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Chevrolet Malibu Start Up/Ignition
I just purchased a used 2005 Chev Maxx with 12500 miles about 2 months ago. I've put about 3k miles on it. My problem has 2 issues. The first is when I go to start the car,after I turn the key and before the engine engages I get a really bad shake that rattles the whole car. This happens about 6 out of 10 times when I start it. The second issue is I get a periodic rattle in the right front. Here again it does not happen all of the time. I've had it into service and they couldn't find anything wrong. It's still doing both things. Anyone else having that problem? Any suggestions? Thanks, fmm06418
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Had 2 different dealers attempt to solve these issues along with a steering problem but after performing items on TSBs, multiple software updates, and a new BCM the problems still remain.
We love the Malibu and there is not a more loyal GM customer than myself but the (good natured) ribbing from my import driving in-laws is starting wear thin. :sick: Although my father-in-law is on a wait list for a Sky!
As for my other shaking problem, I took the car in Friday. The dealer says asphalt sealer was on the caliper and brakes and that caused them to stick. I don't know if that would cause my two incidents two weeks and 1000+ miles apart. They cleaned it off. We will see.
The dealer also said the rotors and brakes were fine. They must not have road tested it because I still get a nice wobble when braking at higher speeds. Still only 21K.
What does that mean? Is it the tar from a road that got onto the the brakes? Or is it some undercoating they applied to the car?
>Still only 21K
The brakes will be fine until 36000 is passed. They they will find there is a problem from having been overheated, but it won't be covered by warranty.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Good luck with this one. It was like pulling teeth getting my dealer to feel the problem. All the while, I'm thinking, "Do you not have any senses? How can you not feel that shaking?"
On the bright side though, since they fixed it its been fine for 10K.
Fortunately once the tires were torqued properly, most of the shake went away. The brake rotors are indeed flimsy.
When they use a torque wrench they should use the star pattern and go around twice. If I don't trust the shop, I come home driving gently on the brakes, and jack the car up at each corner to take the weight off and loosen and retighten with my own torque wrench. Current rotors on LeSabre have 65K on them. The wheels have been off every 6-7K miles for rotation and other times on my own.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
What does that mean? Is it the tar from a road that got onto the the brakes? Or is it some undercoating they applied to the car?
>Still only 21K
The brakes will be fine until 36000 is passed. They they will find there is a problem from having been overheated, but it won't be covered by warranty.
Tar I suppose. The problem hasn't happened in the last 10 days.
I figure the same thing with the 36K mark. I will take it back before then and invite them on a test drive if need be. The local dealer is right off the the highway.
Maxxes and many cars have trouble starting if you run the engine a short distance, then park the car. The problem seems to be incorrect temperature analysis. The ignition and fuel system get confused and send the wrong mixture to the cylinders.
This problem has showed up on an old prism and camry I used to own.
That's just an accepted part of life here in an area where we have such huge changes in temperature season to season. In the period of a given year we deal with a range of outside temperature from -40C in winter to +40C in summer. I'm always amazed ANYthing works at -40.
If you've ever had to sit in a car that's sat outside in -40 overnight, you'll know what I mean. If you havent, then you cant imagine it. Factor in windchill and we can get to -50, 60 or lower.
My past challenge has included making a carbeurated engine with an electric choke work ok for that wide range of temperatures.... yikes! That makes newer cars look very good.
Just so you dont get feeling too bad for us here, today it's +30C, which equates to HOT.
If I were guessing based on what you say, I'd say you may have a bad fuel pump.
Some gasoline is more prone to do this than others, and you can't really generalize by brand names because it varies by region and station, so if you have usually been buying your gas at one place, try buying it somewhere else. I believe that super unleaded has less tendency to vaporize as well, so you might try that as a test. Try to find gasoline without any ethanol in it if that's possible in your area.
A solution to this problem (if it's vapor lock) is to have the radiator fan set up to run for a few minutes after shutting the car off in hot weather. I don't know if the computer in your car can be programmed to do this, but there are other ways it can be done, such as with a relay. But since you're under warranty still (barely) I'd stick with the dealer at this point and mention the vapor lock possibility, and see if they have any ideas for how to keep the fan running.
If the no-start ever occurs when the engine is cool (car has been sitting for several hours, even in hot weather), then it's likely not vapor lock.
Is it a 05 new design or is it a 04 old design?
Aboslutely NOT comparable in any way to the new generation of Malibus. You may notice a lack of complaints on the new generation of Malibu, a much different and much better vehicle. If you've driven both, you'll know what I mean.
Just bought 2006 Malibu LS, 13K, within 2 weeks noticed it felt like it was going to stall when at red light, floored it, was okay. Frankly, I just put it out of my mind because I couln't bear the thought that I just spent all this money on a lemon. Anyway, gave it to my son to drive to Va. (about 1500M), did fine until last leg of the trip, he's on the highway doing about 60 or so when suddenly the car won't accelerate past 30M. One mechanic said it might be "bad gas" he put in? Put in hi-test, same thing happened. Brought it to a Chevy dealer down there, they did a computer check, guess what? Can't find anything wrong! Does anyone have any advice, suggestions, ideas?
Car is still under warranty, I am very concerned son will have an accident if this car won't accelerate when it has to. Is there a specific test I should request from the mechanic? I was reading another web site on the Malibu and most of the cars were 2000's, what a nightmare, fuel injection, gasket, etc. Has Chevy fixed these problems in
the last 6 years or did I just committ to a huge car loan for nothing? My sincere thanks to anyone who can help.
Cindi4031
and the dealer says that Ignition switch has to be replaced.
Any idea as how much will it cost to fix the Ignition Switch and what will happen if its not fixed.
I've noted sometimes my Maxx will be very difficult to start. This seems to happen when the engine is "lukewarm" (neither cold nor hot).
It especially happens if I start up the vehicle in 50 degree weather, drive it for 2 minutes or so, let it sit for 10 minutes, and then try to restart. In that case engine barely catches on first startup attempt and may need two or three tries before it will start (when it does, it runs very roughly for 15 seconds afterwards)
Thanks.
E2helper posted a TSB for condition so i informed my GM dealer and they re flashed the computer with the updated info. It's been ten days since the work and the problem has been fixed.
Check the dicussions with start up/ignition there is info regarding this matter.