# 2001 Chevy Malibu starting issues

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-chevy-malibu-starting-issues/130>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** malibu, starting\
**Created:** [June 1, 2007, 8:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-chevy-malibu-starting-issues/130 "2007-06-01T20:14:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jpmolepske](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b38774/32.png) [@jpmolepske](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jpmolepske)\
**Post date:** [June 1, 2007, 8:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-chevy-malibu-starting-issues/130/1 "2007-06-01T20:14:27Z")

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I have a 01 Malibu with about 140k miles on it. I am having an issue with the car starting up when I have a 1/4 tank of gas or less in it. It started at about 1/8th of a tank and now is at the 1/4 tank mark. Once the car is running there are no issues, I could take it down to the last drop. What could be causing this issue? I have replaced the fuel filter and it is still having these issues.

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**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\
**Post date:** [June 1, 2007, 9:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-chevy-malibu-starting-issues/130/2 "2007-06-01T21:41:06Z")

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The problem might be with the pulsator valve in the fuel pump assembly.

The next time you have the problem starting the car, turn the ignition off. Now turn it to the run position for two seconds and turn it off. Repeat this a half dozen times, and then try starting the engine. If the engine starts, the pulstor valve in the fuel pump is allowing the gas to bleed back into the gas tank from the fuel rails.

Tester

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**Author:** ![jpmolepske](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b38774/32.png) [@jpmolepske](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jpmolepske)\
**Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 3:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-chevy-malibu-starting-issues/130/3 "2007-06-02T03:15:37Z")

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Thanks, I will try this. If it is the valve, will it require the pump to be replaced or just this valve?

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**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\
**Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 3:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-chevy-malibu-starting-issues/130/4 "2007-06-02T03:21:09Z")

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[b]Sorry! If it’s the pulsator valve, the fuel pump assembly requires replacement.

Tester[/b]