ok, i need some help now

perna00 · #1 05-08-2004, 01:04 PM

i got a problem with my 96' 2.4 auto cavalier. it idles really rough at idle. i've replaced alternator, battery, idle air contol valve, intake, plugs, and the fuel pump in the last year and a half. i've noticed that the rpms will fluctuate between about 625-675 when it's idling rough. about once every 11 seconds the car will rev up for a moment and will idle smooth but then it idle rough again. every one in a while it will throw trouble code p0200 random multiple cylinder misfire. someone has to be able to help me. thanks.

Three_Fingers · #2 05-08-2004, 08:58 PM

Plug WIRES? (I know ya said ya did the plugs.)

studballs · #3 05-08-2004, 09:19 PM

2.4's dont have plug wires...

toxic_3186 · #4 05-09-2004, 01:18 AM

maybe check throttle body

toxic_3186 · #5 05-09-2004, 01:19 AM

hey maybe keep the car running and plug in a code reader and see if any bad hard codes come back..might be a problem in the computer

perna00 · #6 05-09-2004, 04:25 AM

computer went out about 2 years ago and i got another one reprogrammed at a dealership. was working fine. it's just when it's idling.

perna00 · #7 05-11-2004, 06:38 AM

ok, i've just checked the plugs and regapped them and replaced the boots connecting the plugs to the ignition housing. the car is still idling rough. i also noticed now that if i stomp on the gas hard it will sputter for a sec like it's missing then will take off. i just replaced the fuel filter too. same problem.

perna00 · #8 05-11-2004, 10:04 PM

i'm not sure if it would just be noticable at idle, but i'm thinking that maybe it could be one or both of the cams or possibly the ignition coils. any experts have an opinion?

perna00 · #9 05-12-2004, 05:55 PM

someone can hopefully help cause all gm says is that it runs that way cause of all my mods, yet the car still had the problem before all them

krazibimmer · #10 05-12-2004, 06:39 PM

could be the plastic housing that the little boots connected to. i once check out a grand am with a similiar problem. it keep throwing me a random cylinder miss-firing code and hesitation when i give it a little gas when i'm test driving it. after i replaced the housing, everything went fine. no more code or hesitation. and the housing is not that expensive to replace. btw, when you replacing the housing check out the coil too. make sure the coil is not crack and ohm them to see if they still within spec. hope this help.

perna00 · #11 05-13-2004, 04:06 AM

i replaced the plastic housing about 6 months ago cause it was cracked, maybe it is the coils. what ohms should them be between for specs?

krazibimmer · #12 05-13-2004, 05:27 AM

the secondary resistance of coil should be less then 10,000. not sure what the primary is but you should ohm both of the coil and compare the reading. they should be the same or very close to each other. also ohm the injector too. the spec. is 1.9 - 2.3 ohms.

public · #13 05-13-2004, 04:36 PM

Have you checked the Throttle Possition Sensor? Mine (an older model) did the same thing once. It was pretty cheap and easy to change.

perna00 · #14 05-14-2004, 01:24 AM

yours did the same thing mine did public?

public · #15 05-14-2004, 06:53 PM

Very similar. But I have the older 2.2 with no mods. The TPS was generating an incorrect signal (like a old volume knob) when the throttle was moved. So the computer thought the throttle was opened or closed more than it reall was. This was flooding and then starving the engine. It looked really cool stalling all over the neighborhood. What a pain. After all the work I did it was the easiest item to change. Good Luck.

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