2003 Malibu stopped while driving now won't start

KBOOGIE

MEMBER
2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU

I have a 2003 Malibu with 77,000 miles. About 3 weeks ago I got into my car and it wouldn't start (dead silence not even a stalling noise). My husband got some gas and put it in the tank. The car started just fine but we didn't drive it anywhere but to the corner and back.

The next morning it wouldn't start again so my husband jump started the car and drove it to a shop to have the battery tested. They told him the battery was dead and we got a new one.

The car was running fine for almost 2 weeks then on my way home it started stalling while I was drving then slowed down until it eventually just died.

I tried to get it jumped and it didn't work. It sounds like it wants to turn over but won't, this is different from the first incident. The first time it didn't even try to turn over it was dead silence but this time it sounds like it wants to turn over but can't.

Any and all advice is appreciated.

3 Replies

SERVICE WRITER

MECHANIC
9,123 POSTS

The first two thoughts that come to mind is a poor connection at the battery or the other ends of the cable and the second is the alternater is not fully charging the battery.
IT may have ran the battery down far enough that it took a short period of time to recover and provide a little juice to crank slowly.

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Monday, November 5th, 2007 AT 5:36 PM

KBOOGIE

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Wanted to come back in and update you guys on my 2003 Malibu. Took it to the shop and it was the Fuel Pump/Filter. $803.00! (Including diagnostic)

The very next day my check engine light came on, now this has been happening on and off for about 2 years and every time I took it in I was told it was the fuel cap! I know that I am putting the cap on correctly.

My husband took my car back to the shop and the code they got is a small evap leak (can't remember exactly)

My husband talked to another mechanic and told him about the recent issue and he said we probably have to get a new gas cap it may not be sealing properly.

We will try this because I refuse to pay $50.00 every few months to have the dealership reset the code. When I know I am prooerly putting the gas cap on.

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Tuesday, November 13th, 2007 AT 2:02 PM

SERVICE WRITER

MECHANIC
9,123 POSTS

That's very illogical to be the fuel pump as the fuel pump has nothing to do with the cranking. Unless I mis understood your quote:

"It sounds like it wants to turn over but won't, this is different from the first incident. The first time it didn't even try to turn over it was dead silence but this time it sounds like it wants to turn over but can't. "

A small evap leak can be found often by having a shop that is good with with current technology to "smoke" the evap system. Smoke is injected into the system that controls the fuel vapors. There may be a a small o-ring not sealing, a hose leaking. The filler neck leaking. It is solvable.

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Tuesday, November 13th, 2007 AT 7:56 PM