Just picked up a 97 cavalier Z24 with the 2.4L 4 spd auto the car has 137k and has a salvage title due to flood damage. ( it was cheap what can I say ) So here's the problems... when starting you have to give it a little gas or it will not start. Second there are several idiot lights on all the time (check eng,etc off, high beam and air bag) otherwise the car seems to run and drive just fine. I'm thinking some sort of harness problem and or the ecm not having power while the car is off, causing the ecm to lose it's settings for air / fuel / timing during initial start up. but I'm wondering what others think or know about these problems, and what the fix was?

if the cars been in a flood, theres no telling what kind of damage could of been done to the electrical system

^^^ that's fairly true, things could have fried themselves under water, might need some rewiring in some places, no telling what could be wrong if it's a flood salvage.

Have you pulled the codes? I had a check engine light and traction light that would not go off. After I retrieved the codes then fixed the O2 sensor, cleared the code, both lights went off.

Thanks Dave for the info, I'll replace the 02 sensor, and go from there... would that cause the startup problem also? The high beem light is actualy the daytime running lights, my goof... I realized it when I pulled up in front of a store and seen the reflection Any ideas on the airbag light? Also I bought a Sony cd deck today on clearance for $59. so I have something to listen to but it's too long to slide in all the way in the dash???

^ some one on here mentioned cuttin the back of the dash pocket out. I never did this but im sure it can be done, dont know by what tho.


1998 Sunfire, 2.2L auto

because its been in a flood the computer will never work like its supposed to. bacteria will always get in to the wires.

Best Time 15.917 at 86.86MPH