1999 Chevrolet Malibu from North America - Comments

I have a 1999 Chev Malibu, for sale, Any one interested. Cheap!!!

The car was great for the longest time, but like every one else the brakes were the first to go.

In the last 8 months, the temperature light and gauge is reading hot. I removed the thermostast and it is still running hot. It does not over heat ever day, but a least 1 day a week. No one has been able to help me as of yet. Normally the car need to be running for over an hour to get hot, but on other days it will over heat in 10 minutes. Do these cars have two t-stats???

Last week the car stopped dead on the freeway. After A repair bill of $400.00 and the alternator and battery were replaced, I found out that most cars with these computers need electricity to run. Anyway, the Alternator fried the battery and all of the gagues can on as the car stop running.

So today is going to be spent tring to repair the over heating problem.

Wish me luck, I will need it as I own a Malibu.

My understanding is that the overheating can be caused by a poor intake gasket design. It tends to go bad at around 40000 miles or so. do a web search for malibu intake gasket and you'll see. Thousands upon thousands of people have the same problems...

You cannot remove a thermostat. The water passes through the radiator too fast to be cooled properly.

Also, todays engines need a specific temperature to run properly.

To get rid of heat, turn off a/c, turn on heat and open windows; if you are really stuck.

- Also, use anti-freeze, properly mixed, not water.

Meck.

The comment about the Intake gasket failing is most likely the culprit. My 1999 Malibu started doing this and then got MUCH worse. This was a $600 repair. DO NOT let the engine red line, aluminum block engines can warp and ruin other gaskets in the engine.

My 2001 Malibu overheated also. After spending over $700 for a new manifold gasket, it overheated again, spewing out antifreeze again... just like the first time. It turned out to be the cover on the antifreeze overflow tank needed to be replaced. Wish I had known that before spending the $700.