Chevrolet Malibu Owners: Problems & Solutions

[jack]

Woody wrote:

I am planning a 1500 mile trip over relatively flat terrain pulling a small (4 foot high, 6 foot high) covered trailer with my 2007 Malibu Maxx. It will have a gross of about 1300 lbs. Chevy says max. tow weight should be 1000 lbs. Does anyone have experience towing with the Maxx? I know the engine will have no problem pulling the weight, and the air resistance will be minimal due to the low height of the trailer, but I am wondering about the transmission. There is only Drive and Low option on the shifter. Should I not exceed 60 mph and have it in Drive, or should I leave it in Low? Your help is greatly appreciated.
Woody

I don't see any problem pulling a 1300 lb trailer with a malibu, I pull a 1300 lb hard top tent trailer with mine. I highly recommend you have a transmission cooler installed as you can have serious transmission problems if you don't. Costs about $70 if you do it yourself. I also had trailer brakes installed. Keep your speed a little under the speed limit and no jack rabbit starts when pulling.

[jeff porter]

yes you need to call in the recall or replace the unit it self my malibu 05 maxx. has the same problem the rear works just not the front passenger, and the turn indicator goes crazy ever time i make a turn so you just have to replace the whole unit before you get a ticket.

[wil]

I've been having this problem with the drive axle for a 1999 malibu ls the axle just keeps coming out of the trans

[ray]

i have an 02 malibu sometimes studders when drivin and wont go up a hill fast unless i give the car alot of gas ...

[kathy]

cpknscw9288 wrote:

are they good cars cause my boyfriend has one and i refuse to ride in it until i find out if its a good car

The malibu sucks, I have a 2005 and have had trouble with it since the day I bought it. I have to replace the steering every year and a half and it has all sorts of electrical problems. Owned a 2000 malibu, drove it for 4 years and the transmission dropped out of it. Never again will I buy a cheverolet.

[jack]

wil wrote:

I've been having this problem with the drive axle for a 1999 malibu ls the axle just keeps coming out of the trans

that sounds dangerously interesting----care to elaborate more

[jack]

kathy wrote:

<quoted text>
The malibu sucks, I have a 2005 and have had trouble with it since the day I bought it. I have to replace the steering every year and a half and it has all sorts of electrical problems. Owned a 2000 malibu, drove it for 4 years and the transmission dropped out of it. Never again will I buy a cheverolet.

I agree with you--lots of electrical and mechanical problems and I don't recommended anybody buying one. Run the other way if someone wants to sell you one. I own a 1998 V6 model and have had my share of intermitten problems over the years. The funny thing is most of the electric problems seem to correct themselves after a few days of starting and stopping. As for mechanical problems I can fix them myself now that the auto wreckers are full of them.

[KATE]

My 2006 Malibu Maxx has had several problems. I've had it in and of course they're having trouble finding then fixing. It finally did it once on them,brake buzz noise pedal vibration. They suggest poss. BCM Problem. They checked connections,clean and grease terminals. I felt it again about 3-4 weeks later once. What is this?
I also am feeling a give and slight click in the steering. Of course they checked both axels (CV) and found no play/movement. What is this?

[Wenis]

Kate, there's a bulletin on the stick/slip as you must already know. It's GM's exact phrase describing the feeling and noise. The intermediate shaft (steering) between the bottom of the steering column and the rack and pinion is the cause, it's a replaceable part or you can grease it for short term relief.

[GMR]

Wenis wrote:

Kate, there's a bulletin on the stick/slip as you must already know. It's GM's exact phrase describing the feeling and noise. The intermediate shaft (steering) between the bottom of the steering column and the rack and pinion is the cause, it's a replaceable part or you can grease it for short term relief.

What ever happened to grease nipples ?
Worst case , for really buried joints, was a flex tube to a grease nipple in an accesible position.
Better case was a small central point with a dozen or so nozzles all piped to the joints.
Best case was a small pump and distributor valve piped to every wear point on the vehicle.
Steering and ball joints are a particularly sore point; a regular single shot of grease flushed out dirt plus lubricated for a very long , smooth, life.

[Carey]

I need some serious help here guys. I bought a set of 2006 Impala 16 inch w/ rims w/ 225/60/16 tires for my 2000 malibu and they went on with no problem, until I drove down the road. The struts were eating up the inside of the tiires.
Anyone know if I could use spacers on these to make them work. I bought them because it was cheaper than buying a new set of 15 inch, but in trying to save a dollar I think I might have screwed myself.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Carey

[Wenis]

Yep, the offset is different between the two. Try one of the parts stores, they may have spacers for them. Don't under any condition use something rinky dink like washers, the wheels will come loose often.

Is there going to be room between the fender and tires if you space them out?

[jack]

Carey wrote:

I need some serious help here guys. I bought a set of 2006 Impala 16 inch w/ rims w/ 225/60/16 tires for my 2000 malibu and they went on with no problem, until I drove down the road. The struts were eating up the inside of the tiires.
Anyone know if I could use spacers on these to make them work. I bought them because it was cheaper than buying a new set of 15 inch, but in trying to save a dollar I think I might have screwed myself.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Carey

I notice you are using 225/60/16 tires. You should be using 215/60/16 as they are a little narrower, this may solve your problem.

[mark]

2005 malibu - turn key on, cd player starts humming, lights come on car starts clicking but won't start. key less entry won't work.

[jack]

mark wrote:

2005 malibu - turn key on, cd player starts humming, lights come on car starts clicking but won't start. key less entry won't work.

Check battery voltage---should be 12.5 volts. Could be bad battery or faulty alternator.

[mark]

I tried jumping the car and it still would not turn over. When I put the key in, I hear relays clicking under the dash. Could this be a bad ignition switch?

[jack]

mark wrote:

I tried jumping the car and it still would not turn over. When I put the key in, I hear relays clicking under the dash. Could this be a bad ignition switch?

Your ignition is OK. Have you checked the battery terminals and cables for corrosion buildup---this creates a resistance which in turn lowers the voltage to the starter and the rest of the electrical. I found when my battery was almost dead on my malibu and the engine about ready to quit all sorts of weird things happened----relays clicking, rpm and guages acting eratically. I had to replace the alternator and when the battery was charged everything was ok. So, check the cables. Other than that maybe somebody can suggest something.

[GMR]

mark wrote:

I tried jumping the car and it still would not turn over. When I put the key in, I hear relays clicking under the dash. Could this be a bad ignition switch?

Try disconnecting your battery before putting jumper leads directly to your battery leads.( Or replace your battery with a known good one )
In extreme cases I have found the vehicle battery had `shorted' cells which even dropped the booster voltage; it has to draw a higher current through the jumper leads with a consequent voltage drop. In over 50 years Iv'e only had this happen 3 times and only in the last 20; maybe a change in battery design ? They always used to give you warning by a gradual reduction in power; now they die suddenly and leave you stranded. ; rare but it's a possibility.

[GMR]

On a lighter note :-

When my husband and I arrived at an automobile dealership to pick up our
car, we were told the keys had been locked in it. We went to the service
department and found a mechanic working feverishly to unlock the drivers
side door. As I watched from the
passenger side, I instinctively tried the door handle and discovered that
it was unlocked.'Hey,' I announced to the technician,'its open!'
His reply,'I know. I already got that side.'

This was at the Ford dealership in Guelph , Ontario .

STAY ALERT! They walk among us...

[Midge C]

Severino Ruiz wrote:

My 2002 Chevy Malibu started beeping on me. The beepin sounds like its comin from my drivers side front door. I tried takein out the fuses but nothin happened. I think it has somethin to do with my doors. Can someone please help me out.

Did you ever get this fixed / find out what it was? It's happening to me.