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03.29.2020
TPMS Diagnostic Information – Chevrolet Malibu, 2008-2020
Over the next couple of months, we will be reviewing the best-selling Cars, SUVs, Minivans, and Trucks of 2019. During the month of March, we will focus on the best-selling cars in 2019 in the United States.
After the TREAD Act was mandated in 2007, all vehicles manufactured in the United States beginning in 2008, must be installed with direct or indirect TPMS systems.
The Chevrolet Malibu is manufactured with a direct TPMS system. Direct TPMS has TPMS sensors are installed in the wheel; if one or more tires indicate low tire pressure, the TPMS sensors will transfer the information to the vehicle’s ECU. An indicator light (low-line TPMS system) or each tire pressure will show on the dash (high-line TPMS system). A TPMS relearn is recommended after a sensor replacement or tire rotation.
The video shows the Chevy Trax, but the same procedure will work with a Chevy Malibu.
Tip 1:
Lowering the driver’s side window may help to complete this process if the relearn fails.
Tip 2:
The owner’s manual on the Chevy Malibu states, “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.”
If the horn chirps twice before all steps have been performed or sensors have been activated, the relearn procedure most likely has failed and the IDs did not transfer correctly, which means the procedure has to start over again.
The solution? For most Chevrolet vehicles, the bonus OBD relearn procedure is available for the ATEQ VT56 and VT46 brands, thanks to patented Sync-ID technology. This advanced feature allows the user to perform an OBD relearn to turn the light off, with minimal to no driving time required to turn the light off, saving the technician time and the customer labor costs. It takes two minutes or less to perform an OBD relearn procedure on a Chevy Impala, and requires just one relearn procedure to memorize for various vehicle Makes.
Tip 3:
Chevy recommends rotating tires every 7,500 miles (12 000 kilometers). Tire rotation helps with even wear for all tires and is important for balanced handling on the road, which can extend the life of tires and save money in the long-run. When tires are rotated, Chevy recommends resetting the TPMS system by performing a TPMS relearn to transfer the new location of the TPMS sensors to the vehicle’s ECU. It is also recommended to do a TPMS reset after a wheel or sensor replacement.
Use the VT56 or VT46 branded tools to change placard pressure for the Chevrolet Malibu, years 2008-2020, if upsizing tires/wheels, also when replacing with off-road tires or low-profile tires.
Please note: to determine appropriate placard pressure, always follow the tire load and inflation standards. Maintain the overall circumference to +/-3% of the original size, and the required load rating located on the manufacturing placard. Always refer to the vehicle’s owner’s manual for any specific safety advice regarding the application of replacement tires.
Use the VT56 to retrieve Chevrolet TPMS DTC codes for direct TPMS systems by selecting the “Service” icon. After selecting the Make, Model, and Year select the DTC code icon. Use the OBDII module to retrieve the Chevrolet DTC TPMS information to diagnose and service the TPMS issues determined.
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