Check engine light

CAITLIN SOPHIA WIGNEY

MEMBER
1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU
AUTOMATIC
96,104 MILES

I drive the car listed above it’s a hand me down car so it’s not the greatest thing but until this summer it’s been rather reliable.

The car had the back brakes fixed (the hill hold was bad and apparently there was rust) about a month ago. A few weeks after that I was driving and the car completely shut off turns out the alternator was broken and needed to be replaced.
It was inspected a few days after that was fixed, only for it now to be making some kind of loud scraping/grinding noise whenever it is driven.
It doesn’t seem to be break oriented (as in, it makes the noise even when it’s just in drive) but the check engine light has come on, the gas floater seems off, and the radio skips/headlights dim when I press on the break or turn my high beams on.
Not sure what to do next. It has begun to run me dry in terms of finances of fixing, it is my only car, and I am not very car experienced at all so any advice helps! Thank you. :).

1 Reply

MOTOR MASTER

MECHANIC
279 POSTS

Hello my name is Dave.

My first question is, did you have the engine code read? And did this start happening immediately after having the alternator replaced and if so where did you get the alternator (new, used or rebuilt) and who installed the alternator. The symptoms by themselves without the noise sound like a ground issue, I would check and make sure the battery terminals are free of corrosion and properly tightened. The other thing I would check is that the battery ground cable is securely tightened. I would also recommend going to your local auto parts store and have them run an alternator/battery test. I would suspect that there is either an issue with the alternator or one of the pulleys for the belt. If you could check the connections I mentioned and have the code(s) read and get back to us we will be glad to further assist you. Thank you for using 2CarPros.