see Publication Ordering
Information 0308.
{Warning
For up to 10 seconds after the vehicle is
turned off and the 12‐volt battery is
disconnected, an airbag can still inflate
during improper service. You can be
injured if you are close to an airbag
when it inflates. Avoid yellow connectors.
They are probably part of the airbag
system. Be sure to follow proper service
procedures, and make sure the person
performing work for you is qualified to
do so.
Adding Equipment to the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Adding accessories that change the vehicle's
frame, bumper system, height, front end,
or side sheet metal may keep the airbag
system from working properly.
The operation of the airbag system can also
be affected by changing, including
improperly repairing or replacing, any parts
of the following:
.Airbag system, including airbag modules,
front or side impact sensors, sensing and
diagnostic module, or airbag wiring
.Front seats, including stitching, seams or
zippers
.Seat belts
.Steering wheel, instrument panel,
overhead console, ceiling trim, or pillar
garnish trim
.Inner door seals, including speakers
Your dealer and the service manual have
information about the location of the airbag
modules and sensors, sensing and diagnostic
module, and airbag wiring along with the
proper replacement procedures.
In addition, the vehicle has a passenger
sensing system for the front outboard
passenger position, which includes sensors
that are part of the passenger seat. The
passenger sensing system may not operate
properly if the original seat trim is replaced
with non-GM covers, upholstery, or trim; or
with GM covers, upholstery, or trim
designed for a different vehicle. Any object,
such as an aftermarket seat heater or a
comfort-enhancing pad or device, installed
under or on top of the seat fabric, could
also interfere with the operation of the
passenger sensing system. This could either
prevent proper deployment of the passenger
airbag(s) or prevent the passenger sensing

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
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Driving and Operating 165
Driving and Operating
Driving Information
Driving for Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . 166
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Impaired Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Stop/Start System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . 179
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . 181
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . 181
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Brakes
Electric Brake Boost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic StabilityControl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Adaptive Cruise Control (Advanced) . . . 190
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Assistance Systems for Parking orBacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Park Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Automatic Parking Assist (APA) . . . . . . . 200
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202 Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . 202
Forward Collision Alert (FCA)
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . 207
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . 213
Trailer Towing
General Towing Information . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Driving Characteristics and Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . 219

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
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178 Driving and Operating
{Warning
The automatic engine Stop/Start feature
causes the engine to shut off while the
vehicle is still on. Do not exit the vehicle
before shifting to P (Park). The vehicle
may restart and move unexpectedly.
Always shift to P (Park), and then turn
the ignition off before exiting the vehicle.
Auto Engine Stop/Start
When the brakes are applied and the vehicle
is at a complete stop, the engine may turn
off. When stopped, the tachometer displays
AUTO STOP. See Tachometer083. When the
brake pedal is released or the accelerator
pedal is pressed, the engine will restart.
To maintain vehicle performance, other
conditions may cause the engine to
automatically restart before the brake pedal
is released.
Auto Stops may not occur and/or auto
restarts may occur because:
.The climate control settings require the
engine to be running to cool or heat the
vehicle interior.
.The vehicle battery needs to charge.
.The vehicle battery has recently been
disconnected.
.Minimum vehicle speed has not been
reached since the last Auto Stop.
.The accelerator pedal is pressed.
.The engine or transmission is not at the
required operating temperature.
.The outside temperature is not in the
required operating range.
.The vehicle transmission is shifted out of
D (Drive) to any gear other than P (Park).
.Certain driver modes have been selected.
.The vehicle is on a steep hill or grade.
.The driver door has been opened or driver
seat belt has been unbuckled.
.The hood has been opened.
.The Auto Stop has reached the maximum
allowed time. Auto Stop Disable Switch
The automatic engine Stop/Start feature can
be disabled and enabled by pressing
h.
Auto Stop/Start is enabled each time you
start the vehicle.
When the
hindicator is illuminated, the
system is enabled.
Engine Heater
The engine heater, if available, can help
in cold weather conditions at or below
−18 °C (0 °F) for easier starting and better
fuel economy during engine warm-up. Plug
in the engine heater at least four hours
before starting the vehicle. An internal

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
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Driving and Operating 179
thermostat in the plug end of the cord will
prevent engine heater operation at
temperatures above−18 °C (0 °F).
To Use the Engine Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the
electrical cord.
The electrical cord is on the passenger
side of the engine compartment,
between the fender and the air cleaner.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC outlet.
{Warning
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded
outlet could cause an electrical shock.
Also, the wrong kind of extension cord
could overheat and cause a fire. You
could be seriously injured. Plug the cord
into a properly grounded three-prong
110-volt AC outlet. If the cord will not
reach, use a heavy-duty three-prong
extension cord rated for at least 15 amps.
4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and store the cord as it was
before to keep it away from moving
engine parts.
The length of time the heater should remain
plugged in depends on several factors. Ask a
dealer in the area where you will be parking
the vehicle for the best advice on this.
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
When the vehicle is turned from on to off,
the following features (if equipped) will
continue to function for up to 10 minutes,
or until the driver door is opened. These
features will also work when the vehicle is
on or in accessory mode:
.Infotainment System
.Power Windows (during RAP this
functionality will be lost when any door
is opened)
.Sunroof (during RAP this functionality will
be lost when any door is opened)
.Auxiliary Power Outlet
.Audio System
.OnStar System
Shifting Into Park
1. Hold the brake pedal down and set the parking brake. See Electric Parking Brake
0 185.
2. Move the shift lever into P (Park) by holding in the button on the shift lever
and pushing the shift lever all the way
toward the front of the vehicle.
3. Turn the ignition off.

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.