1988 Cavalier RS, messing up.

losingxposer · 04-24-2004, 01:45 AM

Hey, I'm new here...I hoping you guys can help me out...Here goes...I have a 1988 Chevy Cavalier RS with little over 104000 miles on it. Well in the last 2 years, the headgasket blew so I've gotten that replaced. Afterwards the car ran like a champ...now the Service Engine Soon light comes on and everytime you press the gas down it stutters and acts like it wants to choke out. I put the code reader on there and it read the TPS, Mass Air Flow, and MAP sensors were all bad. So I put brand new ones in the car. I also replaced the spark plugs, and the air, and fuel filter...but the service engine light still comes on and it still wants to choke out...i put it back on the code reader and it doesn't say anything is wrong with it now...Any suggestions would very appreciated...thanks.

Three_Fingers · 04-24-2004, 09:14 AM

Did you make sure that the TPS was adjusted correctly when you installed it?
If your check engine light is on, there should be a code stored.
Very seldom do several sensors 'go bad'.
One might.
Does the car sometimes backfire and buck once or twice when you press the throttle?
If it does and I'm assuming you have a distributor type ignition-check the plug where the power leads go into the external ignition coil. Sometimes one of those wires will break AT the plug but not enough to disable the car.
It'll idle nice, but when you step on the throttle and the engine moves from the torque-the wire(s) break contact with the plug, effectively shutting your engine off for a second until it shakes or moves back to where it was and restores the connection.
Replacing this plug, cutting the wires back a few inches from the plug fixes this particular problem.
The 2.8 V6 was especially susceptible to this problem.
You could also check your O2 sensor. It can cause what you're describing, but not throw a code because it's still operating within it's limits.
A clogged fuel pump filter sock could also cause this. Stuff from the tank gets sucked into it, causing it to stop or restrict the fuel flow until you shut the car off and the gunk falls off the filter and it runs OK til next time.
Have you changed the fuel filter lately?
An '88's gotta be needing some corrective maintenance by now.

losingxposer · 04-24-2004, 10:52 AM

Yes, I have replaced the fuel filter...i'ma try the o2 senser today. ANd you might be right about gunk being in the car's gas tank, because it sat up for almost 2 years before I got it fixed, Yes it does buck sort of when you press the throttle down...anymore suggestions from anyone would be very appreciated. Thanks.

Three_Fingers · 04-25-2004, 07:31 PM

Ah! WE HAVE A WINNER!

Prolly gunked up solid.
Might wanna run some injector cleaner thru the tank, too. Couple bottles.
Ya might could remove the injector(s) and get ya one of those cheap $3 'ultrasonic' jewelry cleaners and hang one end of yer injector(s) at a time (don't submerge the whole thing) in some injector cleaner and run it.
Ya'd be surprised at the crud that falls out of 'em.

Pretty much any car that's been sitting over a year has a gunked up fuel system. Smallest holes and filters always plug up first.

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