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Eric in Rockford, Illinois
Just seems wrong to not be able to change or add fluid tho don't you think?
.the owners manual refers to changing the transaxle fluid ever 50K under severe driving conditions..otherwise it doesnt require chaning. When changing use Dexron-III auto trans fluid....I changed all fluids out at 100K and the trans fluid out the second time at 150K
Anyway, if the Maxx was pure GM, then i had never heard of it. Maybe we never got them up here. A Malibu-sized 5 door makes a lot of sense if you ask me.
Many years ago I had a Suzuki Samurai Long Body. It was a very rough riding and ill-handling, fuel-guzzling (for a 1.3 litre 4) but was it ever a handy 4x4 vehicle. It swallowed an 8' step ladder one day with the rear door closed. Never had a vehicle that roomy in length since.
THANKS
THANKS
Called 800 ROADSIDE and had the car towed to the Dealer on 8/24. Tow truck driver asked if I could turn it around so I started it, put it into drive, and zoomed it around the culdesac with absolutely no problem. POWER STEERING no longer displayed, but the check engine symbol was lit. Hopefully, not a sign of future trouble with electronic systems.
I'll update this as I hear back from the Dealer. Good luck to us all. Hope the rebuilt trans, if offered, is a decent fix.
UPDATE: 8/24 at 5:59pm (surprise!) the dealer called and told me that he drove it around the facility and found nothing wrong with it. Also said he will have the "drivability technician" check it out in the morning.
More to come...
UPDATE#2: Dealer called 3pm 8/25. "Seems to be a problem with the transmission control and not necessarily with the mechanics of it. Trans tech will need it for a couple more days." Meanwhile, rental car is covered under standard warranty.
More to come...
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS FOUND ON EDMUNDS.COM - TSB WAS WRITTEN JANUARY-2010. MY CAR WAS BUILT IN APRIL-2010.
Component Description:
1. POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM) Bulletin Number: SB-09271C
Bulletin Date: Jan 2010
Vehicle: 2,010 Chevrolet Malibu
Summary:
PONTIAC/SATURN/BUICK/GMC/CHEVROLET: TRANSMISSION CALIBRATION UPDATE. A SERVICE PROCEDURE TO REPROGRAM THE ECM AND TCM ON CERTAIN MODEL VEHICLES. THIS NEW CALIBRATION WILL IMPROVE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CHARACTERISTICS FOR DOWNSHIFT HESITATION ( NHTSA ITEM NUMBER - 10033029 )
Component Description:
2. POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM) Bulletin Number: PIP-4653B
Bulletin Date: Sep 2009
Vehicle: 2,010 Chevrolet Malibu
Summary:
BUICK/CHEVROLET/HUMMER/GMC/PONTIAC/CADILLAC/SATURN: TECHNICIANS MAY FIND DTCS P0601, P0603, P0604, P062F OR P1621 STORED IN THE TCM AS AN ACTIVE OR A HISTORY CODE. SOME OF THESE DTCS CAN ALSO BE SET IN THE ECM OR FPCM. MAKE SURE THAT YOU ( NHTSA ITEM NUMBER - 10032434 )
Can anyone share similar stories for this specific model and year Malibu LT1?
I'VE DRIVEN IT ABOUT 30 MILES SO FAR AND HAVE ONLY FOUND SOME MINOR CHUGGING IN FOURTH GEAR.
Can you please e-mail me your complete contact information including a good number to reach you, VIN and current mileage, as well as involved dealer? I would like to look into this for you.
Christina
GM Customer Service
NOW, my wife went on a trip over the weekend and she told me 4 times on the interstate, the transmission acted funny. First it jerked really hard when downshifting on a long uphill grade. THEN, she said a while later, she was slowing for a red light. Before coming to a complete stop, the light turned green and she gave the car gas, but it seemed like the rpm's increased and the car didn't go, as if the transmission was slipping.
What next? I know if I take it to a dealer, they aren't going to find anything because the problems are intermittent.
Taking the vehicle to a dealer is the best first step. This way even if they are unable to find a problem now, if later down the line you are still having this problem or the problem keeps occurring we have documentation of the issue. These things definitely are taken in to account with GM. We have to have the opportunity. Please keep me updated on your progress at the dealer. Feel free to email me directly. Please be detailed as to your situation. Thanks, Have a great weekend!
Christina
GM Customer Service
I apologize for your frustration. Can you please email me your VIN?
Christina
GM Customer Service
This has continued. I had car running yesterday in slightly sloped paved driveway. Put car into park, left door open, and briefly got out to retrieve a house key. When I turned around, my car had rolled down the driveway, stopped, fortunately in the grass, avoiding people, other cars, a lovely ornamental tree and mailbox.
Has anyone else had an issue similar to this? I am concerned about safety issues as have never had a car just roll away while in park and running.
Thank you.
Were you planning on taking the vehicle back to the dealership? Please keep me posted on any information.
Thank you,
Caron, GM Customer Service
Please let me know if you recieved my email. I look forward to working with you to get your concerns resolved.
Christina
GM Customer Service
Last night I was stopped at a traffic light with the A/C on, and the transmission in DRIVE. When the light changed to green, I proceeded across the intersection and up a long hill. The vehicle ahead of me was going slowly. --- I had a "steady throttle" and the vehicle was traveling at a steady speed. In the middle of the hill, the engine started to surge. It continued to operate in this fashion until I reached the top of the hill. ----- I have done a search on the "net," and there appears to be other Malibu owners describing this problem, and there seems to be NO answer to this issue from Chevrolet, ----- (other than the dealer cannot duplicate the problem!) ------THIS IS SIMPLY NOT ACCEPTABLE! ----- QUESTION: ---- Does anyone have any information on this issue? ------- My 2010 LTZ Malibu has 12,500 miles, and it is service by the dealer every 2,500. (My choice!) ------- If there is a GM representative on this board, please feel free to jump in on this discussion. ------ (Is there a "Technical Service Bulletin" on this issue?) -----(On the highway, the vehicle performs properly!) ---- This is the first time that I have experienced this issue! ------ Other people have described this issue at an earlier mileage! ----- Best regards. -------------- Dwayne :lemon: :confuse:
To say the least, I am a little disappointed by the lack of response to my posting dealing with the "surging" that I experienced with my four cylinder 2010 Malibu LTZ as posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:35 am. This "issue" is all over the "net" on other sites, and GM does not seem to have a solution to the problem. Before I take my vehicle into the dealer for service, I would like to know if there is a "Technical Service Bulletin" that deals with this specific issue. I could then pass this information on to the service advisor and the service tech.. From the postings that I have read on other "net sites" the dealers are operating blind on this issue!
Surging can be caused by:
1.) Low fuel Pressure
2.) Low fuel volume
3.) An EGR valve problem.
4.) An A/C compressor kicking on and off while the engine is under load, (going up a hill.)
5.) The clean air intake and the throttle body is dirty.
6.) Problem with the knock sensor.
7.) Problems with the MAF, MAP and / or the IAT sensor.
8.) Leaks in the air intake system.
Since this seems to be a problem with the Malibu line, I would think that GM would show some professional interest in solving the problem. If there is a Technical Service Bulletin on this subject please give me the number of that bulletin.
Thank you in advance for your help, concern, and professionalism. Best regards. ----- Dwayne :shades:
I apologize I just seen both of your posts together. Unfortunatly if there is a "Technical Service Bulliten" that would only be available to our technical staff such as service personnel. I would definitely recommend continuing to work with the dealer. If you would like to send me your complete contact information (name, address, and telephone number), VIN, current mileage, and involved dealer I would be happy to set up a case with Customer Assistance. I look forward to your response.
Christina
GM Customer Service
Thank you for your response to my postings. I have been in contact with the selling dealer, and I have an appointment to have the vehicle serviced.
I have read about this issue on other sites with regards to this vehicle. Some people are complaining about this operating characteristic at a VERY low mileage. ------ My 2010 four cylinder Malibu LTZ did not show this characteristic until it passed 12,000 miles.
The problem with this issue is that there does not seem to be a solution to the problem at the "dealer level!" ------ My vehicle did not have this problem till it accumulated 12,000 miles.
Today I was merging onto a highway in "bumper - to - bumper traffic" at 20 mph. As the traffic started to accelerate, I gently pressed on the accelerator, and the vehicle surged like a manual transmission that was operating in third gear, and should have been down shifted to second gear. The engine was "lugging"! Since I was in "bumper - to bumper traffic, I could not press hard on the accelerator to force a "down shift!" This is a "recent operational issue" with this vehicle.
Sometimes when taking off from a dead stop, (under normal acceleration), it feels like the engine is not getting enough fuel, and / or spark advance, and / or air. This seems to be more noticeable in the lower gears, (1st and 2nd). The engine seems to be holding back. (Something has changed with this vehicle.) ---- I will keep you informed as to the outcome of the service appointment.
NOTE:
This vehicle is rated at 33 mpg on the highway. The only way that I can achieve 30 mpg with the Malibu is by traveling at no more than 55mph. (I have a 2007 V6 Toyota Camry XLE with 65,000+ miles that can easily get 30+ mpg at 65 mph.) ----- Both vehicles have a 6 speed automatic transmission.
Best regards!
Dwayne :shades: :confuse:
djm2, you might start here and fill in your details. Once you get to your vehicle page, there are links right under the model description where you can see recalls & technical service bulletins.
http://www.edmunds.com/car-maintenance/guide-page.html
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Thank you for your response.
I have an appointment with the selling dealer to have this vehicle serviced for this problem.
Now that the weather is becoming warmer, this problem is becoming more noticeable everyday.
Today, I was entering slow moving highway traffic at 20 mph, and my engine started to surge, because the trans would not down shift to the next lower gear. (If was like "not down shifting" a manual transmission!) ------- This problem is all over the net, and GM does not have a solution to this problem with the 6 speed transmission. ----------- Some owners have experienced total transmission failure. -------- I AM NOT A HAPPY OWNER! This problem started after my vehicle reached 12,500 miles. This IS NOT a good advertisement for GM! I would bet that there are no codes set, because there is no "check engine light ON!" ------- Unless there is a "Technical Service Bulletin" on this issue, the "problem" is going to be VERY difficult to find! ---- General Motors, I liked this vehicle up until this problem. NOW I AM VERY SORRY THAT I MADE THIS PURCHASE! ----- Maybe, if the problem is resolved, I might change my opinion, but as it stands now, I wish I had purchases a Toyota Camry! ---- The Malibu is a beautiful vehicle, but the four cylinder engine and transmission does not come anywhere near to a four cylinder Toyota or Honda with regards to smooth operation!
Best regards. ----------- Dwayne :shades: :confuse: :lemon: :mad:
when the engine is cold.
As expected, dealer denies there is anything wrong.
Consumer Reports sited this problem when they did their review of the new Cruz.
The Cruz and Malibu share the same transmission.
pirates7
I have my e-mail address on my profile. ---- E-mail me! ----- Best regards. ---- Dwayne :shades:
A point of reference. My son has a Camaro with 6-cylinder and 6-speed transmission. I have driven his car and it also has the stumble on 2-3 shifts when cold but not as disturbing, probably due to more powerful engine. I related this to service manager and he agrees with my theory.
I feel better knowing that my car is behaving "normally" but not totally pleased with the driving experience. Service manager told me that one customer was so dissatisfied with this problem with 4-cylinder engine that they ended up exchanging car for a 6-cylinder equipped car.