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Chevrolet Malibu Climate Control/AC Issues

151 messages,  Last post on Mar 05, 2012 at 11:02 AM

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What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Malibu, Chevrolet Malibu SS, Heating / Cooling, Sedan

Messages Page 2 of 16

#7 of 151 AC Problem I think!!!! by jason992477

Feb 07, 2005 (6:46 pm)

Srry that post b4 I hit enter on accident! New Keyboard! I noticed today when I was fixing to drive my 2002 Chevrolet Malibu home from work that when I pushed the AC button on, and pushed the Recirculation button on that the AC was cutting itself on and off... I noticed when I looked on the RPM gauge on the left it was going up and down abnormally like it was skipping! Well I know it wasn't because I just got the car 2 weeks ago on monday 3rd week having it. I looked down and told my passenger to look, and sure enough the little green light was not exactly flashing but was comming on and off and I noticed that the RPM guage went down when light came on and when it went off it went up... I guess im screwed for this car, its financed till '09 and wondering becuase I already have a radio problem like I said from earlier posting and this cars not got but 32 thousand on it. Does anyone know why the AC was going on and off like that?! Then after I tried it a 3rd time it stayed on and then I eventually just turned it off a minute later because I was scared something maybe shorting out or whatnot! E2helper or ANYONE whos ever experienced this please let me know!!! Also if anyone knows why my back speaker was going in and out erratically while driving let me know too, I took it in on saturday and had the radio repair guy look at it, since he looked at it the radio speaker hasn't acted up but my right front door speaker is not working period!
 
if anyone out there who knows anything on these two subjects let me know I am worried this car maybe falling apart on me!
Thankx!

#8 of 151 Re: AC Problem I think!!!! [jason992477] by jerrywimer

Feb 08, 2005 (6:09 am)

Replying to: jason992477 (Feb 07, 2005 6:46 pm)
I'm with chrpai on this. My '97 did the same thing, and it only got worse with time. It never caused an issue as far as worries over shorting or other electrical problems. We did find that it actually does cut the A/C completely off when it goes out though. I'd be driving down the road on a 95+ F day with the A/C going and suddenly stop feeling cool air. When we looked down, sure enough the light had gone out.
 
As far as the cost to fix it goes, I have no idea, because I traded the car off in 2003 without ever having fixed the issue. The problem had been happening for about a year, and I had already decided it was cheaper to just keep turning the thing back on when it cut off than replacing the control head, especially after discussing it with my local Chevy dealer's service department.

#9 of 151 Re: AC Problem I think!!!! [jerrywimer] by chrpai

Feb 08, 2005 (9:47 am)

Replying to: jerrywimer (Feb 08, 2005 6:09 am)
My system had the blinking A/C light again after the unit was replaced. The second time around it also got the fan speeds 1 and 2 stop working problem. There was also something with my system that when the A/C cut out the air smelled stale. So I knew immeadiatly when the system kicked out. I'd then cycle the fan off and on then hit the button to turn the A/C back on.
 
I drove 45 minutes to work and sometimes I'd have to do this several times in a row and sometimes i wouldn't have to do it at all.
 
I traded the car in and didn't disclose the problem. I figured the dealer ought to be expecting it to be broke anyways as common as this problem was.

#10 of 151 Climate control problem - buttons on console by ge_malibu

Jun 08, 2005 (1:18 pm)

My Malibu has a problem where I have to constantly press the AC button intermittantly. It goes off by itself.
 
Same thing happens with the recirculate button. Button goes off and switches to the other mode.
 
If I stick a coin under the button to hold it in on the on position it stays most of the time.
 
I took the climate control unit off and made sure the vacumn hoses were on securely.
 
Ideas?
 
Thanks,

#11 of 151 Re: Climate control problem - buttons on console [ge_malibu] by tarmen

Jun 10, 2005 (4:47 am)

Replying to: ge_malibu (Jun 08, 2005 1:18 pm)
This is a common problem. Look at the previous older messages in this forum concerning this issue. There was a great deal of chatter concerning it awhile back. I have a 98 Malibu, and experienced the same problem. I was able to obtain a home fix suggestion, but opted to just replace the HVAC dash control unit (I think it was around $130, do a little searching at, for instance, at http://www.parts.com and you may be able to get it cheaper). It was very easy to do myself, just pop the old out, and put in the replacement. Took about 20 minutes, and I have had no problems for over a year.
 
Anyway, the on-line "home fix" is available at:
http://www.imcool.com/articles/aircondition/AC_ControllersAreRepairable.pdf
 
Can't tell you how well this fix is, but I hope it helps.
 
Later

#12 of 151 AC Control Problems by rdtaylor1

Jun 10, 2005 (1:12 pm)

I own a 2001 Malibu LS and owned a 1998 Malibu LS. Both cars have had AC control head failures approx. every one to two years. I had two replacements from 1998 - 2001 on the 1998 model and now have experienced a third failure within four years on the 2001 model. An Internet search also indicates that the problem is common to this model starting with the 1997 model year.
 
I've called to complain to the dealer, who referrred me to the GM consumer hotline. 800-222-1020. If you've experienced this problem also, contact GM and raise hell so that a product recall can be initiated (after Delco fixes the faulty ('dirty') contact problem.

#13 of 151 Re: AC Control Problems [rdtaylor1] by malibu_aches

Jul 21, 2005 (8:46 pm)

Replying to: rdtaylor1 (Jun 10, 2005 1:12 pm)
Better yet - print and keep a copy of the following. Takes a lot less time than bitching out the dealer and having to take aspirin after...
 
Instructions for cleaning the AC control unit for chevy malibu...
 
http://www.imcool.com/articles/aircondition/AC_ControllersAreRepairable.pdf

#14 of 151 Re: AC Control Problems [malibu_aches] by isp_bane

Jul 26, 2005 (1:21 pm)

Replying to: malibu_aches (Jul 21, 2005 8:46 pm)
I've been frustrated by this problem for a few years myself ('98 Malibu). This solution worked like a charm. I'd like to kick the dealer repair shop guy in the twins that charged me $70 to look at it way back when and then said it's just the Texas heat that it can't maintain cooling constantly.
 
Thanks for this post!

#15 of 151 HVAC problem by masteryoda

Jun 18, 2005 (8:40 am)

Hey everybody, on my wife's 2000 Malibu LS, all of a sudden, when we try to turn on AC nothing happens, the same thing for the heat. Is that because of the dead blowing motor or some sort of electrical malfunction? THursday, everything was working just fine....

#16 of 151 Re: HVAC problem [masteryoda] by dave1951

Jul 04, 2005 (8:07 am)

Replying to: masteryoda (Jun 18, 2005 8:40 am)
Chronic problem with blower resistor, speeds 1 and 2. Another chronic problem with the a/c switch. My mechanic charged $80 to fix both (probably double at a dealer)

Messages Page 2 of 16

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