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Chevrolet Malibu Engine Problems

110 messages,  Last post on Aug 25, 2012 at 5:03 PM

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What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Malibu, Engine

Messages Page 11 of 12

#93 of 110 Re: 2002 malibu moneypit [pao] by jodi7

Feb 14, 2011 (8:06 am)

Replying to: pao (Feb 14, 2011 6:57 am)
All except the battery and tires were an effort to repair the intermittant starting problem, I've also replaced the oil pump switch to no avail. Chevy Malibu's of this year are notorious for having multiple issues, and even though this car currently has 150K, head gaskets should not be blowing, again this is a problem that chevy's seem to inherently have. I've driven many a Ford, a chevy Beretta, and dodge trucks well over the 200K mark and other than routine replacements, tires, alternators, starters, exhausts, never had as many problems with a car. Google Chevy malibu and you will see hundreds of complaints of issues particularly with the early 2000's model.

#94 of 110 Re: 2002 malibu moneypit [jodi7] by gonogo

Feb 14, 2011 (8:59 am)

Replying to: jodi7 (Feb 14, 2011 8:06 am)
Should have googled before you bought.

#95 of 110 Re: 2002 malibu moneypit [gonogo] by kirstie_h HOST

Feb 14, 2011 (9:03 am)

Replying to: gonogo (Feb 14, 2011 8:59 am)
That's pretty unhelpful.
 
Additionally, if this member purchased the vehicle new, there'd not have been any info on long-term reliability and problems, unless he/she has a time machine allowing him/her to zip straight to 2011.

#96 of 110 Re: 2002 malibu moneypit [kirstie_h] by pao

Feb 15, 2011 (6:12 am)

Replying to: kirstie_h (Feb 14, 2011 9:03 am)
Kirstie....post #91 states the poster bought the car used about a year ago...so he in fact purchased a 8 year old car with Im betting over 100k on it when purchased...

#97 of 110 Re: 2002 malibu moneypit [pao] by jodi7

Feb 16, 2011 (11:51 am)

Replying to: pao (Feb 15, 2011 6:12 am)
The car had 43,126 miles on it when I purchased it.

#98 of 110 Re: 2002 malibu moneypit [gonogo] by jodi7

Feb 16, 2011 (11:55 am)

Replying to: gonogo (Feb 14, 2011 8:59 am)
If hindsight were 20/20 I would have googled Deloreans, Confederate money, and Jack-a-lope breeding partnerships before investing in them but alas its not. Still doesn't change the fact that Chevy Malibu's are about as good an investment.

#99 of 110 Re: 2002 malibu moneypit [jodi7] by pao

Feb 17, 2011 (5:50 am)

Replying to: jodi7 (Feb 16, 2011 11:51 am)
wow..that is less that 5k a year...hardly driven as a matter of fact...and wondering how the maintenance was handled...regular oil changes etc....I've always wondered if a car isnt driven enough over its life span..does that also contribute to long term maintenance issues.....
 
regardless, hope you can get the issues corrected....

#100 of 110 Re: 2002 malibu moneypit [pao] by jodi7

Feb 17, 2011 (6:26 am)

Replying to: pao (Feb 17, 2011 5:50 am)
It was kept as a second car and had regular maintenance, according to manufacturers specs. (yes, I've seen the records) Heck, I'd be happy if we could just figure out the intermittant starting issue... At this point, assuming I want to put more $$$ into this car we'll probably have the coolant system flushed, do a tune-up, switch out the distributor cap and air, oil, filters, fuel filter was swapped at the fuel pump exchange. I really wish GM had come up with a way to disengage the pass lock system because I think that is the cause but there is no way to disengage it.
Its an interesting question, my brother was a mechanic (he's deceased now) and he always said it doesn't really matter how MUCH a car is driven just HOW its driven...I don't think this car was beat on it.
Thanks-me too.

#101 of 110 Re: 2002 malibu moneypit [jodi7] by e_net_rider

Feb 17, 2011 (6:49 am)

Replying to: jodi7 (Feb 17, 2011 6:26 am)
If you are a very short distance driver you might want to step up oil changes. My sister had a 70's T-Bird which she drove 2.5 miles to work. With less than 30K the engine was declared bad. That distance was never enough to warm the engine, especially in WI winters. By 3K the oil was apparently diluted with gas and other combustion products. She probably should have changed about every 500 miles or at least 4 times a year.

#102 of 110 2004 malibu- engine dies but will restart, rpm fluctates by 3mlk

Jun 10, 2011 (11:46 am)

Hi, we bought a used 2004 malibu that had 71,000 miles and had it 2 days before my 16 yr old daughter cracked the oil pan and drove it until it locked up. We bought a manufactured rebuilt 4 cyl 2.2 Echo engine same size that the car had from another malibu that had 65,000 original miles on it. Once installed the car would run ok for a while then it would die every so often like at a stop light or when you are parking. We took to 2 different Chevy dealers and nobody could figure out what was wrong because no codes where being thrown. So we had the fuel pump replaced and had new fuel relay switches put in and it ran ok for awhile but then started to die again. The car always starts back up after it dies. The other day when we replaced the relay switch again, my husband could not even touch the switch to change it because it was so hot. The rpm gauges also fluctuates when this is happening. Yesterday when my daughter was driving the car she said it was like she was giving it gas but that the car was not getting any gas then it would all the sudden surge like it got gas again. This has been going on for 11 months now and nobody can figure this out even after new fuel pump and relays. We have been told maybe there is a short in the wires to fuel pump from relay, maybe electronic injector is clogged up, and that they have no idea just live with it. It seems to be happening more often now. Please any help you could give would be greatly appreciated. Do not want her to be in bad wreck because car keeps dying. Thanks, Melissa

Messages Page 11 of 12

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