For a buddy at work unfortunate enough to have a 2002 Olds Alero with the 3.4 V-6
Complaint: misfire cyl 2 on CEL replaced coil pack, went away for a while, suddenly vehicle barely runs, ticking, knocking sounds, very rough idle, tach goes to 6 grand if you attempt to drive it on the street, CEL still scans only missfire cyl 2.

From what I have read about this engine, it reinforces my choice to be a Ford guy.
Ideas?

 

bad injector, or broken wires going to it. bad valve, intake leak, makes no matter the brand, all can suffer the same problems. I had many a vw drive me crazy as much as my fords or gm's.

 

Like Charlie said. Check compression first. Have fun on firewall side
Check for main vacuum leak on intake
I know a guy that has been through 4 JY motors. all same symptoms. Good luck

 

I'm just glad that I don't have to work on it.
What would be up with the tach showing 6 grand when it's not?

 

Wiring shorting out is common for the module. Tac wires short in.
Also common to spit rockers out. I repair several each year.

 

I have a nice 3.8 crate motor and transmission for ya.......

 

3.8 would be a better motor, if i remember right the 3.4 is a motor gm gets from cherry in china. plz correct me if wrong guys

 

Problem has been found, intake rocker stud on no.2 ripped right out of the head, no apparent damage, heli-coil the threads in alum. head and re-assemble.
We'll see how it runs tomorrow.

 

I see that often. Easy fix.

 

It lives!
Seems to run fine.

 

I had one in a 95 Pontiac Grand Am and put 400,000 km's without any problems with the motor, A/C was the poops though and wheel sensors for ABS

 

Why you need A/C up there in SNOW country John?

 

Charlie you need AC on cananada in the summer time. it gets real hot up there, sometimes reaching as hot as 37 degrees during their two weeks of summer.

 

OOOOOhhhh/ I didn't know that John had a summer up there

 

2 seasons there HOT and COLD.