I am getting a misfire on #3 cylinder , just did a code read.
The Check engine light comes on and off.

Thought I'd start cheep and go with a new plug; but I dont know where the #3 is located.

Can someone be kind enough to point out #3 or perhaps point me in the right direction to the info.


Thanks :)

2002 chevy malibu 6 cyl (nothing fancy)

Rear center.

IME, the plugs at the rear of the engine will be a beeyatch to get to. You'll need some kind of flex socket attachment, like a u-joint or a wobbler.

Rear (closest to me) when looking at the front of the car, or Rear furthest from me when looking at the front of the car? Thanks for the help

Here's an interesting tidbit to help you in the future:

Any engine that is configured in a V, such as V6 or V8, will have one bank of cylinders slightly offset from the others. This is a result of the connecting rods having to share a journal on the crank. You will find cylinder #1 as the one further to the front of the engine (transmission is at the rear regardless of how it's stuff in the car). Unless GM has switched their method of numbering the cylinders, they are all odd on one side and all even on the other. Therefore, locating #1 cylinder will tell you which side #3 will be on as well.

That said, when speaking about the cylinders being on the "front" or "rear", the "rear" of an engine that is installed transversely will be between the engine and the firewall.

That said, when speaking about the cylinders being on the "front" or "rear", the "rear" of an engine that is installed transversely will be between the engine and the firewall.

I had not thought of ambiguity being possible when speaking of "front" and "rear" on an automobile, but here we are.

Yes, I meant the side of the engine toward the trunk of the Malibu. Cylinder #3 is in the center there.