Ok guys, here is my other problem! Along side the car not liking to fun when its wet outside, the oil light comes on. It comes on when the car is fully warm, and only when at red lights. It only comes on after abt 20 to 30 min of driving, and everything is nice and warm. Now, I know the oil level is good bc i checked it. So since it only does it at around 600 to 700 rpms after some driving and after everything is good and hot, I thought maybe it was just thin oil. So I went from 5w30 to 10w30. Well, still the same thing. So then i thought maybe it was the pressure sensor, and for 6 bucks i figured it was worth the shot. Well, still the same thing. So i finally accepted the reality and condemed the oil pump. So today after 6 hours of working on her, i replaced the oil pump, screen and shaft. It started great, sounded even better, no chattering, nothing. I figured it was fixed and no more worries. Well, much to my avail, and my sadness, after driving around for abt 30 min tonight, the light came on. But not the same way. Now it comes on, and flickers, or it will stay lit. But the min i tap (and i mean tap the accelerator and bring up the RPM up maybe 10 RPM's at most) the accelerator, it goes off, but when it levels out, it comes back on. Now i dont know what else to think of. She runs good, and i just want it to make it through the winter for my gf. But now im out of ideas. Now, im thinking maybe going thicker oil. Maybe 10w40? im not sure. any ideas would be great!!! Thanks guys. Oh i just got the car for her and it says 125,000 miles on the odometer, but im thinking the car has had a different motor in it bc on the valve cover it says 97 cavalier. But again im not sure. I only bought the car for 250.00 so i rly dont care abt it that much, but this is the first car anyone has ever bought my gf (including parents and ex's) so she rly loves it bc its hers. So any help would be great!

The bearings may be worn enough that the pump can't build enough pressure. Thicker oil probably won't help, and can actually hurt tight bearings (molecules can't fit through which leads to no oil circulation), although that most likely isn't an issue on a '97 2.2. It can be on some newer cars though. I'm not sure about the cars, but the older trucks have an oil bypass valve that dumps excess oil pressure back into the oil pan. It's worth looking into whether or not yours has one, it may be hanging open and causing low oil pressure.

On the valve cover... '97 Cavalier's the same as a '97 Sunfire, so if you were concerned that the sensor may be wrong, that's not an issue.