Hey,

Don't know if this is in the right section... but, I have been having some probs with my engine... Has this happened to anybody else...

I have a 98` 2200...

When I'm sitting at idle, the car just dies... not all the time... just every now and then...

When I'm driving, most of the time the car jerks like it wants to die but keeps on going... (SCARES THE CRAP OUTTA ME EACH TIME), also, when I'm driving, sometimes the car does die, and this sucks, because power steering is gone, steering column locks up, and I could be going 65 mph... not cool...

I took my car to the chevy dealership twice now, and of course, each time I take it there, the car does nothing for them..., they see nothing wrong with the engine... the only thing they do is reset the computer...

I've heard disconnecting the battery is an easy way to reset the computer, and I have done that many times already, and the problem is solved temporarily...

Just to mention, I have replaced spark plugs and wires... so is there anything else I should check...???

Any help is appreciated... thanks!

check the compression in each cylinder. sounds like you could be losing compression.

also check the fuel system. pull the fuel filter and check it, as well as the injectors. make sure they are spraying a good amount of fuel.

hope this helps.



- Cameron (CaliforniaCavalier)
- www.csc-motorsports.com (my new NOR-CAL car club site!)

It sounds like you are experiencing something similar to what's happening with my car. I have a 2003 sunfire, 2.2L ecotec. I push in the clutch to take it out of gear and coast up to a red light. As soon as I push in the clutch, it will idle around 450-500RPM, and sometimes even stall. If it doesn't stall, it will sit at this super low idle until I come to a complete stop, then resume regular idle once I stop.
Also, just like you described, when it's idling, sometimes it will just stall. I can start it back up no problem, but it will run for 2 seconds and stall. If I put it in gear and drive, it runs fine.
And also, when it's sitting idling sometimes it will just drop to 150RPM for half a second, then resume regular idle.
I took it to a mechanic too, and it wouldn't do it for him, and he kept trying to tell me it's normal for it to do that.
So what the !!!!!! is going on with these cars!?
It seems like it would be computer related, because my engine runs beautiful when it's not doing this.
If you find out what it is, definitely post it here.
Thanks.
Maybe I'll try unhooking the battery, I might as well.

I don't have a 2200, but this sounds like a cracked coil housing. Without spark it'll die right away, and if it's only shorting out half-way it'll bog like crazy.

You can check for cracks in the coil housing by taking it off the car and putting some zippo lighter fluid on it. Blow on the fluid and it'll evaporate quickly except if it's in a crack, that'll stay dark. Don't use an air compressor, that'll dry all the zippo fluid even in a crack. Just be sure all the lighter fluid is gone before putting the coil back on the car

.


John Wilken
2002 Cavalier
2.2 Vin code 4
Auto

I haven't checked the coils yet, but that will probably be my next check... this weekend I am going to change my fuel filter to see if that helps out at all... if that doesn't I will check the coils, and if those are bad, I will replace those as well... is MSD a good choice for ignition coils??? haven't heard much... if that isn't the problem... i'll spend a little more money on fuel injectors, and if that doesn't work... i dunno what else to do...

oh yeah, I also changed out my air filter, and that didn't do too much...

I think its the EGR valve. Common problem.