2000 Cavalier High Speed Problem

[breaktherulez]

First off just to be clear I have a 2000 Cavalier.
Just yesterday we were on our way back to Kansas City from Iowa and I had the cruise set at at 75 when we started going up this huge hill on the interstate. I didn't want the cruise to ram the pedal into the floor so I took off the cruise with the switch and let off the gas a little when all of a sudden the engine just totally loses power. I can push the gas pedal in but the engine doesn't rev up or anything so I am at a dead coast going up a hill. I throw it in neutral and my headlights dim as well as my instrument panel lights. Two lights come on, the oil light and the battery light. However we just had the oil changed about a week ago at Sears, where they also check all fluids and refill if necessary.

Needless to say I pulled over and shut the car off. I waited about 30 seconds and started it back up just fine and took off again, only to have this happen about 8 miles later. Then again in 5 miles..then again after like 1 mile. Each time i would look under the hood just to check nothing was leaking or anything. We stopped at a truckstop and topped off the tank with Premium gas, waited about 15 minutes w/ the engine off, and cruised about 60 mph the whole 70 miles home and it never happened again.

Does anyone have any idea what this could be. I thought maybe a fuel filter or the pump going bad but I need some more input. Or where should I take it to be looked at?

Thanks for your help!

[z33_Tec]

How low was your gas? This really sounds like you have a faulty gas gauge sensor(forget what its called, the thing that reads your gas level). This is a known problem in some cavaliers and I also have a 2000 and I know mine is kind of screwy sometimes, not too drastic but its not perfect. Sometimes your gauge will read that you have a little less than a quarter tank of gas and in reality your almost empty.
You can have this replaced at a garage and it should take the problem away, im not sure how much it costs but it shouldnt be too much. I can let me gauge go down pretty darn close to the 'E' but I know some people who always make sure they are at at least a quarter tank. Hope this helps you out a little. Might want to check your battery too.

[breaktherulez]

well we checked the battery and that was fine. I changed the fuel filter and that was dirtier than shit. I don't know if it has ever been changed but it's at 45000 miles. It hasn't done it again, but then again I haven't made another trip back to Iowa on the interstate so I guess we will find out. That gas gauge thing could be it though, we had roughly a quarter tank left, or so it said....

I will be back if it does it again but for now, I think it's good. Thanks for your input! I really appreciate it.

[coolcat5774]

I just came from a 500 mile trip and my 2000 cavalier did the same thing. I had a full tank of gas. I hope someone has an idea of what is going on.