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2000-2011 Chevrolet Malibu
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Comments
7to5, and if you have a GM Card, you can redeem up to $1,500 on a Malibu, so you can get a 2002 Bu for 4,500 less. Not too shabby, eh?
Wilfj1, I think I saw a picture where Bu looks like a friggin' wagon, if you can believe it. The front is redesigned, but I haven't seen the butt. Hope it's not as ugly as it is right now, cause if that's what they learn in design schools, then it's a joke
I am not sure, if they mechanics flushed ATF very thoroughly. I brought 15 quarts of Mobil 1 ATF to the shop, and they used only 9 quarts. This is more than needed for just replacing fluid (pan drop), but less than what is going into a dry unit.
And of course, they did not broke the transmission.
I started to feel that the car became a bit less responsive for the first 2-3 minutes when it was rather cold the last winter. Had transmission serviced in spring. During this winter, 2001/2002, this became not feelings, but hard facts. Slipped very much even in moderate temperatures like 40-45F. Simply could not drive uphill till the car warms for 5 minutes. I live on a hilly street, and my driveway also have a slope.
Sooo, lets get back to basics, the Malibu is a mid size budget car, with a 170 hp motor and a fair riding car. As far as I'm concerned darn good value to say the least. If you want to spend $ 28 to$30 thou go to it. I'll take the change and enjoy my 3.1 Malibu , also knowing that if and when I require parts they will be available and a reasonable price. Try a air filter for a Honda, I can buy two for the Malibu ! With proper care and regular maintenance I'm sure the Malibu will do the job. My son had a new Camary and the motor went out in 10000km, next door neighbour had a new Taraus, list just to long to cover. Our cars are mass produced and there will be problems, It's a simple fact we have to live with, some will perform better then others and depending on the driver/owner caring for the car.
Have you purchased a new home lately... Amen
What frustrates me is to hear about all the problems other people are having, and not only because the problems exist, but because these problems appear to be highly preventable. The brakes problem is especially baffling, as the brakes have been around as long as the auto industry itself, and by now I would imagine GM could have figured out how to make trouble-free brakes. But no, the brakes are the biggest problem on the malibus!
And then we hear "oh, they are not making the brakes the way they used to." So, they are cutting the costs to sell you a car "at a great price," knowing very well you will have to spend hundreds of dollars extra to get quality rotors and pads. I deeply resent this kind of business pratice. I believe it is unethical at best
I'm not sure if any fix was made in 02. I'll just have to continue to have the brakes checked out at every tire rotation as I did in the past. Can anyone explain a crossover model in 04??. Thanks
the brakes seem to be working OK as far as I can tell, taking it in for service in a few days, anyone else have this problem?
And a bit of useless info, here in BC our cars have to pass a biannual tailpipe emissions test called AirCare. Basically they put your car on some sort of a treadmill, stick a cable into your OBD computer socket (which is below the steering wheel not far from the parking brake, I didn't know that!) and also they put some sort of a funnel connected to a hose over your tailpipe to measure emissions. And so the technician then sits behind the wheel and "drives" the car on the treadmill, while looking at the emissions reading on a computer screen right in front of the windshield. And after he was done with the test he invited me to drive the vehicle off the treadmill (he didn't turn the engine off), and the ABS light was on! Apparently, you need to turn the ignition off and on, and then the light disappears. Maybe the car somehow knows it's on a treadmill (though why would ABS be affected?), or maybe they do something else to cause the ABS light to light up, but I found it kind of strange, though apparently it's a very common occurence. Needless to say, I never had a problem with the ABS light after I turned the ignition off and on, as advised by the technician.
Oh, and you can test if it's the light malfunction or you have a true ABS problem. When your ABS light is on, find a very empty and large parking lot (as you don't want to skid and create an accident) and try to brake very hard. See if your wheels lock up or ABS kicks in. Good luck, and let us know what was the matter
As far as getting the ABS light while driving, maybe due to some malfunction the computer is thinking the rear wheels are not spinning?
Might want to wait for 05, but the next generation Malibu should be much better than this one from what I have read.
Here are the pictures..
http://thehollywoodextra.com/SSR/ssr.html
Fellas, the new Bu does look appealing, but what I am thinking, if my Bu will live to see 2010-2012, that's when many manufacturers, including GM, plan on starting to mass produce fuel cell vehicles. It would mean huge savings on gas! So, that's my plan, drive this poor thing for about 10-12 more years (unless I win a lottery, which for some weird reason doesn't happen very often), and then buy a 3-rd year fuel cell vehicle.
On a rough road the wheel speed can change an put the light on sometimes even though the computer is suppose to recognize this and ignore it.
http://www.cardesignnews.com/news/2002/020821opel-signum/index.html
If you are looking at a Malibu from the side, how can you 100% tell if it is a Standard or an LS version?
Foglamps from the front, LS badge from behind.
Headrest fabric from the side? Need great eyes
for that one.
His prize is a brand-new Yugo Reliant!
http://money.cnn.com/2002/08/23/pf/autos/microbus/index.htm
It's not that obvious, it depends what model year we are talking about. The '99's for example had body color mirrors if LS or not. '00 was a different story! Rocker panels have never been black, IIRC. Mud deflectors are a different story.
Sure is deer season on the road, never seen so many... getting close to heat time ?
Another way of tellingthe difference between a LS and non-LS: LS has alloy wheels.
18,500 miles on my 1 year, 2month Malibu and nothign to complain about except for the lousy tires and too small fuel tank. But getting 29 mpg on the highway sure is nice.
RE: tires. Before you buy the Aquatread III, you might want to look at www.tirerack.com or find a back issue of Consumer Reports. If i remember right, you cna find tires that handle the wet stuff just as well as the Aquatread and they are much cheaper. Personally, I am not sold on Goodyear tires. I think they charge a premium price because of their name in auto racing. People tend to buy their products based on name alone. But this is just my opinion.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/surveyresults/as.jsp
dtown, any other tire you know of which offers AA traction and 80K miles warranty?
Other notes on my car:
At the 59,000 mile mark my 2000 Malibu LS is performing nicely giving me about 26-29 miles a gallon. Only complaint is the warping of the brakes, which was expected, but at $19,500 with all the goodies (Leather, sunroof, gold, CD) I can live with more frequent rotor service, as opposed to paying thousands more for a midsize import.
Today I'm having the Serpentine belt change and the fuel filter replaced which should definitely help mpg. As long as you do oil changes every 3-4 thousand miles, this car will run like a dream. I hope this helps, and any comments or suggestions would be graetly appreciated.
Stevenyce
Still have original rotors (and tires) at 89K kms (55K miles) I think the main trick here is to use a torque wrench on the lug nuts. I don't let anyone with an impact gun near my ride.
Anyway, I am hearing occasional 'chirping' sounds coming from the front suspension. Usually over small road imperfections at moderate speeds. I greased the front stabilizer bushings as per the TSB but still no joy.
Ideas, anyone?
Regards, Al.
I had some noises coming from the front about 1.5 years ago. I had the chassis lubricated, and the noise was gone. Is that what you did? If not, maybe lubing the chassis would help. BTW, the noise has not returned.
As far as for belt failure, I guess I'll just have to wait and see as there can be defects with any tire. The Continental's were a great deal with a nice long 70K warranty, so I should be covered.
No problems.
Have 13000 miles. Changed oil 3 times, rotated tires the 2nd time.
Happy with the car, the way it drives and everything. Getting usually about 23 MPG, but close to 30 on the highway.
I guess the 15000 mile service is coming up. Dealer recommends oil and filter, rotate tires, check alignment and flush the transmission fluid. $199.
Not sure if it is all necessary, but i'll do as they advise for now.