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Chevrolet Malibu Steering/Suspension

236 messages,  Last post on Apr 29, 2013 at 11:18 AM

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What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Malibu, Chevrolet Malibu SS, Steering, Suspension, Sedan

    
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Messages Page 22 of 24

#211 of 236 Money Pit! by eddie92

Oct 02, 2011 (12:28 pm)

2001 Chevy Malibu LS is now a huge money pit. Purchased the car new in 2001 and is costing me an arm and a leg just to keep it on the road. Unfortunately I have no choice at the moment. So here's my problem. . . The steering was working fine but the pump was starting to make some noise. After a check up my mechanic recommended I replace the rack/pinion because it was leaking oil from the seals. The pump was also replaced. Now I'm having issues with the steering getting tough after the car warms up. Took it back to the shop and they re-bled the system. Again, steering feels great up until I get 3 or 4 miles into my trip and "wham" starts to get tough again. Very dangerous because I would never be able to steer quickly in an emergency. It's back in the shop and it seems like my mechanic is clueless as to the problem. Any thoughts, opinions, suggestion (other than "drive it into the nearest lake") would be greatly, greatly appreciated. Ed

#212 of 236 Re: 2005 Malibu Max LT [ihatemymalibu] by ivy12

Dec 18, 2011 (4:02 pm)

Replying to: ihatemymalibu (May 25, 2010 1:27 am)
i have a 2004 malibu lt with electronic assist power steering and power steering periodically goes out resulting in extremely difficult to steer car. if i pull off the road, turn off the car, then turn it back on, steering returns. i have read other's comments and many have said they have same problem. would you have address to nhtsa so i could file complaint. also phone numer where i could contact gm. also i was able to find a power steering assembly to put into the car and was wondering if any certified mechanic could install or just a chevy dealership had to install. also i am now getting a whirring noise that sounds like coming from under dash and was told by chevy service dept. that this is probably the p. s. assembly. any assist you could be would be appreciated. my name is ivy. thanks

#213 of 236 Re: 2005 Malibu Max LT [ivy12] by pao

Dec 19, 2011 (9:07 am)

Replying to: ivy12 (Dec 18, 2011 4:02 pm)
if you have the first redesigned MY 04 malibu, you dont have a power steering assmbly....its an electronic assist steering column....thus no assembly like the normal power steering you may be use too...if it continues to go out, it may simply need a reflash of the ECM. Most times its a complete failure of the column resulting in the problem you describe which isnt normally correctable with turning the engine on and off....that what leads me to think it may be an ECM issue.
 
You can google the NHTSA and file the complaint....you might try contacting GM for assistance, however with a 8 year old MY car now, I doubt you will get any help....what yours mileage? I have a 04 Maxx LT with 195K on it which I just handed down to my stepson....lucky to have had no problems at all with the car.

#214 of 236 2004 malibu power steering by jcwilkens

Jan 05, 2012 (3:13 pm)

I have a 2004 Malibu . The power steering goes out with out any warning. SIf i turn the car off and back on, sometime it is ok. When this happens it is bery difficult to steer. my mechanic has looked and cannot find anything. This started happening when it had about 30K miles and has continued on and off since. I now have 50K miles and it is happening more.

#215 of 236 Re: 2004 malibu power steering [jcwilkens] by pao

Jan 05, 2012 (7:01 pm)

Replying to: jcwilkens (Jan 05, 2012 3:13 pm)
do a search here for electronic assisted steering...there are a set of contacts on the column that sometimes cause issues...there were cases of the contacts getting dirty and not working properly as I recall....do the search and see what you can find....I was fortunate...no problems with my steering column after 195K

#216 of 236 2008 Chevy Malibu Power Steering by gigi169

Jan 13, 2012 (6:58 pm)

I have 65,000 miles on this car. I was turning today in a parking lot and thought I heard something pop but obviously everything seemed to be okay except my power steering went out and it showed it on the computer on my dashboard. Obviously I didn't know this car had electronic power steering so I raised the hood looking for where you would put power steering fluid and obviously I didn't see it. So I pulled out my manual and it said the 4 cyl Malibu's have electronic power steering. If you have a problem with it to take it in. This is the first time this has happened to me so I closed the hood, turned off the engine and waited. I started the car back up within five minutes and everything was back to normal. Is there a recall on this power steering that I missed or something? It seems as though reading other posts that this car has been having this problem for quite a while. Any suggestions?

#217 of 236 Re: 2004 malibu power steering [pao] by rhartm412

Jan 14, 2012 (7:35 am)

Replying to: pao (Jan 05, 2012 7:01 pm)
GM issued a recall for the '05 malibu maxx for a steering related issue. it probably applies to the '04 also.

#218 of 236 Re: 2004 malibu power steering [pao] by gonogo

Jan 14, 2012 (8:59 am)

Replying to: pao (Jan 05, 2012 7:01 pm)
Dorman sells the replacement torque sensor if anyone has to courage to change one, before that full column replacement only.

#219 of 236 Re: 2004 malibu power steering [pao] by eileen7

Jan 14, 2012 (10:33 am)

Replying to: pao (Jan 05, 2012 7:01 pm)
I had the steering column replaced in sept 2009 ($700 which Chevy refused to reimburse any of). So far (Jan 2012), no further problems.

#220 of 236 Re: 2008 Chevy Malibu Power Steering [gigi169] by christye

Aug 04, 2012 (6:28 pm)

Replying to: gigi169 (Jan 13, 2012 6:58 pm)
We got a letter from Chevy dated June 2012 and it was for the Power steering issue that you are having. if you need a copy I will send you a copy via email. so far we have had no problems, we have had ours 5 years and have a little over 80K miles and just changed the front brakes for the first time so I was happy about that. But of course as soon as I said that we have had really good luck with the car and I didnt knock on woodwe are just now starting to have issues with the tire pressure sensors and the turn signal switch is busted and I dont see any recall info on it. Cant wait to pay it off! I really like Chevy's But this stinks!

Messages Page 22 of 24

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