Chevrolet
Malibu Headlight Bulbs Replacement Guide
How to change a burnt out low beam, high
beam or front side marker light bulb in a 2016 to 2023 Chevy Malibu.
2020 Malibu Headlights |
Driver Side 12V Battery |
Driver Side - Easy Access |
This automotive
maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist owners of the ninth
generation 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 GM Chevrolet
Malibu with the Ecotec LFV 1.5L turbocharged I4 engine in changing a burnt
out low beam, high beam or front side marker light bulb.
(The procedure should be the same or very similar for models with the 2.0L and 1.8L engines.) The 9th generation Malibu was supposed to undergo a "facelift" in 2022 or 2023 and the refreshed vehicle may have continued being produced into the 2024 and 2025 model years but it will now apparently be discontinued after the 2023 model year. Owners of other General Motors vehicles from Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac, GMC and Holden such as the Impala, Corvette, Bolt, Sonic, Spark, Express, Trax, TrailBlazer, Equinox, Traverse, Blazer, Tahoe, Suburban, Colorado, Silverado, Cruze, Volt, Camaro, Encore, Envision, Enclave, Regal, LaCrosse, Canyon, Sierra, Terrain, Acadia, Yukon, Savana, XT4, XT5, XT6, Escalade, CT4, CT5, CT6 and Commodore may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful. The compatible replacement light bulb part numbers are as follows: Low Beam # H11, High Beam # 9005 and Front Side Marker # 194. If you'd like to have brighter headlights that will also last much longer before burning out, install some H11 LED, 9005 LED and 194 LED bulbs. The tools needed to access and replace the light bulbs in the passenger side headlight housing include a Phillips head screwdriver and a flat head screwdriver. The light bulbs in the driver side headlight housing are relatively easy to access with out any extra steps. If you need more working area to reach the high beam, you can pull out the windshield washer filler tube. You may also choose to remove the 12V battery. Check out the 2016-2023 Chevrolet Malibu 12V Battery Replacement Guide for instructions on how to take the battery out of the engine bay. The first two steps are to open the hood and then move to the side of the vehicle with the burnt out headlight bulb. For this guide, I'll be replacing the bulbs in the passenger side headlight housing which requires removing the entire engine air filter housing for easier access. |
||
|
||
Passenger Side Housing |
Loosen Counterclockwise |
Six Phillips Head Screws |
Locate the six
Phillips head screws on the top of the engine air filter housing. Loosen the screws by turning them in the counterclockwise direction with the Phillips head screwdriver. The screws are "captured" and should remain attached to the top of the air box cover. |
||
Metal Hose Clamp |
Loosen Counterclockwise |
Lift Air Box Cover |
Loosen the metal
hose clamp that secures the rubber air intake hose to the plastic tube on
the front of the air box housing. Turn the hose clamp fastener in the counterclockwise direction with the flat head screwdriver or you can instead use a socket with a 1/4" drive ratchet. Pull the cover off the top of the air box. |
||
Pry Off Hose Clamp |
Remove Air Box Cover |
Tuck Aside Rubber Hose |
Use the flat head
screwdriver to gently pry the rubber air intake hose off the air box cover. Set the air box cover aside in a safe place. Tuck the rubber air intake hose behind the A/C system's refrigerant pipe. |
||
Remove Engine Air Filter |
Pull Out Bottom Half |
Air Filter Box Removed |
Remove the engine
air filter and set it aside in a safe place. Firmly grasp the bottom half of the air box and pull it out of the engine bay. The bottom half of the air box is held in place by a few rubber friction fasteners. Set the bottom half of the air box aside in a safe place. |
||
Easy Access To Bulbs |
Low Beam - Center |
Round Plastic Dust Cap |
Once the air box
assembly has been removed, you'll have easy access to the light bulbs in the
passenger side headlight housing. The low beam bulb is located near the middle of the housing. Locate the round black plastic dust cover on the back side of the housing. |
||
1/4 Turn Counterclockwise |
Old Low Beam Exposed |
1/4 Turn Counterclockwise |
Rotate the round
black plastic dust cap 1/4 turn in the counterclockwise direction before
pulling it straight off. Set the dust cap aside in a safe place. Rotate the base of the old low beam light bulb 1/4 turn in the counterclockwise direction before pulling it straight out of the housing. |
||
Old Light Bulb Removed |
Push Down Release Tab |
Disconnect Power Plug |
Push down the release button on the electrical connector before sliding it straight off the base of the old low beam light bulb. | ||
Osram H11 12V 55W |
Empty Bulb Housing |
Line Up New Light Bulb |
The OEM (original
equipment manufacturer) low beam bulb was marked as part number Osram H11
12V 55W.
Push the electrical connector on to the base of a new number H11 light bulb. You should feel the power plug "click" securely into place. Try to avoid touching the glass part of the new bulb with your fingers or anything greasy in the engine bay. If you do get the new bulb dirty, wipe it clean with a paper towel and some rubbing alcohol. If you'd like to have brighter low beam lights that will also last much longer before burning out compared to the traditional halogen bulbs, install some compatible replacement H11 LED bulbs. |
||
1/4 Turn Clockwise |
New Low Beam Installed |
Line Up Dust Cover |
Insert the new low
beam bulb into the housing and rotate it 1/4 turn in the clockwise direction
to secure it into place. Line up the round dust cap with the low beam bulb housing. |
||
1/4 Turn Clockwise - Lock |
High Beam - Inner Corner |
Round Plastic Cover |
Twist the dust cap
1/4 turn in the clockwise direction to secure it into place over the low
beam bulb housing. The high beam light bulb is located near the inner edge of the housing. Locate the round black plastic dust cover on the back side of the headlight assembly. |
||
1/4 Turn Counterclockwise |
Old High Beam Exposed |
1/4 Turn Counterclockwise |
Rotate the dust
cover 1/4 turn in the counterclockwise direction before pulling it straight
off. Set the dust cover aside in a safe place. Rotate the base of the old high beam light bulb 1/4 turn in the counterclockwise direction before pulling it straight out of the housing. |
||
Remove Old Light Bulb |
Pull Back Release Tab |
Disconnect Power Plug |
Gently pull back
the tab on the electrical connector to release the retaining clip. Slide the power plug straight off the base of the old high beam light bulb. |
||
Sylvania 9005 LL |
Empty High Beam Housing |
Push Plug On New Bulb |
The OEM high beam
light bulb in this 2020 Malibu LT was a Sylvania 9005 LL.
Push the electrical connector straight on to the base of a new number 9005 halogen light bulb. Avoid touching the glass part of the new halogen bulb with your fingers or anything greasy in the engine bay. If you do get the new bulb dirty, wipe it clean with a paper towel and some rubbing alcohol. If you'd like to have brighter high beam lights, install some compatible replacement 9005 LED bulbs. |
||
1/4 Turn Clockwise - Lock |
New High Beam Installed |
Cap 1/4 Turn Clockwise |
Insert the new high
beam light bulb into the housing and rotate it 1/4 turn in the clockwise
direction to secure it in place. Twist on the dust cover 1/4 turn in the clockwise direction to secure it into place. |
||
Side Marker - Outer Edge |
Black Plastic Tab Handle |
1/4 Turn Counterclockwise |
The front side
marker light is located at the outer edge of the headlight assembly. Look behind the headlight housing and locate the flat black plastic tab or "handle" for the side marker light bulb socket situated next to the low beam bulb dust cover. Rotate the tab on the side marker socket 1/4 turn in the counterclockwise direction before pulling it straight out of the housing. |
||
Side Marker Bulb Socket |
Pull Out Old Light Bulb |
Push In New Light Bulb |
Pull the old light
bulb straight out of the socket. If you have trouble removing the old light bulb from the socket due to rust, sand or other debris, try gently wiggling it back and forth while pulling it straight out. Push a new number 194 miniature wedge base light bulb straight into the socket. If you'd like to have brighter front side marker lights, install some compatible replacement 194 LED bulbs. |
||
Side Marker Housing |
1/4 Turn Clockwise, Lock |
Line Up Bottom Air Box |
Re-insert the bulb
socket into the housing and rotate it 1/4 turn in the clockwise direction to
secure it into place. If you installed any LED bulbs, I highly recommend testing the lights before you replace the engine air filter housing. If your LED bulbs don't work, try disconnecting the power plug and rotate it 180 degrees before pushing it back on to the bulb. Some LED bulbs are "polarized" and will only work when the "+" positive and "-" negative electrical contacts are in the correct orientation. Lower the bottom half of the air box down into the engine bay. |
||
Push Down Air Box |
Bottom Half Secured |
Replace Engine Air Filter |
Push down on the
bottom half of the air box to secure the rubber friction fasteners. Replace the engine air filter element. The pleats should be facing down and the metal wire mesh screen should be facing up towards you. |
||
Line Up Two Tabs - Front |
Lower Air Box Cover |
Push On Air Intake Tube |
Line up the two
plastic tabs on the front edge of the air box cover with their corresponding
slots on the bottom half of the air box.
Slide the tabs into their slots and lower the air box cover down into place. Push the rubber air intake hose over the plastic tube on the front edge of the air box. |
||
Tighten Hose Clamp |
Tighten Screws Clockwise |
Six Phillips Screws |
Tighten the hose
clamp by turning the fastener in the clockwise direction with the flat head
screwdriver until it is snug. Make sure the rubber air intake hose is securely attached and can not be pulled off the air box. Tighten the six screws on the air box cover by turning them in the clockwise direction with the Phillips head screwdriver. |
||
Air Box Re-Installed |
Test New Low Beam |
Testing New High Beam |
To test the new
light bulbs, turn on the headlights and flash the high beams.
The front turn signal light bulb is located down below in a separate housing attached to the front bumper cover. If you need to replace it, check out the 2016-2023 Chevrolet Malibu Front Turn Signal Light Bulb Replacement Guide. Be sure to write down the bulb change in your car's service records. Please check out all of the
2016-2023 GM Chevrolet Malibu DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides. |
If you found this guide to be helpful,
please consider making a small donation by clicking on the PayPal.com
"Donate" button located to the right of this paragraph. Thank you!
(Note: I am not a registered charity. Donations are not tax deductible.) |
Copyright 2024 © PaulsTravelPictures.com
All Rights Reserved ®
Paul's Travel Pictures is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. |