2003 Malibu battery problem, help!!!

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2003 Malibu battery problem, help!!!

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Chevrolet Forums >> Chevy Cars >> Malibu >> 2003 Malibu battery problem, help!!!

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2003 Malibu battery problem, help!!! - 7/8/2006 8:16:47 PM

pj2k3

Posts: 2
Joined: 7/8/2006
Status: offline

Today I was at the gas station and have never had a single problem with the car dying on me. As I attempted to the turn the ignition to leave the gas station, I got nothing. The car just would not turn over. The dash and everything was lit up and on. There were no warning signs at all, no battery light, nothing. The guy filling up in front of me was courteous enough to give me a jump so I could drive the 5 miles back to my house. When I got there, I let the car sit for a while, tried it and it started right up. I did this maybe 5-6 times today...just walked outside and started her right up. I have NO idea what happened and I'm scared that it's going to happen again in a worse spot. Has anyone experienced anything like this? I don't think it's the alternator or the battery light would have come on, wouldn't it have? Doesn't that happen when the battery is dead? Besides, everything INSIDE the car worked?! Odd.

Post #: 1

RE: 2003 Malibu battery problem, help!!! - 7/24/2006 5:44:03 PM

NCHEVYHEVN

Posts: 268
Joined: 7/23/2006
Status: offline

Have you even looked to see if the terminals are tight? Drive it to an autozone or an advanced auto parts and have the battery, alt, and starter tested for free.

(in reply to pj2k3)

Post #: 2

RE: 2003 Malibu battery problem, help!!! - 7/25/2006 12:25:22 AM

kcb37

Posts: 504
Joined: 7/3/2006
Status: offline

It could be the connections, but if you had full power in the car I would think it would be more of a starter solenoid, or possibly it wasn't all the way in park and the neutral safety wasn't engaged to send current to your starter. I would guess something like that as it started when you jumped it. Did you touch the gearshift at all between trying to start it and starting it when you jumped it? I would also check your connections too. I would worry more about the starter connections then the bat, but make sure they are all clean and tight.
Let us know what you find.

(in reply to NCHEVYHEVN)

Post #: 3

RE: 2003 Malibu battery problem, help!!! - 10/8/2006 11:10:12 AM

golfer

Posts: 610
Joined: 10/8/2006
Status: offline

Just because all the dash lights work doesn't mean there is enough cranking amps to start the vehicle.
The dash lights only draw a small amount of current ( ~1 amp ) whereas the starter can draw up wards to 60 amps.

First check the condition of the battery terminals for corrosion the the cables to see if loose or corroded.

Have the battery load tested. This will tell if the battery is weak and / or not able to hold a charge.

(in reply to kcb37)

Post #: 4