I have a '99 2.2 cavalier, I've never had not 1 issue w/ it in the past until about. It has had issues w/ missing on a cylinder at medium-high throttle. I took it to a mechanic, after replacing the plugs/wires 2-3 times. He told me it was arching on Cly1.
I recently went a step farther, b/c i know the issues cavy's have w/ coil-packs. Replaced
-Plugs (Bosch +4's, AC Delco [tried 2 diff kinds])
-Plug wires (taylor 8.8mm wires)
-coil-packs (MSD)
And this problem yet, persists.
Problems:
*Runs fine at an idle or even light throttle, it may occasionally miss.
*Med-Heavy throttle, it begins missing on 1 cyl and sputtering badly.
*It is running VERY rich, so rich the plugs i just took out, were compeltely carbonized on the ends. they're as black as coal.
I'm at my witts end at trying to find this g'd problem. So what's up, who knows what's going on here. I'm assuming it's electrical or internal. I'm clueless here. I have not changed the fuel filter, or the fuel injectors. i've tried to single eliminate the problem by all of the logical issues. I love my car but it's close to being junked.
Please, someone dear god, have an answer. lol
Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.
-Saint Augustine
whats it feel like when it misses?? because when my rpm's around around 3200, my car acts funny... im not sure if i would call it sputtering. it doesnt feel like its going to die or anything. the best way i can kind of explain it would be its like the engine "pulses." you can feel it when riding in the car, but mainly noticeable if driving. just wondering if this could be whats happening for me as well... and if so, how can i get this tested and how is it fixed? i have somewhat new wire/plugs...
thank you
no this is definate sputtering, jsut as if you were to get water in your plug hole and try to drive it.. lol i misses like crazy.. sounds like a lawn mower
it's a definate cylinder miss and bad sputtering, only when you give it 1/2-full throttle tho, at a n idle it's fine.
Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.
-Saint Augustine
just some ideas, since i have no idea. which makes no sense.
if it's running way too rich it could be your fuel pressure regulator, if you can, check the fuel pressure and the fuel return line (look for significant pinches). or maybe your timing jumped a little. maybe it's not getting enough air to burn the fuel right (clogged air filter). ecu could be messed up. definitely check all plugs and wires and stuff on the harness. is it throwing any codes?
anyways, these are just some things to check, i'm not saying IT'S THIS and THIS, just something to look into.
Anyone have a used up 96-97 2.2l engine near the UP? I need a crankshaft!
I've had several codes and diagnostics ran on it in the last year.
-Firestone
replace the 02, that's the reason it's running rich
-Family Mechanic
Stated that it was arching on Cly 1, replace plugs and wires (again)
-Autozone 2-3 times
Mis-fire
Multiple Mis-fire
Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.
-Saint Augustine
hmm...my sister's grand prix was getting misfire codes from autozone and the weird fuel cutoff/miss symptom and eventually it started on fire. never figured out what it was, maybe leaky valves or bad head gasket. could your fire ring be damaged and making the plug arc?
Anyone have a used up 96-97 2.2l engine near the UP? I need a crankshaft!
The cat could be cloged from it running rich all the time.
do a compression test. get rid of the bosches if you still have them, worst plugs ever produced. go with ngk, of any variety. did you put dielectric grease on all 8 boots? if not, do so. same thing with the underside of the coils. when was the last time you changed your fuel filter? air filter? any kind of injector cleaner? if it not those problems, then it starts to get much more costly.
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I have ran Bosches in my other cars w/o any problems. Check to make sure the MSD coils are sitting properly on the ICM. I had that problem with my old GP and Accel coils. There are locator tabs on the ICM to properly position the factory coils, and there were not any provisions on the Accel coils for them.
Throttle Position Sensor maybe? I had a cav about a year ago with the same issues and it worked fine after. Before replacing it check the voltage at the sensor and or related codes your car may be coughin up.
Good luck
Throttle Position Sensor maybe? I had a cav about a year ago with the same issues and it worked fine after. Before replacing it check the voltage at the sensor and or related codes your car may be coughin up.
Good luck
I scheduled a service diog at A GM dealership on May 6th.
if i worked less or less goofy hours, i'd take the time to fiddle with it.
But i work 40-60 hours a week. So i guess i'll find out then, what will happen.
as for dielectric grease, yes i did on all 8 boots before the plugs were put in.
As for the cat, I dunno. I've been wanting it cutt out and put in a resonator for about a year, i bought the resonator right b4 i stopped driving it, so it's never been installed. So i need to have that done as well eventually. It's never been replaced or changed, so I'm sure the cat's clogged or just plain wore out. I did drive it today to work jsut to see what would happen, acting goofy but not too bad, has a very hard time excelerating above 55 on the highway, i could see that as a cat issue.
thanksfor all of the ideas so far guys, I appreciate it. I rly can't afford, nor do i want to get rid of this car. I'm jsut tired of problems over the last year. It gets old after you fix something and something else fouls up. but it is almost 10 years old, it's expected.
Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.
-Saint Augustine
It started having the bad issues in Jan '07, i periodically would try to start it and run it.
I got aroudn to doing more miantance when funding permitted in 9/08.. put some new gas in it and injector cleaner, it still had issues. and it's, despite random starts until last week.
I drove it to work today to see what would happen w/ it, it's ok it seems as long as you dont put too much throttle too it, on highways it bogs down at about 55, probably due to the cat im sure. It's never been replaced. but it's got about 1/2 tank of gas in it now.
It was acting up w/ mis-fires and overheating on multiple mis-fires back in '06, around Aug-Dec. Until i finally parked it b/c of the issues and snow that came.
I hope i can just get it running again, i miss driving it, i miss the sterio and i miss enjoying working on it. Instead of always being so angry and upset b/c i can't figure out what's wrong with it. I'm just frustrated.
Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.
-Saint Augustine
did you test the injectors?
The coils fire 1-3 and 2-4 at the same time so if the coil is bad you'd be missing in 2 cylinders.
Have you tested your pressure, #1 is last in line on the fuel rail so if your losing pressure it would be the first to "know"
-Chris
I had this one time with another car after I washed down the engine.
Some water got into the distributor and it made the current cross over to all the pole pieces randomly.
I am knowledgeable on the 2.2 OHV motor, I know some about my 2.2 Ecotec so forgive me if your car has no distributor.
Also, I would clean the TPS in the throttle body.
It may give bad signals at a certain point in the throttle where it wont give the correct amount of fuel for how much air is coming in.
I would spray the heck out of the intake/ TB with carb spray.
It will take a few tries to get the car started after doing so.
When it starts, lightly throttle it, don't floor it.
When the smoke starts to subside from the exhaust, do a few 3k revs randomly.
Also, get some Earnhardt's fuel injector cleaner, best I have found so far.
