Is it fuel pump, transmission, or spark plugs?

Asked by NastyNate82 Jul 27, 2015 at 03:15 PM about the 2003 Chevrolet Malibu

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

two days ago i got gas at the store.  after getting the gas now when my car is in drive
it idles hard but is not bad when in park running.  i put heat in the car thinking it was
bad gas and injector cleaner with it in case it was some trash.  i just filled up again so
it cant be water in my gas.  the check engine light came on during all this and i had it
scanned and it said i had bad spark plugs.  Would that make it idle hard and make a
ticking noise.  or is it more of a transmission thing because it gets worse in drive?

2 Answers
51,355

John answered 9 years ago

Spark plugs would be the place to start. Pull and if you know how, clean them after you examine them for signs of fowling. Re-set the gap and put them back in. I'd change up the plugs and not put them in the same cylinder. It it improves somewhat, I'd consider getting new plugs. It is not a gas starvation issue it sounds. Bad plugs could cause slight knocking in the engine. Sometimes we need to trust the codes. Plug wires may be another suggested change out.

Mark helpful

NastyNate82 answered 9 years ago

Changed spark plugs, wires, and coil still did not work. Took it to get looked at and he hooked a pressure gague to where my spark plug for cylinder 6 was. He said there was no compression on 6 so its my head gasket or valve. 1200 to 1500 dollars. Thanks for the help

Mark helpful

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