91 Cav 2.2 TBI, Serious Issues

[cLaWz]

I'm stuck in an nightmare with my 1991 2.2 TBI Cavlier.

First thing that happened was the radiator developed a crack that was getting progressivly worse. When I pulled it out to take it in to a radiator shop, the crack got so bad I just went ahead and replaced the radiator.

After I got the radiator installed, not even a week later. The bracket that holds the wiring harness between the exhaust manifold and the block gave out. The harness connected with the exhaust pipe and melted all the insulation off and shorted everything out. I cut out all the bad wiring, reconnected everything, then re-routed everything a different way so it wouldn't happen again.

Now things have taken a turn for the worst. I was driving the car home the other day when suddenly it started making this loud noise. It sounds like clicking, or chattering that goes right along with the engine RPM. The best I can tell its coming from the valve cover area but I can't be 100% sure. In nuetral it only does it for a split second then it goes away, in drive however whenever you touch the accelerator the sound goes right along with it. The car is also will not hold an idle itself and is extremely difficult to start. You literally have to hold the gas to the floor and hold the key on for awhile to get it to turn over and run. It sounds like one of those hand cranked cars in the old black and white movies when you try and start it. If it doesn't feel like starting it backfires back up through the intake.

Now, if you do get it to start you can keep it running in neutral as long as you give it some gas and don't let off. Without that it will idle really low for a few seconds then die out. If you put it into gear the idle is extremely low and you have to hold down the brake and keep the RPMs' up to keep the car from dying. If you try and drive it the car has no power even with the pedal to the floor. Your lucky if you get going 5 MPH, all the while its sputtering and bogging down. If you do get it moving some eventually it will die out, no ifs ands or butts about it. When it does, the car cannot be restarted for awhile. Let it sit for abit then you can go through the whole procress of having your foot to the floor and letting it crank for ages before it finally barely starts up. During all of this, the check engine light will come on for a split second, then turn off. Cant' get it to a shop to the read the codes and I can't find what terminals to jump to check the codes myself.

Now that the back history is out the way, heres what I have done to try and correct the problem. I pulled the valve cover and checked the rocker arms and pushrods, replaced one that wasn't visually bent but seemed just the tiniest bit out of wack from the rest. Everything else was fine, rocker arm bolts were tight, etc. I put new spark plugs in. Visually checked the injector during one of our attempts to start it and the fuel is flowing. Air and fuel filters were changes 3-6 months ago.

Does anyone have any clue as to what could be going on? I have my motorcycle to get myself around but this car is my girlfriends daily driver to get herself to and from college, the baby to and from daycare, and my grandmother (whom we take care) to and from her numerous critical doctors appointments, etc. In other words, its vital I get this car fixed ASAP.

-EDIT-

Not sure if it has anything to do with it. It might, might not, but we were having issues with the ignition switch lately as well. It was starting the car just fine before all this started but the radio and the wipers would cut out if the key wasn't in a certain position.

[backyardmec_an_ic]

time to buy a new car

[my99cavy]

Does you engine sound like this by any chance.... www.youtube.com/watch?v=uU2w89MFlKY?? And I hate to say it but it looks like your about due for a new car or if you dont want a whole new car you could replace the engine. But with a cavy that old you might want to consider just getting rid of it.

[cLaWz]

Yup, sounds like that but ONLY when in drive. Doesn't do it in neutral or park except for a split second. What exactly is it? It says on that YouTube post that its out of oil but mine hasn't run out. It was alittle low when I checked it the same day the noise started (just under the hashmarks on the dipstick) but not out.

If I could afford a new car, I would have one already. My girlfriend and I are both full time college students. We can't afford a new vehicle right now.

[my99cavy]

I dont exactly know what it is, I've been told it was a spun bearing or a broken connector rod. how many miles are on the car?

[cLaWz]

Has about 180,000 miles on it. Never had any engine issues until now. Only thing I have replaced since I've had it was a water pump and the stuff mentioned above. Owner before me I knew personally and took care of the car. Got the scheduled maintenance done down to the mile almost (oil changes, etc). Not sure about before him because he bought it used.