My car has been acting weird lately. It has a slight shutter when idling. Never has done this before and no engine lights.
I cleaned my air filter and maf as I run an oiled airaid/k&n filter and still happens. Plugs are new and it's been 3 or 4 gas tanks so it's not bad fuel.
Also my gas mileage i find isnt the greatest and feels a bit sluggish like ive lost a bit of power.

Thoughts?

2008 2.2L ~160,000kms / ~100,000 miles

 

purge injectors, or even: https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/prob...le-gear-58003/

 

I would pop the valve cover and look at the timing chain, it could be getting loose.

 

Timing chain! And a dirty throttle body.

 

ugh damnit! The plan was to do the new design tensioner this summer. I dont have any rattle or clanging sounds from the chain so it seems tight. But to take her apart is a bit more than Im qualified for. Ill have to bring her in to the shop.

 

Hey Trex..do you remember what part number the valve was?

 

If you can install an aftermarket air intake, pulling the valve cover for inspection should be no problem for you. It really is not difficult, just don't overtorque the bolts on reassembly. Your local parts palace probably has a tool loaner program of some sort for a torque wrench, probably a 1/4" drive, for lb. in.

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/how-...er-2-4-a-8554/

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/how-...e-items-54648/

 

Also, pull and check the plugs. They can give you good information. Even though they are new, that doesnt rule them out as a problem. I had a problem with sluggish acceleration and wonky idle at times. I had year old plugs, developed this noise which then was accompanied by this noise . Posted here, never found the problem, kept driving for month until I got a misfire code one day at near WOT, prompting me to check coils and spark plugs. The number one coil had failed, but curiously, the number three spark plug was MISSING ITS SECONDARY ELECTRODE. After replacing the plug, both noises never returned, and the car has no hesitation. The first noise is either some sort of spark knock, or the sound of the spark just arcing off wherever it could reach, and the second sound was coming from the EVAP purge valve, which I am assuming is from the car trying to over compensate the fuel/air mixture in the engine. Start wityh the simplest solutions first my friend!

 

That just made me think; the reason EVAP purge valves cause problems without throwing a code is that the computer monitors the circuit, so if the coils are good but the plunger is stuck, no code.

Skyline, I know you know about this thread: https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/comm...rt-numbers-68/

 

well i went ahead and got the new Dorman evap purge valve since its the easiest and cheapest option to try (~$40) and installed it tonight. The car now has a really loud ticking sound coming from the unit. Like really loud lol

I put the old one back in and the ticking went away. Must have received a defective one or this engine doesn't like non-GM parts