Problems with My 92 Cavalier

[gordo2020]

Can someone please help me?

I'm having problems with my engine.

It is having problems starting. The engine starts but runs really rough and seems to sputter. As soon as I try to put it in geer the engine stalls. It almost seems like the when I barely let off the clutch the engine can't handle the load and dies. This only seems to happen when I try to start the car after driving for long distances or if I get into stop and go traffic after the long distances.

I can get it going again usually by waiting a half hour or so. The temperature gauge says it isn't over heating nor does the engine feel overly hot. I've checked the coolent and it is fine.

Has this happend to anyone else or does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks!

[PWMAN]

Sounds like a bad o2 sensor. Take it to a local garage and have it checked out.

BTW is this a V6 or 4 cylinder? If V6 is it 2.8 or 3.1L?

[gordo2020]

It is a 4 cylinder

[PWMAN]

auto?
Maybe your idle is set too low?

[gordo2020]

No it's a standard. It worked fine last summer and then christmas time is when it first acted up, I just thought I was out of gas, what with the way the engine was sputtering and the fact that I filled it up. Could the cool gas going into the tank have any effect? I seem to remeber a long highway trip were it didn't act up when I was expecting it to, but then we stopped for gas just about every quater tank.

My biggest problem in diagnosing what's wrong is that the engine doesn't act up -every- time. Some time I'll be on the highway for hours and shut it off and start it with no problems, other times I'm on it for 30 minutes and then it won't start.

I also saw on a forum with similar troubles that it could be a bad case of vapour lock when that happens. Make any sense?

[PWMAN]

OK I think I know now. It sounds like your fuel pump is crapping out. When the fuel level gets lower it's harder to pump, therefore is just doesn't. One of these times it's just going to go out on you completely, and not work again. I suggest replacing it, even if it doesn't fix the problem it's a good thing to replace every 10 or so years. It's just preventive maintenance.

[gordo2020]

I think I liked the sound of the O2 sensor better. The Fuel pump isn't chap to replace. But the car also acts up even when the tank is full. Also wouldn't a bad pump affect the engine while it is in motion? My problem never happens that way, only when I try to start it or let it idle after comming off a long haul.

Could it be that not all the cylinders are firing and that is why the engine stalls when any sort of load is put on it?

[PWMAN]

Originally posted by gordo2020
Also wouldn't a bad pump affect the engine while it is in motion?

Not necessarily.
It could be an o2 sensor, but theres no way to tell unless you take it too a shop that can diagnose the problem and check each sensor. They have equipment to do it.
It could be in your ignition somewhere, maybe you have a faulty coil. I suggest doing a tune-up - I.E. cap and rotor, coil, plugs, and plug wires. It doesn't hurt to replace these items once in a while even if they aren't the problem. But it is a good possibility. Your problem could be the source of a million different things. It could be as small as a vacuum line not hooked up, or it could be a combination of many things, or even one major thing. It's really hard to diagnose these problems without actually seeing or hearing the car myself.

[gordo2020]

What? You're telling me that you can't give me an exact diagnosis over the internet?? I wanted answers!!

But seriously, thanks for all the suggestions. I'm taking it in tomorrow but I like to have an idea what is wrong with it first as I've had some bad experiecnes with mechanics in the past.

[PWMAN]

I totally understand where you are coming from.
Just make sure he shows you what is bad, and make sure you get an estimate upfront to what it's going to cost you to fix. Every shop is supposed to do this according to the law, but some don't. Thats when you take them to small claims court and get all the work done to your car for free!

[sweetwhiteCAV]

GM fuel pumps have a very bad reputation. I dont know how many people ive heard that have your same problems, and its ussually a bad fuel pump........