I have a 2005 Chevy Malibu with the 2.2L Ecotec 4 cylinder that I am trying to flip, I bought it for $700 This is my first car I am flipping and I thought I was lucky because it was supposedly only not starting but obviously not the case. I fixed a security problem with the PCM but when the car started it immediately started Misfiring and had blue smoke coming from the Tailpipe. I replaced spark plugs, ICM, filled it with oil, none of it worked. I feel like it might have a timing chain issue but I am not sure.
Unfortunately you picked the wrong car - both the wrong model car (they were junk when new), and the wrong example of that model (already fell apart). It's been a monkey on your back for 2 years. Best to cut your losses and scrap the stupid thing. It will quickly become a money pit if you keep trying to repair it (you've already wasted money on a PCM) and you'll never get your money back out of it.
car scrap is worth around $270 per ton
I seriously doubt it had 50 thousand miles. If it did than it was beat to death and lacked any maintenance.
Yeah I have yet to verify if the milage it reads is accurate and has not been rolled back.
I verified it and it is in fact the true mileage.
Sounds like you gambled and lost. How about dropping in a J-yard engine and selling as soon as you get it running?
This is going to require a scanner, start with the fuel trims......
What is the fuel trim? And also what kind of scanner? Does it need to be one of those super advanced ones?
The smoking isn't a good sign. The engine might be smoked. I would do a compression test on it.
It has compression.
A scanner with live data, I would also agree with the moderator to do a compression test.
Find out if it’s running rich or lean.
Ah, got it.
2 years ago me and my dad bought an 05 Malibu for $700 to try and flip. The car wasn't running for more than a few seconds before it turned off, while flashing a security light. We eventually replaced the pcm. After that it stayed on. This is we discovered it was misfiring and smoking out the exhaust 🙃. The car only has 50k miles on it. What on earth could've happened to ruin the engine with 50k miles (assuming the milage wasn't tampered with)? Owner not maintaining it? Defect? Poor design like timing chains or something? I am just curious. I thought it was timing chains because our first mechanic told us it had compression, but the second one we took it to nearly a year later told us it had no compression on Cylinder 4. Also, the previous owner told us that the owner before him hit a deer. A headlight appears to have been replaced along with the FL quarter panel. The headlight doesn't fit right. I am unsure of other damage. Thank you!
Thank you all for your responses! I will consider them all!
Do not post the same question multiple times please.
