If the battery was just out of vehicle this may have caused the problem. This happened to me just today. I took a floral wire (about 22-24 ga. solid wire) and inserted it through the trip odometer hole. The fuel gauge needle was flipped all the way clockwise. I just pushed it back around to the "E" position, (with motor off). Started engine, it worked fine. I think when I disconnected the battery, the switch/radio was on. That may have kicked that needle all the way around to the right when power went off??? Hope that helps
might be a bad fuel sender unit or BCM
How do you change the fuel pump on a 2003 Chevy Malibu?
fuse 37
The 2003 Chevrolet Malibu runs on regular unleaded.
You will have to replace the fuel module which consists of the pump, sending unit and sock filter. Which means you will have to remove the fuel tank.
the furl filter on a 2003 malibu, is up in the little space behind the tank .
Inside the fuel tank.
Remove the fuel tank
the fuel pump is in fuel tank!!
the sending unit is attached to the fuel pump in the tank.
Put a fuel pressure gauge on it and that will tell you.
It is inside of the fuel tank.