96 Cavalier Mystery

[Brandolyn]

Shortly after Thanksgiving, my 96 Cavalier started giving me problems by slowly dying as I was driving along. When I tired to accelerate, the car would slow down even more. After less than a minute it would reset itself and accelerate again. I brought my car to the mechanic and he fixed my ignition coils and plugs. The car stopped doing all that nonsense while still driving on the interestate, but kept dying on when stopped or when I'm rolling backward to back out of my drive way. It also will hesitate while driving sometimes like it is a starvation for fuel. I brought it back to the mechanic for a second time and he changed the crankshaft sensor, fuel filter, and gave my car a tune up. It didn't work! I brought it back for one last time and he changed another sensor (I'm car illiterate, the sensor was having to do with the ignition system). I also found out that the fuel pump relay was overheating and melting the black foamy stuff. He said that it has nothing to do with why my car is acting the way it is. After changing my entire ignition system, my car still shuts off when stopped or rolling AND still hesitates while driving.

It remains a mystery and is really bringing down my Christmas spirit b/c I am supposed to make a long 2 hr trip in a week. Can anybody help me out? Fuel pump? Something connected to the fuel pump? That has been my and my brother's (used to be a mechanic) guess all along, but my mechanic said can't be. Could it?

[pimpendacavi06]

how many miles(cavaliers are nice but not the most dependable)

[godenm]

Originally Posted by pimpendacavi06

how many miles(cavaliers are nice but not the most dependable)

maybe its just yours;....i have 98 z24 w/209000 miles,& 97 w/2.2 with 190000 miles.

[Brandolyn]

My Cavalier was owned by an old lady who only went to the store and back to her house. When I bought it a year ago, it was at 30,000 or so. Now, it is 43,000. Not that much.

My father is coming over tomorrow to see what he can do. We are now thinking that it is electrical, but how do I go about finding out what it could be. Electrical problems are way pesky to find.

[godenm]

is it a 2.2 or 2.4?

[Brandolyn]

Originally Posted by godenm

is it a 2.2 or 2.4?

2.2

[giorgio725]

well, I will say the symptoms seem like the fuel pump.. I work for a warranty co and most of the calls we get for cavys are for the fuel pump, even more for 95-99 cavys.... u might wanna check that out dude

[godenm]

i could be wrong,but i dont think it is the fuelpump.and i hate to sound like a broken record,but did you check the IAC valve?this damn valve/sensor seems to be one of the #1 problems for these cars.also,you said you got the coils changed,maybe there bad also (i bought 4 or 5 sets before finding good ones;and yeah they were all new) did you check the ignition control module,also

[godenm]

how does it start after it stalls.does it start right up?

[Brandolyn]

Originally Posted by giorgio725

well, I will say the symptoms seem like the fuel pump.. I work for a warranty co and most of the calls we get for cavys are for the fuel pump, even more for 95-99 cavys.... u might wanna check that out dude

The only reason why we are trying to rule out the fuel pump is because the car will start right back up after shutting off. $200 dollars is a lot to put out if that isn't the problem.

[Brandolyn]

Originally Posted by godenm

how does it start after it stalls.does it start right up?

They changed the ignition control module as well...yes, it starts right up.

Not sure about the IAC ...I'll pass that onto my father.

[on_cav]

your problems sounds like the one i had on my 94 cav check you cat

[godenm]

Originally Posted by on_cav

your problems sounds like the one i had on my 94 cav check you cat

yeah,i never thought about the cat

[giorgio725]

thats right, it could possibly be the cat !!

[Brandolyn]

Originally Posted by giorgio725

thats right, it could possibly be the cat !!

I know that I sound like an idiot, but I am seriously car illiterate. What is the cat?