I have a 01 cavalier Z24 with 100k on it. Gf was driving it Saturday (was 15 degrees out) and the check engine light started flashing, the traction control light came on, and it lost power. She barely made it to a rest area were it stalled as soon as she let off the gas. It would start if she gave it some gas but was undriveable due to no power and it was bucking. She had the car towed back to the house where it sat overnight. The next day I tried to start it, but all it would do is sputter a bit if i gave it 50% - 75% throttle, but never start. I checked the codes and all it listed were 2 separate multiple misfires, and a evap code thats been on for a year. I initially thought it was ice in the gas so I added 2 bottles of water remover and put a torpedo heater behind the car for 3 hours. I had the ICM tested at autozone and it was fine. I bought new plugs and boots for it and installed them. While I had the coils out I tested them and they matched and were in spec. Still will not start. After all of that the f%@#ing car would not start. The only thing left is the CPS is bad or faulty, but wouldn't that throw a code? I bought a fuel filter but its been so cold and I don't want to lay in the mud unless I really have to. Does anyone have any idea's? I'm begging for your help!
Was the fuel filter ever changed? If not then thats your best bet
Usually when the check engine light is flashing, it means that there is an over abundance of raw unburnt fuel passing over the O2 sensor which will cause premature cat converter and O2 sensor failure.
Did you check for spark on each cylinder?
What engine is in it? 2.4? If so did you change the coil housing?
01 cav w/01 3400 gam gt 4t45e
joe malechowski wrote:Usually when the check engine light is flashing, it means that there is an over abundance of raw unburnt fuel passing over the O2 sensor which will cause premature cat converter and O2 sensor failure.
Did you check for spark on each cylinder?
What engine is in it? 2.4? If so did you change the coil housing?
Yes it is a 2.4l, and no I did not change the coil housing. How can you test for spark on this engine since its designed differently then I'm used to being a Dodge and now Subaru guy. I also noticed the lack of a schrader valve. Good job GM! I guess my next steps are to change the fuel filter and pull the line at the fuel rail and test the pressure. I can hear the pump priming when I turn the key on though. Is the coil housing a common breakpoint? Can you test it with an Ohm meter?
Piece of advice when changing the fuel filter: Remove the black box, emissions control i think it makes it much easier
If you have never changed the coil housing then do it now. This piece is one of gm's screw ups, when it goes bad several things can happen from backfire through the TB , severe missing, to no start at all. Dont mess with the filter, if your engine light was blinking then its not starving for fuel, Its not burning what is injected. Re read my previous post to see what I mean by the blinking light.
The best way to check for spark is to pull the coil housing off of the engine, dont take it apart, just sit it there on the top of the engine, make sure it is grounded good and crank it to see if the spark will jump from the coil housing of each post to the engine. This will tell you if your getting spark but it wont necessarily tell you if the actual plastic housing is good or not.
What happens is the plastic gets hairine internal cracks in it, not visable. the spark will jump from one plug termal inside to another causing spark on the wrong stroke and such.
A bot of advice when pricing a new tower, dont buy the cheap one unless you buy 2 of them, 1 to put in your trunk. I have had them go bad in weeks. Thinking that it couldnt possibly be bad again, I chased the problem all over the car, and the housing was fried again.
01 cav w/01 3400 gam gt 4t45e
Thank you Joe for all of the help. I think I will go to the junkyard and try to pick up a whole cover including the ICM and coils and try that. Maybe the temp will go above freezing this weekend!
does it have good fuel pressure?If the FP started crapping out then it would loose fuel volume leading to misfires then death.. I'd check that..should be around 60psi.
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