2012 Chevy Malibu. Will start sputtering and [engine](/to...


2012 Chevy Malibu. Will start sputtering and [engine](/topics-engine-chevy/) and other lights come on. If I turn it off and restart it runs fine but check engine light stays on. Spent $400 today and it’s not fixedfi Mechanic's...

2012 Chevy Malibu. Will start sputtering and [engine](/topics-engine-chevy/) and other lights come on. If I turn it off and restart it runs fine but check engine light stays on. Spent $400 today and it’s not fixedfi Mechanic's Assistant: Does the light stay on, or does it blink? Stays on Mechanic's Assistant: Are you fixing your Malibu yourself? What have you tried so far? Mechanic changed oil and filter (said Mechanic's Assistant: Anything else you want the Mechanic to know before I connect you? Mechanic changed oil and filter, topped off fluids,cleaned throttle body

Automotive Expert
Hi my name is \*\*\*\*\* \*\*\*\*\* I will be assisting you today. The system will offer a phone call but please disregard. So to start with codes are present in the Pcm?

Not sure what that means?
Automotive Expert
You said you have a check engine light on. When the check engine light is on that means there are trouble codes in the system.Have you had the codes pulled from the system?

My mechanic didn't specify if he did or not. Car will run fine, then start sputtering with check engine light coming on, tire traction, amd engine esc? When I turn the car off and restart it runs fine but engine light stays on. Keeps happeningCould it need new [spark plugs](/topics-spark-plug-chevy/)?
Automotive Expert
If they haven’t been replaced in a while then yes. Is the car the four cylinder model or six cylinder?

FourIve had the car since 2014 and they have not been replaced
Automotive Expert
I’ve seen this happen when carbon builds up in the egr passages. I would have him take off the [exhaust](/topics-exhaust-chevy/) manifold and remove the caps into the head and clean out the carbon in the passages.

Thank you. I have a friend who runs the service dept at a local dealership. Will speak with him tomorrow about doing that. Shouldve gone to them in the 1st place. We got ripped off big from our usual mechanic. He didn't suggest or check any of this. Appreciate your help
Automotive Expert
Yeah no problem.

What others are asking

Steering pulls on the highway, seems dangerous
The front springs on the struts may need to be replaced. A thorough check of tires and tire pressures need to be done first. The manufacturer has issued a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 10-029, dated 4/20/2012, that covers replacing the...
I have replaced radiator watepump ect still running hot
If you did not replace the thermostat (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/thermostat-replacement) then you should replace it and then refill the system after bleeding out all the air in the system. Check to make sure the fans come on when the temperature goes up....
AC not working properly.
Your low-pressure reading of 80-85 psi is a bit high. Even with ambient temperatures of 100 degrees, a reading of 50-60psi is normal. A few things can be causing that high reading. First, if the system has been charged recently,...
How far can you drive on E?
Hello. To be honest, every vehicle is different. Even the same model and year of vehicles will have a different distance they can go. If the light comes on most vehicles will be able to safely travel about 20 miles...
How do I tell if my power steering is going bad in my 2005 BMW x3?
Hi, thanks for writing in. Unfortunately, it sounds like your steering rack is done for, and needs to be replaced. This appears to be a wide-spread problem with this vehicle, without a recall or customer satisfaction program from BMW. If...
My thermostat needle goes to hot, but the car does not get hot. Is it the thermostate?
This can be caused by a number of things such as low coolant levels (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/top-off-coolant), a faulty thermostat (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/thermostat-replacement), or a failing coolant fan switch. As you may know the coolant fan switch helps to maintain the proper coolant temperature...
Acceleration issue
Hi There, This could be related to many possibilities, however some common things that may cause the car to hesitate (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/engine-hesitates-during-acceleration-inspection) are things like low fuel pressure, a dirty or faulty mass air flow sensor, clogged or dirty fuel injectors,...
the car will crank but die a few minutes later but if I keep pressing the gas it will stay on but when I stop it will cut off soon
Hi there. It is indeed possible that a canister EVAP solenoid is the source of your hard to start issue. However, the problem with most auto parts store "scans" is they make way too many assumptions on the source of...
Car over heating
Hello there. Every car has a system that circulates coolant, a mixture of anti­-freeze and water, through the engine to absorb heat created by the combustion process and the friction created by moving parts within the engine. The hot liquid...