Chevrolet Malibu: Problems & Solutions

bluedevils · December 2004

Before you sell your Maxx and take a big depreciation hit, why not invest in some snow tires and see if that helps? If it doesn't, you can sell your Maxx and the additional snow tires and it would be a nice selling feature. To me, it would be worth a shot.

Personally, I have been convinced by other consumers and experts over the years that snow tires far outperform even brand new 'regular' tires in snowy conditions. What I'm getting at is I do not see a brand-new set of Goodyear Assurance tires as a good solution to your snow woes.

minn_maxx · December 2004

Maybe everyone is aware of this already but be careful when closing your aluminum rear hatch!

Yesterday I helped close my hatch by pushing on the top using the side of my hand. To my surprise, I had made a 2-inch long shallow dent. Annoying!

Aluminum is great for weight savings but it should be thick enough for normal usage without damage...

joe3891 · December 2004

I have never seen a FWD that was not good in the snow, all the weight is over the drive wheels like a 4WD, the rear wheels on a 4 WD have little traction.

maxxlt2004 · December 2004

e2helper, does this TSB apply to me since when i accelerate from the start on a red light the car pulls to the left?

when i make a left turn and then straighten out the car, the steering wheel sticks left at about 10 o'clock which isn't right.

let me know if this is the TSB, thanks!

jlwgm · December 2004

Finally picked up my Maxx from the dealer today. They had it for 20 days......Final bill was 1280.00 for the tank fix and 481.00 for the rental car. But I'm sooooo happy to have my Maxx back! The rental I had was a regular 2005 Malibu sedan and there is absolutely no comparison between the 2. Getting back in the Maxx was like going from my old 73 dodge dart to a caddie! I can't believe the difference between the 2. The suspension, power, comfort, steering, everything felt so much better in the Maxx. Not to mention it's just so darn cute! The Maxx is the first vehicle I've ever had where stangers have actually come up to me and commented on what a sharp looking car it is.

sgr5516 · December 2004

Just wondering, why did you have to pay anything for the repair? Isn't your Maxx still under warranty? And if you have a GM (Major Guard)extended warranty, a car rental can be reimbursed $30/day up to $150, Or up to $250 if repair took more than 5 days due to parts delay. If you rented car yourself, you can take receipts back to dealer and submit claim for reimbursement.

I agree with you, the Maxx is way better than sedan. My Maxx is the best car I have ever owned, even with the few problems I've had.

sgr5516 · December 2004

Sorry about the dent on your hatch. A few others posting here have had same thing happen to them.

I have made it a point to never close the hatch, by touching the outside surfaces. If you look under the bottom edge of the hatch when it is open, you will notice two indented pull down grips with a sand paper like coating. You just insert your hand in one of the cut-outs and pull down the hatch to close it. If you don't pull down hard or fast enough to completely close and latch the hatch. Open it again and pull it down again a little harder.

sblfromns · December 2004

Hi. I've been using 4 winter tires mounted on steel wheels on all my cars for the past 15 years. The difference is like night and day! Plus, if you have nice alloys, keeping them off the car and away from the salt and sand of the winter keeps them looking new.

I just bought an '04 Malibu LT in November and got 4 new Michelin X-ICE 'ultra premium' winter tires. I bought the same 16-inch alloy rims that the Malibu LT comes with from New England Wheels. They sell OEM take-offs for a fraction of the price of a new rim. The alloys were more expensive than the steel wheels but I don't have to mess around with hub caps and they look much nicer...

We've had a couple of snow storms here in NorthEast CT and the Malibu was great in the snow. I felt very confident. My driveway is on a steep incline and I can stop at the top of my snow covered driveway, check the mail and then continue backing out onto the street with no wheel spin.

I'd certainly recommend going the winter tire on alternate wheel route. I just got rid of my Tundra double-cab 4x4 and while I miss the utlity of a 4-door pickup, I don't miss filling up the 26-gallon tank twice a week

gla4601 · December 2004

"Getting back in the Maxx was like going from my old 73 dodge dart to a caddie!" ?????????

Hmmmmmmm. Just so happens I have the lowly malibu sedan and a 99 caddie. To tell you the truth I dont see a huge difference when I get out of the crappy sedan and into the caddie. Must be something wrong with my caddie or you get a lot more bang for the buck with the Maxx. Get real! 73 Dodge Dart - That has got to be the dumbest statement ever made on this forum!

jlwgm · December 2004

I didn't have to pay anything! It was all covered under warranty. Just thought it was interesting as to how much the actual bill was (and whether GM will actually reimburse them for the total amount). They covered the rental too. I would still be screaming if I had to foot any of the bill!

bluedevils · December 2004

Do you mind telling us how much you paid for your wheels and snow tires?

jlwgm · December 2004

Ok...So I was exaggerating a little, I was just happy to have my car back. But there is a world of difference between the sedan I drove for the last 2 weeks and the Maxx. Much more "Bang for the Buck" as you say. So do I get a ribbon or something for having the "dumbest statement ever made on this forum"? Better yet, you keep it for being the grumpiest.....

kurtamaxxguy · December 2004

Wrt closing the outside hatch, I try to make sure the forces are evenly distributed. What seems to work best here is to push on ridge just under the license plate with one hand while gently pushing down with palm of hand on top rear edge of hatch (__not__ on any flat surface!!!). So far, no bends or dents.

I also try __not__ to slam the hatch. That jolts all the trim and makes those fasteners squeek or chirp (putting tape over them has helped but the tape could be ground off over time).

Also the Maxx is pretty tightly sealed so one has to use less force closing the hatch if a window or door is open.

bluedevils · December 2004

Chevy should have done better. I hope they improve the toughness of the hatch in upcoming model years. No hatch should dent with simple hand pressure while closing.

And the car is so air-tight, the hatch does require a pretty firm slam in order to close. The windows in our vehicles are typically fully rolled up.

I would gladly trade the chintzy lightweight aluminum hatch for a more durable steel version.

firemanjack · December 2004

Hey guys..As I mentioned in a previous message; I deliver meals on wheels with my Maxx..About 25 meals every Tuesday. That means I open and close the hatch about 25 times every Tuesday..and a few other times during the week..I have done this for about two months now..As was mentioned, Chevy's engineers have supplied the hatch with two clever little detents on the inside to assist in closing it..Not only that...the inside of this ingenious little detent is covered in a sandpaper- type material for nonslip purposes.

Additionally, I find the closing of this lightweight aluminum hatch to be light and firm...as are the doors..Solid and substantial. The adjustable shelf in the rear is also a plus when loading and unloading from the hatch. Like I said previously...I love this car.

Smooch Jack

sportymonk · December 2004

Seriously thinking of biting the bullet & getting rid of MAXX--everywhere I have been I am being offered 13k as a trade. I paid 24k 8 months ago & that is quite a hit to take.

I have the same problem with my 2001 Impala; paid 24K now Kelly Blue book is about 6K!! Between the extreme loss in value and the problems we have had with my wife's 2000 Malibu and my Impala, we are going Honda Pilot for me and Mazda RX-8 for my wife.

sgr5516 · December 2004

e2helper, have 04 Maxx LS w/V6 engine. I have checked the maintenance schedule in the owners manual and it just says to inspect the fuel system each 25K. There is no mention of when to change the fuel filter. I reviewed all posts on malibu forums that mention "fuel" and could only find opinions of when filter should be changed.

Do you know if GM has an official recommendation for changing the fuel filter. If so they should specifically mention this in the owners manual.

Thanks.

e2helper · December 2004

I have to do a little more checking on this.

bluedevils · January 2005

For sure, the sandpaper detents represent thoughtful and effective design. Still, some folks won't remember to use them every time, or won't want to, and a dented hatch seems too steep a price to pay for the sin of pressing the hatch closed on the metal instead of the detent.

diannej · January 2005

My boyfriend and I left the house yesterday to go to the store about a mile away. When I got back in the car, it started right up, but I couldn't shift it from Park. Restarted the car several times, tried again and again. 3 tow trucks and several phone calls later, and the car's been sitting in the same spot almost 24 hours because it can't be shifted from Park and it is parked in a forward facing parking spot. One person suggested a problem with the brake sensor that is triggering a safety mechanism that keeps it from being shifted (i.e. as if it has no brakes). Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! - Dianne in Central FL

e2helper · January 2005

There are 3 things I can think of that would prevent you from shifting out of park.

From what you indicate the vehicle starts up fine, correct?

Is vehicle parked on level ground?

1. There is something binding with the transmission shift cable or transmission shift linkage or shifter itself. I don't know much about what could be done in that case.

2. There is a something hung up on with the shift lock cable between ignition switch and shifter. This normally prevents shifting out of Park if ignition switch is in OFF position. It also prevents key from being removed if shifter not in Park.

3. The Brake-Transmission Shift Interlock solenoid is engaged and not releasing to allow you to shift from Park when you push on the brake pedal.

Only on the last item do I have a quick suggestion you could try yourself. It is covered in the owner manual (so you might have already tried it). Put you foot on the brake (esp. if not on level ground). Turn the ignition key to ACC position (not RUN) and see if the shifter can be moved out of Park to the Neutral position. If it can you can start vehicle in neutral.

joe3891 · January 2005

04 Malibu has no fuel filter except the filter on the fuel pump in the fuel tank, GM states its self cleaning, just don't get a lot of dirt in your tank or the tank will have to be dropped. There is a filter screen in the injectors but not serviceable.

kurtamaxxguy · January 2005

As a soother for us first year maxx owners, the folks on the first year Honda Accord Hybrid forum remarked some of their new HAH's need computer reprogramming.

First year cars are a risk. Yet the other two first year cars I've owned proved more problematic than the maxx - so far.

fourseas · January 2005

I think the "difference" is in your mind as the two cars are identical in every respect until you get to the rear quarter panels. The engine, steering,suspension,frt seating,instrument panel are all the same.You just "missed" your baby!

markf57 · January 2005

I want to buy a backup transitter fob. Can the transmitters be programmed without having to take them to the dealership?

e2helper · January 2005

If you are talking about new 04/05 Malibu, no, only the dealer can program a new fob with their scan tool. And if you still are interested make sure you take all existing fobs when it is done because reprogramming procedure requires learning all fobs again.

sgr5516 · January 2005

I have no opinion on the ride of the MAXX vs the sedan. I have the MAXX and never drove the sedan, so I am not bias towards either.

However, the wheelbase on the MAXX (112.3)is 6" longer than on the sedan (106.3). And I believe the rear suspension is slightly different on the MAXX. That difference could account for how each vehicle handles and feels.

markf57 · January 2005

Yes, it is for an 04. I was afraid that was the answer. I did know about bringing all the fobs. Thanks for the info.

wayne79 · January 2005

I have a '01 Malibu, and when i press on the brakes it sounds like a spring is being stretched to far or something. Could anyone please help me out.

e2helper · January 2005

Nice answer - I can't improve on that. Thx

crh · January 2005

We bought our 04 Maxx the third week of October, and have been super happy with it. I haven't noticed any problems at all. But after reading the board, I did go check the build date and it has a March build date on the driver's door. Does this necessarily mean I need to have some things checked out? I'm sort of confused. I went to the NHTSA website and printed out all the TSBs in case I should check with the dealer. But in all honesty, we haven't noticed any problems. I'm assuming that the safety belt issue would have been taken care of prior to purchase since I never recieved a recall notice...and we haven't noticed any steering or transmission problems either. We have put about 2700 miles on the car so far. Any advice on whether I should call the dealer? I don't want to assume there is a problem, but I also don't want my daughter to get stuck on the side of the road somewhere either.

e2helper · January 2005

Well, regarding the steering problem, your March-built vehicle already has the updated parts.

maxx4me · January 2005

well, short of getting any responses, I've decided to take my service manager for a test drive to show him that my car at 30 mph or so is extremely sluggish when accelerating, and seems like it is stuck in overdrive, thus forcing the tranny to constantly downshift. There is no doubt in my mind that the '05 Bu I drove did not have this problem, and accelerated with ease, and nearly seemlessly. I'm not sure if replacing the drive link and sprocket (TSB 04-07-30-021A) will have any effect on improving the performance. Nonetheless, I plan on showing him the symptoms. I'll let you know how I make out.

tim10 · January 2005

I bought an 05 Malibu on 12/15 and so far it's been at the dealership for 8 days total. I picked it up on a Friday night and returned it the following Monday for an ENTIRE week. I've had a Cavalier, Venture Van, Equinox, and now a Trailblazer for rentals. I'm sure driving the whole chevy lineup here.

The recurring problem that hasn't been fixed yet is a rear suspension squeak/creaking noise when going over any type of uneven terrain at 25mph or below. So far they've replaced the coil insulators and "deburred" the rear coils. They retorqued the front struts today and said there was still a noise. Here's the kicker. The dealership said it'd be 2 to 4 weeks to get new coils under warranty.

They said I could take the car and drive it until it comes in, but that means yet another trip to the dealership, plus what if 4 weeks turns into 8 or 12?? Hopefully the GM rep will come up with a better solution--I told the dealership I wasn't going to accept redelivery of the vehicle until it was finally fixed. I doubt they'll want to let me keep the Enterprise rental for a month either.

kurtamaxxguy · January 2005

I am curious if the 05 Maxx has a faster transmission response time to full throttle acceleration. The 04 Maxx I have, while very smooth shifting with gentle throttle applications, can be sluggish and rough if one has to "gas" the car hard!

I have to do this every so often in LA, CA as our freeways have short entrance ramps and plenty of folks who love to accelerate / drive 90 mph while in the RIGHT_most lane.).

7937 · January 2005

I've also got the base 04 Malibu with the same squeak/creaking noise at low speed. I've crawled under the car and looked everywhere for a possible cause. Mine seems to come from the rear right hand wheel area. Please let me know what the outcome is if and when they find the cause.

maxx4me · January 2005

Kurt: do you have a May or earlier build date? I'm trying to determine if yours is one with the old drive link and sprocket, like mine?

I did some number evaluations today. My tranny problems go something like this: Accelerate normally up between 30-35 mph. The RPM guage will drop down to 1500 rpms as if it is going into overdrive. Now let the car coast down to between 25-30 mph. When you see the rpm needle drop to 800 rpms, give it some gas. At this point, my car seems to be stuck in overdrive, and does not easily allow me to accelerate to a higher speed. After a 2 second sluggish period, the tranny will downshift to get me up to a higher rpm level and thus allow for acceleration.

What is odd, is that this same mph range is where most of my howling takes place. However, I don't believe replacing the drive sprocket and drive link will have an effect on the performance. Any thoughts out there?

pao · January 2005

Jim,

way too much for me to digest....16K on my maxx and doing great....dont seem to have this problem...and I have a 17 Feb build date....did you get any of the reflash/reprogram done?

cheers and happy new year

jerrywimer · January 2005

It wouldn't have anything to do with the "learning" feature these electronic transmissions have, would it?

For example- the 2003 Trailblazer we had with the 4-speed auto. I tended to drive that like an old man, nursing every last mpg out of it whenever possible. As a result, in a short period of time the transmission "learned" my driving style and seemed to act similar to your description of the Malibu, wanting to upshift earlier and hold higher gears longer (even on the few rare times I was more insistent with the throttle - it actually required a firm "flooring" of the peddle to cause downshifts much of the time).

If I let my wife drive it for a few days (heavier footed of the two of us), then went back to driving it to work myself, I found that it was holding lower gears to higher rpms, then downshifting much more quickly. This went on for a little while as the transmission readapted to my driving style.

I'd swear to God that this has been my experience. It also seems the same with the 2004 Silverado and 2004 Malibu we have now.

tsneidn · January 2005

Is there a way to have the display scroll through the entire artist/album name? According to the owners manual I should be able to press msg button to display addtional text, but all I get is 'No Info'. Seems really lame to only be able to see 10 characters of title,name etc. I have 04 maxx lt w/single cd and xm and rear dvd.

maxx4me · January 2005

excellent question!! All I can say is that when I hit the gas in the -05 Maxx rental, the thing took off like a rocket. It had 9k miles on it, just like my car. One could say that rentals get ridden pretty hard, and that the tranny could have adapted to that driving style. I must say that I am skeptical of this theory, but I will keep it in mind. The symptoms I outlined in my last note can be repeated over and over again.

Pao: yes, I did have the PCM reflash for the upshift issue at highway speeds. Don't know if that affected my tranny's relationship with my engine. I think my service manager will see me Thurs. Not only will he hear the "howl", but I'm sure I can replicate the "overdrive" issue.

kurtamaxxguy · January 2005

My Maxx was built in Jan, 04. The transmission has smoothed out over time with light throttle application (I try not to lead foot too often - is murder on gas mileage and can make the tires bark). Heavy throttle application brings a definite delay- 1-2 seconds before anything happens, then the trans will shift 1-2 gears down trying to get the vehicle moving. The shift is relatively abrupt as well.

I have not noticed any undo howling sounds, so far, but will try maxx4me's suggestion. The dealer has supposedly done all the service programming upgrades (last of these was done about a month or so ago to fix engine idle).

E2helper, my apoligies if I asked this before but would my build be one of the suspect vehicles with a potentially bum tranny?

maxxlt2004 · January 2005

here's some new steering problems with my 2004 malibu maxx lt.

- when making complete left turns the steering wheel sticks left at 10 o'clock instead of centering and straightening out when the car straightens out. i manually have to straighten out the steering wheel.

- the car also pulls to the left at highway speeds when accelerating to pass someone up. that's also very weird....

- i still have the same problem on the car pulling to the left when accelerating/decelerating

- drifting left on highway speeds

i may be wrong but will tsb# 04-03-06-001 fix these problems? "vehicle leads/pulls characteristics and diagnosis"

What was also funny was that the VP of the dealership wanted to go on a test drive with me, but when I told him I want a malibu maxx there so we can test drive my car and then compare it with their car, he declined and cancelled the appointment. hmmmmm, makes you wonder right?

i already made an appt to have another take a look....will keep you posted.

davismaxx · January 2005

We also dented our hatch slamming it. I had the dent removed by a Dent-Pro type place. AND I eliminated the need to slam it by adjusting the latch. Remove the trim surrounding the striker on the car body where the liftgate latch mates. There are two bolts holding it in place. Mark where it is now (trace around it with a marker) then loosen the bolts and move the striker up a little bit (try 1/4 inch to start). Retighten the bolts. It should be much easier to close the hatch. You want to get to a point where you can close the hatch without excessive force, but it is still firmly closed and the weatherstrip is compressed all the way around.

kurtamaxxguy · January 2005

Very true. Digital circuitry does not take kindly to noisy power supplies. Alternators and switching power supplies (voltage converters) make a lot of racket that only the battery and (sometimes) external filtering capacitors can get rid of.

hickoryd · January 2005

Yesterday, I noticed a chip missing from the strange "Malibu" plate in the center of the dash. When I touched it, the plate backing broke and the plate dove into the rectangular opening. Fished it out with tweezers, then the whole thing simply crumbled into a hundred pieces, which I put into a baggy. Next, I called a friend who makes desk and door signs and ordered a brushed chrome plate .75"H x 3"L with my last name engraved on it.

Has anyone else found that plate to be complete JUNK?

Thanks.

Dean

pao · January 2005

havent noticed it..but like the idea of the brushed chrome plate to replace it...what kind of glue will you use to mount it.....can imagine much other that than that 3m adhesive would work due to temp changes in the car thru the year

hickoryd · January 2005

Yes, one of the 3M adhesives.

maxx4me · January 2005

wow, is that right?? The -05 hatch definitely has no resistance at all and is prone to slamming. My -04 hatch's hydraulics are starting to get cranky, but nonetheless, provide a whole lot more resistance than the -05 hatch. Do you have an -05?

kurtamaxxguy · January 2005

Hope someone can advise me on the transmission issue in my maxx soon...

Anyway, the dashboard logo on my Maxx seems to be sturdy (I've not tried jabbing it hard, but pressed it gently and it stayed in place).

My hatch struts will groan when in humid weather but otherwise seem ok (one of them had failed early in the car's life - was replaced).

Have noticed the driver seat tends to develop a nasty little bulge at the base of the seat back, as a result of using the lumbar support (which I thought was supposed to work farther up in the seat - not from the base of the seatback and up.).

Chevrolet Malibu: Problems & Solutions

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