08-10 SS Turbocharged General Discussion Discuss the 2008 - 2009 Chevy Cobalt SS Turbocharged. On sale since the second quarter of 2008.

Holy. Fucking. Shit! I'm cursed. That's the only explanation

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Old 09-04-2015, 03:00 PM
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Holy. *******. ****! I'm cursed. That's the only explanation

Changing my spark plugs when I notice one of them (cylinder 1) is cracked and missing a big chunk of it. Look around and can't find it. Install the new spark plugs, turn my car on and it makes some weird ass noises, then just keeps chugging like it's ready to die.
Weird smell, too.
In the pic below, you can see the cracked NGK plug on the left; new AC Delco plug on the right.
CEL came on and flashed non-stop. Codes are P0300, P0301, P0302, P0303.
I'm assuming the piece fell inside the engine somewhere. I could've sworn I heard a strange pinging noise when I initially went to start the car, but the sound went away immediately.
Contemplating removing the new plug and the coil, starting the car and revving it a bit to see if anything will fly out (possibly destroying my hood).
Honestly, I am at the end of my wits with this car. I love the LNF when it's working, but it rarely does that properly these days.



Idk if pic is working for anyone. It is on my mobile, but here's the link in case it's not working for you guys:
http://imgur.com/fdAKhvf

Last edited by Getaway_Driver; 09-04-2015 at 03:34 PM.
Old 09-04-2015, 03:04 PM
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I wouldn't run that engine anymore if I was you plus pic doesn't work
Old 09-04-2015, 03:23 PM
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How about you get a long magnet and stick it in the cylinder through the spark plug hole to see if the piece is still there. It's likely not and could have easily damaged something.

Calm the hell down and donn't blow a $2k engine because of impatience.
Old 09-04-2015, 03:28 PM
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Man that sucks I have you way beat though. Im on my 3rd clutch and 2nd transmission this summer. Due to TOB failure combined with shitty mechanics
Old 09-04-2015, 03:29 PM
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I'm not starting the car again. Contemplating my options:

a) Attempt (with my lackluster mechanic skills) to remove the cylinder head and check for damages; buy new head if necessary.

b) take it to the mechanic and blow the last of my savings on this car. I'm a broke college student, so this seems less likely.

c) part it out. I don't have much garage space, so this could be a long, painstaking process.

d) Sell it. Someone on FB offered me $4000, but when I said sure, he seemed to back out, saying he needs to get his funds together. Not sure how serious he is.

or

e) Junk it, which is only a final resort.

I could also keep it parked in the garage and slowly work on it, making it my official project car, but again, I'm a broke college student and funds are very limited.

I'd need a replacement vehicle, too.
Old 09-04-2015, 03:34 PM
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Edited OP with link to pic.
Old 09-04-2015, 03:42 PM
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Is the car payed out?
Old 09-04-2015, 03:43 PM
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Ohh I see the ceramic broke. Didn't you notice the chunk was missing when you took it out?
Old 09-04-2015, 03:55 PM
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Oh I thought he was saying the tip of the spark plug broke. Both would do damage but completely different pieces.

Hmmmm
Old 09-04-2015, 03:59 PM
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Originally Posted by Snail_SS
Ohh I see the ceramic broke. Didn't you notice the chunk was missing when you took it out?
I did notice it broken. Looked around but didn't see anything.
When I installed the new plugs and turned the car on, I heard some rattling noise. I bet that was the ceramic piece falling deeper inside.

Car is paid off and has been since Feb 2015. Just my luck, right? 4th ******* CEL since Jan of this year. I'm at a loss for words. I really love this car, but I can't keep putting money into it.
Old 09-04-2015, 04:09 PM
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curous as to why cylinders 1-3 are misfiring, but not the 4th
Old 09-04-2015, 04:50 PM
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Idk. I'm confused by it, too. Checked all the coil connections, and they seem fine. Not sure what the issue is there.
Old 09-04-2015, 04:54 PM
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Holy. *******. ****! I'm cursed. That's the only explanation

Buy a borescope ($20 off amazon) and check the inside of your cylinders. You will be able to see if the broken off piece is down there.
Old 09-04-2015, 04:54 PM
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disconnect battery, check plugs, injectors, seals and everything plugged in correctly
Old 09-04-2015, 05:02 PM
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The missing ceramic isn't in the coil on plug is it?

Also let this be a lesson in slowing down, take your time check things out. Don't rush because thats when mistakes happen, I know it's just plugs but more than likely the ceramic broke into the socket when you removed it
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Old 09-04-2015, 05:06 PM
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I don't understand why u would start ur car knowing u had a broken plug, why would u not do everything possible to check if it's in the cylinder before starting. This is totally due to a lack of patients and failure to do it right before u start her up. Lesson learned.
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Old 09-04-2015, 05:08 PM
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i hate to say it, but they are right.

you knew a missing chunk...you don't proceed and ignore it.
Old 09-04-2015, 05:13 PM
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Lesson learned. I'm a ******* retard. Fully aware. Barely mechanically inclined.
I don't know why I started it knowing a big chunk of the spark plug was missing, but you live, you **** up, you learn.
Old 09-04-2015, 05:21 PM
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correct
now, unfortunately, you gotta pay the piper (a mechanic would do in this case for diagnosis)
Old 09-04-2015, 05:39 PM
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Thats where i was getting to, i hope damage isnt that big tho
Old 09-04-2015, 06:39 PM
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I would keep looking around for other causes. If on the off chance it did fall in there, there is no reason that it would throw misfires on other cylinders. Double check your work

I saw you said you gapped these plugs at the store. Iridium/platinum plugs need to be gapped with a tool that does not contact the electrode. Which I doubt the place had at the counter. You may have damaged ALL the electrodes when doing this with an improper tool, thus causing your multiple cylinder misfires
Old 09-04-2015, 06:56 PM
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Originally Posted by SR Tech
I would keep looking around for other causes. If on the off chance it did fall in there, there is no reason that it would throw misfires on other cylinders. Double check your work

I saw you said you gapped these plugs at the store. Iridium/platinum plugs need to be gapped with a tool that does not contact the electrode. Which I doubt the place had at the counter. You may have damaged ALL the electrodes when doing this with an improper tool, thus causing your multiple cylinder misfires
Improper tool being a regular socket. Do you have a spark plug socket? They have a rubber insert that prevents stuff like this from happening. Get one of those and a borescope. Pull the plugs and check out the combustion chambers. You may find something when you pull the coils though.
Old 09-04-2015, 07:04 PM
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Okay, guys. I'll buy new AC Delco plugs again tomorrow and this time put them in with the pregap (I think it was .35).
Turn the car on and see if it'll still act shitty. If yes, it's a more serious issue obviously.
Old 09-04-2015, 07:12 PM
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That's what I would do. Report back
Old 09-04-2015, 07:13 PM
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Originally Posted by Getaway_Driver
Okay, guys. I'll buy new AC Delco plugs again tomorrow and this time put them in with the pregap (I think it was .35).
Turn the car on and see if it'll still act shitty. If yes, it's a more serious issue obviously.
Find the missing piece of ceramic before considering starting the car again.


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