Girlfriend's 2009 Malibu Blew Up After 1500 miles - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

GLBL WMR · 06-12-2009, 10:15 PM

My gf just got her brand spankin' new Malibu 2 months ago with about 100 miles on it. The other day she was driving to work and the coolant light came on. She got it off the highway, and it died at a stop sign and wouldn't start again. It was also making clanking sounds before it died.

The tow truck shows up and takes it to a local Chevy dealer. I meet her there, pop the hood, find that the motor is still throwing off crazy heat, and see that the coolant reservoir is bone dry. The dealer calls the next day and asks what happened.. I told them it happened pretty much instantaneously (which it pretty much did). They proceed to tell me that the oil filter was twisted, indicative of insane pressure within the engine. I'm thinking it had to be a blown head gasket since there was no evidence of a problem before this day, and any kind of slow leak would have given some warning. Obviously, the engine is toast. They are in the process of tearing it down to find out what the root cause was. At this point, I am going to accept nothing less than a brand new engine right out of the crate, because there is no way they're going to be able to put a band-aid on something that overheated that badly. It is the Ecotec I4.

I stick my neck out and speak in GM's favor, and this goes and happens. It really is sad, because it is a beautiful car.

FenwickHockey65 · 06-12-2009, 10:24 PM

Sorry to hear...and I know you don't want to hear this...but sounds like a lemon.

GLBL WMR · 06-12-2009, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

Sorry to hear...and I know you don't want to hear this...but sounds like a lemon.

Definitely not ruling that out.. which is why I want a whole new engine.

2SSJIM · 06-12-2009, 10:29 PM

Wow! Sorry to hear that! Keep us updated on what happens with it!

bballr4567 · 06-12-2009, 10:37 PM

We have an 09 Malibu LTZ with the Ecotec and the thing is amazing. We have over 10k miles in 5 months and not a single problem with the car at all aside from a TCM update and very weird brake feel that was taken care of. No engine trouble at all. Only thing we havent had good with is the MPG. We have got a best of 28 but it hasnt seen a full tank of pure highway since we have it. It doesnt help we drive on nothing but hills either.

FYI: In the future DO NOT drive an over heating Ecotec. You are just asking for a brand new engine. Hopefully GM will cover it with the warranty because she drove it when it had a light on. They are pretty picky about that with the new 100k warranty.

GLBL WMR · 06-12-2009, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bballr4567

We have an 09 Malibu LTZ with the Ecotec and the thing is amazing. We have over 10k miles in 5 months and not a single problem with the car at all aside from a TCM update and very weird brake feel that was taken care of. No engine trouble at all. Only thing we havent had good with is the MPG. We have got a best of 28 but it hasnt seen a full tank of pure highway since we have it. It doesnt help we drive on nothing but hills either.

FYI: In the future DO NOT drive an over heating Ecotec. You are just asking for a brand new engine. Hopefully GM will cover it with the warranty because she drove it when it had a light on. They are pretty picky about that with the new 100k warranty.

Well, the light came on, and she got off the road as soon as safely possible. I actually think that its a good thing that it overheated that badly - it pretty much guarantees that they are going to replace it. If it wouldn't have overheated that badly, it wouldn't have been a catastrophic failure, and it would have been just enough damage to ensure problem after problem down the road (especially being such a new engine). I can't even fathom how they could deny warranty coverage on this considering the mileage on the car.

One Mean Chevy · 06-12-2009, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GLBL WMR

My gf just got her brand spankin' new Malibu 2 months ago with about 100 miles on it. The other day she was driving to work and the coolant light came on. The temp was high, but it went back down pretty quickly and the coolant light went off. Her 2000 Grand Prix

Sorry to hear about this. The Temp would have went down quickly because at that point the Engine most likely lost all Coolant. Did she run over something that could have damaged her Coolant Hose? Good Luck, the problem is going to come in with her Not pulling over when the Temp got too High and Light came on.

When you say Coolant Light are you referring to "Low Coolant" or Coolant Temp Warning Light?

Again, Good Luck, Hope they cut her a break.

bballr4567 · 06-12-2009, 10:56 PM

They can deny it if she told them that she drove it with the light on or right after it came on. Hopefully she didnt already tell them that. They have denied other Ecotec owners before for the same exact reason.

I hope they dont obviously. Post back up when you figure out what it was.

GLBL WMR · 06-12-2009, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by One Mean Chevy

Sorry to hear about this. The Temp would have went down quickly because at that point the Engine most likely lost all Coolant. Did she run over something that could have damaged her Coolant Hose? Good Luck, the problem is going to come in with her Not pulling over when the Temp got too High and Light came on.

When you say Coolant Light are you referring to "Low Coolant" or Coolant Temp Warning Light?

Again, Good Luck, Hope they cut her a break.

As far as which light it was, I'm not sure. She didn't hit anything, which is why I think it was a head gasket. When I spoke to the dealership, I communicated that the light came on on her drive home, and that was it. Again, at 1500 miles, there is no excuse for this to happen, period. I don't care if she would have driven it 100 miles after the light came on, the warranty is going to cover it because this kind of catastrophic failure should not ever happen at such low mileage.

GLBL WMR · 06-12-2009, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bballr4567

They can deny it if she told them that she drove it with the light on or right after it came on. Hopefully she didnt already tell them that. They have denied other Ecotec owners before for the same exact reason.

I hope they dont obviously. Post back up when you figure out what it was.

I made sure that I was the only person to speak to them about the car because I know they would probably try to take advantage of her. I understand that they can deny it if she drove with the light on for an extended period of time, but I don't see how driving it "right after it came on" would be grounds for denying the warranty. Its not like its possible to shut the car off the split second the light comes on - she was on 76 in Philly, so she had to safely get off of the road.

When I spoke to the tech at the dealer last, I asked whether or not every cent of this would be covered by the warranty, and the response was "I don't see why not."

I'll keep you updated.

1-SS · 06-13-2009, 12:37 AM

One of my friends have the same car same thing happen to him GM had to replace the motor.

Emher · 06-13-2009, 05:35 AM

Sucks to hear that. I have an earlier versions of the Ecotec in my Saab and it's a nice engine, but I've heard some horror stories about what happens when you get one that overheats.

Hope you get your new engine soon.

CamaroScotty · 06-13-2009, 08:04 AM

But even with all this, the Malibu still ranks #1 as the car with the least amount of warranty repairs....Be glad you didn't a Toyota...you'd have more repairs.

60+ malibu's sold, I have yet to see a warranty repair.

sigma_1966 · 06-13-2009, 08:17 AM

Be sure to let us know what the dealer decides. I cant see them denying the warranty claim it doesnt make sense.

06-12-2009, 10:24 PM	#2
FenwickHockey65 General Motors Aficionado Drives: 2023 GMC Canyon, 2023 Expedition Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 37,375 View My Garage	Sorry to hear...and I know you don't want to hear this...but sounds like a lemon. __________________ 2023 GMC Canyon Elevation 2023 Ford Expedition SSV (State-Issued)

06-13-2009, 08:17 AM	#14
sigma_1966 My baby is here Drives: SIM 2LT Join Date: May 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 667	Be sure to let us know what the dealer decides. I cant see them denying the warranty claim it doesnt make sense. __________________

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06-12-2009, 10:15 PM	#1
GLBL WMR Booya Drives: Black 2010 2SS/RS Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: PA Posts: 361	Girlfriend's 2009 Malibu Blew Up After 1500 miles My gf just got her brand spankin' new Malibu 2 months ago with about 100 miles on it. The other day she was driving to work and the coolant light came on. She got it off the highway, and it died at a stop sign and wouldn't start again. It was also making clanking sounds before it died. The tow truck shows up and takes it to a local Chevy dealer. I meet her there, pop the hood, find that the motor is still throwing off crazy heat, and see that the coolant reservoir is bone dry. The dealer calls the next day and asks what happened.. I told them it happened pretty much instantaneously (which it pretty much did). They proceed to tell me that the oil filter was twisted, indicative of insane pressure within the engine. I'm thinking it had to be a blown head gasket since there was no evidence of a problem before this day, and any kind of slow leak would have given some warning. Obviously, the engine is toast. They are in the process of tearing it down to find out what the root cause was. At this point, I am going to accept nothing less than a brand new engine right out of the crate, because there is no way they're going to be able to put a band-aid on something that overheated that badly. It is the Ecotec I4. I stick my neck out and speak in GM's favor, and this goes and happens. It really is sad, because it is a beautiful car. __________________ 2010 Camaro SS/RS RP6 \| 2SS package, M6, black, black leather Last edited by GLBL WMR; 06-12-2009 at 11:38 PM.

06-12-2009, 10:29 PM	#4
2SSJIM Drives: 2012 CRT ZL1 #1400 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: AZ. Posts: 942	Wow! Sorry to hear that! Keep us updated on what happens with it!

06-12-2009, 10:37 PM	#5
bballr4567 Drives: 2016 Camaro 1LT M6 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 1,256	We have an 09 Malibu LTZ with the Ecotec and the thing is amazing. We have over 10k miles in 5 months and not a single problem with the car at all aside from a TCM update and very weird brake feel that was taken care of. No engine trouble at all. Only thing we havent had good with is the MPG. We have got a best of 28 but it hasnt seen a full tank of pure highway since we have it. It doesnt help we drive on nothing but hills either. FYI: In the future DO NOT drive an over heating Ecotec. You are just asking for a brand new engine. Hopefully GM will cover it with the warranty because she drove it when it had a light on. They are pretty picky about that with the new 100k warranty.

06-12-2009, 10:56 PM	#8
bballr4567 Drives: 2016 Camaro 1LT M6 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 1,256	They can deny it if she told them that she drove it with the light on or right after it came on. Hopefully she didnt already tell them that. They have denied other Ecotec owners before for the same exact reason. I hope they dont obviously. Post back up when you figure out what it was.

06-13-2009, 12:37 AM	#11
1-SS Drives: 2010 camaro SS, 2007 gsxr 750 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: maryland Posts: 40	One of my friends have the same car same thing happen to him GM had to replace the motor.

06-13-2009, 05:35 AM	#12
Emher Pillaging Viking Drives: Saab 9-5 '99 (Hey it's a GM!) Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,189	Sucks to hear that. I have an earlier versions of the Ecotec in my Saab and it's a nice engine, but I've heard some horror stories about what happens when you get one that overheats. Hope you get your new engine soon.

06-13-2009, 08:04 AM	#13
CamaroScotty Account Suspended Drives: Your new SLP Camaro! Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Cedarburg, WI Posts: 6,790	But even with all this, the Malibu still ranks #1 as the car with the least amount of warranty repairs....Be glad you didn't a Toyota...you'd have more repairs. 60+ malibu's sold, I have yet to see a warranty repair.