1997 Chevrolet Malibu Engine

VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE FAILURE AT IDLE , SEVERAL REPAIR ATTEMPTS HOWEVER CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE FAILURES. MJS

I HAVE MADE SEVEARL ATTEMPTS TO HAVE THIS VEHICLE LOOKED AT REGARDING THE SOUNDS I HEAR UPON STARTUP. THE CLICKING AT FIRST SOUNDED LIKE TAPPETS OR VALVES OUT OF ADJUSTMENT. THE VEHICLE HAS A 75000 MILE WARRANTY. I CALLED THE DEALER CLOSEST TO ME AND HE INFORMED ME THAT THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE A 3.1 L WERE NOTORIOUS FOR "WRIST PIN TOLERANCE DEFECTS" HE TOLD ME IT WAS AN ENGINEERING PROBLEM AND THERE WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. IT SHOULD CLEAR UP AFTER THE METALS HAVE EXPANDED INSIDE THE ENGINE. I GUESS YOU CAN CALL ME CONSCIECIOUS BUT THE WORD "DEFECT" HAS A TENDENCY TO UNNERVE A PERSON AFTER PAYING FOR A "NEW" CAR. AND HAVING HAD MECHANICAL TRAINING I KNOW ANY TOLERANCES WHERE PARTS ARE ALLOWED TO MOVE FREELY EVEN WHEN "WARMING UP" ARE PARTS THAT ARE USUALLY WEARING. WEARING PARTS MEAN A UNPREDICIBLE SITUATION AND I WORRY FOR MY FAMILY'S SAFETY WHEN WE BOUGHT A NEW CAR TO HAVE PIECE OF MIND. THIS TOLERANCE THING IS UNSAFE SINCE WRIST PINS ARE WHAT HOLD THE PISTONS ON THE CONNECTING RODS. THERE CAN BE NO TOLERANCE GAP ON A PART AS IMPORTANT EVEN IF IT STOPS AFTER A WHILE. I WAS TOLD THERE IS A TECHNICAL BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM BUT MY MECHANIC CAN NEVER SEEM TO FIND IT. MY WARRANTY IS UP IN ANOTHER 8000 MILES. I AM AFRAID THAT THE ENGINE WILL GIVE AWAY AFTER OUR WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND AS USUAL THEN IT WILL BE A BIG DEAL TO THE MECHANICS AND DEALER WHEN THEY CAN TAKE MY MONEY TO FIX A "NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT".

NO SUMMARY

UPON INITIAL START UP WITH COLD ENGINE, ENGINE RUNS FINE UNTIL DRIVER ATTEMPTS TO ACCELERATE. UPON ACCELERATION ENGINE RUNS EXTREMELY ROUGH, HAS NO POWER, AND WILL STALL AS SOON AS PRESSURE IS RELEASED FROM ACCELERATOR PEDAL. ENGINE IS DIFFICULT TO RESTART. ONCE RESTARTED ENGINE CONTINUES TO RUN ROUGH, ETC UNTIL NEAR NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURES ARE REACHED. VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURES ARE ATTAINED DUE TO STALLING AND LACK OF POWER. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN INTO THE DEALER'S SHOP AT LEAST TWICE. ON THE LAST SERVICING ON SEPTEMBER 10, 1999, DEALER REP LACED THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR AND REPROGRAMMED IGNITION COMPUTER WITH NEWER VERSION OF MANUFACTURER'S SOFTWARE. DEALER CHARGED $64 FOR NEW SOFTWARE WHICH I STRONGLY BELIEVE SHOULD BE COVERED BY MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY OR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY I PURCHASED WITH THIS VEHICLE.

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING WATER PUMP LEAKAGE, DUE TO FAILURE. *YC

CONSUMER EXPERIENCES ELECTRICAL SHOCK WHEN REMOVING OIL FILTER.