Replacing spark plugs and ignition wires on a 2001 Chevy Malibu 3 1 V 6
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- Опубліковано 17 січ 2015
- Long overdue, I was following the recommendations of the manufacturer, and in all honesty by spring it would have been time. But a couple of weeks ago, in damp mild weather, cold starts would mean the engine kicking against the starter when cranking, so bad I thought the starter nose would get cracked. Before this happened, new ignition wires and spark plugs were purchased and put on the car. I was quite surprised of the condition of three of the removed plugs, the center electrodes totally worn down. I researched and found out it had to do with the type of plugs and the type of ignition system (waste spark, meaning each coil fires a spark plug in two separate cylinders at the same time, one on the power stroke, the other on the exhaust stroke) involved. It looks like the type of plugs being used are not the best for this type of ignition system. The new ones are the same type, and since the old ones did last about 100,000 miles, (162,000 kilometers) I am not rushing to remove and replace the newly installed ones. I am now aware of this, and will address this sort of maintenance on this car in shorter intervals. While a bit frustrating at times, especially when things don't go 100% to plan, overall it was fun to work on the car and see the final results. Upcoming clips will be touching up some spots with grease to keep rust from spreading where paint has chipped, and fixing a leaky composite headlight that would get water in it and fog up. Nothing that stops the car from running, but things an older car may need in the attention department. Thank you for watching.
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I just finished replacing the spark plugs on my 2001 Mailbu 3.1. The job was a lot easier thanks to your video.
Daniel Zurita You are welcome! Not the most easy job but once done, an accomplishment. Enjoy your Malibu!
That's just how my spark plugs were in my Malibu. Don't know how it was running. But I changed them. Thanks this really did help me change my spark plugs. Keep up the good work
Thanks! Good detail on the real plugs.
Thanks for your analysis at the end of the video regarding the coils; I have a 2000 3.1 malibu with about 120k miles. Just changed the intake (upper and lower) gaskets, thermostat, water pump, spark plugs, serpentine, heater hoses, and radiator hoses. Still to do: oil change and radiator flush.
replace coil packs at the same time !
I did a year later 'just because'! Car is still doing just fine!
I did the Plugs and Wires on my 07' Chevy Tahoe, 5.3L motor, and was fairly straight forward.
The #8 cylinder on passenger side was the worst to get access to as it was strictly by feel taking the plug off and Re- installing..
The Tahoe has 168,981 Kilometers now and still purrs as when she was new off the lot..
Great Video !!
It seems to thwart the average do it yourselfer, manufacturers have to have at least one major elusive part in an otherwise simple arrangement to allow you to utter some choice words under your breath!
These 3.1 Malibus have had all sorts of problems, glad you have avoided them!!
Leaky intake gaskets, theft deterrent light, overheating problems, etc. to name a few.
I guess ours missed the memo to be a problem. We still count on this car!
@@SammyVista1972 once u do the headgasket and flush dex cool out ur good. Lower intake on mine blew 3 yrs ago. Im now at 173k it blew at 128k. Still my daily and have cyl 2 misfire n wires are factory there marked which cyl so they have to be factory
@@jjjlll4135 indeed! Ours is still going fairly well at 385,000 km's six years later (about 239,000 miles) and she is getting a bit tired. Kept in our garage as a second daily car now. Your tip is correct about using good old green anti freeze!
How did you get the wire clips off in the back?. I'm struggling right now with a bunch of cuts on my hands and arms😅😅
Just seeing this question now i'm sorry I hope it's not too late. I took a very small screwdriver and on the side opposite of the hinge. I just pried the lip of the clip up and they opened up to release the ignition wires. You are darn right it is very hard to get to them. I just did the cylinder heads on the car actually, I cleaned up a lot of things that were there. The car is running like new with about two hundred fifty thousand miles.
@@SammyVista1972 @SammyVista72 haha thank you so much for the response even after years of posting the video! I finally got it out after an afternoon of self hate and numerous cuts on my left forearm. And I promise you I didn't put the wires back into it.😂😂
Hopefully your car will get to run another 100k without major repairs in the future as well!
Aww.. You didnt do the ole Change 3, save 3 for.........? My friend has a X city car Malibu with about 100k on it, He just changed the plugs and wires on it. Its tight back there, I'm glad he didn't bug me to do it!
Cool idea with the paper clip, I have had boots fight me when installing them with a little grease in the boot, Never thought about it!
No way! All six or nothing! I don't want to dive into this any time soon, well at least for a few years given the low mileage the car sees now. It is a little bit tight, but gymnastics and Pilates has kept me flexible enough, plus having small hands helps. The paper clip idea does help, I used to see tower boots slowly push up right before my eyes immediately after installation before doing the paper clip thingy. Note: Some ignition wires have much tighter, positive attaching terminals that hold onto the conductive tower tips much better then others.
What size hatchet wrench did you use? I'm sorry what size ratchett wrench to get the back hard to get spark plug. Can you buy spark plug sockets in a retail store or automotive store
Can you rephrase the question and I will certainly answer.
5/8ths 16mm a yr later but most cars are this.
I have a 2002 Malibu & I was driving one day and when I pressed the gas I heard a noise in the engine, then next thing I know, it started making a slapping noise. Took it to 2 shops, first shop charged $100. Second shop charged $120 because he said he has to do something to it.. I believe one of the shops said it has a hole in the plug or somethinggg he was saying. I just hope that I can just buy the spark plug & change it myself for cheaper. I'm only 18, so I'm not that familiar with repairs, just simple things. Is there anything I need to be aware of before I attempt to do this on my own?
Yeah don't fuk up
@@charliesvids 😆
Next time show removing the spark plugs and detail what kind but overall thanks for the vid..!!!!!!!
Didn't know much about what to look for when buying a car when I got this one. This car taught me how to recognize all the crap I hate. 20min radiator hose swap? Yea right buddy hose clamps are practically inaccessible. Lol you think that hose clamp is accessible? Nope its on upside down, now get some!
Oh is that a serpentine belt? You want to change it? Get an engine crane buddy and unbolt the engine mount first. Might as well be working on an Acura or a BMW.
This car was designed to discourage the average Joe from grabbing his wrench and fixing it with a Haynes manual.
Not to mention all the oil pan problems that occurs with this thing.
Then there's the key recall for turning the car off in the middle of driving. What was Chevys fix? A piece of plastic on the key not fixing the ignition. This car an chevy can eat a fat one.
Well I certainly read through your input on the car. In all honesty most anything from this Era is pretty much an exercise in frustration to work on. I do agree on the idiot idea of needing a giraffe hoist just to change the stupid belt. The car really owes us nothing at well over 200,000 miles with no catastrophic breakdowns. A few annoying things yes, the starter gave out but gave a few days warning so we were not caught. The ignition key 'fix' is split in two pieces. I think simply double jointing the links was the real fix. I am sorry your car has been a pain.
looks like someone changed the ez plugs on the front at one point and left the plugs in the back of the motor alone as they were hard to get too lol
They were all changed, I witnessed this myself. I am sure the ones really worn or because of the way distributorless ignition coils operate, the way the current flows. The car used to see very high mileage every month, but now we only do 4000 miles a year in it. The car still soldiers on!
@@SammyVista1972 I mean before you... the last person/mechanic prob didn't change the rears
@@WPGinterceptor460Interceptor I knew what you were meaning. I will clear it up by indicating I was watching when the spark plugs were being changed by the mechanic, the worn ones being changed. I think they were the wrong specification thinking back to it all.
What kind of spark plugs did you install? Copper, platinum, double platinum, etc?
Thank you for asking. It had to be double platinum because of the firing charicteristics of the 2 plug per coil setup.
Thanks buddy, I am thinking about doing the plugs on my 2000 Malibu and I want to install the proper plugs.
Hows that station wagon that you replaced the steering wheel on??
There will be plenty of adventures coming with the Pontiac wagon, such as starting it for the first time in over 20 years, along with a disc brake conversion, and much more as soon as some other car projects are cleared and the weather turns softer in the spring.
do a video on the first start!
That is to be expected! First starts are always the best when a vehicle has been sitting for years!
I love that leather wrapped steering wheel. Is that factory?
It is a factory issue steering wheel that did come with the car. It has held up well over the years.
Shop wabted three fifty for
There was nothing wrong with those spark plugs. I just did a valve adjustment on my Honda, and inspected my plugs and they looked just like that after only two weeks of use. Theyre fouled when the L shaped head and the white underneath are coated with a foreign substance.
My plugs looked just like that, and she ran like a champ...then the head gasket blew at 250k miles. The plugs only had 50k on them, and the little tit was gone. the first 2 sets in her life looked like new at 108k, and second set at 200k when I last changed them.
don't you disconnect tne battery first
For spark plugs and ignition wires, no. Just make sure the ignition key is in your pocket!