2002 Malibu Intermittent Dash Indicator Lights/Starter Prob.

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ICEDOG - 26 Aug 2005 22:38 GMT

Any help would be greatly appreciated. This vehicle has been at the
local Chevy dealership and they have installed a new battery. The
passlock switch was replaced because the theft system light was
illuminated. The dash indicator lights(battery, check
engine,oil,washer and temperature lights etc...) are intermittent.
When these lights are inoperative the starter is also inoperative.
When the lights start working when turning on the ignition switch then
the starter also works normally. Has anyone ever seen this problem
before. They have checked the ignition switch at the dealership so I’m
told and they said it isn’t the problem. The dealership has also
called the factory engineers at the GM/Chevy plant and they have never
heard of this problem. This problem isn’t affected by the engine being
cold or hot. It happens at any time of day or night not affected by
temperature. Thanks ICEDOG

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doug - 29 Aug 2005 14:54 GMT

ICEDOG

I had similar - but not exact - problems this past winter. Here is a post I
made then...

>>>Repeat of a post I made recently<<<

I have a 2000 Malibu V6, which also had started some weird behavior.
The fuel gage and temp indicator wouldn't work after starting the car, as
well as the heater fan, electric windows, rear defroster. After 5-10
minutes, some of them would work again - sometimes all of them. After
compiling a list, I could see that all of the items affected were
accessories that only worked with the ignition key ON. After asking a
neighbor who works at a Honda-GM dealer (he's a Honda guy), he asked a few
of the GM guys if it could be the ignition switch. They all said yes. So I
replaced the switch assembly (list $140, discount $100) and it cured ALL of
the
problems.

OK - how does this link to your problem? The ignition switch has five major
sets of contacts in it - in my case three of them were damaged/corroded from
current arcing to the point where they restricted current flow. It's
possible that
the contact(s) in your switch that supply the affected systems are
also damaged.

Did the dealer actually REPLACE the ignition switch. If not, this "could" be
the problem. If they have replaced it, I'm at a loss for a cause, also. HTH.

doug

> Any help would be greatly appreciated. This vehicle has been at the
> local Chevy dealership and they have installed a new battery. The
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> cold or hot. It happens at any time of day or night not affected by
> temperature. Thanks ICEDOG

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