What to Do When a Malibu Has No Power?
2 Answers
Solutions are as follows: 1. Push-start the car manually. 2. Jump-start the car using another charged battery. 3. Start the car after charging the battery to over 13.4V. Related knowledge: 1. After starting, charge at 1500 RPM; after 20 minutes, it can provide enough power for one start, and after 30 minutes, it can provide enough for the next day's start. 2. Use a multimeter to measure the battery voltage. Generally, if the voltage is below 13.4V, the car is hard to start; if below 10.5V, the battery is undercharged. 3. A swollen battery can also be judged visually. At this time, the battery voltage might be high, but the charge might be insufficient to start the car. 4. An aging battery shows significantly reduced capacity, characterized by: quick charging but rapid depletion, normal no-load voltage, and voltage dropping below 10V during startup.
I've been driving for over a decade and often encounter car battery issues. If your Malibu runs out of power, don't panic. First, safely pull over or park in a secure location, then turn on the hazard lights to alert other drivers. Next, try jump-starting it yourself: find another car to provide a jump, connect the jumper cables first to the positive terminal of the other car's battery, then to your car's positive terminal, and finally attach the negative cable to the other car's frame (avoid connecting directly to the negative terminal to prevent short circuits). After starting, let the engine run for a few minutes to recharge. If you lack the tools or skills, immediately call your insurance company or dealership for roadside assistance—they offer free or low-cost services and will arrive quickly to help. For prevention, I recommend checking the battery terminals for corrosion every six months, replacing the battery regularly (typically every 3 years), and ensuring all lights and electronics are off when parking to avoid excessive discharge.
