01 GA V6 Hesitation, Check Engine

Man, I'm about ready to set this thing on fire....

01 Grand Am SE, 67,000 miles, V-6. Hesitates like crazy when trying to accel and check engine light flashed. Replace spark plugs (nightmare), replaced plug wires as a result of replacing spark plugs (cheap GM plug boots), Oil changed regularly, diagnosed at shop, #3 cylinder recorded 1000 misses (I believe 1000 is the limit of storage?). Replaced air filter, replaced ignition coil that services #3 cylinder. Worked fine for about 10 miles, now hesitation is almost worse and check engine light STAYS on.

I have a fuel filter that I will install this weekend. BTW, can anyone tell me what side of the fuel tank the filter is on?

Question is what part should I throw at it next? Another ignition coil (there are three) or the fuel pressure regulator?

Anyone wanna buy an 01 SE? :naughty:

go to autozone and get the code checked

I have a fuel filter that I will install this weekend. BTW, can anyone tell me what side of the fuel tank the filter is on?



The fuel filter is located to the rear of the fuel tank, in the center area below the trunk next to the evaporative charcoal cannister. Follow the fuel lines and you'll see it.

Good to go!

Thanks guys, I'm going to Autozone today and changing the filter on Saturday. Something has to work. I have too many cars and need to sell this POS. Tired of the payment and poor performance.

I would highly reccomend an injector / fuel system purge (100$-ish at a shop) - it could be the answer to all your prayers.

I would highly reccomend an injector / fuel system purge (100$-ish at a shop) - it could be the answer to all your prayers.

Interesting you said that. I just went over and borrowed their diag tool. Same thing, Cylinder 3 misfire. P0303

I'm going to pull the spark plug tonight. Even though it's new since this issue and didnt solve the problem, perhaps the bad ignition coil caused the new one to get fouled? Worth a try. I think next might be the injector for that cylinder. Not sure where to go after that but I know it's definitely located in cylinder 3. Couldnt be on a cylinder thats easy to reach on the front of the engine either. Had to be in the back where I have to lose about 2 lbs of skin trying to get to it. :banghead:

Had to be in the back where I have to lose about 2 lbs of skin trying to get to it. :banghead:

LMAO! :) LoL. So true... so true... :) Every grand am owner with a 3.1 or 3.4 can testify to that.

Yeh I would deffinately reccomend a fuel injector purge.

Plugs are cake on mine.

Anyways, if Cylinder 3 is missing a 1,000 times, it isn't firing. Check coil, not fuel.

Plugs are cake on mine.

Anyways, if Cylinder 3 is missing a 1,000 times, it isn't firing. Check coil, not fuel.

Yeah, I already replaced the coil. I pulled the plug last night (only one cut and very little bleeding, a record!!!). It appeared to be gapped a little to much. I tightened it down a bit and it seemed to run a little smoother.

I didnt drive it to work today but will tomorrow. I'll know tomorrow if the problem was that simple. If so, I'll kick my own azz for buying a $60+ coil and wasting money that I could have been drinking (or paying for overpriced gasoline) with.

Pull all the plugs, and check all the gaps. Make sure you didn't hit one on it's way in.

Why are you guys all talking about these plugs being bad?? I swear, my first time swapping these plugs took me about 45 minutes. The hardest part was getting the cheap GM plug boots off the plugs. That probably took 25 minutes alone.

Pull all the plugs, and check all the gaps. Make sure you didn't hit one on it's way in.

Why are you guys all talking about these plugs being bad?? I swear, my first time swapping these plugs took me about 45 minutes. The hardest part was getting the cheap GM plug boots off the plugs. That probably took 25 minutes alone.

I've pretty much given in to the idea that there is no way to get the GM boots off without ripping the damn wires out of it. The aftermarket ones from Kragen were fine though. Maybe you have smaller hands than I? :grinno: Not sure but my big "dvck beaters" have a HELL of a time getting back there to do anything.

Man, I am 6 foot tall, 230 pounds. Doubt my hands are that much smaller. Of course, I am calling this easy compared to the Trans Am as well.

I just stand to the passenger side of the car, and reach back there. No problems. Gotta go by feel though. 3" extension, spark plug socket, and ratchet. That was all I needed. Well, and the plugs and some anti-seize.

Strange,

Closed in the gap of that plug on cylinder 3, and it only hesitated once when I went to run errands. I'll see whats up tomorrow morning when I leave at 0-dark:30 for work and drive 44 miles. I have a feeling I'll be pulling all of the plugs and regapping just to make sure.