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2001 Pontiac Sunfire GT 2dr Coupe

2001 Pontiac Sunfire
Trim Info:
Front Wheel Drive, 2 Door Coupe, Subcompact
22 mpg city / 32 mpg hwy
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February 25, 2013, 8:17 am

Jackie G
 

Question: Bad fuel injector vs. burnt valve

Driving down the interstate the other day, my check engine light came on. I didn't feel a change in the way that my car was driving until I came to a stop and noticed that it seemed to be sputtering. I took it to auto zone and they told me that the codes were for a misfire in cylinder 1. I have changed the spark plugs, wire boot and coils out and it seems to have helped a lot however it was still misfiring. I put fuel injector cleaner in the gas and that helped a lot more although I can still feel that there is a misfire. Someone told me that it could possibly be a burnt valve, however would it get better after doing all of those things if it were a valve? And from what I have read overheating causes burnt valves more often than not and my car has never overheated. I am so lost...please help! lol


February 25, 2013, 9:18 pm

Ron W
Expert Mechanic

If the valve was burnt, you would most likely have a dead misfire and none of what you did would make any change.

A compression check is an easy way to eliminate a mechanical cause (like a valve or piston problem), and an injector power balance test should tell you if the injector is the issue (which sounds like it is more likely)


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