I have a 2001 chevy Malibu and it starts fine when the weather is warm but when it gets cold I have a hard time getting it to start. In warm weather when I put the key in and turn it to start normally the dashboard lights stay on but in cold weather when I try to start it the lights will either go off right when i get the key in to the start position or they will stay on and the car will start. I have replaced the battery and I can hear the fuel pump working. The car has never not started just sometimes it takes a few tries. The car cranks like normal there is no slow cranking or clicking noises.

I havent check the cooling sensor where would it be located? I havent check the cooling sensor where would it be located?

Do you know how to check the coolant temp. sensor ? You don't just look at it , you hook up a scan tool that can view live sensor data . You need to see what the sensor is telling the computer PCM/ECM - engine computer . Hard start problems when cold out could be a Coolant temp sensor problem / tell engine computer the engine is warmer then it really is. So the engine computer does not gives enough fuel for a cold start ,like a choke on a carbureted engine would till warmed up. Don't know if your old enough to remember those days. Videos on youtube . Do you know how to check the coolant temp. sensor ? You don't just look at it , you hook up a scan tool that can view live sensor data . You need to see what the sensor is telling the computer PCM/ECM - engine computer . Hard start problems when cold out could be a Coolant temp sensor problem / tell engine computer the engine is warmer then it really is. So the engine computer does not gives enough fuel for a cold start ,like a choke on a carbureted engine would till warmed up. Don't know if your old enough to remember those days. Videos on youtube .

but in cold weather when I try to start it the lights will either go off right when i get the key in to the start position ? How cold are you talking about ? freezing ? The lights in the instrument cluster doing that would make me believe the ignition switch may be the problem . but in cold weather when I try to start it the lights will either go off right when i get the key in to the start position ? How cold are you talking about ? freezing ? The lights in the instrument cluster doing that would make me believe the ignition switch may be the problem .