Year: 1996
Chevy Cavalier
Z24
DOHC
I have had a problem over the last year concerning something irritating. It has supposedly been "fixed" about 2 times and it came back again but MUCH worse. Okay basically when I turn on my car it started sputtering. (sounds kinda like a lawnmower when I drive too). I lost some power as well. However The first time we got it fixed it was 2 of my fuel injectors. I got those replaced and it worked fine for a month or two. Then it came back. I changed out my sparkplugs and wires and it ran fine again for about a month. However now I checked the plugs and wires and they appear fine. I just got back from trying to go somewhere but I didn't make it. Reason being it sputters really bad now and no matter how hard I floor it, I only go 10 to 20 mph. My car sounds like it wants to stall everytime I stop and sometimes when I drive. This has been bothering me because everytime I do something to repair it, the noise comes back a few weeks later. Now to give a reference of when the most recent proble accured...THIS time when the noise first came back I had run out of gas (not really I was low and parked on a slope so I guess the gas was away from where it gets pulled in through the tank) . I tried to start it twice and figured out I was almost empty. I put enough gas in with a can to get to a station and fill up. Ever since then I try to start it 2 or 3 times and it stalls a lot then finally it will start after a couple of tries. But again today was the worst. It drove ugly as usual but it drove. I tried to leave 10 mins ago and I had absolutely NO acceleration, NO power and the sputtering was very loud. could it be the fuel filter? I don't believe it has been changed in a LONG while. I'd say at least 2-3 years. Also I have had 2 injectors changed. Could the other 2 be bad now? The only other things wrong with the car are a coolant leak and an oil leak and OCCASIONALLY when I check or change my oil the bottom of the stick was a tan or light brown color. I'm just trying to go over my options before I spend a but load of money. Any help would be appreciated.
"Hmmph"
bro, im in this exact situation basically, if i find out i'll let you know. This weekend ill be changing the coil pack boots and if that doesnt work ill be doing a compression test across all cylinders.
Change the fuel filter. So the oil is light brown kinda like chocolate milk? Thats a sign of coolant in your oil. I helped replace an engine in my highschool shop and we filled a 5-gal. drain pan with "chocolate milk" when we drained the oil. If the fuel filter doesnt help then my next guess that it would be something internal and related to the coolant in your oil.
Yea like tinkles said, milky oil means coolant is mixing with it, and a bad head gasket would cause that.
Yeah just like chocolate Milk. Thing is I had the headgasket replaced not too long ago. but that's a whole different thing. I'll try the filter first. If that doesn't work I'll try and get the leaks fixed and so on. Cheapest to most expensive lol. Thanks for the suggestions guys. If I have anymore problems I'll post up.
"Hmmph"
try changing the whole spark system starting with the plus then wires then rotor etc.my sisters car did that (95 cavalier 2.2) and i changed the plugs and it still sputtered then changed wires and it went much better!
If there is coolant in your oil, changing your plugs and/or fuel filter will do no good (well not immediately at least). Until you get the coolant/oil issue resolved, I wouldn't even worry about the rest.
Pull your plugs and compare the color of each. Also when the plugs are out, look down and see if the top of the piston is shiny. If so, then you are getting coolant into the chambers and that is an even bigger problem.
try a fuel pressure test. since it started when you were low on gas your fuel pump could be crapping out.
Brad DeVries wrote:try changing the whole spark system starting with the plus then wires then rotor etc.my sisters car did that (95 cavalier 2.2) and i changed the plugs and it still sputtered then changed wires and it went much better!
wait. some1 correct me if im wrong, just the new 2.4's dont have wires right?
all the 2.4s with the aluminum idi covers (i think all of them have the idi covers stock) have no plug wires. the coils and everything are under that cover (the one on top that says 2.4 Twin Cam) and it is designed so they sit right over the plugs. no need for wires but there is a white plastic peice that has conductors molded into it to get the spark from the proper coil to the proper plug.
Yes coolant in the oil is a major problem and needs to be fixed, but as for changing the fuel filter:
Quote:
could it be the fuel filter? I don't believe it has been changed in a LONG while.
Its a $10 part if that and a simple job. Will it solve the problem? Proboly not. But it wouldnt hurt.
Jackass wrote:If there is coolant in your oil, changing your plugs and/or fuel filter will do no good (well not immediately at least). Until you get the coolant/oil issue resolved, I wouldn't even worry about the rest.
Pull your plugs and compare the color of each. Also when the plugs are out, look down and see if the top of the piston is shiny. If so, then you are getting coolant into the chambers and that is an even bigger problem.
Yeah that's NOT good. When I pulled all my plugs The #2 cylinder had something wet/shiny on top and there was a little of it on the plug. Looked like oil to me. My car is starting to piss me off. To top it off the ABS light came on for no reason that I can see. gonna take it to the shop tommorrow and have em look at it. This is so not good.
"Hmmph"
Okay guys I found out what's wrong with the cav. It's FUBAR. I have internal engine damage, my #2 cylinder is filled with oil/coolant mix. That said my coolant is mixing. Due to this my sparkplug was fouled. One of my injector rings is leaking as well. Also my headgasket was bad. Basically I need a new car or engine. HOWEVER seeing as how I like my car too much I'm going to attempt to save for and hunt down an engine. if anyone has any suggestions please let me know.
oh and BOOSTED. Make sure to check your car out so the same thing doesn't happen to you. Check the Headgasket as I think that was part of my problem.
"Hmmph"
the buggered up head gasket is most likely how the coolant got into the cylinder
If you get the GM 7/8 2.4l engine be sure to replace all old rubber hoses.Thatīs what I did in 2003 and the engine came with oil and oil filter, just do a break period of some 2500 miles without exeeding 3.000rpm.
