Problem with 1989 Cavalier
Keith Hermansader
Hi,
Having a bit of a problem with a 1989 Chevy Cavalier, so far nobody
seems to have a clue what's going on. Any ideas?
Vehicle:
1989 Chevrolet Cavalier 2 Dr Cpe
2.0 L4 Engine, Type 1
Fuel Injection
5 Speed Manual Transaxle
69,756 original miles
Problem: Engine stops running intermittently
1 .First happened approx. 2 weeks ago, without warning the engine
stopped running while driving on the road.
Let car sit approx. 15-20 minutes it started and ran fine for several
days without a hint of a problem.
Took car to dealer, mechanics could not find anything wrong.
Three days later, after a trip of approx. 85 miles, engine again stopped
running while driving, got started after 5 minutes but died after
running 30 seconds.
Took car to a different Chevy dealer, same thing, the mechanic could
find nothing wrong.
---
2. Parked car overnight, next afternoon it started fine, drove approx.
3/4 miles and parked. Approx. 60 minutes later went to start car it
would not run. Motor would crank good but would not catch.
Got can of spray starter fluid and tried to start using that, the motor
wanted to run but was acting like no fuel was getting to engine. Not
flooding, no smell of gasoline.
Car sat overnight, started up immediately the first try. Drove car back
home approx. 3/4 mile, and engine died right in front of house.
---
3. Next day took car to garage (not Chevy dealer), two days later it was
finished. Shop checked the entire electrical system (traced wires and
all), was getting no spark because there was no signal from the
crankshaft position sensor, replaced the sensor.
---
4. Picked up car the the following day. Drove car approx. 1 mile to
store, 10 minutes later car would not start the first try, started on
3rd try. Drove approx. 2 miles and the car sputtered/backfired once,
check engine light came on for a few seconds but the car continued to
run fine.
---
5. Later that night after approx. 30 minutes of stop and go driving, car
started sputtering as if it was running out of gas. This lasted for
about 1 minute and then the engine ran fine.
Parked car for approx. 3 hours then drove approx. 5 miles and the engine
started sputtering and coughing. Pumping the gas pedal kept motor
running but absolutely no power to drive wheels. As soon as you let off
the gas the engine would sputter out as if it ran out of gas. Engine
would crank but would not catch. Using starter fluid it would sort of
run, sputtering like it wasn't getting gas, would do this for 1-2
minutes then engine would stop.
Engine finally started running normal after the 4th or 5 attempt to get
running. Drove car approx. 1.5 miles and engine sputtered out again.
Parked car and left overnight.
---
6. Got car the next day, started the first try. Drove home and let sit.
---
7. Took car back to garage
Ran engine at idle for approx. 90 minutes
Checked fuel pump volume and pressure - good
Replaced fuel filter - was dirty
Checked ignition on scope - OK
Checked computer data stream - OK
No trouble codes found in memory
Checked manifold vacuum - Good
Could not duplicate problem
---
8. Picked up car next day. Drove approx. 2 miles without incident. Car
sat for approx. 15 minutes then drove to another location 3 blocks
away. No problem so far. Car sat approx. 5 minutes, started fine.
Drove approx. 5 blocks the engine stopped running just like original
complaint listed in (1.) above. Let car sit approx. 30 minutes still
would not start.
Opened up the hood and pulled and reset the spark plug wires, and
checked all other visible wires for breaks/loose. Approx. 5 minutes.
Car started immediately, ran fine for approx. 3 mile drive home.
---
9. Noticed the engine seemed to be unusually hot for running all but a
handful of minutes. Also noticed no coolant in the reservoir. Let
engine cool and checked radiator. Radiator was near full. Added 1 pt
coolant and 1 pt water to bring reservoir to the "cold engine" level.
---
10. Ran car idle for approx. 60 minutes. No sounds or any sign of a
problem.
My first thought was bad gas or a clogged fuel filter/ fuel injection.
Filter was replaced and entire fuel system was allegedly checked out
fine except the filter. Last mechanic said it might be ignition
module. That was replaced about 2 years ago. I'm also thinking maybe
an overheat problem but if it was that why one trip can last
hours/dozens of miles, and another trip starting cold lasts only minutes
before it dies. Going to replace the spark plugs and wires tomorrow
since it did want to run after I pulled the wires, cleaned them up a bit
and reseated them
Any ideas?
TIA
-Keith
Mark
certainly describe how it acted like it was running out of gas. I
have a Cavalier which had an intermittant ignition module but the
engine never coughed & sputtered. When spark ceases the engine dies
immediately. When the fuel pump is dying it can starve the engine of
fuel or the pressure may drop too low for the fuel to be pushed thru
the tiny injectors. Your dirty filter may have caused the pump to
work too hard for too long & now it is telling you it's time for a new
one.
Mark
Rob Coultes
motors) is the fuel injectors, and the symptoms sound very similar. The car
will run fine until it's hot, then it will stall and not restart until it
cools sufficiently. This is a problem that you can only check when the car
is hot. The way to diagnose this is to let the car run until the engine
stalls, then immediately remove the fuel injector wiring connectors and
measure the resistance between the terminals on the fuel injectors. You may
find that one or more of the injector coils is shorted internally, and will
show an abnormally low resistance. I don't know the specs for the 4-cyl,
but the V6s were about 12,000 ohms if good, and the poor ones measured
6000-9000 ohms. One shorted injector will cause all of the injectors not to
fire, resulting in a no-start condition.
Eugene D.
cause a no start condition
also r u gettin gas when this occurs - could be the fuel pick-up sock is
clogged that is in the fuel tank
--
Also check a loose nut behind the Wheel!!!
"Keith Hermansader" <keh...@epix.net> wrote in message
news:39E3A878...@epix.net...
Edward Strauss
> is ur vehicle leaking oil at or around the crank sensor - as this would
> cause a no start condition
> also r u gettin gas when this occurs - could be the fuel pick-up sock is
> clogged that is in the fuel tank
> --
> Also check a loose nut behind the Wheel!!!
> "Keith Hermansader" <keh...@epix.net> wrote in message
> news:39E3A878...@epix.net...
> >
> > Hi,
> >
> > Having a bit of a problem with a 1989 Chevy Cavalier, so far nobody
> > seems to have a clue what's going on. Any ideas?
> >
> > Vehicle:
> >
> > 1989 Chevrolet Cavalier 2 Dr Cpe
> > 2.0 L4 Engine, Type 1
> > Fuel Injection
> > 5 Speed Manual Transaxle
> > 69,756 original miles
> >
> > Problem: Engine stops running intermittently
> >
Sounds like you need another ECM.
Ed Strauss
Dan & Donna
studs.....gm ign module 2 years ago???? check fuel pressure when problem
occursl
Keith Hermansader wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Having a bit of a problem with a 1989 Chevy Cavalier, so far nobody
> seems to have a clue what's going on. Any ideas?
>
> Vehicle:
>
> 1989 Chevrolet Cavalier 2 Dr Cpe
> 2.0 L4 Engine, Type 1
> Fuel Injection
> 5 Speed Manual Transaxle
> 69,756 original miles
>
> Problem: Engine stops running intermittently
>