Help! Engine shake and shutter. Can't drive car!

[jackanthonymeadows]

I've had my 2013 1.4 AT sonic for 2 years now, and ever since I got it I noticed a shake once and a while, a momentary (split second) loss of power. Almost like a jolt. When I first got the car it would happen once a week for a moment, but now has turned into an almost constant. When I drive the car I get these jolts/shutters almost constantly. But the other day took it for a drive and ran perfectly. Next day, back again.

I stopped driving the car after this: was driving up a steep long hill and engine began to loose power and shutter every few seconds, then check engine light starts flashing and the stability light came on. Then about two minutes later both go off and engine continues to frequently shutter.

I thought it was possibly a Trans issue but when I put it in park the idle also jolts. Almost feels like a misfire? Like a piston firing against the fire order causing the engine to lose power and send a jolt of energy through the car. Or a sensor problem? Tried cleaning the MAS and no luck. Should i replace the MAS?My goal here is to solve the problem without expensive repair costs. Thanks for the help!

 

[4g63gst20]

sounds like a faulty ignition coil mine did the same exact thing with the SC light flashing.

 

[Natesriv]

You need to have the codes read.... I had a bad MAF in my Riviera and it ran like crap!

But you'll have to get it read...any auto parts store has a reader.

Also, check the air intake hose from the air box to the engine for a rip or hole.

 

[cndctrdj]

Check and clean the maf.
Pull the ignition coils and see if they are connected properly. Check the spark plugs and gaps.
Autozone and advance auto both read codes for free.
After that. Pull the battery for 20 min and plug it back in.
Check for vac leaks.
How many miles and what mods do you have

 

[jackanthonymeadows]

Check and clean the maf.
Pull the ignition coils and see if they are connected properly. Check the spark plugs and gaps.
Autozone and advance auto both read codes for free.
After that. Pull the battery for 20 min and plug it back in.
Check for vac leaks.
How many miles and what mods do you have

Great advise thanks! Only 32,000 miles and no mods.

 

[RMinNJ]

Sounds like a vacuum leak but it could be all kinds of things (from what I read here).

You could check your spark plugs easily? Though that is a very remote thing. A code, if there is one, would be a good starting point.

 

[4g63gst20]

my car would almost die but the check engine light still didn't stay on. it only flashed.

 

[Chevrolet Customer Care]

I've had my 2013 1.4 AT sonic for 2 years now, and ever since I got it I noticed a shake once and a while, a momentary (split second) loss of power. Almost like a jolt. When I first got the car it would happen once a week for a moment, but now has turned into an almost constant. When I drive the car I get these jolts/shutters almost constantly. But the other day took it for a drive and ran perfectly. Next day, back again.

I stopped driving the car after this: was driving up a steep long hill and engine began to loose power and shutter every few seconds, then check engine light starts flashing and the stability light came on. Then about two minutes later both go off and engine continues to frequently shutter.

I thought it was possibly a Trans issue but when I put it in park the idle also jolts. Almost feels like a misfire? Like a piston firing against the fire order causing the engine to lose power and send a jolt of energy through the car. Or a sensor problem? Tried cleaning the MAS and no luck. Should i replace the MAS?My goal here is to solve the problem without expensive repair costs. Thanks for the help!

Hello jackanthonymeadows,

I'm truly sorry to hear about these engine power concerns with your Sonic. I understand you're taking a do-it-yourself approach, however, if you decide to take it into your dealership, I'd be happy to assist in scheduling you an appointment.

Have a great weekend!

Chelsea D.
Chevrolet Customer Care

 

[ohio_grad_06]

Take it to the dealer man. If you are in warranty, that's what it's for. Don't let potential issues get worse until you are out of warranty and footing the bill for a repair yourself.

 

[thebaron]

what was the issue, curious minds want to know?

 

[bonedaddy4538]

Mine did this too starting at 101k and after i changed the tranny fluid. I thought it was the tranny because i put too much lubegard friction modifier. However when i drove up a hill the check engine light was on and flashing and my code reader threw a code. P0303 so changed the ignition coil pack and it went away. I'm gonna put acDelco plugs from now on too as I didn't trust the autolite plugs that i put in probably added to the misfire

 

[primetimebutch]

The coil packs are a big problem.. The PCV lid vents inside the EcoTec cover, this is causing corrosion on the ends of the connection springs in the coil pack.. Had it 2 times now.. DDM Works has a fix for this..
http://www.ddmworks.com/Chevy-Sonic-Coil-Cover-14L-by-DDMWorks_p_22.html
You can buy a used coil pack and pull the connection springs out and just replace the ones that are corroded in your original one.. Might change the plugs to, they sometimes fail after going through that.... And this is not covered by the power train warranty.. Bumper to Bumper yes... You can fix this for about $50 on eBay, by yourself.. Don't pay those guys $300 to fix this... It's SUPER EASY to replace the springs..........


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[primetimebutch]

Here's a pic of a good spring and a bad spring.. Bad one is on the left

 

[Kcmo83]

Sounds like a missfire . Get back to us for an update

 

[Hawkdsl]

I had/have the same problem. P303, #3 misfire. I suspect the coil pack, and have bought/ordered one from amazon. 1.4 LTZ hatch, just over a year old with 7500 miles on it. Took mine to the dealer today, but I have the DDWorks cover, intake, and blue hoeses... and this scared the ba'Jesus out of them.. so they wanted to keep it, as "With all those after market parts, it could be anything"... yea.. blue hoses cause mis-fires.. LOL. Its the Delphi coil pack. 80ish bucks at amazon. FYI, replacement is made by ACDelco.. which might not suffer the same problems as the Delphi one. Will update end of next week when it comes in.

Edit: Checked the springs.. all clean, but I've had the DDWorks cover sense the car was new.

 

[primetimebutch]

I had/have the same problem. P303, #3 misfire. I suspect the coil pack, and have bought/ordered one from amazon. 1.4 LTZ hatch, just over a year old with 7500 miles on it. Took mine to the dealer today, but I have the DDWorks cover, intake, and blue hoeses... and this scared the ba'Jesus out of them.. so they wanted to keep it, as "With all those after market parts, it could be anything"... yea.. blue hoses cause mis-fires.. LOL. Its the Delphi coil pack. 80ish bucks at amazon. FYI, replacement is made by ACDelco.. which might not suffer the same problems as the Delphi one. Will update end of next week when it comes in.

Edit: Checked the springs.. all clean, but I've had the DDWorks cover sense the car was new.

This is such an issue, it should warrant a recall for repair.. But instead they're worried I'll forget my key in the car.... Wow....

 

[Hawkdsl]

UPDATE:

Well, coil pack wasn't the problem.. took it to another dealer. They didn't care about the addons.. #3 piston cracked an oil ring. Bore was not damaged. Chevy paying for a re-build. Should have it back next week.

 

[Sonic_Boost]

Which warranty would this be covered under? ^


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Hawkdsl]

Which warranty would this be covered under? ^


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Drive train? Not sure what section really.. Chevy did a great job.. runs great. Almost a year now, and its still rocking along.

 

[MaD]

Wow, gratz on chevy stepping up to fix that [emoji106]

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk