Search results for

#Malibu

#1 Click this link to see Blog page --> 02/14/2010

A little over a week ago Mom’s car wouldn’t start and she had it towed to Grimm’s Chevy to get it fixed. They determined she needed a new battery and it was working again.

She noticed her gas gauge wasn’t working. We talked about it and thought it might be a fuse. DD had the fuse panel open on the car when I arrived last evening but couldn’t figure out which fuse to look for because the book and the fuse diagram were too cryptic.

I decided to look on the Internets and after a quick Google on “#Malibu gas gauge” discovered there was a problem prevalent with them. There is a pin at 9 o’clock on the gauge that the dial is supposed to rest upon when the power is off. Sometimes when the battery is disconnected and reconnected the dial jumps too far clockwise and then hangs loose at the 6 o’clock position. When the key is turned on the dial needle swings clockwise and hits the pin from the bottom side, not allowing it to move to position and it looks like the gauge is reading empty.

The fix is to take a wire (we used a bent paper clip) and reach through the hole in the clear plastic around the trip odometer set button. I managed to catch the needle and spin it back around so it was setting upon the stop pin instead of being under it. Voila! Problem solved.

MjL

#2 Click this link to see Blog page --> 05/15/2012

I then went to Norma’s License Service to get the title and license registration sorted out on the purchase of Mom’s #Malibu. That was kind of a hassle with too many forms and too much money involved. I still need to take off Mom’s license plates and put that cardboard temporary one on. Maybe today?

I sent an email to our insurance agent to have them add the car to our policy but, of course, I haven’t heard anything back from them. They are never too quick to get anything done.

MjL

#3 Click this link to see Blog page --> 03/03/2013

Hi Tammy,
I know all about those college kid cars (Well maybe not ALL about, but a lot!). A&B each have old cars and we occasionally get reports of minor problems —— nothing major so far (Knock on wood!). A few weeks ago Ben called to say the #Honda Hybrid had a check engine light but it went away after he drove it a while. I think it was just because it set in a parking lot for so long. And Aaron reports the #Malibu is in need of an oil change but I guess they don’t do that in Iowa because he wants me to do it when he gets home.

MjL

#4 Click this link to see Blog page --> 05/29/2013

Aaron and I took the #Malibu to the repair shop. I was a little worried the brakes might die altogether before we got there but Aaron drove it there all right. I got a call a couple hours later saying there was several hundred dollars of work needed to be done including replacement of the brake master cylinder. Doesn’t that just figure. I don’t doubt it though because it is over 15 years old and doesn’t get driven as much as it should. Just one more thing to work into the budget I guess.

MjL

#5 Click this link to see Blog page --> 06/20/2013

We discovered yesterday afternoon that the rear view mirror had fallen off the windshield of the #Malibu. I was just out there and it looks like the glue just gave up on it. I found a torx driver that fit and removed the shoe from the rear view mirror base, now a trip to the auto parts store for a new shoe or some mirror glue. It is always something!

MjL

#6 Click this link to see Blog page --> 07/12/2013

The [profanity deleted] mirror on the #Malibu fell off the windshield again! So I guess we have to try something else this time. It is always something around here!

MjL

#7 Click this link to see Blog page --> 07/16/2013

Once again Tracey tried to glue that dratted mirror back onto the windshield of the #Malibu. It didn’t even make a day before falling off again. Aaron said he got in the car, shut the door and the mirror dropped. I think we might seek professional help this time.

MjL

#8 Click this link to see Blog page --> 07/16/2013

Dratted Mirror Update: I took the #Malibu to Stephens Auto Glass on Sheridan in Pekin. Bob, the repair guy, spent at least 10 minutes cleaning up the mess we made and gluing the mirror mount back up to the windshield. He didn’t charge me anything! Just asked for future business and a good word. Here it is —— if you need a window repaired or replaced —— Stephens Auto Glass on Sheridan in Pekin is the place to go!

MjL

#9 Click this link to see Blog page --> 07/17/2013

The mirror has stayed on the #Malibu windshield so far! Call me paranoid but I keep expecting to hear from Aaron that it has fallen off again.

MjL

#10 Click this link to see Blog page --> 07/18/2015

Aaron is having trouble with the tail lights on the #Malibu. The lenses are cracked so the light assembly fills up with water and burns out the bulbs. He now has no brake lights. He needs to find a more permanent fix instead of just changing the bulbs when they go out.

MjL

#11 Click this link to see Blog page --> 07/19/2015

Tracey is spending this afternoon working on beds and Aaron is working on the #Malibu’s brake lights. He just borrowed Tracey’s car to go to the auto parts store to buy more bulbs. He doesn’t want to spend the money on new tail light assemblies so plans to keep replacing bulbs since they are so much cheaper. I suggested he find a spot in the assembly to drill a drain hole so the water can get out instead of sloshing around in there.

MjL

#12 Click this link to see Blog page --> 12/02/2015

I finally have my car back. The repair shop left the key (and the bill) under the floor mat so we could pick it up after hours. Aaron arrived at our house around 6 p.m. and I drove him over to pick up his #Malibu.

They replaced the idler pulley and the serpentine belt. Also replaced a front wheel hub which was causing the anti-lock brakes to malfunction.

Another hefty car repair bill for Aaron but he has the right attitude. An occasional repair bill is still better than a large monthly car payment.

MjL

#13 Click this link to see Blog page --> 08/23/2016

I met Aaron at the repair shop last evening and brought him home with me after leaving the #Malibu for repairs. He stayed for supper and then borrowed my car for a day or so. That means I won’t be able to go anywhere today because I won’t have a car. Darn. Can’t go shopping or run errands.

MjL

#14 Click this link to see Blog page --> 05/11/2018

Aaron is now the proud owner of a 1997 Chevy #Malibu. We originally bought the car from my Mom years ago when she couldn’t see well enough to drive anymore and more or less gave it to Aaron to drive. Tracey and I went to Norma’s Fast License Service in Morton. She really makes it a lot easier to cut the red tape of car transactions.

He is moving to Idaho in the next month and we decided it was best to simply put the car in his name so he could sell it or trade it in whenever he was ready to get a different vehicle.

MjL

#15 Click this link to see Blog page --> 07/16/2019

Aaron arrived early yesterday afternoon.
It was good to see him and on his birthday to boot!
He will be here for a couple days on his cross country vacation.
I am amazed he is still driving the ‘97 #Malibu.

MjL

#16 Click this link to see Blog page --> 07/17/2019

The brakes went out on Aaron’s #Malibu which will put a definite kink in his vacation plans. I suspect he will now seriously consider getting a new car as this one is turning into a money pit.

MjL