Malibu Battery Sensor Issue

I know that feeling way too well. I've got a Malibu too and had almost identical issues: weak starts and flickering lights. Have you checked the voltage when the engine is running? It might give you a clue whether the battery is actually charging. The battery sensor seems the most likely suspect, though. Do you have any way to check the battery health?

Thanks for answering! When you had this problem, was it definitely the battery sensor? I'm not really sure how to test the voltage or the battery's overall health (pretty basic when it comes to cars, I admit!). Where is the voltage sensor?

Yep, for me it turned out to be a defective battery sensor. Seriously annoying. I wouldn't mess with it too much yourself if you don't have the tools or know-how. You could cause more damage than good. I'd suggest going to a trusted workshop and asking them to check the battery sensor specifically. Better to be safe than sorry. They can run some diagnostics and be sure. Prepare to pay around 300€.

So I took it to the local garage. They ran a vehicle diagnostics test and, you were spot-on. Bad battery sensor. The sensor cost 80€, and the repair as a whole was 315€, though. It drives like new again and the battery charge issue is resolved. They replaced the voltage sensor. Thanks a bunch for sharing your experience!