Hello Everyone....I am new to this forum so here goes. I have a 97 Malibu and a few months ago it start ticking really bad and when you go to take off it was really sluggish and missing. This would last about 10 min then it would kick out and run just fine. My Husband replaced the Fuel Filter the old one was totally clogged. So everything was fine... then it started again...we replaced the filter again it didnt help. We ended up replacing the fuel sending unit and that seemed to do the trick, until the ticking and sluggish start came back. The oil is full, we always worm up the car at least 10 min before driving. What is weird is this doesnt happen everytime you start the car...it is very sporatic. One day it might do this everytime I start the car...then I wont happen again for a couple of days. Has anyone had this type of problem before if so what is the solution. Thanks...HOTBUTTER

1) Is this a 3.1 or not?
2) Have you noticed any trouble codes setting?

Sounds like a lifter stuck, happened on mine. I did the ol' 1\2qt of transfluid in the oil, and just within minutes it went away and hasen't done it since. Just an idea.

Thanks For The Replys.....i Do Not Know What Engine It Has I Will Check That Out And Get Back To You.

You Actually Put Tranny Fluid In With The Oil????

Thanks For The Replys.....i Do Not Know What Engine It Has I Will Check That Out And Get Back To You.

You Actually Put Tranny Fluid In With The Oil????

Yeah, its an oil...and it thins out better then oil to unstick lifters....thousands have done it.

Hows your coolant level? If its low and you are adding coolant regularly, your engine is in serious hurt. That ticking is likely from coolant getting in with the oil and sludging, badly reducing lubrication. I would recommend a good over all servicing and examination of the engine oil.

I regularly check my oil and it doesn't look like coolant is going into the oil. I am actually getting my oil changed today I will ask them how my oil looks when they drain it. I do however have to put coolant in about every three months, but now a lot at one time. Thanks.....

Well I just went to get my oil changed and the man said the coolant is not in with the oil........but.......When they finished changing my oil it would not start. The Theft System light is flashing continuously. I called the chevy house they said it was the passlock system and that I would have to change the Ign cylinder. Is there any other solution for this??????

Thanks, Nicole

There are a few ways around Passlock.

1) Replace the ignition cylinder.

2) There is a hidden toggle switch under your dash board (up along the outside wall) that will disable it.

3) Rumors abound that putting the key in the ignition, turning it to run for 10 mins, then off for 10, and back on for 10 will "reprogram" the passlock to recognize your key.

4) If your key is old and worn a bit, switch to your spare. Sometimes a worn key will trigger the PassLock.

Well we got my car running....the 10min thing acually worked so we didn't have to shell out any money on the ign cylinder.

The nice gentleman that changed my oil told me that my lifter is sticking and that if I use one quart of Lucas in my oil that it would probably fix it.

Anybody ever used the Lucas with success. Some people swear by it....it worth a try.
Thanks and have a good day....HOTBUTTER

Rock on.
Just remember that the 10min trick is just a rumor is will never be officially comfirmed by GM. But feel free to spread rumors. =)

Never heard that Lucas would work but the tranny fluid is something my mechanic has used before with mixed success. Short term success he added. If the lifters are sticking, there is probably something else amiss and the oil/tranny addiditive is probably just temporarily masking. I dont think Ive heard of anyone using Lucas outside of racing.

Most of the 10 minute oil change places push the Lucas transmission treatment in my part of Kentucky. Other places I have read something about a transaxle and maybe the Lucas isn't so good for it but I am not knowledgeble about that.

I have used the Lucas fuel additive in a car that had been sitting for a long time and it seemed to smooth out the idle but I am not sure that it wouldn't have happened just driving it.

Some one once told that trying to pour a mechanic into a oil or transmission filler hole don't work to well over the long haul.

[QUOTE=windncr]Rock on.
Just remember that the 10min trick is just a rumor is will never be officially comfirmed by GM. But feel free to spread rumors. =)

That "rumor" is in the GM Malibu SI.

Well we got my car running....the 10min thing acually worked so we didn't have to shell out any money on the ign cylinder.

The nice gentleman that changed my oil told me that my lifter is sticking and that if I use one quart of Lucas in my oil that it would probably fix it.

Anybody ever used the Lucas with success. Some people swear by it....it worth a try.
Thanks and have a good day....HOTBUTTER

I have always used transmission fluid no need to buy something special when you got something probably sitting around that is just as good and a whole lot cheaper. Pour your oil in leave out about 1/2 qt and put in the 1/2 qt trans fluid run it around town on about a tank of gas and it will clean all that gunk out of them lifters unless they are in real bad shape. Then change your oil and filter and put just oil in.

Thanks for all your replies.....I am going to try the trans oil and hopefully that will free my lifters up. I will let you know how it goes.