99 Chevy cavalier problems im lost help!!!!

[shecky95]

Hi all ,

new to the forum. i have a HUGE problem if anyone can help? i have a 1999 Chevy cavalier, 4 cyl. 4 liter engine and has 72,000 original miles on it, i have replaced, the spark plugs, the coils, the sparkplug wires, the air filter, and im at my wits end. the problem is that it wants to stall at a stop light and when i press on the accelerator to go it almost dont want to get up and go( almost died actually)sometimes it does this even while driving down the road. i took it to a shop they put it on the computer and it showed 2 misfire errors but not on the cylinders ( they didnt show errrors for that , was watching the whole time and the attendent showed me if the cylinders did misfire it would say what on the error) yes im a girl, but i do like to know about this stuff since i own my car now. the last misfire on a cylinder happened 14 months ago. and when a misfire happens as well ( while in park) the lights will dim then brighten back up)i had the battery replaced last year as well and that is charged as well( still shows green in the battery part). i dont go out of town on long drives too often, it does this internittenly and around town as well , but it does it at times while im driving at 35 mph. i had the error codes erased but it comes back after about 4-5 months HELP !!! its not a Z-24 series either.

[Cavalier2000]

fuel filter try that

[kirby747]

Originally Posted by shecky95

Hi all ,

new to the forum. i have a HUGE problem if anyone can help? i have a 1999 Chevy cavalier, 4 cyl. 4 liter engine and has 72,000 original miles on it, i have replaced, the spark plugs, the coils, the sparkplug wires, the air filter, and im at my wits end. the problem is that it wants to stall at a stop light and when i press on the accelerator to go it almost dont want to get up and go( almost died actually)sometimes it does this even while driving down the road. i took it to a shop they put it on the computer and it showed 2 misfire errors but not on the cylinders ( they didnt show errrors for that , was watching the whole time and the attendent showed me if the cylinders did misfire it would say what on the error) yes im a girl, but i do like to know about this stuff since i own my car now. the last misfire on a cylinder happened 14 months ago. and when a misfire happens as well ( while in park) the lights will dim then brighten back up)i had the battery replaced last year as well and that is charged as well( still shows green in the battery part). i dont go out of town on long drives too often, it does this internittenly and around town as well , but it does it at times while im driving at 35 mph. i had the error codes erased but it comes back after about 4-5 months HELP !!! its not a Z-24 series either.

I had a car doing this once, when the engine revs the egr valve opens to recycle exhaust gases, but it was sticking open, so when i backed off the gas it was letting too much air into the intake, making it sputter,would be fine at highway speeds.Maybe someone could unhook this for you and plug the vacuum line going to it just to see if that's the problem

[jakegday]

Originally Posted by shecky95

Hi all ,

i have a 1999 Chevy cavalier, 4 cyl. 4 liter engine

im almost sure you meant 2.4 liter

and i had the EXACT problem to a T with my 86 plymouth reliant, what fixed it was a new fuel filter and a bottle of fuel system cleaner (NOT fuel injector cleaner) the fuel system cleaner costs about 3 times as much but it is worth every penny

[Cavalier2000]

thats always one of my first questions when there is a fuel or spark related issue. Hows the fuel filter. Seems to be so overlooked.

Seen a guy once who had spent almost $1100 or injectors and spark and coil packs and everything else and still couldn't get his car to stop lagging and sputtering. He was next going to change the fuel pump. Went and bought a $10 fuel filter and an hour later car ran like a dream again. though it should for the pervious $1100 he spent already lol

[shecky95]

the fuel filter was replaced as well when i had everything done to it so i know that is good.

here is the funny thing i took it in a couple of days after and it had misfire codes on it ( none of the cylinders missed) cant remember the code but the tech said its running fine. as well when he erased the error codes it ran perfect after that and havent had any truoble since that was a couple of days after it got the error codes erased ( strange isnt it ?)

sorry i havent replied been busy and a couple of weeks ago my daughter broke her ankle so i been taking care of her as well.

btw thanks for the help all, but this still baffles me, every 4-6 months i go through this!!

[notaricajustfasta]

just curious i have the same problem with my 98 5spd. could it be a clogged cat.? is this normally a big problem with cavys? thanks

[Cavalier2000]

Yea cat, 02 sensor, the coil packs could be getting ready to go out, as well as spark plugs

[shecky95]

Originally Posted by shecky95

the fuel filter was replaced as well when i had everything done to it so i know that is good.

here is the funny thing i took it in a couple of days after and it had misfire codes on it ( none of the cylinders missed) cant remember the code but the tech said its running fine. as well when he erased the error codes it ran perfect after that and havent had any truoble since that was a couple of days after it got the error codes erased ( strange isnt it ?)

sorry i havent replied been busy and a couple of weeks ago my daughter broke her ankle so i been taking care of her as well.

btw thanks for the help all, but this still baffles me, every 4-6 months i go through this!!

Well here I am AGIAN with the same problem not even 11 months later what the heck is up with these Cavaliers? im litterally beating my head against the wall here folks

[i3o2Matt]

if possible, hook the car up to a Tech2 scanner or one that can give you individual misfire codes...if the two cylinders misfiring happen to be 1+4 or 2+3, it is in your ignition most likely. the reason i say this is because cavaliers use the waste spark method, meaning power flows through one spark plug and is essentially grounded by the other mentioned. so yes, if two are misfiring, it is most likely ignition. check the resistance on your wires with an ohmeter...they should start at i think like 3.5K and go up a decent amount, but not too terribly much, in resistance with each longer wire. if, say, cylinder 2 has more resistance than cylinder 4, you have a bad wire which could cause the periodic misfiring. remember, easy stuff first, since it is usually cheapest, and not all new parts you get are 100% guaranteed to be perfect.

[shecky95]

Originally Posted by i3o2Matt

if possible, hook the car up to a Tech2 scanner or one that can give you individual misfire codes...if the two cylinders misfiring happen to be 1+4 or 2+3, it is in your ignition most likely. the reason i say this is because cavaliers use the waste spark method, meaning power flows through one spark plug and is essentially grounded by the other mentioned. so yes, if two are misfiring, it is most likely ignition. check the resistance on your wires with an ohmeter...they should start at i think like 3.5K and go up a decent amount, but not too terribly much, in resistance with each longer wire. if, say, cylinder 2 has more resistance than cylinder 4, you have a bad wire which could cause the periodic misfiring. remember, easy stuff first, since it is usually cheapest, and not all new parts you get are 100% guaranteed to be perfect.

They hooked it up to the computer and 2 of them are misfiring(they didnt say which ones). They erased the codes and the history of the codes as well. They even kept it for awhile for it to cool down after erasing the codes, and it runs fine now( no sputters no notta). However, they did tell me that they would like for me to leave them the car overnight and let them cold start it to see if it does it again. This is my ONLY car and Im a single mother as well. Finding time for them to keep it overnight is no possibility right now. They did however suggest that the plug wires could be replaced or the spark plugs themselves. I dont see how concidering I never drive out of town with it ( if I do its VERY rare) and drive around a small town with light traffic. It has 75,000 original miles on it, and I drive it to and from work as well.This is only a 1/2-1 mile drive. They also said the coil might need replaced, I know it isnt the battery cause I checked it (it still has green in the little window indicating it isnt low) and they said that it could be the tranny fluid(they have to check the tranny fluid cause its a bolt/screw type that they know where it is) underneath from my understanding. It in turn needs a tune up bad but I have to wait till tax time for it cause of lack of funding right now. anyway Ill find out in the morning when i go to cold start it that if it does it again they told me to bring it by. details later.

[i3o2Matt]

i highly doubt it is one of the coil packs, though it is a possibility, my first assumption would be a bad plug/wire...like i said in my previous post...some items come faulty, but sometimes things you wouldn't think go bad...do exactly that.

as far as the tranny fluid...they are saying that it causes the misfire? if they are you need a new mechanic...it might cause other issues...but not a misfire...

[shecky95]

Originally Posted by i3o2Matt

i highly doubt it is one of the coil packs, though it is a possibility, my first assumption would be a bad plug/wire...like i said in my previous post...some items come faulty, but sometimes things you wouldn't think go bad...do exactly that.

as far as the tranny fluid...they are saying that it causes the misfire? if they are you need a new mechanic...it might cause other issues...but not a misfire...

Well tried a cold start this morning ran fine no sputtering no notta again. And it was 32 outside(occording to the weather in my area). I am going to do what you said and get the spark plugs and wires replaced with my next check(start with small things like you suggested) then if that dont work,get the engine tuned up(oil changed etc. or whichever i can get done 1st). Thanks again for all your help and suggestions, things like this can really frustrate a person you know.

[i3o2Matt]

i kno...lol its a good learning experience...helps you notice what is important when diagnosing a problem...i'm glad i can help

[Cold_Silence]

Yes always start with the easy things first, most of the time that is what it is anyways.

Wow im surprised to see so many frustrated people with their cavs.. My old girl 1996has almost 150k Miles = 227k km's and ive had no real problems.. That is also with my brother bagging the shit out of it for a month a year ago. I guess its all in how you take car of your vehicle..