Engine Running Problem 95 2.2L Coupe

Ok, i came on last week and found a post that seemed as if someone was having the same problem as i am. He was told to change the plugs and leads, and poof, problem solved. I did this and problem still apparent. Whats happening is, when im driving and trying to hold the speed to certain spots, the engine will... run and not run? Its like im sitting on a bucking bull... The engine seems to be sputtering or not getting something its needing. seems to happen near the same rpm in every gear, or at least at certain rpm's for every gear... A problem that i have thought about is, my subs are very powerful, and the wire coming from the battery is starting to char... I taped up the wire and its not close to any important wires yet. Ive replaced the TPS as well because i was told this wasn't helping the problem as well as replacing the fuel filter. I did and it did help but it is still horrible and is really starting to get to me... Could it be the fuel pump? I havn't got it hooked up to a computer to check for problems but im considering it... any help would be greatly appreciated.
:banghead: :runaround: :screwy:

Get the car scanned for codes and post what you get, we'll go from there.:wink:

Ok, I just took in my car to get it scanned for codes and nothing turned up. They did however take it for a test drive and they think its electrical and something in the secondary umm engine... not sure what they called it, something about secondary. They said it could be the coil packs. From what ive been reading on these very useful forums, it is a very high possibility that that is the problem. They said the engine is missing and causing this problem. And they explained to me that the coil pack is on the other side of the leads, or is what the leads connect to. Im taking it in on friday to get it looked at and hopefully this is the problem because my head hurts from smashing it into walls over this f'er allready... They told me it would cost 100 $ for labour (1 hour) and there are 2 coil packs, they cost 70 dollars each. They also said because there were no codes the cant be sure that this is the problem, so they would like an hour to check over the secondary engine or whatever. So they want basically 350$ for them to repair this... does that sound like a crock to you?

$350 for new coil pacs does sound like a crock, find out more specifically what that "secondary" thing is though cuz towards the end, where you say "secondary engine" that just doesnt make any sense

Hey guys. Thanks for responding right away its greatly appreciated. Ok so i talked to the guy again, and its not the secondary engine lol, its the secondary ignition. He said he thinks something isnt delivering the proper spark to my engine. The price he says is, 100$ CANADIAN, for an hour of labour to check over the car and make sure it is in fact the coil packs. Then he said its 70$ a piece for the coil packs (apparently there are 2.) Then he wants an hours labour on top of that to put the packs in. So 240$ for the packs and installation, and 100$ to make sure it is in fact the coil packs that are making this problem. From what ive read, coil packs are a big problem in Cavaliers, and im at 188000 KM's. Ive read they break down at 160,000 about so, should i just tell him to not check it over? What if it is something else? I could save 100$, or it could end up costing me 340$ for guessing... Sorry for the hour long post, im just tired of this problem and really want to get it resolved.

in a nutshell, you are getting assraped, i have 2 auto parts stores in this town, i just called them both for you, one said $23 for the coil pacs, the other said $25, both far less then $70, also $100 an hour for labor seems extremely steep, i havent taken a car to a shop in a really long time so i dont know, maybe thats the standard rate now, but i do know that it will not take an hour to fix either, i did BOTH of mine in about 20-30 minutes, and that was with 1 minor setback, as for the $100 to check the "secondary ignition" i'd skip that if i were you,

in fact, i'd skip going back there completely, maybe check out another shop or just do it yourself, its incredibly simple

Have to agree with jakegday on this one .100 bucks per hour for labour ...lol holy crap it`s a car not a big truck. as for the coils maybe order them online and bring them in from the US

Big money in Alberta to be made I hear ,but with it goes high cost of living

Ok, so back to the original problem i guess. I am willing to pay them whatever, that i don't care about. I still dont know what the problem is. From my descriptions i have given to various mechanics, they tell me its iether a fuel problem, or a secondary ignition problem (Coil packs, seeing i already replaced my leads and my plugs, as well as replacing the Throttle Positioning Sensor) It runs like shit, warm or cold, but accelerates well, and runs well on the highway. My problem comes when im going 50-60 around town, so basically everywhere. Its very strange the car seems like it doesnt know to stop, or go, so it does one, then the other, step and repeat untill i give it more gas, or let off the gas. The problem also occures sometimes, not all times, when i let off the gas and try to use my engine brakes... :banghead:

Or a bad ground. To me it sounds like a bad ground. I would get a random misfire while i was on an acceleration and it too me forever to figure it out. I had a loose ground on my tach adaptor.

Shit i have 4 coil pacs laying around my house i won't be using anymore. My original GM ones which are still good and a set of MSD's which are also good. $100 bullshit, go pull the wire off a plug and grab a spare plug and turn the car over. If they spark you are fine. Have you changed fuel filters and done a fuel injection cleaning since you've owned the vehicle? If no, go grab some Techron ( for 20 gallons) and run 93 from a dedicated fuel source ( mobil, sunoco, hess) the little knock off gas stations fuel is supplied in trucks that are also used for kerosene, and oil. But i am still going with bad ground somewhere.

Thanks for all the help. Yes i put fuel injection cleaner in my gas tank often when i go on long road trips and such. But i will get some high octane gas and get some more fuel injection cleaner and try this as well. I got my coil packs replaced and it helped the problem greatly, but it is still jerking and jumping sometimes. I wouldent call it missing, it more just kinda jerks for a second, like as if you were faking to hit someone. like what!! kinda jerking at them, but when im driving... Where would i check the ground wires? running from the alternator?

PS - I know i should shoot myself because my "trusted mechanic", went ahead and also replaced the ignition module, which isnt a cheap part... It was rather expensive getting it done, and the problem isn't completly gone... Of coarse he did this without asking me, and just laid the bill on me. What was i to do? tell him to take it out, to find my car completely ravaged when i went to get it...? Bit the bullet...

PS - I know i should shoot myself because my "trusted mechanic", went ahead and also replaced the ignition module, which isnt a cheap part... It was rather expensive getting it done, and the problem isn't completly gone... Of coarse he did this without asking me, and just laid the bill on me. What was i to do? tell him to take it out, to find my car completely ravaged when i went to get it...? Bit the bullet...

Tell him to take the part out because you didn't authorize him to change it. Then never go back! Simple.