Comments: 1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-60, 61-66
I have a 2000 Chevy Malibu and I have had similar problems to many of the posted comments, such as my A/C control not working at 1 and 2, and brakes. I replaced it and it's working now.
One major problem I have, and can't figure out, is once I am on a hill and I accelerate the gas, it starts to hesitate back and forth. Can anyone tell me what this is or how I can fix it?
I have a 2001 Malibu and it has been a fairly reliable car up until I hit about 60,000 miles. It has always had the infamous engine knock in cold weather. We noticed the surging when going up hills while cruise control on. Not the normal associated with cruise control and hills, but rather rpms would surge, but speed slowed. Then we noticed that wonderful little "check engine" light which has resulted in having to replace the O2 sensor, catalytic converter... and now after just 5 months, the "check engine light" is on again!!!
Hello, I purchased my 2000 Malibu with 15,000 miles on it. I too have notice several of the same things. Here we go.
*Turn signals stopped working half of the time. There was a recall, and they were replaced.
* A/C turns on and off whenever it pleases, and I constantly need to press the button to turn on the A/C again. Annoying in 115 degree weather.
* Leakage of oil in the coolant system. we replaced all gaskets, and flushed the coolant system. Later finding out that there was a bulletin out to all GM dealerships that different screws and torque value needed to be changed on the intake manifolds. Still have coolant missing, and needing to be filled constantly.
*SURGING PROBLEMS WHILE DRIVING. ONCE I GET TO 2000-2100 RPM AND GOING UP A HILL THE CAR STARTS TO SURGE BACK AND FORTH 200-300 RPM'S! Hearing what are possible solutions, we will look into that.
* Piston tapping since I had it. I have been told that is normal for the 3.1 liter V6 in the Malibu.
Don't get me wrong. Hearing from what other Malibu owners have been talking about. I feel blessed to know my car doesn't have as much problems. The surging is the only thing that really concerns me. the engine sounds strong, but I am annoyed my the surging. I have a friend with a computer reader that will help me figure out what the Check Engine light is telling me.
Has anyone solved the surging problem, if so, please post for all of us, that are concerned about the surging.
Thank you.
I own a 2000 Chevrolet Malibu LS with 52002 miles. I had just bought it last Sunday, which is exactly when things began. After leaving the dealer with my family and about leaving Fry's, as I shifted out of park into reverse, the surges began. It at least has surged/slipped 11 times for the one week that I have had it. It is now in the shop for the dealer to duplicate it and to fix the window that they had cracked upon test driving it. I am frustrated for buying a car that lies about everything. Mine as well as others has every single problem listed by others before me. The only reason of keeping this car is due to the dealer keeping my trade plus 2 grand I paid. The process of getting a lawyer or attorney is in progress, especially for selling me a car that was "inspected by their best technicians for used cars".
Has anyone determined the cause of the engine surging problems with the Malibu when going uphill?
My Malibu 2000 doesn't start the cooling fans when the temperature goes to half they only starts when the A/C is on and then when the temp is on half the coolant overflows over the coolant's hose I have changed the coolant temperature sensor, relays and fuses are in good working condition some says that is the engine computer, but I don't want to buy the computer until I'm 100% secure that the engine's computer is not working causing me this, could somebody help me with this???i'll appreciate all the help you guys can give me!thanks!!
I own a 1998 Malibu with 130,000 miles on it now. It is my wife's car as her parents passed it up to her when she moved to Atlanta from J-Ville. It is a Piece-O-Crap. Here is what we have had go wrong with it just this year alone:
At about 110,000 the intake manifold gasket went and we had it replaced for about $650.
At about 127,000 the Drive Belt snapped and a plastic pulley (Only in America would you use a PLASTIC PULLEY) broke. We had to have the water pump, pulley and drive belt replaced. $600 more.
At 130,000 the engine started surging when driving steady at any speed over 60 miles an hour. We have no Check Engine lights coming on, so our Mechanic has told us it is likely the MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR or the TEMPERATURE SENSOR. He said the Check Engine light would be on if it were an O2 Sensor. We shall see when we take it in on Saturday to have it looked at.
It turns out there was a service bulletin for the Transmission Filter on these Malibu's. My local mechanic was able to change it, perform a transmission flush and the transmission is so much smoother and no more engine surge at this time.
Hi, I am the "proud" (snicker) owner of a 1999 Chevy Malibu, I took my car to the dealer to find out all that is wrong with it before winter comes on full force. I already knew I needed brakes and a new muffler which were obvious. I had no lights on in my dash, previously the check engine light was on, it would come on sometimes and be off sometimes, one day it went off for good? Chevy had a whole packet of things wrong with the vehicle. My water pump is leaking, but I see no signs of coolant leaking, my coolant level always remains fine and I smell no burning of coolant? My oil is leaking and I need a new valve cover gasket, the part alone is 10 bucks, but the labor is about 600-1000...I have no visible leakage of oil, but do need to add a quart every month or so. My power steering is leaking, but the fluid level remains fine. I need a full tune up and full transmission tuneup. They confirmed the brakes and muffler. To top it off, when I went to leave the dealership my gas gauge needle is now under the empty and under that little black tab and they said it was supposed to reset itself which it didn't (does anyone know how to get it to reset itself or what I have to do to repair it?), so now my needle is below that black tab and I never know how much gas is in it, so have to keep it relatively full. Mine surges too and is now cutting off every now and then, like once or twice a week when I come to a quick halt, it will surge then cutoff and it will let me restart it right up. I forgot to mention my ignition cylinder is in the process of going out... my window switch just went out last week... oh yeah and I got the brakes done and now when I turn right my right wheel is knocking... I am trying to fix credit and purchase a house, a new car is no where in my future... anyone have any advise? and why is there no leakage from my car, if these things have leaks? My biggest woe, I have the 2.4L so everything is going to cost a zillion more dollars to fix, my emissions test is in January and I cannot pass with all these problems. It will snow any day, and oh yeah, once again, what do I do about my gas gauge?
To anyone wondering about engine surges try checking for a vacumn leak between the upper and lower intake manifolds and between the lower intake manifold and the heads and block you can do this by useing carb cleaner with a straw hooked to it. you will know you have a vacumn leak because your engine idle will rise.
I own a 2000 Chevy Malibu and it is the biggest LEMON piece of crap I have ever owned in my LIFE! Every issue that has been brought up here is what I go through. I bought the car at 45000 miles and have had issues with it from day 1. The air conditioner does not blow on 1 or 2, you have to set it on 3 or higher and even then the airflow isn't great. All the dashlights on the radio have gone out - can't see a thing in the dark. I have had to replace the fuel pump. I have also had to replace the rotars, have had hazard and turning indicator problems and had to replace the hazard switch, Front wheel bearings had to be replaced, cooling system leaks, overheating the car, replaced thermostat and water pump, intake gasket was leaking all over the place so the mechanic replaced the orange antifreeze with green. After all that, they tell me I should have never put green in because it is forming silicone in the reservoir and corroding the aluminum housing, and the stupid thing is STILL overheating! I give up - I'm not putting anymore time or money into this crap car. I will NEVER NEVER buy a Chevy vehicle again!
Where do I put coolant into my 1999 malibu? Do I put it in the overflow Reservoir? And now my door locks stopped working.
I bought a 2000 Malibu with 21000 on it. This car has been nightmare and has left me stranded on the road 3 times. I now have 92000 miles on it and since I have replaced …
Water pump twice
Intake manifold gasket
Brakes three times
A/C resistor settings 1 and 2 did not work.
Fuel pump twice.
I have experienced…
The key ignition gets stuck and you have to wiggle it in order to turn the key. There was a leak n my taillights where water came in and corroded my light bulb housings. Engine slap and engine coolant would start to disappear. The numbers on the radio have faded due to the heat that the radio lights generate. The cheap plastic moldings and armrest are obvious by looking at them and have proven their worth by cracking. I have the car in the shop now, hence this post. I now see the large extent of the problems with the Malibu and this experience has clearly sawed my decision not to trust GM or Chevy EVER… NEVER… AGAIN.
I just bought a Toyota!!!
2001 Chevy Malibu LS V6, bought in 2003 from used-car salesman.
I'm reading all of these reviews and it pains me to hear that the Malibu has let down so many owners. My car has worked relatively well (incredibly when compared to the ones reviewed here) and it now has 59k miles on it.
The only major problem with it was a head gasket leak a few months ago. I ignored the problem for a couple months which probably made it entirely worse. I kept noticing "disappearing coolant" and kept refilling with antifreeze and water, but the car kept "overheating" (It would get hot and the secondary fan would turn on... very loud fan, yet the engine never failed). I finally took it into my local mechanic and he repaired the gaskets all for about 800 bucks. Everything has been working perfectly ever since then.
A note about the brakes: Maybe it's the driving conditions or maybe it's something else, but I've had to replace my brake pads two times since I've had the car (about every 1 year 3 months). I did both replacements myself and the first time I also replaced the rotors with after market parts (Just because, the original rotors were still fine). Considering that I drive my car pretty hard, I would say a year is a nice expectancy for the pads. The rotors still look like new.
I drive my car pretty hard and it is performing surprisingly well for having 60k miles on it (especially the way I torture it.)
One other issue is, a week ago, my cigarette lighters stopped working. I can't find any blown fuses, so if anyone has any information on how I can get it working again, please let me know. You can e-mail me: iamdjtacobell@hotmail.com. Thanks in advanced.
2000 malibu.
Its all true! this car sucks. my mom bought it at 50k miles.
Being a master tech for mercedes-benz, I have never see a bigger pile in my whole life.well, maybe except early s-class.
A/c 1-2,ignition switch passloc no start, surging on the highway up hill, water pump, belt, flasher switch inop,.but she loves this thing!
I tryed to get her into a benz and I would pay for it with my employee discount, but NO!
Any ways, I feel all of your stories.
CHEVY, YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED!