Help, this Cavalier is driving me nutz!!!!

[LexiYQT]

Hi, I am not sure if anyone can help me, But I have a 1997 chev cavalier 2.2L with air conditioning. I was driving down the highway, and it was making a noise like the fan was hitting the shroud. But It wasn't. and all of a sudden, doing 55mh. It quit!!!!!! It didn't overheat. At first we were told by a mechanic that it was a timing chain, but it wasn't. Then we thought it may be a head gasket, no dice. It smelled of burning oil. Oil level was not down. It is getting fuel and spark. The tumblers went in the ignition switch, but we can turn it over with a jumper wire on the starter. It still will not run. I have been having problems starting it in wet/damp weather for a while now. I had to turn it over repeatedly before it would fire. No one can tell me what is wrong. Any ideas?

[public]

Your funny color type is VERY difficult to read!

As for the tumblers, replace the lock cylinder.
As for not starting now you will need to find out what is missing. Fuel, Spark, and at the correct time. If it the timing chain has jumped a notch, it will not run. The smeel may be the partly burned fuel.
Difficult to start when damp out? does it backfire? could be plug wires. Get a Haynes manual and work through the steps. Good Luck.

[LexiYQT]

Yea I will just take the whole switch to a lock place to have it repaired. And I have purchased a Chilton manual ( I think it is the same as Haynes), and been through it several times looking for little things that could be contributing to the problem. But to no avail. There is no backfiring but it has been difficult to start for a few months now when it is damp out.

[Griffdaddy13]

Sounds like plug wires or maybe coilpacks. If you can start in dry weather. Start & then spray plug wires with water, pref in dark area so you can look for sparks. if no change & no sparks, do same to coilpacks. Not easy as packs & other ends of plug wires are behind engine. Under intake man, I think. I doubt they've bothered to put them in a more accessible spot since they made my '90.

[big dude1]

chiltons suck dude, not very descriptive at all... get the haynes... take the chilton back, say a page was missing or something like that lol

[LexiYQT]

Okay, it is a blown motor. So I am told by the garage. But when I asked him what broke....he just said I cooked it cause it was low on antifreeze. it had been leaking for a while and I had to put water in it everyday...I guess I am buying another car.