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2019 Chevy mailbu LS constantly changing spark plugs


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fixxxer2020
Novice

Jun 16, 2022, 8:58 AM

Post #1 of 11 (1352 views)
2019 Chevy mailbu LS constantly changing spark plugs Sign In

2019 Chevy mailbu LS
126,000 miles
1.5L 4 cylinder engine I believe.

Im definitely not a mechanic but I'm starting to believe my Malibu might be a lemon. it's a 2019 LS model. bought it used from a dealership well over a year ago. it's got 126,000 miles and is out of warranty.

back in December we started having alot of issues. mostly a hard time starting the car and it running badly. took it too a shop. they ran diagnostics and said cylinder 4 was misfiring. they had it for about two days. replaced the spark plugs and the battery. we probably ended up dishing out over $600 after all of the diagnostics and labor. 🤦‍♂️

it ran good for about 2 months. then randomly on the freeway it started running bad, we got a warning about low power mode and the traction control light was on. we pulled off the freeway and the car completely died and wouldn't turn over again. we had to get it towed over 50 miles back home. we ended up going to a local belle tire this time. again they ran diagnostics and found the plugs were burned up. after alot of inspection they say the plugs are getting doused with too much gas and they fry out. they said they saw a service bulletin about my vehicle and this is being caused by the exhaust camshaft. they obviously don't tear engines down there so they replaced the plugs again. they also unplugged some vacuum for the brakes. according to the bulletin it would not totally solve the problem but would save the plugs. they said it was a temp fix. this costs us $250.

the car ran good again. although now it's tougher to hit the brakes. also when the car is stopped the engine doesn't shut down anymore then restart when you accelerate. I hope that makes sense? I called a few engine shops and to work on or replace the camshaft will take extensive work. probably 2 weeks in a shop and into the thousands of dollars. we decided to run it as is and see what happenes as we don't have that kind of money. honestly I was waiting for a recall from GM and it hasn't happened yet.

about a month ago it started acting up once again, only worse. it randomly stalls out even if your driving. it idles rough and is struggling. the gas mileage is absolutely terrible and I mean terrible! there's also some weird vibration and rattling sound from under the car in the back by the exhaust. it's almost as it wants to backfire. it's also takes 4-5 times to turn the car over. we assumed the plugs were bad again. we took it apart and replaced them ourselves today. it cost about $80 with the plugs and proper tools. the old plugs are fried, as in black fried to a crisp. I did everything right, even used electrical grease. well it didn't fix the problem. it does seem to pick up speed better but overall it's the same symptoms. I do have a constant engine light on as well that says cylinder 4 misfire. the traction light is not on as it previously was. I assume what belle tire unplugged was directly under the plastic engine cover by the plugs as I saw it today when I had everything apart. when I attempted to plug it in and test the car won't turn over at all. I'm also noticing the fan stays on for a long time after the car is shut off, it never did this before. I don't see any signs of overheating.

I can't afford to spend much more money and with no help or recall from GM I'm about ready to let the car go.

any advice would be appreciated. is there any steps I can take myself to diagnose or fix at home and avoid a shop. does the exhaust camshaft cause these problems? I don't know if I trust what the shops have told me. I also don't want to ruin the engine. I'm really at a loss right now. my father thinks it's the starter or alternator but I disagree. it does seem as it's either a problem with the fuel injectors or some electrical malfunction. I'm not finding alot of information on this exhaust camshaft. advice from a mechanic would be appreciated.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Jun 16, 2022, 9:50 AM

Post #2 of 11 (1342 views)
Re: 2019 Chevy mailbu LS constantly changing spark plugs Sign In

The first thing you need is a better mechanic.
I don't mean any kind of chain store or tire store. They do not have people with the required knowledge for this.

From what you are saying the plugs are getting fouled with fuel, not burnt out. They are platinum plugs and they do not burn.

You need an experienced tech to look deeper into this with the right equipment. You're right, it won't be cheap so if you are not in a position to deal with the costs, it may be time to put a fresh set of plugs in and sell/trade it.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



fixxxer2020
Novice

Jun 16, 2022, 10:00 AM

Post #3 of 11 (1338 views)
Re: 2019 Chevy mailbu LS constantly changing spark plugs Sign In


In Reply To
The first thing you need is a better mechanic.
I don't mean any kind of chain store or tire store. They do not have people with the required knowledge for this.

From what you are saying the plugs are getting fouled with fuel, not burnt out. They are platinum plugs and they do not burn.

You need an experienced tech to look deeper into this with the right equipment. You're right, it won't be cheap so if you are not in a position to deal with the costs, it may be time to put a fresh set of plugs in and sell/trade it.


belle tire has certified mechanics. also the first shop I went to was a legit service center. I'm not paying what a dealership would want. I've already checked into it and the prices without warranty are outrageous and there is a two week waiting period to even have it inspected.

the plugs looked very black to me when I changed them yesterday. obviously it didn't totally fix my problems. I'm hoping someone can give me some insight on what may be going on based on the symptoms. I'm more a less curious about this exhaust camshaft gear I'm hearing about. I cannot simply get rid of the vehicle either as it's still financed.


(This post was edited by fixxxer2020 on Jun 16, 2022, 10:10 AM)


Double J
Veteran / Moderator
Double J profile image

Jun 16, 2022, 10:02 AM

Post #4 of 11 (1336 views)
Re: 2019 Chevy mailbu LS constantly changing spark plugs Sign In

Bing Search this - #PIP5598
It's a GM Technical Service Bulletin On The Exhaust Camshaft
Scroll down and find the GM-Techlink Article.

And Take it to a reputable repair shop


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Jun 16, 2022, 10:08 AM

Post #5 of 11 (1328 views)
Re: 2019 Chevy mailbu LS constantly changing spark plugs Sign In


Quote
belle tire has certified mechanics.


I've been around these companies for the past 40 years and believe me, they are not equipped nor knowledgeable enough to handle this problem.
You don't necessarily have to go to the dealer. There are many independent shops with the people and equipment to handle this. If you are here looking for a magic bullet answer, you won't get it.

I have read the TSB concerning the cam problem and it requires extensive investigation and disassembly to verify the problem. That may or may not be your concern.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



fixxxer2020
Novice

Jun 16, 2022, 10:11 AM

Post #6 of 11 (1325 views)
Re: 2019 Chevy mailbu LS constantly changing spark plugs Sign In

thank you, I'll check it out.


fixxxer2020
Novice

Jun 16, 2022, 10:16 AM

Post #7 of 11 (1323 views)
Re: 2019 Chevy mailbu LS constantly changing spark plugs Sign In


In Reply To

Quote
belle tire has certified mechanics.


I've been around these companies for the past 40 years and believe me, they are not equipped nor knowledgeable enough to handle this problem.
You don't necessarily have to go to the dealer. There are many independent shops with the people and equipment to handle this. If you are here looking for a magic bullet answer, you won't get it.

I have read the TSB concerning the cam problem and it requires extensive investigation and disassembly to verify the problem. That may or may not be your concern.


I read the bulletin. I'm confused about the wording from GM. if this is indeed my issue and belle tire was correct is GM going to fix this or am I dishing out for the repairs? it seems to effect alot of vehicles, it sounds like a defect.

Code



      
    


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Jun 16, 2022, 10:22 AM

Post #8 of 11 (1320 views)
Re: 2019 Chevy mailbu LS constantly changing spark plugs Sign In

Sure, it would be a defect but that doesn't make GM responsible. They don't recall vehicles for simple defects. Recalls are only made for safety or emissions reasons.

This guy is only guessing at the problem because he saw a TSB. There are specific inspections that need to be made before blaming the problem on this. There are many other possibilities to cause these symptoms.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



fixxxer2020
Novice

Jun 16, 2022, 10:28 AM

Post #9 of 11 (1316 views)
Re: 2019 Chevy mailbu LS constantly changing spark plugs Sign In


In Reply To
Sure, it would be a defect but that doesn't make GM responsible. They don't recall vehicles for simple defects. Recalls are only made for safety or emissions reasons.

This guy is only guessing at the problem because he saw a TSB. There are specific inspections that need to be made before blaming the problem on this. There are many other possibilities to cause these symptoms.


well we have had plenty of diagnostics done, other than paying an arm and a leg to tear the engine down I'm not sure what else can be done. we definitely don't have the money to keep doing this with no results. I appreciate your response. I actually posted this on the Chevy Malibu forums and a mod told me to buy a new engine and closed my thread. 🤦‍♂️

I'd definitely sell or get rid of the vehicle but I still have alot of years left on the finance. I'm no auto mechanic but I'm still learning more towards an electrical malfunction, not the engine.


(This post was edited by fixxxer2020 on Jun 16, 2022, 10:31 AM)


Double J
Veteran / Moderator
Double J profile image

Jun 16, 2022, 10:34 AM

Post #10 of 11 (1313 views)
Re: 2019 Chevy mailbu LS constantly changing spark plugs Sign In

I posted the bulletin number for reference just to give you info for what you stated they said was wrong
It needs proper diagnosis.
What concerns me is a mechanic that disconnected something to make braking harder to do
No one in this business worth his salt would send a customer on the road with unsafe braking.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Jun 16, 2022, 10:42 AM

Post #11 of 11 (1310 views)
Re: 2019 Chevy mailbu LS constantly changing spark plugs Sign In


Quote
I actually posted this on the Chevy Malibu forums and a mod told me to buy a new engine and closed my thread


I think we have reached that point also. We have told you what needs to be done next but you have other ideas so I'll be closing this question now.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.







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