00 Malibu 3 issues

[stcolympia]

Hi everyone

Here are the 3 issues I'm having with my Malibu.

1) Very intermittantly (once a month maybe) the engine will not start. It sounds like it's trying to but will not start up. Then I let it sit for 5mins or so and it starts up fine and continues to for about another month. Anyone have an inkling of what might be going on here? I was thinking something fuel system related, pump, filter?

2) The vehicle pulls left. I have newer tires and have had an alignment done recently but the car continues to pull. The people that did the alignment said there is no tire ware taking place and everything was aligned properly. I'm not sure why this is happening.

3) My MPH guage has stopped working completely. How can one go about fixing this?

Thanks in advance for the help!

[rhandwor]

Originally Posted by stcolympia

Hi everyone

Here are the 3 issues I'm having with my Malibu.

1) Very intermittantly (once a month maybe) the engine will not start. It sounds like it's trying to but will not start up. Then I let it sit for 5mins or so and it starts up fine and continues to for about another month. Anyone have an inkling of what might be going on here? I was thinking something fuel system related, pump, filter?

2) The vehicle pulls left. I have newer tires and have had an alignment done recently but the car continues to pull. The people that did the alignment said there is no tire ware taking place and everything was aligned properly. I'm not sure why this is happening.

3) My MPH guage has stopped working completely. How can one go about fixing this?

Thanks in advance for the help!

No.1 when this happens put a spare spark plug in one of the plug wires.
Ground the plug while someone else tries to start the car. This will tell you if you have a spark or fuel problem.
No.2 some tires will cause a pull have them move tires front to back and check if this solves the problem. A car shouldn't pull. Use a measure and measure from the wheel well to the ground if not close you probably need new loaded struts with springs. It cost me $276.00 for a set of two delivered to the house.
No.3 check for a loose connection on the speed sensor.
http://www.ebay.com/ Search 2000 Chevy Malibu speed sensor to check what it looks like.

[stcolympia]

Originally Posted by rhandwor

No.1 when this happens put a spare spark plug in one of the plug wires.
Ground the plug while someone else tries to start the car. This will tell you if you have a spark or fuel problem.
No.2 some tires will cause a pull have them move tires front to back and check if this solves the problem. A car shouldn't pull. Use a measure and measure from the wheel well to the ground if not close you probably need new loaded struts with springs. It cost me $276.00 for a set of two delivered to the house.
No.3 check for a loose connection on the speed sensor.
http://www.ebay.com/ Search 2000 Chevy Malibu speed sensor to check what it looks like.

Thank you for the response. Do you happen to know of any guides or what not that would show me how to install that speed sensor?

[rhandwor]

Originally Posted by stcolympia

Thank you for the response. Do you happen to know of any guides or what not that would show me how to install that speed sensor?

Its on the automatic transmission output shaft. It appears to have one bolt and one plug. Make sure engine is shut off first.
http://www.alldata.com/ sells a years subscription for the car cost appx. $29.95.
I would check out the system first.