2023 CHEVROLET MALIBU spare wheel

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
16273584) - 2023 - CRC - 9/28/22
220 Vehicle Care
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
California Perchlorate MaterialsRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . 221
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own Service Work . . . . . . . . . 222
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . 224
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . 228
Engine Air Filter Life System . . . . . . . . . . 228
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Battery - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock Control Function Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Headlamp Aiming
Front Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker, and Parking Lamps . . . . . . 239
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps, and Back-Up Lamps (LS and LT) . . . . . . . . . . 240
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps, and Back-Up Lamps (LT and Premier) . . . . . 241
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Electrical System
High Voltage Devices and Wiring . . . . . . 242
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . 245
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . 249
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Tire Terminology and Definitions . . . . . . 255
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257 Tire Pressure for High-Speed
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . 259
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . 260
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . 264
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . 266
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . 266
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . 268
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . 275
Towing the Vehicle
Transporting a Disabled Vehicle . . . . . . . 278
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
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252 Vehicle Care
Consider installing winter tires on the
vehicle if frequent driving on snow or
ice-covered roads is expected. All-season tires
provide adequate performance for most
winter driving conditions, but they may not
offer the same level of traction or
performance as winter tires on snow or
ice-covered roads. SeeWinter Tires0252.
Winter Tires
This vehicle was not originally equipped
with winter tires. Winter tires are designed
for increased traction on snow and
ice-covered roads. Consider installing winter
tires on the vehicle if frequent driving on ice
or snow covered roads is expected. See your
dealer for details regarding winter tire
availability and proper tire selection. Also,
see Buying New Tires 0265.
With winter tires, there may be decreased
dry road traction, increased road noise, and
shorter tread life. After changing to winter
tires, be alert for changes in vehicle
handling and braking.
If using winter tires:
.Use tires of the same brand and tread
type on all four wheel positions.
.Use only radial ply tires of the same size,
load range, and speed rating as the
original equipment tires.
Winter tires with the same speed rating as
the original equipment tires may not be
available for H, V, W, Y, and ZR speed rated
tires. If winter tires with a lower speed
rating are chosen, never exceed the tire's
maximum speed capability.
Low-Profile Tires
If the vehicle has 245/45R18 or
245/40R19 size tires, they are classified
as low-profile tires.
Caution
Low-profile tires are more susceptible to
damage from road hazards or curb impact
than standard profile tires. Tire and/or
wheel assembly damage can occur when
coming into contact with road hazards
like potholes, or sharp edged objects,
or when sliding into a curb. The warranty
does not cover this type of damage. Keep
tires set to the correct inflation pressure
and when possible, avoid contact with
curbs, potholes, and other road hazards.
Tire Sidewall Labeling
Useful information about a tire is
molded into its sidewall. The examples
show a typical passenger vehicle tire
and a compact spare tire sidewall.
Passenger Tire Example
(1) Tire Size:The tire size is a
combination of letters and numbers
used to define a particular tire's width,
height, aspect ratio, construction type,
and service description. See the “Tire
Size” illustration in this section.

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254 Vehicle Care
(3) Tire Identification Number (TIN):
The letters and numbers following the
DOT (Department of Transportation)
code are the Tire Identification Number
(TIN). The TIN shows the manufacturer
and plant code, tire size, and date the
tire was manufactured. The TIN is
molded onto both sides of the tire,
although only one side may have the
date of manufacture.
(4) Maximum Cold Inflation Load
Limit
:Maximum load that can be
carried and the maximum pressure
needed to support that load.
(5) Tire Inflation
:The temporary use
tire or compact spare tire should be
inflated to 420 kPa (60 psi). For more
information on tire pressure and
inflation see Tire Pressure 0257.
(6) Tire Size
:A combination of letters
and numbers define a tire's width,
height, aspect ratio, construction type,
and service description. The letter “T”as
the first character in the tire size means
the tire is for temporary use only. (7) TPC Spec (Tire Performance Criteria
Specification)
:Original equipment tires
designed to GM's specific tire
performance criteria have a TPC
specification code molded onto the
sidewall. GM's TPC specifications meet
or exceed all federal safety guidelines.
Tire Designations
Tire Size
The example shows a typical passenger
vehicle tire size.
Passenger (P-Metric) Tire
(1) Passenger (P-Metric) Tire:The
United States version of a metric tire
sizing system. The letter "P" as the first
character in the tire size means a
passenger vehicle tire engineered to
standards set by the U.S. Tire and Rim
Association. (2) Tire Width
:The 3-digit number
indicates the tire section width in
millimeters from sidewall to sidewall.
(3) Aspect Ratio
:A 2-digit number that
indicates the tire height-to-width
measurements. For example, if the tire
size aspect ratio is 75, as shown in
item (3) of the illustration, it would
mean that the tire's sidewall is
75 percent as high as it is wide.
(4) Construction Code
:A letter code is
used to indicate the type of ply
construction in the tire. The letter "R"
means radial ply construction; the letter
"D" means diagonal or bias ply
construction.
(5) Rim Diameter
:Diameter of the
wheel in inches.
(6) Service Description
:These
characters represent the load index and
speed rating of the tire. The load index
represents the load carrying capacity a
tire is certified to carry. The speed
rating is the maximum speed a tire is
certified to carry a load.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
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Vehicle Care 259
High Speed Operation Inflation Pressures
Tire Size Cold Inflation Pressure kPa (psi)
245/40R19 260 kPa (38 psi)
Return the tires to the recommended cold
tire inflation pressure when high-speed
driving has ended. See Vehicle Load Limits
0 172 and
Tire Pressure 0257.
Tire Pressure Monitor System
The Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS)
uses radio and sensor technology to check
tire pressure levels. The TPMS sensors
monitor the air pressure in your tires and
transmit tire pressure readings to a receiver
located in the vehicle.
Each tire, including the spare (if provided),
should be checked monthly when cold and
inflated to the inflation pressure
recommended by the vehicle manufacturer
on the vehicle placard or tire inflation
pressure label. (If your vehicle has tires of a
different size than the size indicated on the
vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure
label, you should determine the proper tire
inflation pressure for those tires.) As an added safety feature, your vehicle has
been equipped with a tire pressure
monitoring system (TPMS) that illuminates a
low tire pressure telltale when one or more
of your tires is significantly under-inflated.
Accordingly, when the low tire pressure
telltale illuminates, you should stop and
check your tires as soon as possible, and
inflate them to the proper pressure. Driving
on a significantly under-inflated tire causes
the tire to overheat and can lead to tire
failure. Under-inflation also reduces energy
efficiency and tire tread life, and may affect
the vehicle's handling and stopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a
substitute for proper tire maintenance, and
it is the driver's responsibility to maintain
correct tire pressure, even if under-inflation
has not reached the level to trigger
illumination of the TPMS low tire pressure
telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a
TPMS malfunction indicator to indicate when
the system is not operating properly. The
TPMS malfunction indicator is combined
with the low tire pressure telltale. When the
system detects a malfunction, the telltale
will flash for approximately one minute and
then remain continuously illuminated. This
sequence will continue upon subsequent
vehicle start-ups as long as the malfunction
exists.
When the malfunction indicator is
illuminated, the system may not be able to
detect or signal low tire pressure as
intended. TPMS malfunctions may occur for
a variety of reasons, including the
installation of replacement or alternate tires
or wheels on the vehicle that prevent the
TPMS from functioning properly. Always
check the TPMS malfunction telltale after
replacing one or more tires or wheels on

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
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260 Vehicle Care
your vehicle to ensure that the replacement
or alternate tires and wheels allow the
TPMS to continue to function properly.
SeeTire Pressure Monitor Operation 0260.
See Radio Frequency Statement 0308.
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation
This vehicle may have a Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS). The TPMS is
designed to warn the driver when a low tire
pressure condition exists. TPMS sensors are
mounted onto each tire and wheel
assembly, excluding the spare tire and
wheel assembly. The TPMS sensors monitor
the air pressure in the tires and transmit the
tire pressure readings to a receiver located
in the vehicle.
When a low tire pressure condition is
detected, the TPMS illuminates the low tire
pressure warning light located on the
instrument cluster. If the warning light
comes on, stop as soon as possible and inflate the tires to the recommended
pressure shown on the Tire and Loading
Information label. See
Vehicle Load Limits
0 172.
A message to check the pressure in a
specific tire displays in the Driver
Information Center (DIC). The low tire
pressure warning light and the DIC warning
message come on at each ignition cycle
until the tires are inflated to the correct
inflation pressure. Using the DIC, tire
pressure levels can be viewed. For additional
information and details about the DIC
operation and displays see Driver
Information Center (DIC) (Base Level) 095 or
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Uplevel)
0 98.
The low tire pressure warning light may
come on in cool weather when the vehicle is
first started, and then turn off as the vehicle
is driven. This could be an early indicator
that the air pressure is getting low and
needs to be inflated to the proper pressure.
A Tire and Loading Information label,
attached to your vehicle, shows the size of
the original equipment tires and the correct
inflation pressure for the tires when they
are cold. See Vehicle Load Limits 0172, for an example of the Tire and Loading
Information label and its location. Also see
Tire Pressure
0257.
The TPMS can warn about a low tire
pressure condition but it does not replace
normal tire maintenance. See Tire Inspection
0 263, Tire Rotation 0263, and Tires0251.
Caution
Tire sealant materials are not all the
same. A non-approved tire sealant could
damage the TPMS sensors. TPMS sensor
damage caused by using an incorrect tire
sealant is not covered by the vehicle
warranty. Always use only the GM
approved tire sealant available through
your dealer or included in the vehicle.
TPMS Malfunction Light and Message
The TPMS will not function properly if one
or more of the TPMS sensors are missing or
inoperable. When the system detects a
malfunction, the low tire pressure warning
light flashes for about one minute and then
stays on for the remainder of the ignition
cycle. A DIC warning message also displays.
The malfunction light and DIC warning
message come on at each ignition cycle

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Vehicle Care 261
until the problem is corrected. Some of the
conditions that can cause these to come
on are:
.One of the road tires has been replaced
with the spare tire. The spare tire does
not have a TPMS sensor. The malfunction
light and DIC message should go off after
the road tire is replaced and the sensor
matching process is performed
successfully. See“TPMS Sensor Matching
Process” later in this section.
.The TPMS sensor matching process was
not done or not completed successfully
after rotating the tires. The malfunction
light and the DIC message should go off
after successfully completing the sensor
matching process. See "TPMS Sensor
Matching Process" later in this section.
.One or more TPMS sensors are missing or
damaged. The malfunction light and the
DIC message should go off when the
TPMS sensors are installed and the sensor
matching process is performed
successfully. See your dealer for service.
.Replacement tires or wheels do not match
the original equipment tires or wheels.
Tires and wheels other than those recommended could prevent the TPMS
from functioning properly. See
Buying
New Tires 0265.
.Operating electronic devices or being near
facilities using radio wave frequencies
similar to the TPMS could cause the TPMS
sensors to malfunction.
If the TPMS is not functioning properly it
cannot detect or signal a low tire pressure
condition. See your dealer for service if the
TPMS malfunction light and DIC message
come on and stay on.
Tire Fill Alert (If Equipped)
This feature provides visual and audible
alerts outside the vehicle to help when
inflating an underinflated tire to the
recommended cold tire pressure.
When the low tire pressure warning light
comes on: 1. Park the vehicle in a safe, level place.
2. Set the parking brake firmly.
3. Place the vehicle in P (Park).
4. Add air to the tire that is underinflated. The turn signal lamp will flash. When the recommended pressure is
reached, the horn sounds once and the
turn signal lamp will stop flashing and
briefly turn solid.
Repeat these steps for all underinflated tires
that have illuminated the low tire pressure
warning light.
{Warning
Overinflating a tire could cause the tire
to rupture and you or others could be
injured. Do not exceed the maximum
pressure listed on the tire sidewall. See
Tire Sidewall Labeling 0252 and
Vehicle Load Limits 0172.
If the tire is overinflated by more than
35 kPa (5 psi), the horn will sound multiple
times and the turn signal lamp will continue
to flash for several seconds after filling
stops. To release and correct the pressure,
while the turn signal lamp is still flashing,
briefly press the center of the valve stem.
When the recommended pressure is reached,
the horn sounds once.

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262 Vehicle Care
If the turn signal lamp does not flash within
15 seconds after starting to inflate the tire,
the tire fill alert has not been activated or is
not working.
If the hazard warning flashers are on, the
tire fill alert visual feedback will not work
properly.
The TPMS will not activate the tire fill alert
properly under the following conditions:
.There is interference from an external
device or transmitter.
.The air pressure from the inflation device
is not sufficient to inflate the tire.
.There is a malfunction in the TPMS.
.There is a malfunction in the horn or turn
signal lamps.
.The identification code of the TPMS
sensor is not registered to the system.
.The battery of the TPMS sensor is low.
If the tire fill alert does not operate due to
TPMS interference, move the vehicle about
1 m (3 ft) back or forward and try again.
If the tire fill alert feature is not working,
use a tire pressure gauge.
TPMS Sensor Matching Process
Each TPMS sensor has a unique
identification code. The identification code
needs to be matched to a new tire/wheel
position after rotating the vehicle’s tires or
replacing one or more of the TPMS sensors.
The TPMS sensor matching process should
also be performed after replacing a spare
tire with a road tire containing the TPMS
sensor. The malfunction light and the DIC
message should go off at the next ignition
cycle. The sensors are matched to the
tire/wheel positions, using a TPMS relearn
tool, in the following order: driver side front
tire, passenger side front tire, passenger side
rear tire, and driver side rear. See your
dealer for service or to purchase a relearn
tool. A TPMS relearn tool can also be
purchased. See Tire Pressure Monitor Sensor
Activation Tool at
www.gmtoolsandequipment.com or call
1-800-GM TOOLS (1-800-468-6657).
There are two minutes to match the first
tire/wheel position, and five minutes overall
to match all four tire/wheel positions. If it
takes longer, the matching process stops
and must be restarted. The TPMS sensor matching process is:
1. Set the parking brake.
2. Place the vehicle in Service Mode. See Ignition Positions 0175.
3. Make sure the Tire Pressure info page option is turned on. The info pages on
the DIC can be turned on and off
through the Options menu. See Driver
Information Center (DIC) (Base Level)
0 95 or
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Uplevel)
0 98.
4. Use the DIC controls on the right side of the steering wheel to scroll to the Tire
Pressure screen under the DIC info page.
5. Press and hold
Vin the center of the
DIC controls.
The horn sounds twice to signal the
receiver is in relearn mode and the TIRE
LEARNING ACTIVE message displays on
the DIC screen.
6. Start with the driver side front tire.
7. Place the relearn tool against the tire sidewall, near the valve stem. Then press
the button to activate the TPMS sensor.
A horn chirp confirms that the sensor
identification code has been matched to
this tire and wheel position.

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Vehicle Care 263
8. Proceed to the passenger side front tire,and repeat the procedure in Step 7.
9. Proceed to the passenger side rear tire, and repeat the procedure in Step 7.
10. Proceed to the driver side rear tire, and repeat the procedure in Step 7. The horn
sounds two times to indicate the sensor
identification code has been matched to
the driver side rear tire, and the TPMS
sensor matching process is no longer
active. The TIRE LEARNING ACTIVE
message on the DIC display screen
goes off.
11. Turn the vehicle off.
12. Set all four tires to the recommended air pressure level as indicated on the Tire
and Loading Information label.
Tire Inspection
We recommend that the tires, including
the spare tire, if the vehicle has one, be
inspected for signs of wear or damage
at least once a month.
Replace the tire if:
.The indicators at three or more
places around the tire can be seen.
.There is cord or fabric showing
through the tire's rubber.
.The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut,
or snagged deep enough to show
cord or fabric.
.The tire has a bump, bulge, or split.
.The tire has a puncture, cut, or other
damage that cannot be repaired well
because of the size or location of the
damage.
Tire Rotation
Tires should be rotated according to the
interval specified in the Maintenance
Schedule. See Maintenance Schedule
0 290.
Tires are rotated to achieve a more
uniform wear for all tires. The first
rotation is the most important.
Anytime unusual wear is noticed, rotate
the tires as soon as possible, check for
proper tire inflation pressure, and check
for damaged tires or wheels. If the
unusual wear continues after the
rotation, check the wheel alignment. See
When It Is Time for New Tires
0 264 and
Wheel Replacement 0268.
Use this rotation pattern when rotating
the tires.
Do not include the compact spare tire
in the tire rotation.
Adjust the front and rear tires to the
recommended inflation pressure on the
Tire and Loading Information label after
the tires have been rotated. See Tire
Pressure 0257 and
Vehicle Load Limits 0172.