How do I repair the low beam malfunction

For the taillights, the best thing I can say is to get new taillight housings, if yours are cracked or coming apart, there's not much you can do to fix them. They should be sealed systems. The low beams are most likely due to your high beam/low beam switch. If the switch is fried the high beams or low beams can go out. This is a fairly easy fix although the switch is mounted on the column so you may need to partially disassemble the column to access it. It's mounted down low. I've not heard of the 4-way flasher switch causing a problem like this.

My 1998 Malibu has developed the same problem with the high beams working and the low beams not working as of 12/16.....when you say that the switch is possibly the problem do you mean the entire stalk assembly needs to be replaced or is there a switch located at the base of it that needs to be replaced? Also where would one finde the part short of going to the dealership.