the one closest to the alternator
The cylinder on the very front of the engine is #1.
The firing order for a Chevy Malibu is 1, 3, 4, 2. The number one cylinder is located near the main pulley on the engine.
cylinder #5 is in right back of engine. 1-3-5 is in back, 2-4-6 is in front.
if its a 3.1 it is back of engine under alternater!!
If it is a 3.1L V6 engine, the order is 1-2-3-4-5-6. I am not sure on the 2.4L, 4 cylinder.
I have a 99 Chev Malibu - there were 3 bolts (which is why I had a hell of a time getting it off. Persistance! I think 1 was at the back and another towards the bottom at the back.
Where is coolant fan switch located on 1998 chevy Malibu with 3 .1
#1 cylinder is on the left of the engine as you are facing it from the front.
The 4 cylinder has 1 The 6 cylinder has 2
The front cylinder
2.2 inline 4 cylinder is 1-3-4-2 ( 1999 Malibu 4 cylinder came as 2.4 L engine 2.2 was not available for this car and the correct firing order for the 2.4 is 1-4-3-2 3.1 V6 is 1-2-3-4-5-6 1-3-5 in back=====2-4-6 in front!! for v6 3.1
step--1----1997-89in lbs,------1998 and later----168in lbs,----step2---rotate an additional 30 degrees.