1997 Chevy Malibu Starts and Stalls Immediately

KIMS71

MEMBER
1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU

Engine Performance problem
1997 Chevy Malibu Automatic 155000 miles

Our 97 Malibu is starting just fine, but then stalls within 2 seconds. When it stalls, there is a loud whining sound. I thought it was coming from the radio, but I turned that off and it continued. The whine sort of sounds like the sound your car makes when you leave the keys in it or the lights on, same pitch, but its a sickly drawn out hum instead of a beeping and gradually fades away after about 5 or 6 seconds. Don't know if its related, but there has been a sulfur smell when driving it on the highway at times for the last month or so. Understand that could be the catalytic converter.

3 Replies

JDL

MECHANIC
16,098 POSTS

Welcome to the forum, as far as the starting issue, do you think the theft system might be causing a problem? Do you have a theft/security lite on your dash? When you try to start, is it on or flashing? If it is, leave the key in the on position, wait and see if the lite goes out, may take ten minutes or so, if it goes out, then try to start. Just a thought, may not be the security system?

SPONSORED LINKS

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

-1

Friday, November 27th, 2009 AT 9:36 AM

KIMS71

MEMBER
1 POST

Thanks for your quick reply. It doesn't seem to be the security feature. We thought of that, but its still doing it this morning--several hours later. And resetting doesn't work. The hum is coming from somewhere under the glove box. It's coming and going. Definately when the car stalls, but then it stops and will start again in a minute or so and go for varying lengths of time. Can't hear it very much outside of the car and can hear it under the hood but no where near as loud as when the glove box is opened. There is also a clicking sound in the vicinity of the back tires when the key is turned in the ignition and when the car stalls out a few seconds later.

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

-1

Friday, November 27th, 2009 AT 11:12 AM

JDL

MECHANIC
16,098 POSTS

I guess, I would have to look at it? Are there any codes? There is a fuse box and bcm on that right side. I don't what your hearing at the rear, unless it is the fuel pump? How long since a tune-up?

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

Friday, November 27th, 2009 AT 11:56 AM