ETS and Check Engine Light

[chaosdarkknight]

Hello to anyone that can help me.

Firstly I know basically jack all about cars(planes are the dead opposite). Anyways I resently started having troubles with my sunfire.

1999, Automatic, 4 speed, 2.2L engine. Everything was going fine until one day I started the car and it started "shaking" like crazy only when I would steped on the gas, if i took my foot of the gas the "shaking" was bairly noticable. The "ETS Off" light came on and shortly after that the "Check Engine: light came on steady. Also when I would step on the gas the RPMs would sky rocket but the car would gain no speed. Has anyone encountered this problem before? if so what can I do to fix it?

The mannual says bad gas or something about the emmisions system being out of whack how can I tell which one it is, and if it is how can I tell. I put some higher grae gas in and seems to have helped but ever now and then the same two lights come on then go off. Also when the lights come on you can hear a choking sputter from the tail pipe.

Any help any once could provide would be greatly appreciated.

[hotbug1776]

sounds like a transmission issue to me. like it's slipping.
it's late I'll read more in the morning.

[cesart95]

ignition coil??

[forester99]

You just described the problem with my car exactly (2002 Sunfire, 2.2 L, 4-speed automatic)! I let my car sit for six weeks in the driveway and now it has that problem. I'll be working on it tomorrow (starting with fresh gas, some gas treatment, and new spark plugs), so I'll let you know if I find out anything.

[chaosdarkknight]

I had to replace the ignition coil, and wires that connect to the spark plugs. Apperantly they were correded and were not supplying the proper voltages, so there was a power loss to the spark plugs.

Originally Posted by forester99

You just described the problem with my car exactly (2002 Sunfire, 2.2 L, 4-speed automatic)! I let my car sit for six weeks in the driveway and now it has that problem. I'll be working on it tomorrow (starting with fresh gas, some gas treatment, and new spark plugs), so I'll let you know if I find out anything.

[cesart95]

sounds like your ignition coil. Same thing happened on my 97 2.4 engine pretty simple process. I even took it to autozone and they checked the ignition coils for me. The cost for a new one was if i remember correctly was about $37.00.