I have put a new battery in it and drove it for day. I locked the doors and they started making sounds. The next day the car would not start. I gave it a jump and it ran the next day with the same problem. I'm hoping that this is something that does not cost lots of money to repair.
Is your battery draining fast? is it draining when sitting for more than a day? When you drive and stop (stop light, stop sign) does your car wobble as if wanting to turn off? do you have to try more than once to turn it on? does the battery die when you try to turn it on? when you get a car jump from someone else, does the battery charge? want to know my answers??
yes, yes, yes, yes, yes,NO.
Alternators are faulty with this model of car as far as i have researched, not covered under guarantee of dealership. i got it in a used car lot AS-IS so thats evern worst. had it for less than six months and already needs a new alternator havent even payed it off completely! stay away from this car. of course if you are reading this, means either you already have it or know someone who does. in any way this is an expensive job, alternators are from $150 to $199 plus the core. plus labor. plus gas to get to the store. about 300 total is really bad.
The battery goes dead over the weekend on my 2004 Malibu LS. In September, 2008, the battery went dead over the weekend. I tested the battery using a load tester; tested OK but swapped anyway. I tested charge voltage with a voltmeter and charge current with an ampmeter; tested good. I swapped relays in the fuse and relay center under the hood and isolated a relay that seemed to misbehave; replaced it. Tested current discharge using an ampmeter with the car Off and locked; 100 milliamps (mA) - Anti-theft, OK.
No further problems until the middle of November 2008 when the battery went dead again. Again checked battery using a load tester; tested good. Tested charge voltage using a voltmeter and charge current using an ampmeter; tested good. No relays were replaced this time. Tested discharge current using an ampmeter with car Off and locked; 100 mA - OK.
To me there is no point taking the car to a dealer for service. They will deny there is a problem and charge hours of labor for out-of-warranty service. I've heard rumors of Anti-theft causing starting issues but not dead batteries. Wish I knew the culprit!
- radarbtc,
Lfp, WA, US
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I have put a new battery in it and drove it for day. I locked the doors and they started making sounds. The next day the car would not start. I gave it a jump and it ran the next day with the same problem. I'm hoping that this is something that does not cost lots of money to repair.
- marionhalsey, Washington, US