Repair And Fix it

Chevrolet introduced the Malibu as the top-of-the-line trim of the Chevelle in 1964, and in 1978 Chevy dropped the Chevelle and replaced the entire line with the Malibu. The 1999 Malibu came in base and LS trims with three different engines. As is often the case, the timing specs, such as the spark-plug gap and firing order, vary not only from year to year but also from trim to trim of the Malibu. So, it is extremely important to make certain that the specs are specific to the make, model, model year, trim and engine size. However, certain aspects of the 1999 Malibus timing are not adjustable at all because they are controlled by the vehicles computer system.

The 2.4-liter, 150-horsepower Engine

The base trim of the 1999 Malibu came standard with a 2.4-liter, 150-horsepower in-line four-cylinder engine. The spark-plug gap for this engine was 0.50 inches. The firing order was 1-3-4-2. The ignition timing was not adjustable, regardless of the transmission, because the timing was dictated by the Power Control Module (PCM).

3.1-liter, 150-horsepower V-6 Engine

A 3.1-liter, 150-horsepower V-6 engine was standard in the LS trim and optional for the Base trim. The spark-plug gap was 0.60 inches, and the firing order was 1-2-3-4-5-6. The ignition timing and the mark were controlled by the PCM and a crankshaft position sensor. The only way to actually adjust the timing would be to replace these parts.

3.1-liter, 170-horsepower V6 Engine

The 3.1-liter, 170-horsepower V-6 engine was optional in both the base and LS trims of the 1999 Chevy Malibu. The spark-plug gap was 0.60 inches and the firing order was 1-2-3-4-5-6. Like the other two 1999 Malibu engines, the ignition timing was not adjustable because it was controlled by the PCM and a crankshaft position sensor.

Your 2001 Chevrolet Malibu contains three fuse boxes that, like the fuses in your home, protect your cars wiring system. If an electrical device in your car, such as the radio or the interior lights, has a problem and draws too much power, the fuse controlling it will blow, stopping electricity from flowing and protecting the wiring inside your car. If that happens, you will need to replace the blown fuse to restore power to the device.

Instructions

1

Turn off your cars engine.

2

Use your owners manual to identify where the affected fuse is. Open the fuse panel by grasping the handle and pulling out.

3

Identify the blown fuse. To remove a fuse, grasp it between your fingers and give it a firm pull. If you need to remove a fuse from the engine compartment, there is a special tool in that fuse box. The element of the damaged fuse will look burned or separated.

4

Replace the damaged fuse with a new one.

5

Replace the door of the fuse compartment. Do this by inserting the doors hooks into the slots and then pushing the rest of the door into place.

The 2001 Chevrolet Malibu was a four-door sedan with a maximum horsepower of 170 hp at 5200 rpm. The car takes P215/60R15 tires. You should rotate your tires to prevent uneven wear. This helps you get more mileage out of the tires. After rotating or changing tires, you should align your vehicle for better steering and handling.

Camber Angles

The camber angles in both the front and rear should ideally be -0.2. However, they can be aligned anywhere between -0.5 degrees and 0.5 degrees.

Caster Angle

The caster angle on the 2001 Malibu can be from 3.1 to 5.1 degrees. The optimal alignment is at 4.1 degrees.

Toe-In Alignment

The toe-in angle should be in the -0.15 to 0.35 degree range. Ideally, it should be at 0.1 degrees. In the rear, the toe-in angle should be between -0.26 and 0.14 degrees. The optimal toe-out angle is 0.06 degrees.

Ride Height

After aligning the tires, check the ride height of the 2001 Malibu. Ride height is also known as ground clearance. The distance between the center of the front axle to the ground should be 32.2 inches. The bottom of the rocker panel should be 9.33 inches off the ground. The distance between the bottom of the ball joint and the bottom of the frame rail should be zero inches. The center of the rear axle should be 25 inches from the ground.