2000 Malibu 3.1L hard/no cold start
jennyree
12-16-2005, 12:45 AM
I have a 2000 Chevy Malibu with 121K miles. It has difficulty starting (or does not want to start at all) when it is cold/cool outside. The engine wants to turn over and will half-heartedly start and quit on me, or there will be a humming noise with no engine "turn over". I had a tune-up done on the car about 2 weeks ago in hopes that it would solve my problem.
Alas. It has not.
The spark plugs were replaced. Wiring checked. Battery voltage checked out normal. Alternator checked out fine. Starter checked out fine. The fuel injectors were cleaned. Air filter replaced. Timing belt appears to be in good condition. The check engine light is not on. However, the mechanic said I had a vaccuum leak, but he repaired it. And when I had my waterpump replaced over the summer, I was told my thermostat was "weakening".
Should I change my oil to a lower viscocity? Have a coolant flush? Can a bad solenoid evade a starter diagnostic? Should I have my distributor cap checked? Could this be my thermostat? A dirty in/out tank fuel filter? My fuel intake?
Help me. Please. I'm in college and don't have alot of money to drop on 80 million different diagnostics. Not to mention I'm a girl, and don't particularly care to get the run-around.
If you can offer any advice, it would be greatly appreciated.
Alas. It has not.
The spark plugs were replaced. Wiring checked. Battery voltage checked out normal. Alternator checked out fine. Starter checked out fine. The fuel injectors were cleaned. Air filter replaced. Timing belt appears to be in good condition. The check engine light is not on. However, the mechanic said I had a vaccuum leak, but he repaired it. And when I had my waterpump replaced over the summer, I was told my thermostat was "weakening".
Should I change my oil to a lower viscocity? Have a coolant flush? Can a bad solenoid evade a starter diagnostic? Should I have my distributor cap checked? Could this be my thermostat? A dirty in/out tank fuel filter? My fuel intake?
Help me. Please. I'm in college and don't have alot of money to drop on 80 million different diagnostics. Not to mention I'm a girl, and don't particularly care to get the run-around.
If you can offer any advice, it would be greatly appreciated.
GYLPBU
12-16-2005, 07:00 AM
I have a 2000 Chevy Malibu with 121K miles. It has difficulty starting (or does not want to start at all) when it is cold/cool outside. The engine wants to turn over and will half-heartedly start and quit on me, or there will be a humming noise with no engine "turn over". I had a tune-up done on the car about 2 weeks ago in hopes that it would solve my problem.
Alas. It has not.
The spark plugs were replaced. Wiring checked. Battery voltage checked out normal. Alternator checked out fine. Starter checked out fine. The fuel injectors were cleaned. Air filter replaced. Timing belt appears to be in good condition. The check engine light is not on. However, the mechanic said I had a vaccuum leak, but he repaired it. And when I had my waterpump replaced over the summer, I was told my thermostat was "weakening".
Should I change my oil to a lower viscocity? Have a coolant flush? Can a bad solenoid evade a starter diagnostic? Should I have my distributor cap checked? Could this be my thermostat? A dirty in/out tank fuel filter? My fuel intake?
Help me. Please. I'm in college and don't have alot of money to drop on 80 million different diagnostics. Not to mention I'm a girl, and don't particularly care to get the run-around.
If you can offer any advice, it would be greatly appreciated.
It's sounds like the coolant temp sensor is going bad. I've had it go bad on my car without setting the check engine light. The sensor costs about $8 at Autozone
Alas. It has not.
The spark plugs were replaced. Wiring checked. Battery voltage checked out normal. Alternator checked out fine. Starter checked out fine. The fuel injectors were cleaned. Air filter replaced. Timing belt appears to be in good condition. The check engine light is not on. However, the mechanic said I had a vaccuum leak, but he repaired it. And when I had my waterpump replaced over the summer, I was told my thermostat was "weakening".
Should I change my oil to a lower viscocity? Have a coolant flush? Can a bad solenoid evade a starter diagnostic? Should I have my distributor cap checked? Could this be my thermostat? A dirty in/out tank fuel filter? My fuel intake?
Help me. Please. I'm in college and don't have alot of money to drop on 80 million different diagnostics. Not to mention I'm a girl, and don't particularly care to get the run-around.
If you can offer any advice, it would be greatly appreciated.
It's sounds like the coolant temp sensor is going bad. I've had it go bad on my car without setting the check engine light. The sensor costs about $8 at Autozone
jennyree
12-16-2005, 11:22 AM
It's sounds like the coolant temp sensor is going bad. I've had it go bad on my car without setting the check engine light. The sensor costs about $8 at Autozone
how difficult are those to replace? Is it something my dad or myself could do?
how difficult are those to replace? Is it something my dad or myself could do?
jennyree
12-16-2005, 08:25 PM
how difficult are those to replace? Is it something my dad or myself could do?
Yeah, so I took the car in today to have the starter checked out. The "gear" in the starter was worn and wasn't catching, so it wasn't starting the car.
Replaced the starter and it works just fine.
Yeah, so I took the car in today to have the starter checked out. The "gear" in the starter was worn and wasn't catching, so it wasn't starting the car.
Replaced the starter and it works just fine.
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