Had the car only for few months. started losing coolant. found coolant in oil. I have never taken a car to a mechanic as I do all the work myself. started taking the engine apart to replace the lower intake manifold gasket. the more I removed, the more I realized how bad this engine is designed and built. it is a pain in the a** to work on this engine.(3.1LV6). you have to remove the engine mount because it is in the way of one of the bolts that hold the power steering pump. really? were GM engineers hi when they designed this? plastic intake gaskets?
this is the worst piece of machinery I've ever had the misfortune of repairing. the $10 chopper from walmart is designed better. GM should quit making cars and start baking bread.
I am very upset with General Motors Corporation for they knew of this problem for sometime, however as consumers we have to catch it with the bill because to safe gaurd the engine I bought an enormous amount of fluid hoping that the company would be held accoutable for the for what so many of us having to go through. What makes it so bad I took my car to GM. dealer to have a complete mantinace check and they didn't detect what i already knew and mind you they kept ny vechicle for about 1to 5 day's. After the problem began to get I took my car to be repaired . at this time I began to research through ase of the internet and I contact General Motrors and filed a report however I was told because I didn't take my car to one of dealers to be fixed my case was void after a so call investigation.
I am very disappointed with GM. and I think they should be made to as they did in the 1980's when they placed the metric transmission in my Buick Regal, this is a dangerous problem because if the fluids had got into the engine many factors were possible.
For the past two weeks now I have been in the same dilemma, where my 2000 Chevy Malibu, was leaking coolant, I had to keep putting coolant in it every two weeks. So I got my Manifold resealed and a radiator flush for $800.00. Then two weeks later my car started to overheat and my engine was rattling. I lift the hood only to find pressure build up in my coolant bottle because, coolant was shooting out of the back flow of the coolant bottle and the car is completely dead. Well I had it towed to a Chevy repair shop, and they told me that this common problem and in order to get it running I’m now looking at $2000.00 in repairs. But, I might have to pay extra if the head gasket is blown. I feel like……I’m just so mad! I 4500 left to pay and possible 3000 in repairs. There should be a recall on this car.
3rd time is a charm? The intake gaskets have been replaced twice, and now the intake manifold is cracked forcing me to spend more money than the car is worth, to have it fixed. This car is a real lemon. A Chevy dealer told me the 2000 Chevy Malibu had serious mechanical problems all the way around. Engine, electronics, you name it. If I could dump this car I would. This car has been nothing but a mechanical headache for me - if I could buy a new car I would.
I bought my car in 2005 and have to replace the intake gasket in 2008. When i bought my car in had 65,000 miles on it. I think it's just complete bull S*t that i have to replace the gasket because GM wants to be complete cheap aes. This is f* S**.
Bought this car in 2003 with 36,000 miles on it. From the get go, had to top off coolant about every month but never could find a leak. Replaced hoses and radiator cap in 2005...still losing coolant. Finally in late 2007 I have to add coolant twice a week and now see a puddle on top of the engine. Will fix myself when spring is here. THIS IS TOTAL BS!!! If any GM reps read this site, I hope you sleep well at night knowing you stuck it deep in the buyers A*. If you can't own up to your mistake... at least provide a jar of Vasoline with each car purchase so the buyer can be prepared for the fg they are about to receive. I guarantee my next new car/truck will be sporting the Toyota symbol!
I had the intake manifold gaskets replaced. They were leaking both internally and externally - oil mixed with coolant, coolant in the oil. The check engine light was on when I picked it up. It went off but came back on again and then I found a puddle of gasoline under the passenger side of the car, just behind the front wheel. Now they are replacing the fuel pump. Is one related to the other. Is it possible they screwed up when they replaced the manifold gaskets?
In 2007 I replaced the intake manifold on my 2000 Chevy Malibu. Well, it's 2008 and ready to be replaced. There are no warranties to fall back on. All this comes out of my pocket. What can we do to get the recall in motion and get this defect fixed once and for all?
This was a really big pain in the ??? I had my car in for service spent 1200.00 dollars doing the oil change, flush rad and transmission put new tires on and all that, then got the car back and my husband notice some anti freeze missing enough that he had to a liter a week. So got it checked found out it was the intake gasket leaking and had to fix it to the tune of 500.00. When we first bought this car gm recalled it because the motor was faulty and the replaced it to my car only has 95,777 km on it. I must say I will NEVER EVER BUY A GM AGAIN they could at least take some responsibility for the poor craftsmanship of the car. ALL OUR FRIEND THAT ARE BUYING CARS INCLUDING US WILL NOT BUY GM BECAUSE OF THIS.
The intake manifold gasket should not routinely go bad in so many cars. Chevrolet has demonstrated their lack of commitment to their customers and their vehicles by not recalling/replacing damage to this obviously defective part. I will not buy a chevy again.
My 2000 Malibu now has to have the intake gasket replaced. I have had to replace the hazard warning light. The front brake rotors. The fuel pump this week at $800. The serpentine belt. Also the starter/solenoid. The area around the gas tank fill has rusted badly. And there is a squeak from the back of the car when you apply the brakes, the mechanics can find nothing wrong with this area. At what point do you stop fixing this car. Chevrolet needs to recall these cars.
i just replaced my transmission and my mechanic found a leak in my intake. I have to replace the intake gasket as well. Average cost was $400-$500. I have this problem because of improper maintenance. Letting the coolant go below level effects this. It is very important to keep up the maintenance on cars and make sure that its not taken care of too late. one problem can lead to more.
i learned Transmission flushes are just as important as oil changes. I love my car and making sure its running the best as possible is important to me. So there is no price thats too high to fix the problem.
I OWN A 2000 CHEVY MALIBU THAT I JUST RECENTLY PURCHASED EXACTLY ONE MONTH AGO AT A LOCAL DEALERSHIP IN HOUSTON, TX. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE FOR A GOOD TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO IT SUDDENLY STOPPING WHILE I WAS DRIVING WITH NO WARNING. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOWED IT IN AND TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET THAT WOULD COST $500.00. I PICKED MY VEHICLE UP AFTER IT HAD BEEN SERVICED FOR OVER A WEEK AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR FOR FIVE DAYS BEFORE IT STOPPED AGAIN. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED CHEVY DEALER AND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A COUPLE OF MAJOR PROBLEMS. I NEED TO HAVE A NEW HEAD GASKET AND INTAKE GASKETS NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS NO COOLANT IN THE VEHICLE, OIL WAS IN COOLANT/COOLANT IN OIL AND EXHAUST GAS WAS COMING OUT OF COOLING SYSTEM. THE TOTAL COST OF THIS JOB WILL BE 1995.00 WHAT SUCKS IS THAT I JUST PAID $3000.00 FOR THE CAR (INCLUDING TT+L)AND THE KELLY BLUE BOOK VALUE OF THIS VEHICLE IS 2700.00. I HAVE SHELLED OUT OVER $3,200.00 (ON A WORK CAR)JUST ON REPAIRS AND BASED ON THE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS THAT I HAVE READ IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THIS ISSUE WILL IMPROVE. GM DOESN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ANY REFERRALS BY ME; THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I WOULDN'T WISH ON AN ENEMY.
I hate the fact that a GM representative from a auto department, told me that the gasket issues are common, and nothing has been done to prevent the issue other then coating the gasket with extra plastic to prevent the coolant leaking for a bit longer. They told me that they would not reimburse my cost, they had me on the phone for over 1.3 hours, they had me on hold for a total of .35 hours ( 35 mins.) they suck. The rep told me that it was a common problem, and all the newer models of CHEVY currently use the same exact Gasket and Coolant. GM knows this is a common problem, but hey IF IT IS CHEAPER TO IGNORE CUSTOMER, THEN TO FIX THE PROBLEM, THEN WHAT THE HELL. I will never purchase a GM car again, my faith has fallen. The only GM I will be in is if they have a GM Hearse. Bettie if you are reading this, you are a liar. ( Gm Rep )
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Had the car only for few months. started losing coolant. found coolant in oil. I have never taken a car to a mechanic as I do all the work myself. started taking the engine apart to replace the lower intake manifold gasket. the more I removed, the more I realized how bad this engine is designed and built. it is a pain in the a** to work on this engine.(3.1LV6). you have to remove the engine mount because it is in the way of one of the bolts that hold the power steering pump. really? were GM engineers hi when they designed this? plastic intake gaskets?
this is the worst piece of machinery I've ever had the misfortune of repairing. the $10 chopper from walmart is designed better. GM should quit making cars and start baking bread.
- Chin L., Fredericksburg, VA, US