Hey guys,

I have a 97 cavy 2.2L Auto with a few problems. I just spent a few hrs looking/reading online all over and seen alot of people having my same problems. I need help diagnosing problem number 2. The rest I figured I would add for comments. I have found that alot of people have the same problems (including number 2).
Its my daily driver.


1. Heater fan switch only works in 3 and 4.
I found that sticky link on the forum here and I will be doing that this weekend

2. Hesitation.
Been going on for 3,000 miles now. Very bad when cold when I first start it. Not as bad when it warms up. But even after it warms up, I accelerate and it sorta spits and sputters while accelerating. A month ago it was so bad (worse when under load (ie. going up a hill from a stop)) that it backfired and almost stalled twice. I have ran drygas (isoproply) in every tank and changed the fuel filter. New plugs/wires 20,000 miles ago.

3. Weather stripping on upper driver door falling off (easy fix, just re glue).

4. Driverside seatbelt plastic broke.

5. ABS light came on
(turned out to be the sensor on the drivers side front corroded some)

6. Clunk in front when hitting any bumps and a shudder when taking your foot off the gas.
I bought 2 new strut assemblies (everything included) and it didn't go away. Turned out it was the driver side lower control arm bushings. IF you ever have to change them do not buy the bushings and get them pressed in. Buy the whole assembly!. I also put in a ball joint at the same time and stabalizer linkages but I know they were not the cause, the control arm bushings were worn. It seems to be gone (6 months old now), but has done it twice since (instead of thousands of times hah)

7. All the rods welded to the exhaust have rusted off.
I have metal straps I made holding my exhaust on the car from front to back.

8. Front passenger side wheel bearing went at 55,000

Thanks in advance! Man it's been awhile since I have been on here. I will post a picture of the car that I had when on here many years ago. That was my 91




99 cav 2.2L 212,000 miles
97 cav 2.2L 110,000 miles
91 cav 2.2L 236,000 miles RIP
04 Silverado Z71 Ext.Cab 55,000 miles
01 Suzuki SV650 22,000 miles
97 Arctic Cat ZRT 600 6,000 miles

Bad coil(s)? or Ignition Control Module?

My first thoughts


Alont

2. Hesitation.

Its proboly the plugs, atleast pull them and check the gap. My 96' did the same thing and i had the original plugs in it. It got so bad that i could barely make it down the street. I pulled them and replace them, but later on i checked the gap for $hits and giggles. I had alittle over .080" gap. Your plugs could also be cracked. The gap spec should be on one of the stickers under the hood.

the heater is the resister by the heater fan its a bitch to get at its like 20 bucks at gm or something,thats what mine was,i got 190 klms on mine and it runs like brand new still!,knock on wood

bumb

Thanks for the replies. I will do plugs again even though they are only 20,000 miles old.

If that doesn't cure it, I will then do wires, then coil packs, then ignition control module.

Funny thing is, I did this to my old 91 cavalier also, turned out to be the ECM on the back of the motor.


99 cav 2.2L 212,000 miles
97 cav 2.2L 110,000 miles
91 cav 2.2L 236,000 miles RIP
04 Silverado Z71 Ext.Cab 55,000 miles
01 Suzuki SV650 22,000 miles
97 Arctic Cat ZRT 600 6,000 miles

look for a little vacuum hose about 2" long, "U" shaped, on the intake side of the engine, mine came loose and the car had bad missfire like symptoms because of that

i'd also check the cylinder compression and injectors...might not be it, but something to look at....

buy the plugs and wires it should be less than $40 ($15 for plugs and $25 for wires) then go from there another thing that might cause it is improper grounding simply run a 8 awg wire from the negative side of the battery to the engine block

I took the plugs out and they were the cheap AC delcos non platinums. Them idiots at autozone gave me the wrong plugs last time.

I put in autolight platinums. Good as new now! No more problems. 4 bucks a plug and worth every penny. Hopefully these ones last over 20k


don't ever buy the cheap basic AC delco's!!!

Sorry I didn't update the thread earlier, My HDD crapped out on me on this POS Dell.




99 cav 2.2L 212,000 miles
97 cav 2.2L 110,000 miles
91 cav 2.2L 236,000 miles RIP
04 Silverado Z71 Ext.Cab 55,000 miles
01 Suzuki SV650 22,000 miles
97 Arctic Cat ZRT 600 6,000 miles