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Chevrolet Malibu Engine Problems

76 messages,  Last post on Oct 26, 2009 at 8:11 PM

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#67 of 76 Re: Intake Manifold Gasket [myvassiliou] by e_net_rider Sep 15, 2009 (3:34 am)
Replying to: myvassiliou (Feb 02, 2008 10:20 am) A couple of years back, I read that GM had three engines that were noted for such problems, the 3.1 and 3.8 being two of them. Ford had two engines with the same numerous complaints, their 3.8 being one of them. Since then, it seems the newer version of the 3.0, the 24 valve version, has joined in with blown head gaskets and cracked heads. For as many years as this has been going on, you'd think they would have fixed it, or is there more money in the short term of doing these repairs after warranty? I read through some of the complaints with the Dex-Cool class action. Some of them were clearly bogus which makes me wonder what the lawyers game is. (As weird as my left rear wheel fell off because of coolant.) This may end up like the class action against the Firestone 500 radials. By time it was settled the average driver would have put over 100K on a 50K tire. Long time replaced and who kept receipts? And I actually had tires made about 10K tires after cut-off and three of them separated, for which they would do nothing. Lawyers will get rich. Replies to this message: Mr_Shiftright (Sep 15, 2009 7:25 am) e_net_rider (Sep 23, 2009 4:18 am)
#68 of 76 Re: 3.6 ltr. V6 ENGINE MISFIRE [maliblues1] by e_net_rider Sep 15, 2009 (4:08 am)
Replying to: maliblues1 (Sep 08, 2009 8:12 am) I'm not sure if they have idiot engineers or the bean counters cause the problem. One thing seems to be certain, that is GM too often tries to save money by reusing assemblies from older vehicles. This might be a case of them trying to convert an engine to DI that just is not meant to do that. Enviromental law changes keep them busy but maybe this was not the time to modify, rather build new. I remember the first fiasco when Environmental laws started. It and the gas shortage of '73 crossed paths. Detroit tried to fix pollution buy adding EGR valves and changing timing of engine which worsened mileage and power at a time of gas shortage. PPP. Also the move to unleaded gas destroyed the valves in older cars. And Chrysler had been putting all its eggs in the power basket where gas guzzling and pollution were the worst, so they nearly went bankrupt. It seems that Ford has been more prone to design from the ground up on newer models since mid-80's which may be why they have not gone bankrupt. It would be interesting to find it is owner loyalty. Ford has not been without problems related to design changes, for sure. A recent one comes to mind where some idiot replaced the differential ring gear made of steel with one made of synthetic to save weight.   Good Luck!
#69 of 76 Re: Intake Manifold Gasket [e_net_rider] by Mr_Shiftright HOST Sep 15, 2009 (7:25 am)
Replying to: e_net_rider (Sep 15, 2009 3:34 am) If you could answer the mystery as to why GM persistently does not repair known defects as soon as possible, but rather let's them run for 4-5 model years, then you should be running the company, because it's been a big problem. Replies to this message: e_net_rider (Sep 23, 2009 4:18 am)
#70 of 76 harmonic balancer by station_dog Sep 22, 2009 (11:17 pm)
Is it normal for the balancer to wobble Replies to this message: gonogo (Sep 23, 2009 7:01 am) e_net_rider (Sep 24, 2009 3:18 am)
#71 of 76 Re: Intake Manifold Gasket [Mr_Shiftright] by e_net_rider Sep 23, 2009 (4:18 am)
Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Sep 15, 2009 7:25 am) Agreed, and the coolant problem runs into other Detroit makes as well. Did Ford discontinue its slogan of "Quality is Job One"? Perhaps I've always been a bit picky about quality, but it went into overdrive while in Vietnam when lives depended upon the quality of my aircraft work. And it has certainly stuck with me. I am not at all like the woman that buys six pairs of shoes because they are on sale and then throws five away to only buy more. Although fewer may be of that mind set because of economics or whatever and that may be part of the crunch Detroit now feels. As large as the automotive industry is, I'd have to say we have a societal problem above all. As to dependability, maybe Detroit has the cheap inkjet printer mentallity. They make their money on ink or Detroit makes it on repairs. I built and worked on Gulfstreams and other aircraft for a number of years and I can easily say most Detroit workers are over compensated. In part I blame the union for that, but then the big bankers and other financial people are extremely overpaid.
#72 of 76 Re: harmonic balancer [station_dog] by gonogo Sep 23, 2009 (7:01 am)
Replying to: station_dog (Sep 22, 2009 11:17 pm) NO.
#73 of 76 Re: harmonic balancer [station_dog] by e_net_rider Sep 24, 2009 (3:18 am)
Replying to: station_dog (Sep 22, 2009 11:17 pm) Depends what you mean by wobble. And the balancer design. I've seen them as a solid cast that is drilled to remove weight for balancing or has added weights. I've seen them with an inner hub and outer separated by a layer of rubber. I've seen much older ones that had weights inside that moved like a pendulum. That was to help at idle and they would achieve there maximum centrifugal force at some RPM above idle. Now that balancers are brought up, I have to wonder if that might be what I hear on neighbors suburban. Damn thing sounds like it is about to throw a rod at idle. I mentioned it to him when vehicle was new. He said he asked dealer and they said it was normal and he listened to several of them there, all making the same deadened clunk like a slapping piston.   If it is wobbling like a bent wheel, then I'd definitely check with dealer. It might be a latest technology where the mounting hole is drilled to match the engine balance. Sounds strange, but that could be the case. Many years ago, one of my Dad's friends bought a vehicle that had no valve stem on the wheel. That blew the mind of many including the mechanics at the garage. Like how the heck did they air the tire up? The dealer told him that a machine was used for mounting the tires on the wheels. It encapsulated both (safety) and pressure inside as the tire was being mounted provided inflation before it was removed. The drilling for the valve stem was done afterwards. I guess that could work, but beware what the dealer tells you too.
#74 of 76 '05 Malibu starter amperage problem by fungus440 Oct 05, 2009 (2:33 am)
I have a 2005 Malibu V-6 with 83K miles. Yesterday afternoon when I started the car, the starter really drew down the electrical to the point that it almost didn't start the car. The battery is 3 years old.   Back from the 60's to the 80's if this happened, it was more than likely the starter drawing too many amps and I'd replace the starter.   But my question is, on a 2005 model car, would it more than likely still be the starter or some other computer/sensor related problem?   It drew so many amps that the clock on the radio re-set to noon. I drove to the grocery store and crossed my fingers when I cranked it up again and it did fine. I'm thinking to replace the starter, just so I don't get stuck.   Thanks for your thoughts. Replies to this message: e_net_rider (Oct 05, 2009 6:59 am)
#75 of 76 Re: '05 Malibu starter amperage problem [fungus440] by e_net_rider Oct 05, 2009 (6:59 am)
Replying to: fungus440 (Oct 05, 2009 2:33 am) With it drawing so hard that the voltage drops to the point that it resets clock, I'd suspect the battery. If you have a battery charger, try charging it, noting the amperage. If the amperage tapers off quickly, say an hour or two or less and you know the battery was low, you know the battery is not taking much of a charge or can not store much of a charge. Bad battery. 3 years might be all you can expect of some original batteries. Look at the battery and see what the life expectancy is. If it is within one year of that, you will probably be better to buy outright one of your choosing that fits the car. The last GM battery I bought was 72 mo. and had a vent because it was under the back seat and close to 800 CCA as I remember. A lot of power stuff. Also had a Mercury diesel with battery in trunk. Same vent requirement and this one was about 1300 CCA. I went through three batteries with that vehicle and all of them lasted slightly longer than the rated life, so I suspect batteries in those locations last longer than one under the hood. Head lights being dim, or going almost totally out when trying to crank are also a good indication of battery, especially if you get the clacking sound of the solenoid. Fords especially, if there is no solenoid clacking, it is likely the starter. Even then, for it to draw so many amps to kill lighting, be careful. You could easily smoke some wiring.
#76 of 76 Re: 2006 Malibu Check engine light/ Therm gauge [06malibune] by soonirise Oct 26, 2009 (8:11 pm)
Replying to: 06malibune (Mar 27, 2009 5:01 am) I was wondering what ever came out of that problem with your temperature gauge. My girl has the same problem with hers. I had the code checked at Autozone (parts store) it said the cooling temperature sensor was bad. I spent the 25 bucks for the sensor, put it in, it still didn't work. I went to Advance auto, spent the $25 on a sensor, put it in, still didn't work. I took some 1000 grade sandpaper sanded the corrosion off the original sensor, put it back in, did not work still. Two days after that, it started working and check engine light went off. Two days later... stopped working. I went online checked the wiring diagram for this car and cannot find anything that would cause this problem other than that sensor. Please let me know what became of your problem and if it was ever fixed.

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