2000 Malibu Strange Behavior

BILLVYHO

MEMBER
2000 CHEVROLET MALIBU

Hi, hope I can explain this.2000 Malibu, 97,000 miles. Sometimes when I start the car, some or all of the gauges are not working. If I turn off, and re-start, they start working again. The "service engine soon" light comes on sometimes, not all of the time. And there is a warning light, to the right of the speedometer that comes on sometimes. I dont have my manual, but it says "check", with some kind of symbol.

The car is running fine, and sometimes goes days without any warning lights, or guage failures. Where should I start?

Thanks for any suggestions!

4 Replies

PEPPERMRJ

MECHANIC
1,158 POSTS

Hey Bill,
Start by digging up the owners manual and letting us know the exact light that is lit. Next have the codes read. A few large chain auto parts stores will do this free of charge. Write them down and let us know exactly the code numbers. The gauges could be nothing more than a loose or dirty connection.

Good luck and let us know. :)
peppermrj

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Wednesday, April 11th, 2007 AT 4:01 AM

BILLVYHO

MEMBER
11 POSTS

Hi,

The light is the check engine light. I also took it to have the codes read. I did not write down the codes, but it was explained to me that is was the Oxygen Sensor, and a vent valve that was causing the check engine light to come on (I was watching the readout also).

I explained the guage problem, and it made no sense to him either, and he assured me that the check engine light had nothing to do with that.

Does it make sense that the check engine light is only on sometimes? And the only time it comes on is after I start the car. If it does not come on then, it never does.

Where should I check for dirty connections?

Any suggestions or comments on the Oxygen Sensor or vent valve.

Thanks again!

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Wednesday, April 11th, 2007 AT 6:39 PM

PEPPERMRJ

MECHANIC
1,158 POSTS

Has the light came back? You really do need the exact code as there are different O2 codes. Not sure what you mean by vent either. If they do not come back dont worry. If they do please get the exact code numbers.

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Wednesday, April 11th, 2007 AT 7:01 PM

GCROSS6

MEMBER
2 POSTS

My 2000 does the same thing. It became more frequent when the recall was done on the flashers. Many times, if I hit the top of the dashboard a couple of times, the guages work, the driving lights come on, the AC fan starts working and the electric windows operate. My local Goodwrench folks can't figure it out either. I don't know how to access the area behind the dash to check for loose or bad connections. On a side note, these strange occurances happen if my drivers side window is cracked open in the rain and the rain lands on the control panel for the windows and mirrors.

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Wednesday, May 16th, 2007 AT 4:45 PM