Not changing gears? - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu

Tiny
ANTHONY11
  • MEMBER
  • 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU
  • 77,500 MILES
I have a 2009 automatic Chevy Malibu, when I began to accelerate, the car won't change gears automatically and it seems like its forcing itself to change them. The rpm just gets higher and doesn't want to change gears. The car will get up to 40mph and begins to stall. Could it be just a tube up that it will need, or will it be the transmission?
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Sunday, July 28th, 2013 AT 4:17 PM

32 Replies

Tiny
MADMIKE1735
  • MECHANIC
  • 951 POSTS
Does the low power light illuminate in the dash? these cars have an issue with water leaks, and it shorts out the connector under the driver side dash.... most common right after it rains.... I have also seen the input shaft speed sensor cause this issue as well here is a the location of the sensor so you can check it out.

Lets read the codes first

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/checking-a-service-engine-soon-or-check-engine-light-on-or-flashing

Check out the diagrams (Below). Please let us know what you find. We are interested to see what it is.

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Saturday, September 14th, 2013 AT 9:28 PM
Tiny
KRISTINAWHITE09
  • MEMBER
  • 44 POSTS
  • 2007 CHEVROLET MALIBU
  • 3.5L
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 161,000 MILES
I had a new TCM put in my car and had it programmed this morning. I'm still having shifting issues (car shifts sometimes, stays at 3,000 RPM's at approx. 70 mph. Also, my check engine light is on, dash says "service traction", the doors unlock by themselves, and my side view mirror doesn't work. I'm pretty sure I need a new BCM but I'm wondering what may be causing my transmission to not shift properly.
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Monday, April 13th, 2020 AT 11:38 AM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,606 POSTS
First check your battery for condition including load test. Tha tmay be the cause of all your issues. Replacing parts like modules isn't the problem all the time even if it says so by code. Low battery causes all kinds of problems. Then have atrans guy look at your car for no shift it may be a clutch/seal problem or bad converter as well as a valvebody problem.
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Monday, April 13th, 2020 AT 11:38 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KRISTINAWHITE09
  • MEMBER
  • 44 POSTS
I was told that, since my TCM went out, it could have caused other modules to go out as well. I was sure I needed a BCM since my service traction light was on and the doors were unlocking themselves. I'll have the battery checked and have them look at the service engine code today. Thanks!
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Monday, April 13th, 2020 AT 11:38 AM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,606 POSTS
If thecode is in the700 range it's trans problem also because one module goes out means any other ones will. The service traction may be an abs problem so a pro will need to scan that and for door locks. Auto parts can't scan that.
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Monday, April 13th, 2020 AT 11:38 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KRISTINAWHITE09
  • MEMBER
  • 44 POSTS
Thank you! It's actually P0036 which is for an O2 sensor; however, it could also mean the ECM is not working. I'm either going to take it to a trans shop or just replace the ECM. If the ECM is out can it cause fake error codes for things like the O2 sensors? I don't think it's just the O2 sensor because I'm still having some issues with shifting.
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Monday, April 13th, 2020 AT 11:38 AM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,606 POSTS
I doubt that its the ecm have a professional diagnose this as it can be a bad O2 or a short in the wiring. Replacing parts on todays vehicles is the wrong way to go. Besides a pro would have to program it anyhow if the ecm was bad. You must think that all mechanics are thieves trying to fix this stuff your self or we are all out to rip people off to do what you are doing. You'll end up wasting more time and money trying to fix it only to have other problems due to incorrect diagnosis.
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Monday, April 13th, 2020 AT 11:38 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KRISTINAWHITE09
  • MEMBER
  • 44 POSTS
Thanks! I'm actually going to take it to a transmission shop. I'm actually just trying to save a little money and time since this is my only vehicle and now I'll have to drop it off there and get a rental car. I'm also losing time from work due to this, so I'd rather do it myself if I can save money and time. The tranny shifts a little so it's fine to drive home and to the shop in the morning now. They said it could be a number of things. The TCM had to have been bad anyway because it did fix the power steering and some other things. I just have a lot going on with it right now. If it's a wiring issue I may just get a new car because I'm sure that will likely be a lot to fix. Thanks for all your help!
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Monday, April 13th, 2020 AT 11:38 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KMBRANDON
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2007 CHEVROLET MALIBU
  • 98,000 MILES
Put car into Park like normal & shut off engine. Shifter felt mushy when I did so & I noticed doors didn't unlock like they normally do when it's put in Park. Able to shut off engine & remove key, but vehicle will roll without e-brake engaged. Brake pedal also seems to be not returning to normal position when released. Have tried moving shifter knob through all gears, but it only registers being in L (I can make it change from L1-L5 using the manual shift button, but that doesn't change anything I can see). I was driving in D of course, not L.
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Monday, April 13th, 2020 AT 11:38 AM (Merged)
Tiny
FIXITMR
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,990 POSTS
You will have to check your shift cable on the transmission to see if it's moving properly. Dont sound like it.
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Monday, April 13th, 2020 AT 11:38 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Check the gear linkage and park/neutral switch
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Monday, April 13th, 2020 AT 11:38 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KMBRANDON
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Shift cable was broken. First shop said transmission was also stuck in D & L though so had it towed to another shop that works on transmissions. They replaced shift cable & said nothing wrong with transmission at all.
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Monday, April 13th, 2020 AT 11:38 AM (Merged)
Tiny
NONNIE_MARIE
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
  • 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU
  • 3.5L
  • V6
  • TURBO
  • AWD
  • AUTOMATIC
It Makes A Sound Like If Its Forcing ItSelf To Move But It Wont Shift Out Of Second Gear. I Waste Gas Like Crazy And My Car Starts To Over Heat When I Pass 65 On The Freeway Please Help Find Out What Is Wrong With My Car. A Couple Of Months Back I Did A Recall For The Gear Transmission And Since Then I Been Having This Problem. I Just Took It Back To Chevy And They Said Thats Not The Problem Soo Now Im Clueless..
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Monday, April 13th, 2020 AT 11:39 AM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,606 POSTS
It's in limp mode, have a trans guy scan for codes but may need a rebuild.
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Monday, April 13th, 2020 AT 11:39 AM (Merged)
Tiny
NONNIE_MARIE
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
I don't have that amount of money to rebuild So I replaced the input shaft speed sensor which fixed it BTW.
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Monday, April 13th, 2020 AT 11:39 AM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,606 POSTS
Nice work, we are here to help, please use 2CarPros anytime.
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Monday, April 13th, 2020 AT 11:39 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MATURESUN
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU
  • 165,379 MILES
When driving my car I can can accelerate to around 50 miles per hour and after that I can't accelerate any further. The engine makes a revving up noise and I start to lose speed. Once I slow down I can accelerate again but it only goes up to around 45 or 50 and it starts all over again. Is it the transmission or hopefully something cheaper?
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Monday, April 13th, 2020 AT 11:39 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,005 POSTS
It sounds like the transmission is shifting into neutral rather than the next available gear. Has the check engine light come on?
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Monday, April 13th, 2020 AT 11:39 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ERIC77437
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 69,028 MILES
When cold only, car hesitates badly to shift out of 1st, but once warmed up, runs perfect. No check engine light is on. Please help
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Monday, April 13th, 2020 AT 11:39 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 19,053 POSTS
Have tranny fluid checked and adjusted
or you can change tranny filter and fluid
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Monday, April 13th, 2020 AT 11:39 AM (Merged)

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