anyone good with GM 3.1L engines?

[sumone 10+ year member]

oh, I'm not concerned about the starter motor/solenoid's performance with regards to gas mileage.

I guess I was just wondering if I swapped in another (I guess aftermarket?) one if the cranking sound would be quieter / softer. Nothing really sounds abnormal, cause I've been in/heard cars that on crank it's a much quieter noise (namely those with upgraded/modded exhausts) and then other cars that sound like how mine does.

I don't think anything's wrong with it...I guess I just hate the sound it makes (which has been like that since I first got the car a little under a year ago)

it was raining so I couldn't disconnect my battery cause I f-in hate my inline fuse holder...not safe at all. I guess I'll try just pulling the pcm's fuse for a while to get the same effect.

Used some fuel injector & valve cleaner stuff (not to mention after I spilled a full bottle all on my lap...long story short: was sitting in the driver's seat pouring the bottle of it into this other newly-purchased bottle with an extension neck...that had a f-in hole in it; had to stick my head out the window at stoplights cause I was getting light-headed...and not mention that my legs & you know what were starting to get very irritated). still too early to see if it did anything....didn't notice any instant acceleration / idle advantages. only drove about 10 miles on a full tank & fuel inj. cleaner.

 

[sumone 10+ year member]

guess who's back...back again....blah blah blah...

well, now performance is absolutely horrible!!! I feel my car is gonna just break down any day.

basically I'm idling from a cold engine @ 1500rpm....then after warmed up, I idle @ 700rpm which I guess is normal. and when I want to accelerate, it seems like the engine is working super hard, but I'm not going anywhere. For a totally smooth acceleration from rest, the engine'll be @ 2000rpm, and it'll take 5 seconds to accelerate to 15mph. it's like it takes forever to get outta first gear.

so, this o2 sensor that gives readings from a completely cold engine: I went though everything to get it to it, but when it finally came down to it, I couldn't unscrew the **** thing from the exhaust manifold. was too hard and wouldn't budge. I think it was cause the engine cooled off too much cause it took me like 2 hours just to get to the o2 sensor (pre-cat). so today I'm gonna try again and hopefully can get the ignition control module off quickly so that the engine doesn't cool off.

any suggestions on how to get it off???

 

[sumone 10+ year member]

an added bonus of a non-successful o2 sensor replacement (which I was doing @ 8 o'clock at night) was that my mp3 player is now a p.o.s. I was using it's backlight since it was dark, til when I finally closed the hood (not to mention repeatedly, cause it wouldn't "lock") was that the mp3 player was up under it and was the reason why I couldn't close it. now the lcd screen has a big-azz black spot in the middle to the top of it //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif. still works and stuff...just the screen is f*cked up.

a super old pic of my beloved mp3 player...

 

[skeptikal Premium Member]

guess who's back...back again....blah blah blah...
well, now performance is absolutely horrible!!! I feel my car is gonna just break down any day.

basically I'm idling from a cold engine @ 1500rpm....then after warmed up, I idle @ 700rpm which I guess is normal. and when I want to accelerate, it seems like the engine is working super hard, but I'm not going anywhere. For a totally smooth acceleration from rest, the engine'll be @ 2000rpm, and it'll take 5 seconds to accelerate to 15mph. it's like it takes forever to get outta first gear.

so, this o2 sensor that gives readings from a completely cold engine: I went though everything to get it to it, but when it finally came down to it, I couldn't unscrew the **** thing from the exhaust manifold. was too hard and wouldn't budge. I think it was cause the engine cooled off too much cause it took me like 2 hours just to get to the o2 sensor (pre-cat). so today I'm gonna try again and hopefully can get the ignition control module off quickly so that the engine doesn't cool off.

any suggestions on how to get it off???

i have the same problem. when i try to accelerate it feels like the transmission is slipping even though i have an auto... it stutters really bad and i cant figure out why. my buddy's step dad is a transmission specialist and he said most likely its an electrical problem not a transmission problem... if i have to take out my system for this buillshyt im going to shoot whoever designed that dam car. good luck with your setup though man hopefully you get all that shyt figured out before you put too much un needed money in that car.

for sumone's '00 Malibu..... "I say prayers"

 

[1972ChevyGuy 10+ year member]

GM trannies in the fwd cars arent the best anyhow. For the o2 sensor... try a torch, just heat it up until its red hot, let it cool for a second and while its shrinking it should come right out. If the trannie is shuttering... how much fluid does it have? your clutches could be going bad.

 

[sumone 10+ year member]

did you say torch??? never used one, never seen one in person....doubt I'd be able to do what you said without burning or melting something!!! could I use one of those things that cost like 10 bucks from walgreens?

how does a slipping ****** act? is it like you can feel that you got out the previous gear, but there's a slight pause, and then the speed "picks" up? say it ain't so....

 

[roger bowers]

If you are leaking coolant but its not leaking to the outside on the ground...and you are overheating...and you have a 3.1L GM V-6 engine...you probably are leaking coolant though the intake and into your oil!...what's happening is that the Dex-Cool coolant is eating your intake gaskets !...mechanics tell me that GM have known about this problem shortly after Dex-Cool was introduced as a permanent coolant...don't delay, but clean and flush all Dex-Cool from your system and replace it with regular coolant...then, replace your intake gaskets immediately!...or, very quickly your coolant will leak into your oil and you will ruin your engine!...NEXT..sign up with the attorneys investigating GM and Dex-Cool for a class action lawsuit!...GM has no right to continue to deceive the consumer and sell these devective engines...CLICK the attorneys from this site...good luck!...my Buick Century 1998 left me stranded 450 miles from home...I had to purchase another car just to get home!...I'm ticked and I'm not going to take it anymore!!!

 

[sumone 10+ year member]

I've never used dex-cool...always Peak...that was before I got the intake gaskets replaced in september of '04. prior to, yup, would have to refill coolant like once a month.