i have a 98 malibu and i put a new optima battery in it. after i did this i went to start it and the gas gauge spun all the way around so it is now upside down. does anyone know if this is a common problem? and a way to fix it?

 

Its a typical problem when u install new batteries in the malibu......the needle gets a bigger boost of energy than its supposed to...causing it to go around too far. You will have to take the instrument cluster out to fix it. basically just spinm it back around with your finger(MAKE SURE NOT TO REMOVE THE NEEDLE) they are very delicate and once the needle pops off...you wont be able to put it back in exactly how it was

 

Well since you decided to pull up an old thread I'll go ahead and reply anyway.

Basically pulling the instrument panel is the hard/slow way to fix the problem. What I do is just take a paperclip and stick it through the hole where the odometer reset stick pokes through the clear plastic. From their I can pull the needle back around to where it normally is.