Top 10 1998 Chevrolet Malibu Questions & Answers

the problem with my malibu was the plug going to the alternator. i went to the junk yard and cut a plug end off the wiring harness and replaced it on mine and it's been working fine. i don't know why it drains the battery with the broken wire in the plug, but it did. i found the problem by wiggleing the wire while my wife watched the dash for the battery light to go out. ken!

i had this same prob also it did it when turning on the A/C i changed the control moudel under the coil packs and bow like new no more shuting off !!!!!!!!!!!!!

The lever inside the transmission that engages and disengages the "park pal" has most likely come loose or broken altogether. If you are mechanicly inclined and want to verify this you can pull the pan off the trans and look at the park pal and conecting rod to see if it is broken.
Also there is a chance that the stering columb rod that is part of the key switch has broken off and wedged into the shift lever.

Ps. please dont forget to rate the solution. Thanks.

water pump is no big deal ,thermostat that a bigger job there not mush room to work but why the timming chain were i work the owner got a taxi fleet all maliby from 200 to 2003 i never say in my mechanical career or needed to change a timing chain on a malibe those years some of malibu has close to 600,000km change a lot of intake gasket but timing chain never please tell why the shop whant to change the timing chain do you now the shop good thanks pierre

Hi there,
I suppose its a sports mode function where the + enables you to upshift and the - to downshift.
Try using this mode when you are driving as you might like it if you used to drive manual cars before...
Cheers

evap emission control system malfunction, po440

a reference circuit is a reduced voltage(less than 12) that is current controled
without it your car may suddenly accelerate smply by you turning
your heater or Ac on (the battery voltage changes )
it's used on many cars for the sensors like the throttle posisition
or Map
if the fault code says you lost it
you got a shorted wire or sensor somewhere on the engine

consult your vehicles engine wire diagram to see what sensors run on 5 volt ref
then start lookin and unhookin
(chiltons avail in most public librarys has a good wire diagram)

FUEL GAUGE FUSE IS THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CONTROL FUSE WHICH WOULD BE IPC BFC AND ACC FUSE.YOUR PROBLEM IN THE FUEL TANK.YOUR FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNIT NOT WORKING. PROBLEM NOT FUSE BECAUSE YOUR FUEL GAUGE IS WITH THE WHOLE CLUSTER CIRCUIT.IF FUSE BLOWED NONE OF THE GAUGES WOULD WORK.

when we try to start the car it will not stay running are theft system stay on how can can we fix it

Hi.

If the ABS light comes on, then there is definitively a problem that must be corrected. The ABS light turns on for a number of reasons. If the problem started after replacing brake pads and sensors it is usually because of sensor wiring. When abs light is on it means that diagnostic trouble codes are stored in the car computer modules (in both ECM that is the main computer, and also in ABS control module).
If you have done the brake service recently, get back to the garage that did the job and ask them doing a code scanning. Possibly go there while the ABS light is on. The codes will reset after turning on the ignition a number of times if the problem is not there anymore. Wiring problems often manifest themselves only occasionally in consequence of vibration. That is likely your case.

Note: when you go to the dealer for the code scanning mention that the problem started after the repair or you will be charged the standard fee for code scanning (usually half hour labor). Mention that the ABS module may need scanning for codes and go there when ABS light is on. They will use a Tech 2 scanner to pull out ABS codes. A regular OBDII scanner will only retrieve codes from main computer.

Regards.

Ginko