I recently purchased a 1999 Cavalier, i drove this all last summer and it ran great so i bought it off the people a few days ago, but now it doesnt want to start, backfires while tring to start, smokes more than a smoke stack, and after getting it running the acceleration really lags i put it to the floor and it chojkes once or twice then about two seconds in it will acelerate like i remember (this seems really dangerous for switching lanes, merging etc.) anyone know what the problem is? it has not been driven since i had it last year, plugs have been gapped and oil has been changed still bad.
You might be looking at replacing the Catalytic Convertor. I had an 89 Z24 that had one go bad it it was impossible to move it anywhere and when it completely clog the car would never fully start it was want to start but never would. I could be wrong but the only way to test it would be to undo your cat and see if it starts and runs better.
Later
Redrider02
"big boom big boom"-Adam Savage. "quack damn you"-Jamie Hyneman "mythbusters"
well i dont know, i cant tell because there is no engine light it smells really bad when i first started and i cant tell if it is the smell of the gas or the cat
does it smell like rotten eggs?
"big boom big boom"-Adam Savage. "quack damn you"-Jamie Hyneman "mythbusters"
First thing to do Evan, Is to do all the trouble shooting first, So you have all new spark plugs wires / Air filter, Fuel filter / May want to test the coil packs as well?. Could have a problem with stale gas, As u mentioned in youre above posts. Also I would recommend getting, Fresh fill of gas and see it that corrects the problem. Also I would get a pressure test done on youre fuel pump as well. Also could have a pluged fuel injector or one that acting up.If you happen to habe a multi digital tester that would be great to test the current volts in youre battery and charging system.
Pretty well Evan, Just do the easy trouble shooting first, Then work on the bigger issues, If needed.
Good Luck
keep us updated.
well the tank is drained now and i put some premium gas in and seems to be running good again, although ill see when i go to start it in the morning, thanks for the help guys
Put a can of Heet in the tank too to absorb the water that inevitably condensed in the bottom of the tank. The Heet sort of binds with the water in such a way as to make it less umm, watery I guess is one way to put it. It also has some fuel stabilizers in it and so forth. I always say its a good idea to put a bottle of Heet in the tank after the car has been stored for a long period, especially if no fuel stabilizer was put in the tank before the storage. If it DOESN'T help any, at worst you are out a few bucks for the Heet.
Berrymans B-12 in the liquid form is excellent for clearing stale cagoline contaminants...
Just add to the fresh fuel....After 2 tanks, old fuel problems tend to disappear...
(The spray, aerisol cans, are awesome also, but, for their intended purposes)
