2009 Malibu 2.4L Acceleration Loss.
Thread Starter
CF Beginner
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 2
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2009 Malibu 2.4L Acceleration Loss.
Best scenario for occurrence:
- 1st 20-40% of 1 hr drive.
- 40mph+ (Rarely observed at low speed)
- light accel to maintain speed up a slight grade on the freeway
- Complete acceleration loss
- RPMs drop to zero and back to normal in fraction of a second causing jolt/hesitation, sometimes in rapid succession 2x-3x.
- twice had complete loss without any accel recovery where pedal no longer functioned. Had to coast to shoulder, shut off, turn on. Engine idled normally during that.
- spark plugs and boots replaced
- progressively worse leading up to replacement
- fewer occurrences after replacement, but now progressively getting worse again and has been 5 driving days since replacement.
- Whole can of Seafoam added, no changes.
- No check engine lights. Unsure if any codes thrown.
Last edited by jakodemus@gmail.com; Dec 7, 2018 at 6:21 AM.
CF Monarch
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 4,605
Likes: 269
From: USA
Best scenario for occurrence:
- 1st 20-40% of 1 hr drive.
- 40mph+ (Rarely observed at low speed)
- light accel to maintain speed up a slight grade on the freeway
- Complete acceleration loss
- RPMs drop to zero and back to normal in fraction of a second causing jolt/hesitation, sometimes in rapid succession 2x-3x.
- twice had complete loss without any accel recovery where pedal no longer functioned. Had to coast to shoulder, shut off, turn on. Engine idled normally during that.
- spark plugs and boots replaced
- progressively worse leading up to replacement
- fewer occurrences after replacement, but now progressively getting worse again and has been 5 driving days since replacement.
- Whole can of Seafoam added, no changes.
- No check engine lights. Unsure if any codes thrown.
Thread Starter
CF Beginner
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Thanks for some ideas.
CF Monarch
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 4,605
Likes: 269
From: USA
not checked yet. I’ll likely leave it with a garage again for a week at least this time. Will certainly recommend the cheaper thinks to check first. Another odd thing I’ve noticed is the accel fail happens more when I’m going up a slope as opposed to just giving it gas on a flat stretch. If it’s a filter why would it be fixed temporarily just from cycling car off and on?
Thanks for some ideas.
Last edited by oilcanhenry; Dec 9, 2018 at 5:42 PM.