2000 Malibu LS loses power after warming up
 

Help! This is driving me CRAZY! I just bought a 2000 Malibu LS with 83K. It was owned by an older lady and sat a lot. I noticed that after the car warms up, it performs badly. Lack of power, no pickup, surgiing, hesitation, loss of power on inclines and hills, no power when moving out into traffic from a stop. I brought it to the dealership and they tested the engine and tranny....no problems at all. They think maybe it is moisture or carbon build up. They sprayed some stuff in the intake to get rid of the carbon, and I have been using bottles of dry gas. No improvement, not yet anyway. Why does this happen only after it is warmed up? Any ideas on what could be causing it? Thanks! Also, it may be effecting the gas mileage...it is terrible.

Also, the spark plugs and fuel filter have been changed!

Try cleaning the MAF sensor. Bad gas would run crappy all the time.

Everytime my '00 Malibu starts to loose power I usually find a cracked vacuum hose that causes the engine to stay in "cold" mode which uses more fuel.

Is it easy for you to explain where the MAF sensor is?

Also, I just now checked what hoses I could see from under the hood, and everything looked fine. Should I check from underneath the car, too? (Sorry, I only know a certain amount about cars).

It is in the air intake should have a soft rubber boot on each side with a plug in. Unscrew the two clamps that hold it in the inlet, remove, and use a MAF cleaner (mass air flow sensor). Also as suggested check for vacuum leaks. In your case, I'd suggest get a can of WD-40, with it running, spot spray vacuum hose, and connections. If the engine speeds up, it is sucking air at that point.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/818/004jhk.jpg/
ImageShack® - Online Photo and Video Hosting
This is the cleaner I use

I'm wondering, since you have this isssue with "warm" engine. If you don't have any luck with the previous, let it warm up, and with wd-40 spot spray the intake. Thats the metal piece on top the engine where the MAF hose goes into. Hit the area where it bolts to the engine. It could be a gasket leak when warm.

kevinkpk...thanks big time! I'm going to work on that tomorrow. I can see the intake and where the MAF should be, as you described. Thanks and I look forward to fixing this annoying problem!

Not saying thats the fix, just a suggestion. Repost either way if it works or not. That helps with others having issues.

When you clean the MAF, the sensors (pitot tubes) are on the backsidde (toward engine) do both sides, and use MAF cleaner. I use CRC because it is available, but do use an approved maf cleaner.

Okay. I think I am going to get some Seafoam (to clean the carbon out) as well (the one you can spray into the intake) and do that at the same time. The dealership already did it once, but maybe it needs to be done again. Then, I will clean the MAF while I have the same general section all apart. It's looking like tomorrow will be the big day as I have to make a trip to Autozone to get all the stuff. Thanks!

Wanted to check back in. After talking to the dealer, they decided that I should replace the temp.sensor as the car has the most problems after heating up. However, that has not changed a thing! I wanted to ask if anyone thinks the loss of power has anything to do with the other symptoms...10 miles per gallon gas, slightly overheating, and fan doesn't blow well on 1st and 2nd settings. I have not cleaned the MAF yet!

The dealer might be onto something. I think that sensor is on the radiator? I had an issue with one on my Mazda, either way both easy, and not too exspensive.

Still no change, even with the new temperature sensor. I am going to add more antifreeze, as it is down a couple inches from the fill line. The guy at Autozone said it was fine, but maybe I should try adding some anyway as the car overheats some. The next thing to work on is the blower motor resistor, and the MAF.

Did this fix your problem? If not, what was the problem. I have a 2000 malibu that has the same problem. Last Friday, I had been driving all day and I stopped to get gas. 3 mile down the road, My car lost power. It is like it suddenly is NOT getting any gas. No lights are coming on. I can restart it and drive off. But, it will die again within 3 to 5 miles.

my mechanic is more frustrated than I am.

No, I still have the problem with the car. I have narrowed it down to either spark plugs or a continuing water in the gas problem. It is very annoying! It doesn't die, but hesitates and surges and doesn't have the right amount of power, especially in drive. Good luck...hope you find the cure!

I am interested in this post also my daughter has a 2004 malibu it has a 3.5 engine. She was getting a code 335 which is the crank position sensor, I replaced the sensor with a new one and as I did a test drive it died. I had driven about 5 mile and I put it in neutral turned of the key and it stated back up after I turn the key on. I then died as it was idling but it started back up, no codes this this time.

I had to replace the computer. It works great now.

Linda, glad you figured it out. I'm still in the same boat and now I'm wondering if it could be the computer. Thanks.

was that the problem? Did it fix it?

some help here please...have 2000 Malibu ls 3.1 motor....won't start ..no fuel pressure ...followed an earlier thread..but I guess not long enough..the person put in a fuel pump but no help..then they talked about the ignition switch only providing 6 volts to that circuit....is there a way to pinpoint either pump or switch..? I haven't replaced anything yet .