Lots of issues on my 98

:banghead: I have a 1998 Chevy Malibu 3.1 V6. We are the second owners and the car seems to have been very taken care of in the past. I now have about 145000 miles on it and it still looks like a brand new car in and out. But I am starting to have some issues with it I would like some help with. Today I had to replace the brakes. This is the second time in the past year that we have had to replace them and I ran into the rotor on my passenger side with nothing left on the pad and the inside pad on the same side was cracked. What I do not understand is why the driver side still had more than a 1/4 inch of the pads left? We already had to replace the rotors when we first bought the car at the same time we replaced the brakes. Also the radio is the factory AM/FM Cassette radio and not long ago some of the light went out on the radio (numbers 2 & 5 and the bal fad etc along the bottom) The stations all used to come in wonderful but now they are all static or the ones that do work are all the time fading in and out all the time. Is there a short somewhere or what and is there a way to fix this? Also the back brake lights some are out? Does this have anything to do with the radio or what? Does anyone know how I can fix this? Also we have had to refill the dexcool all the time but I have no clue where it is going! I sure hope someone can help me on here please!!!!Oh yeah ! I almost forgot! Does anyone know why in the world when I have the heat or the a/c on the 1 and 2 do not work only 3 thru 5? And another thing, my front head lights seem to have a film over them and I have tried everything I know to get it off and cannot get it off!!!!! URRRGGG! Does anyone have any suggestions? :disappoin

Sounds like a bad caliper on the brakes. Burnt out lights in the radio would probably mean taking the radio apart to replace them. The loss of signal to the radio is probably related to a poor connection to the antenna somewhere. The brake light bulbs being burnt out shouldn't have anyhthing to do with the radio, just get the correct bulbs and replace them. The loss of Dexcool is most likely due to a leaking lower intake manifold, a common problem on that motor & about $700.00 to $1000.00 to fix. The no blower on 1 & 2 is another common problem on these cars, just change the resistor module under the dash on the passenger side. The film on the headlights may be chemical staining from wax or other cleaners, sometimes it can be buffed off but replacements can be found used for about $25.00 each.

:banghead: ... (1) replace the brakes ... (2) now they are all static ... (3) refill the dexcool all the time ... (4) the heat or the a/c on the 1 and 2 do not work ...

First off, welcome.

(1) When replacing the brakes on this car, it is essential to use the Ceramic brake pads. It will cost about $20 more, but last atleast three times as long, and cause much less damage when they wear out. GM used the pure metal ones, and they get too hot, warp the rotors, and usually cause uneven wear. This is not to say that there is not a caliper issue, but most people find the problem goes away when they install the Ceramic pads. They usually tend to last for 40k plus miles.

(2) Your radio Coax cable has probably come loose in the passenger floor. Go here for detailed instructions on the fix:
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=324064

(3) You probably have the same Lower Intake issues that most of us have had. Sorry, but this one is going to cost anywhere from $400 to $900 depending on if you fix it yourself, or take it to the dealer. Look here for my most recent reply to another user:
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=443407

(4) This is probably the most common problem with this car. Your Blower Motor Resistor is blown, and needs to be replaced. Go here for the fix
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=324040

Hope this helps.

Check your crankcase dipstick.. If it's exceedingly over-full, the Dexcool has been leaking into the crankcase.

Also It does sound as if the calipers are sticking. Can you push the caliper piston back in with minimal effort?

My lights are out on my radio as well. Can't answer your static question though...[ant connector?]

I don't use the radio much sence the gas tank and front suspention went bye-bye. [maybe some day I'll get around to potting more money into it]

John..
sharing the ride to work in my Wife's Toyota. GM allows me to be so romantic

Sounds like a bad caliper on the brakes. Burnt out lights in the radio would probably mean taking the radio apart to replace them. The loss of signal to the radio is probably related to a poor connection to the antenna somewhere. The brake light bulbs being burnt out shouldn't have anyhthing to do with the radio, just get the correct bulbs and replace them. The loss of Dexcool is most likely due to a leaking lower intake manifold, a common problem on that motor & about $700.00 to $1000.00 to fix. The no blower on 1 & 2 is another common problem on these cars, just change the resistor module under the dash on the passenger side. The film on the headlights may be chemical staining from wax or other cleaners, sometimes it can be buffed off but replacements can be found used for about $25.00 each.

I agree with everything but the Ceramic pads, they do last longer but they take a toll on the rotors in doing so. I went through 40k miles of "warped" rotors because of those wonderful Ceramic pads! I was told by my neighbor, a GM tech, to switch to AC Delco Duralast Semi-Metalic pads. I had the rotors turned, and then put the semi-metalic pads on and 20k miles later I'm on the same pads and rotors and my braking power is unbelievable! I will never put Ceramic pads on any of my cars again. I have lots of brake dust I never had with the Ceramic's, but look at any BMW or MBZ going down the street and notice how dirty the front wheels are. That dust is the pads wearing like they should and saving the rotors.

I agree with everything but the Ceramic pads, they do last longer but they take a toll on the rotors in doing so. I went through 40k miles of "warped" rotors because of those wonderful Ceramic pads! I was told by my neighbor, a GM tech, to switch to AC Delco Duralast Semi-Metalic pads. I had the rotors turned, and then put the semi-metalic pads on and 20k miles later I'm on the same pads and rotors and my braking power is unbelievable! I will never put Ceramic pads on any of my cars again. I have lots of brake dust I never had with the Ceramic's, but look at any BMW or MBZ going down the street and notice how dirty the front wheels are. That dust is the pads wearing like they should and saving the rotors.


Wimi,

I use the Autozone cheep-o's $20.00 for pads their lifetime garrantee, and I've never had a problem with any of my cars. Most brake problems I've found lie with lack of regular matainence, sticky or frozen slider bolts or calipers that wont release

I agree with everything but the Ceramic pads, they do last longer but they take a toll on the rotors in doing so. I went through 40k miles of "warped" rotors because of those wonderful Ceramic pads! I was told by my neighbor, a GM tech, to switch to AC Delco Duralast Semi-Metalic pads. I had the rotors turned, and then put the semi-metalic pads on and 20k miles later I'm on the same pads and rotors and my braking power is unbelievable! I will never put Ceramic pads on any of my cars again. I have lots of brake dust I never had with the Ceramic's, but look at any BMW or MBZ going down the street and notice how dirty the front wheels are. That dust is the pads wearing like they should and saving the rotors.


Wymi,

I use the Autozone cheep-o's $20.00 for pads their lifetime garrantee, and I've never had a problem with any of my cars. Most brake problems I've found lie with lack of regular matainence, sticky or frozen slider bolts or calipers that wont release

Also the radio is the factory AM/FM Cassette radio and not long ago some of the light went out on the radio (numbers 2 & 5
REPLY: Yeah, a printed circuit board runs these lights - about a $150 replacement job, I heard.

Johnholl - I have to disagree with you on the brake problems. I bought my Bu with 4 miles and had to replace 3 sets of pads within 30K miles. I finally fixed the problem with 2 sets of calipers on drivers side and 1 on passenger side. Also 2 sets of rotors and countless brake pads. I have had all of the problems the inital writer had except the blower motor probs. 1) replace the manifold gasket and make sure you use liberal amounts of Red or Blue RTF. 2) Brakes - you can easily do yourself, but you have to stay after it until fixed. 3) I live with the radio button problem. (I can't bel;ieve tat Chevy wants $8 for a radio on-off button!).