[matenzi]

i have a 2002 malibu with the 3.1L V6 front wheel drive
the check engine light came on, so i took it to autozone for them to do an engine check
they said it was the spark plugs, so i replaced those, but the problem is still there
basically, when i am going slow with low RPMs (0-10 MPH) it goes fine. then it does not have much power, and seems to stutter. but, once i floor it or get it to higher RPMs (30 or 35 MPH) it is fine, and speeds up like normal.
i had an older ranger that had something similar that turned out to be an O2 sensor.
does this sound about right? could it be some other kind of sensor? how many O2 sensors are on this car?

 

[Silver LTZ]

What was the code? That is the best way to find out the true problem.

 

[green03malibu]

i have a 2002 malibu with the 3.1L V6 front wheel drive
the check engine light came on, so i took it to autozone for them to do an engine check
they said it was the spark plugs, so i replaced those, but the problem is still there
basically, when i am going slow with low RPMs (0-10 MPH) it goes fine. then it does not have much power, and seems to stutter. but, once i floor it or get it to higher RPMs (30 or 35 MPH) it is fine, and speeds up like normal.
i had an older ranger that had something similar that turned out to be an O2 sensor.
does this sound about right? could it be some other kind of sensor? how many O2 sensors are on this car?

To begin things out, was the SES light flashing or was it on steady? That makes a huge difference. If the light is just flashing, it needs a tune up. New plugs, plug wires, fuel filter, etc. It could be a sensor, but it could be something else. Clean the throttle body and MAF (mass air flow) sensor ( it has its own cleaner), that could help. These cars have OBD - 2, so it has two oxygen sensors.

 

[Silver LTZ]

If they light is flashing that is WORSE, usually means a misfire....or something internal.

 

[green03malibu]

or something internal.

I've never heard of anything about an internal problem with a flashing SES light. I always knew it meant it was having a misfire, but that's it.

 

[Silver LTZ]

I've never heard of anything about an internal problem with a flashing SES light. I always knew it meant it was having a misfire, but that's it.

My friend had that on his Camaro. He had a few best pushrods.

 

[szhwanz9000]

I had the same problem about a month ago. I had driven the car from Louisville to Chicago with no problems. The next morning I started it up to find that the engine light was flashing. I could tell that the car was in limp mode, so I took it to AutoZone to read the codes. Came up with a cylinder 3 misfire code. I had replaced the wires and plugs a few months prior. Out of pure curiosity, I traced out the #3 plug wire and reset both ends and started up the car. Problem fixed and has been running normal ever since.

 

[DrivenDaily]

Just goes to show you that the codes simply direct you to a theory and it still takes a measure of intelligence to ferret it out.

@szhwanz9000 - Neighbors!

 

[ladyondemove]

@mantenzi

i have a 2002 malibu with the 3.1L V6 front wheel drive
the check engine light came on, so i took it to autozone for them to do an engine check
they said it was the spark plugs, so i replaced those, but the problem is still there
basically, when i am going slow with low RPMs (0-10 MPH) it goes fine. then it does not have much power, and seems to stutter. but, once i floor it or get it to higher RPMs (30 or 35 MPH) it is fine, and speeds up like normal.
i had an older ranger that had something similar that turned out to be an O2 sensor.
does this sound about right? could it be some other kind of sensor? how many O2 sensors are on this car?

reply...

I have the same thing. I got two different companies to check it and they both gave me the code. O2 oxygen sensor. (down stream). Since you don't know the code you were given, I would suggest you buy both down stream and upstream and which ever one you don't need, return. Hope this help.