# 97 Chevy Malibu hesitating and occasionally knocking

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/97-chevy-malibu-hesitating-and-occasionally-knocking/12841>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** malibu\
**Created:** [April 13, 2008, 5:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/97-chevy-malibu-hesitating-and-occasionally-knocking/12841 "2008-04-13T17:18:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![traceyw45](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5e9695/32.png) [@traceyw45](https://community.cartalk.com/u/traceyw45)\
**Post date:** [April 13, 2008, 5:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/97-chevy-malibu-hesitating-and-occasionally-knocking/12841/1 "2008-04-13T17:18:36Z")

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My 97 Malibu (6 cylinder) is starting to hesitate when I accelerate (frequently but not always) and sometimes I hear a sound like a card on a bicycle wheel - a knock/click sound while driving. What is wrong?

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**Author:** ![hellokit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6a8cbe/32.png) [@hellokit](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hellokit)\
**Post date:** [April 13, 2008, 6:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/97-chevy-malibu-hesitating-and-occasionally-knocking/12841/2 "2008-04-13T18:38:57Z")

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Low fuel flow through a dirty fuel filter can cause hesitation during acceleration.  
Using a lower octane fuel than recommended can cause a clattering sound in the engine.