OK, so this is kind of my self introduction to this forum. Hi everybody. My name is Shawn, and I've got a 95 Sunfire with a 2.2 and the 3 speed auto tranny. I picked it up for a hundred dollars with a blown head (I took 8 out of 10 head bolts out without a ratchet because they were so loose). I got the new head on and cleaned up some minor loose ends mechanically only to find out the first time I heard it run, that it had lower end noise. I drove it for the past week, and yesterday the oil light came on. I put an oil guage in it today and had 60 lbs at cold idle, 10 lbs at warm idle, and about 40 lbs going down the road until it dropped to zero.
Now I'm frustrated. I'm probably best off to just go ahead and swap the motor at this point, but I'm having a hard time finding enough information on exactly what engines will work in my car, and with what exceptions. From what I've learned on this forum so far, my car is a bit of a pain to do much with because of being the transition year. I've got the OBD I computer with the OBD II service connector which is a pain, so I wouldn't be opposed to changing the harnesses and computer to be OBD II compliant. I'm not necessarily opposed to swapping the tranny with the engine as long as it's reasonably straight forward. I would like to end up with a 5 speed standard at some point. I'm not really interested by the V6 route, but wouldn't mind a gain in performance if I go with a 2.3 or 2.4.
I'm new to this forum, but I've been on here just about every night reading for hours at a time. Please don't tell me to use the search button. I've just about worn out my mouse clicking that button. lol
Thanks Quiklilcav. I've been a little intimidated by some of the talk with this being the crossover year. I really appreciate the help. Can anyone give me some kind of idea what I might be able to do as far as getting this thing OBD II compliant? Is it by any chance as simple as swapping in the interior harness from a 96 or newer with the accompanying PCM? Can I just bolt in a 96 PCM without changing the harness? If I do have to change the harness will everything plug right in? If not, what won't plug in? Can I splice parts of my harness in to make everything work, and if I do will I still be fully OBD II when I'm done?
I suppose I'm asking for a lot of info here, but I know you guys are up to it. I know as dedicated as you are to your J's that one of you has done this to at least one car. Might even be helpful to reply in a separate post and try to get this info stickied, but then maybe there isn't a real need for it. I just hate to even think about having to take my car to the dealer to get codes read every time I need it done because AutoZone can't do it with the OBD I computer in my car. I can't afford that kind of headache. I do however have a local parts yard where I can get parts for pretty cheap and am capable of doing the work I need done. All said and done I think I can do the job myself for about the cost of one dealer diagnostic charge. I've never had a NEW car so I don't really like giving money to dealers for some reason.
OK I just want to say a couple of things. Thank you all for ignoring me instead of flaming me. I totally understand with my situation why you wouldn't answer my question. If I change the wiring harness and PCM with an engine swap the OBD problem will be resolved. I guess I just had a major brain fart, or maybe it's just frustration. In any case thanks for not trashing me out.
If you pull the engine out of an OBD-II car, get the whole engine harness. I believe that the 95-99 will have the same harness connections that is on your 95. 95 was sort of a conversion year, it SHOULD all just plug in.
Or you could just use a 95-97 engine and just pop it in there and keep your current OBD-I system.
I would just get another 2.2 for it and call it done. Swapping over the wiring could get out of hand, As stated above, 95 didnt have a security system, all others did, then if you look at the air bag system, 95 is 95 only there too. Im not sure if the cluster communicates differently with the airbag system in 95 but I wouldnt put it past gm.....
Unless its just something to soak money into (a toy) and have something to do. Just get a 2.2 and drive it.
When you first got it, It sounds like some one put a head gasket on it and didnt change the bolts
Coolant in the oil = bearings go bye bye!
01 cav w/01 3400 gam gt 4t45e
i would avoid the 2.3 since you have an auto.....perhaps get the 2.4 and tranny w/pcm and go full obd2
OK. So my great luck continues. I had a 92 Crown Vic that my fiance totalled the beginning of last winter that I planned on taking to the junk yard this weekend. I needed the money from it to get the motor for my sunfire. Of course the salvage yard I use decided to quit taking scrap, including scrap cars, on weekends. Took me forever to find someplace to sell that thing to, and once I did I let it go for about 70% of normal scrap prices around here. I only got 150 for it.
Once I finally got some cash gathered up, I headed off to my local Pick~N~Pull salvage yard. The best thing I could find there was a 96 sunfire convertible with 101k on the odometer. I got everything taken care of and ready for the engine to simply be lifted out. All the wiring and hoses were disconnected, and every last bolt was out. When I started picking up my tools to make room for the guy to come in with a loader to pull the engine out I noticed some smoke across the other side of the junk yard. Apparently somebody decided to sneak a small torch into the yard and started a fire trying to cut something out of a car. about 5 or 6 cars went up before the fire department got their trucks in. The car I was working on didn't go up, but I obviously didn't get my engine.
On a side note, the transmission in that car is different than mine. I didn't get any numbers from it, but I'll see what I can find in the morning. The pan is different (flat with no markings). The plugs are different (2 large plugs on the top). The whole thing is different. Is it a convertible thing or something else? I haven't read anything about different transmissions between 95 and 96 model years, but then I have a lot left to learn about these cars. Is the vert tranny a stronger tranny than mine, or are they the same internals? Any information would be greatly appreciated. Oh and both cars are 2.2L and automatic transmissions.
Seems like you know these cars pretty well Quik. You're right it was the hydro matic 4 speed with electronic overdrive. I'm wishing I paid a little more attention to the engines before I gave up the core. I don't think my old engine had a cam sensor, and the new one does. I wish I had the correct cover to get rid of that extra plug in the back of my block, unless I'm mistaken and just don't know it yet. The EGR valve is also different, but I saved that off the old engine so I'll be ok there.
I'm kinda curious on this one. Not trying to jack the post or anything. But will the 2.3 PCM run the 2.4?
