2016 Malibu rough idle and weak power after stopping

The cabin filter is a good thing to change, but it won't cause any codes. At least you found and removed that mouse nest!

Did you use an AC Delco part, or was it a different brand?

DrivenDaily said:

The cabin filter is a good thing to change, but it won't cause any codes. At least you found and removed that mouse nest!

Did you use an AC Delco part, or was it a different brand?

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The cabin air filter is Bosch. The engine air filter was “Premium Guard” that I got on Amazon, however I put the original one back in there for now while I test the other problems. The original was Fram I believe.

What was the MAF brand? Trace the wires from the MAF as much as you can. Mice like to chew.

Do you know how to clean a throttle body? The one intermittent code is a throttle position sensor code and sometimes P1101 on these is caused by a dirty throttle body. Old definitions isolate it to maf performance but on gen9 it is intake system performance. Anything from air entering car to throttle body. Wires first though.

code definitions for those interested:

P1101 Intake Air Flow System Performance
P0097 Intake Air Temperature (IAT) Sensor 2 Circuit Low Voltage
P00F4 Intake Air Humidity Sensor Circuit Low Voltage
P0113 Intake Air Temperature (IAT) Sensor 1 Circuit High Voltage
P0121 Throttle Position Sensor 1 Performance

campb292 said:

What was the MAF brand? Trace the wires from the MAF as much as you can. Mice like to chew.

Do you know how to clean a throttle body? The one intermittent code is a throttle position sensor code and sometimes P1101 on these is caused by a dirty throttle body. Old definitions isolate it to maf performance but on gen9 it is intake system performance. Anything from air entering car to throttle body. Wires first though.

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The MAF was a GM genuine replacement. I glanced at the wires last night but there was a lot heat shrink on it. I’ll look more when I can and see if there’s an obvious damage. I do have a multimeter as well, but I’m not sure how I would use that to test the wires.

Those are all MAF codes. As said check the wiring all the way back to the PCM since you know mice have been having a party in the car. Make sure there are no bent pins in the connector also.

P0097 and P0113 are air intake temperature sensor codes, P0097 usually indicates a short to ground and P0113 an open circuit, so it definitely sounds like you have wiring or connector issues with more than just the MAF, i would check that you didn't damage or maybe pull the plug loose on the IAT sensor and see that all the connections are seated good around the area you worked, clear the codes and see what happens. I wouldn't think you would have all this trouble from the mice just in the time you changed the sensor unless they damaged the wiring and by you moving it caused a short.

Dbn281977 said:

P0097 and P0113 are air intake temperature sensor codes, P0097 usually indicates a short to ground and P0113 an open circuit, so it definitely sounds like you have wiring or connector issues with more than just the MAF, i would check that you didn't damage or maybe pull the plug loose on the IAT sensor and see that all the connections are seated good around the area you worked, clear the codes and see what happens. I wouldn't think you would have all this trouble from the mice just in the time you changed the sensor unless they damaged the wiring and by you moving it caused a short.

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I’ll be inspecting the wiring tomorrow but I’m wondering if me moving stuff around damaged it because it was already slightly damaged. Honestly I’m not sure what the best case scenario is at this point either. I don’t know how difficult it’d be to replace.

Epicnoob said:

I’ll be inspecting the wiring tomorrow but I’m wondering if me moving stuff around damaged it because it was already slightly damaged. Honestly I’m not sure what the best case scenario is at this point either. I don’t know how difficult it’d be to replace.

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Your best option would be to cut out what is shorted or damaged and replace it. If you can find a pigtail with the correct plug and the wiring is long enough that would be better. Its hard to say without seeing what you have, but i would keep the splicing to a minimum and heat shrink every connection and put it in plastic flexible tubing to protect it.

Epicnoob said:

Hello! I’m currently having to drive my wife’s 2016 Malibu LT with the 1.5L engine. I noticed a check engine light and got my scanner and it gave me a P1101 code. I did a little research and replaced the MAF. However after I did that I’m now getting P1101, P0097, P00F4, and P0113. I tried the old MAF and it still gives those codes. I also replaced the engine air filter and the cabin air filter. However when I replaced the cabin air filter there was an old mouse nest on top of that filter which I threw away. I’m also intermittently getting P0121. I’m at my wits ends trying to figure out what’s the matter. Any help is greatly appreciated.

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I recommend for you to take it to the shop if you have warranty . I lost power on the freeway and had to get it towed. Turnout it was the throttle body. But your might be different . Best of of luck .

Should be really easy to tell if mice have been chewing on your wires. That's why everyone is recommending that you inspect the wires first. If they appear to be intact, then they most likely are. You can spend a lot of time trying to trace down a bad wire just to find out it's something else. So just take a careful look, and if there are any doubts, then do a more thorough inspection. But if the wiring harness appears to be intact then move on to the sensors around the intake air system. And as someone else mentioned make sure you didn't bend any of those tiny little fragile connecting pins when you put the new MAF sensor on. There's a very good chance that if you developed codes that didn't exist until you put the new part on that you could have bent some of them.

Epicnoob said:

Hello! I’m currently having to drive my wife’s 2016 Malibu LT with the 1.5L engine. I noticed a check engine light and got my scanner and it gave me a P1101 code. I did a little research and replaced the MAF. However after I did that I’m now getting P1101, P0097, P00F4, and P0113. I tried the old MAF and it still gives those codes. I also replaced the engine air filter and the cabin air filter. However when I replaced the cabin air filter there was an old mouse nest on top of that filter which I threw away. I’m also intermittently getting P0121. I’m at my wits ends trying to figure out what’s the matter. Any help is greatly appreciated.

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I had the P1101 and paid the dealer over $600 for replacement sensors, my friend cleaned around the throttle body and the code went away. Maybe clean the gunk from around the throttle body. Good luck.

Gab70 said:

I had the P1101 and paid the dealer over $600 for replacement sensors, my friend cleaned around the throttle body and the code went away. Maybe clean the gunk from around the throttle body. Good luck.

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That seems like the most common cause of P1101 on these. The next being a PCV orifice clog. In @Epicnoob's case this might actually be tied to the MAF/wiring considering the additional codes. Your experience and experiences of others is why I suggested the throttle body cleaning in my earlier post. It is possible there are multiple issues in play.