My sister owns an 03 Cavalier with the 2.2 Ecotec and an auto tranny. For some reason it won't stay on. It will crank right up but then stumbles and stalls out. I'm assuming the fuel pump is not putting out enough but I wanted to get some experienced opinions on it before I go sticking a whole new fuel sending unit in it. Is it possible something else may be the problem or is this a commen thing on Cavaliers?
Thanks,
Josh
It could be the fuel pump, to be sure by a cheap pressure tester and see what you get before you spend all that money..
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Thanks for the tip. Where would you hook a pressure tester up to it? I'm assuming on the valve on the fuel rail but I've never done it before so not sure. Also, any idea how much fuel pressure should be adequet for it?
how about the fuel filter? ever changed it? usually fuel pumps only fail...they dont partially work
i just had te same problem on my 2003 cav (5speed though). my solution was a new fuel filter and pump. filter was clogged bad which ended up causing the fuel pump to burn up. how many miles are on her car?
Silly ricer, useless wings are for penguins.
87,000ish. She bought it used a few months ago and I have no idea what kind of maintenance it has had. Don't know if the timing belt has been changed, fuel filter, plugs, wires...... just don't know. They guy she bought it from said he kept ALL of the regular maintenance up but you all know how that goes.
I'll change the fuel filter first but I'm about positive the pump is just not putting out enough. This isn't a problem that has been developing or anything. I have driven it recently myself and the car would haul butt. So I don't think the fuel filter was clogged at all.
Also, is this an interference engine? In other words if the timing belt goes will the valves slap the pistons?
My filter was clogged solid.... car would sometimes start, then barely idle.. but if I tried to give 'er any gas to try and move, it would stall dead. $11 for a new Delco filter from the dealer, and I changed it on the side of the road (where the car died). Saved me a $100 in tow charges...
...j
Alright. I really appreciate the tips.
About my other question, is this an interference engine? If so I probably need to hop on changing the timing belt pretty soon as well.
Not sure if its an interference engine, but it doesn't have a timing belt. Its a chain.
Thanks man, that's all I needed to know. I guess I'm gonna start by replacing the fuel filter but I'm like 99% sure the fuel pump crapped out.
Easy check... turn the key to ON (but not start), and listen under the rear seat... if you hear the fuel pump buzzing for three seconds then shut off, it's still good.
Fuel pumps don't start to die then last a long time.... they just go and they're done, they rarely ever come back to life.
That's not necessarily true. It is common place on a LOT of newer vehicles for the fuel pump to gradually go bad. Especially full size chevy pickups for example. Like my dad's Sierra. When his fuel pump started going bad it began whining while it was running and he never told me about it. Then one day he went out in the yard and cranked it and it would stall out just like my sister's cavalier. The difference was in his truck he could give it gas and it would stay running until he let off the gas. Also, after he let it sit for a few days while he mustered up the money for a new fuel sending unit he went out and cranked it up and it ran fine in the yard idleing but was still whining. We replaced the fuel sending unit and haven't had a problem since
