My car is spitting out the P0300 code. Check engine light is on. Terrible gas mileage. I can't get the car to make this noise for the dealer, so they just pass me off. I have this video on my camera and am going to take it in to show them.

Firstly, I would like your thoughts as to what this may be. Anyone experience it? My car is running weak, and my check engine light is on now. Is it a cam sensor, water pump? I have no clue. I believe it appears to be the cam sensor (that is what that canister looking aluminum housing covers, right?). Sometimes this noise is far louder and lasts longer. I am so tired of going to the dealer over and over again for stupid stuff I am about to pass this car off.

Are there any TSBs about this? Any help would be appreciated.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rC2flCjPN3Y
Thanks everyone!

 

A p0300 is random cylinder misfires. Could possibly be a cam sensor, definitely not a water pump. lol

Maybe your coilpack? Hard to say.

 

But what about that noise? What could that be? Its really loud and erratic. Its definitely NOT normal. I had them listen to my car, it wasn't doing the noise at the time, and they wrote me off as simply direct injection noise...really peeved me.

 

What mods do you have? You look pretty stock, how is the gap on your spark plugs or any bad carbon build up or oil on them? Could be coilpack but I would replace your spark plugs and see what happens start with the small stuff.

 

Zero mods. Bone stock. Ill pull a plug out when iget home.

 

Sounds like valvetrain clatter. Is this an SS/SC? Could be your timing chain tensioner giving you fits, erratic tension certainly would cause bad mileage. Even misfires.

 

That sounds like a cam chain tensioner problem,that has been left to long.

 

tensioner...buy a new one

 

Shouldnt have to. Its under warranty.. my car was built 08/05 though

 

The last time I heard a noise like that it was a timing chain problem on an Ion Redline. Its definitely distinct.

That would cause misfires and crap mileage as well as a lack of power.

 

Going to dealer in the morning- any suggestions?

 

Yes, if the dealer won't do it the part you need literally named timing chain tensioner is available from NAPA or Oreilly's and you can install it yourself, there is even a how to for it on this site. It requires only the most basic hand tools to do

On a final note, and from the sound I don't think it has done real damage, but as bad as it is you may need to change both the timing chain guides and the timing chain itself, there is a tool to measure link stretch, a good tech will pull the cover and check the chain ANYWAYS after hearing something like that.

 

This

 

Its been in the shop almost a week now. I called for an update and they said they found nothing. There was a TSB to reprogram my PCM-they said... and they cleaned my injectors. The sound in the video did not seem related to anything they're claiming. Does anybody know of any TSBs that are in place for a 2006 Cobalt SS SS/SC in regards to a PCM issue? I can't find any.

What should I do guys? Its gonna do this sound again, I freaking KNOW it will. I brought a sound clip, as well as a video... they still cater to something else. Thanks for the help.

 

I stumbled across this the other day after not seeing it for years . Freek found this a long time ago and posted it ...all credit is his . GM has since removed it from Dealerworld..... that or I just can't find it there .... anywhere .... after looking threw almost every cobalt doc.

AIP3252

MODELS:
206-2007 CHEVROLET COBALT, COBALT SS
2006-2007 CHEVROLET HHR
2006-2007 CHEVROLET MALIBU
2007 PONTIAC G5
2006-2007 PONTIAC G6
2006 PONTIAC PURSUIT(CANADA ONLY)
2006-2007 PONTIAC SOLSTICE
2006-2007 SATURN ION REDLINE
2007 SATURN SKY

BUILT BETWEEN 4/1/06 - 11/1/06
WITH ANY OF THE FOLLOWING ENGINES
2.0 ENGINE (VIN P - RPO LSJ)
2.2 ENGINE (VIN D OR F - RPO L61)
2.4 ENGINE (VIN B OR P - RPO LE5)

The following diagnosis might be helpful if the vehicle exhibits the symptom(s) described in this PI.

CONDITION/CONCERN:

On rare occasions, a tick or rattle noise may be heard from behind the front cover of the engine and/or pieces of a timing chain roller may be found during an oil change. This may be the result of a timing chain concern.

Non-heat treated timing chain rollers were randomly installed in the assembly line hoppers. He advised that this happened sometime between 4/1/06 - 11/1/06 so it can randomly affect late 2006 - early 2007 models.

RECOMMENDATION/INSTRUCTIONS:

If this concern is experienced, inspect the timing chain for missing or damaged timing chain rollers. If a missing or damaged timing chain roller is found, replace the timing chain and gears using the part numbers currently listed in the parts catalog.

Please follow this diagnostic or repair process thoroughly and complete each step. If the condition exhibited is resolved without completing every step, the remaining steps do not need to be performed.

 

Thanks Rukkee, I found that before. Checked my car, it was made in 08/05...

Sadly, I don't believe this applies to me. I brought it up to the dealership- they said "Well, the P0300 code would be anything from bad gas, bad plugs and anywhere in between. We'll check whatever we need to..."

So far, from an update call to the dealership, I gather that they traced all the wiring aqssociated with the fuel and ignition, replaced the injector harness, cleaned the injectors, and reprogrammed my PCM.

I seriously ******* doubt that these will fix what was CLEARLY a MECHANICAL sound coming from my car. I am going to get screwed-my warranty will be up and the sound will turn into something serious and rape me.

 

i got a similar noise, but its its the tensioner, shouldnt it cause missfires in ALL cylinders? im only getting a few cylinders missfiring, and only under wot runs

im getting a similar noise
is it possible that i got a tensioner issue as well? im only getting missfires under heavy load(wot)
and mostly in 2 cylinders, it thats the problem shouldnt it be in all cylinders?

 

Strangely enough, it sounded as if the noise was coming from the area highlighted in the video, not up front of the engine where the tensioner would be located.

Any thoughts?