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Chevrolet Malibu Maxx Engine Questions

88 messages,  Last post on Jul 15, 2011 at 2:40 PM

You are in the Chevrolet Malibu Maxx Forum.

What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Malibu Maxx, Engine, Hatchback

Messages Page 9 of 9

#79 of 88 Malbu Maxx (Or Malibu) Fuel Type/Octane by tothemaxx2

Oct 14, 2006 (10:49 pm)

All right, I was told to leave the Malibu Maxx discussion with this side-bar on fuel octane. Here was my last post:
 
"I guess I started a good thread with my initial reply on octane. I agree pretty much with all the threads, and will probably go to regular instead of mid-grade on our Malibu. However, there is still a detergent difference between grades on at least SOME gasoline. I do not know for sure on Top Tier, and the earlier post may be correct that all Top Tier has the same. I will investigate further with those I know in the oil industry. I do know something from my own experience. With my Volvo turbo, if I do not use premium, I get carbon deposits on the valves which cause a problem. And the car does lose power. Engineers I knew at Shell years ago had told me to watch for excess carbon build-up with lower grades on some engines. With that in mind I used nothing but premium on my 1971 Pinto (yes the exploding car) for over twenty years. Got 325,000 miles on it and only did one valve job, at 190,000 miles. So there is evidence that still leads me to higher grade gas. Also, it has been shown in many tests that you do get better gas mileage with higher grades."
 
What do others have to say about fuel octane. As discussed above, I really do believe octane makes a performance difference. I have primarily used premium in all my cars, and have obtianed better life that "normal" life on cars for more than 30 years. What do others say?

#80 of 88 Re: Malbu Maxx (Or Malibu) Fuel Type/Octane [tothemaxx2] by csandste

Oct 14, 2006 (11:19 pm)

Replying to: tothemaxx2 (Oct 14, 2006 10:49 pm)
As I said before we were all so rudely interrupted by closing down the general Maxx board. No real advantage, especially if you use a top tier fuel. I find BP to be especially egregious in trying to pimp high octane fuels by cutting detergency on regular.
 
Now for the real reason I responded again. I don't know about the rest of you but splintering all of these forums is a big mistake IMHO. What kind of legs will this board have? Ten posts and it'll drop off the page in no time.
 
The big mistake is when the new 'Bu and the old Classic model were mixed on the board. That plugged up all of the non-Maxx boards with comments about 02 classic bu's. At least the Maxx board stayed pure.
 
By mixing the Maxx and the sedan 'Bu you no longer have access to the Maxx through hatchback or wagon boards. I've fought over Edmunds decision to make the Maxx a wagon instead of a hatch. Whatever it is, the mixing of the Maxx and the failure to recognize it as a hatch was bad marketing on the part of GM and (now) Edmunds. I want my Maxx board back!

#81 of 88 Methanol and Ethanol by maxxhawkeye

Mar 28, 2007 (11:39 am)

Can someone please clear something up for me and settle a bet. My father-in-law says that because the manual for my Maxx says not to use methanol for fuel, I should also not be using ethanol. I claimed to him that the two are different but he says that the ethanol blend fuel here in Iowa has the same negative effects on my engine and fuel systems. Can someone please clear this up for me?

#82 of 88 Re: Methanol and Ethanol [maxxhawkeye] by mybooo

Mar 28, 2007 (2:08 pm)

Replying to: maxxhawkeye (Mar 28, 2007 11:39 am)
Hello fellow Iowan! I am in Waterloo. But, I haad used ethanol (10%) in our Maxx, and I got about 3 or 4 mpg LESS than the regular 87 gas. Even with 87 being a few cents more, it is still cheaper for me to use the 87 NON ethanol. I tried the same test on my previous car, and had the same results. So I don't use ethanol. Where ya from?

#83 of 88 Re: Methanol and Ethanol [mybooo] by maxxhawkeye

Mar 28, 2007 (7:10 pm)

Replying to: mybooo (Mar 28, 2007 2:08 pm)
I live in Ankeny. Actually my wife and I just traded our two vehicles for two new used ones last Thursday night. She used to drive a '00 Ford Windstar SEL w/ 118,000 miles, loaded w/ leather interior. I was, and always have for as long as I have known my wife, driven the "beater" car. I have driven many different ones, but this one was a '95 Ford Contour w/ 90,000 miles. I got the Maxx, which I LOVE!! '05, dark metallic blue and loaded. The only option I don't think it has is the 6 disc changer. It only has one disc capability. She got a 2003 Toyota Prius, loaded. Toyota of Des Moines made us a pretty sweet deal on a two car trade, especially since one was a domestic and they don't have much market for them since most people who go there are looking for a Toyota.
 
So the 10% ethanol isn't "bad" for my engine, but it doesn't have the performance of a non-ethanol gas?
 
Talk again later!! Go Hawks!

#84 of 88 Re: Methanol and Ethanol [maxxhawkeye] by mybooo

Mar 29, 2007 (9:21 am)

Replying to: maxxhawkeye (Mar 28, 2007 7:10 pm)
You got it! There are some benifits to ethanol in the winter I guess, but I have had better luck with the 87 non ethanol. Nice cars ya got! Congrats!

#85 of 88 got the BCM flashed by kurtamaxxxguy

Jun 29, 2007 (9:39 pm)

with the recent lukewarm-start programming fix.
Engine seems to start more reliabily, but it's still early into the repair.

#87 of 88 "Check Gas Cap" message by rdesantis

Feb 10, 2011 (12:52 pm)

The "check gas cap" icon came on on my 2005 Maxx system monitor after i filled up the tank last week. Of course the first thing I did was go aroung the car and tighten the cap. It evidently did not go off. Frustrated, I hit the arrow button under the menu key and it cleared the message until next start up. The chime and message appeared for the next start ups. the manual only suggested to tighten the cap and the message should dissapear. I went to the dealer to see if I could get a quick tip. THe service advisor suggested that I clean the inside of the cap. Worked great. Here is what i did;
 
Sprayed the inside gasket of the gas cap with carb and choke cleaner to break down the dirt. noticed right away that the dirt broke right down, wiped clean with a rag. Then sprayed the metal that the gas cap fastens to and wiped with steel whole to break down dirt. wiped clean and tightened gas cap back on. Started car messaged did not appear and has not since i cleaned it. Happy motoring!

#88 of 88 Hard start and/or BCM issue? by curs

Jul 15, 2011 (2:40 pm)

I've gone through and read the majority of the threads and find that my "issue" (or set of issues) might appear to be related to the BCM. I will be cross posting this in the Electrical/Lighting, Climate Control/AC and Fuel System discussions since it touches a bit into each area.
 
I have a 2004 Maxx with just at 70K miles on it. Since I purchased it at 40K miles I've had the following issue:
 
Car will do the infamous "hard start" where it will sound like it is going to start but won't turn over fully until I give it a bit of gas. Seems to happen most often will gas is half a tank or lower and/or it's super hot outside.
 
However, I have a special bonus of when it does this my A/C will turn on and blow but the air it blows is not cooled. Problem in the summer. Also when it does this (in the winter) my rear window defrost/defog won't turn on.
 
Beyond that I am having cruise control issues that started at about 65K miles. When I first start the car if I engage the cruise control within about 5 miles or 5 minutes, it will engage just fine. However, once I have to disengage (step on the break, hit the off button) it will not allow me to resume OR reset the cruise control until I have put the car in park (for just a few seconds) or restarted it.
 
Beyond that one night a friend who was traveling behind me mentioned my CHMSL was flickering and now it is out entirely. I've read that can be BCM related.
 
I have an appointment next week to have diagnostics run on the car at $100/hour. Before I walk into that expense, can anyone give me any thoughts or even suggestions at how much replacing a BCM would cost. One place told me $80 for the part and then labor to program it (which has to be done at a dealer???) and another place told me I might need to replace the whole grid (?) at a cost of around $2K but even just the BCM being $800.
 
To replace the CHMSL is $110 but I don't want to do that if it's not the part but the BCM that is the issue.

Messages Page 9 of 9

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