Hello everyone, I am a new user to this site, I have a 2017 Malibu LS 1.5 ltr turbo w/auto start/stop. A new engine was installed in Feb 2023. For 3 months no trouble at all. Then the power electric steering went out. Had the guy who did the engine work pick the car up. He cranked it and drove it to his shop. Parked it in his shop and it hasn't started since. Will not turn over. It will click under hood, I have determinedthat to be the starter pinion engaging for a half a second. The only light on while it tries to start is the engine light then all dash lights come on for normal key on operation. He replaced the starter, the power supply, and the relays. I bought the car like this. Battery is brand new. I have checked all of the connections and fuses. I can get it to turn over by jumping the 2 relays under the hood. Starter and starter pinion. Still no start with ignition on. I am getting a 12 v + signal to the coil on the relays. The negative coil signal only shows 6-8 volts. It's variable. I am inclined to believe that the ECM is the problem. I unplugged the steering motor on the rack in case it was shorted and drawing to much power. Made no difference. Any thoughts?

 

Hello everyone, my name is Christian, just joined today. I have just purchased a 2017 Malibu 1.5 Turbo w/start/stop. The backstory I got is February 2023 a used 48k mile engine was installed. I have the receipt for that. It was done by a reputable mechanic as far as I can tell. It ran fine for 3 or 4 months then the electric power steering stopped working. The same mechanic picked the car up and drove it into his shop and that was the last time it started. It will make a clunk sound and all lights except for the engine light go off. Then all normal key on engine off dash lights come on. The clunk is the starter bending or pinion as GM calls it engaging for a half second then disengaging. Dash also has the service power steering message. Mil light on. Code says starter relay circuit low voltage. I get 12 volts + in the fuse box for the relay control pin 86 but 6-8 volts - for the relay control pin 85. The starter pinion relay has the same. The mechanic replaced the starter, starter relays, power supply. The battery was new in February 2023 and just to be sure it is new as of yesterday. I can jump start from terminals 87 and 30 in the fuse box for the 2 relays, starter and starter pinion. The engine will turn over but no start with ignition on. I gave it a drink of gas and still nothing. I have checked the fuses, I removed the fuse box and took it apart. Nothing burned or broken. I am thinking the ECM is going to be the problem. Does anyone have any ideas?

 

Welcome to the forum. Please do not double post. (your threads have been merged)
So what year is it? Title says 2016 but body says 2017.

 

Sorry that was unintentional as I was interrupted during the first one. I didn't think it had went through. I didn't see it post until after I finished posting the second one. I couldn't find an option to delete one.

The door sticker reads 09/2016. After the 6th month vehicles are considered to be of the following year. The under hood sticker has 2017. The owner had it posted as a 2016 and it stuck in my head. The power of persuasion.

 

No worries. Thanks for the clarification.
Have you tried boosting it from another vehicle?

 

I had a Shumacher 225 amp battery charger connected to it during my testing set at 10 amps and intervals of 50 amps. When I jumped the relays the car spun over fine. We had the shops wrecker connected to it when I picked it up. Made no difference. The battery was replaced new just 2 days ago.

 

faulty ignition switch maybe

 

After cleaning the connection to the power supply under the console it started. The mechanic who I picked it up from had changed it. He left the old one in the car and after looking at the plug in and seeing all of the green on the contacts I figured it was worth a try. Now I just have to figure out what's wrong with the power steering and bright headlights.

 

The engine was shut off but the dash messaging system read, Shift to park. Ignition wouldn't turn off completely and the car would not restart. I happened to remember a tiny switch that looked exactly like a clothes dryer door switch during my initial problem solving adventure that was attached to the shifter. Said switch was only activated when the shifter is moved into park. The transmission went into park just fine. The metal tab had came loose from the switch that the shifter activated when placed into park. I looked into it and saw that the metal tab had broken out of the plastic switch housing. Replacement of non serviceable switch required purchasing a new $140 shifter. However upon doing some research i discovered 2 suppliers who carried the exact same switch. I ordered 4 of them from Mousser electronics. Order total was around $24. You have to solder the original plug onto the new switch but it fit perfectly and solved the problem. I don't remember the name of the other supplier. Sorry but it's been a few months.