okay so i picked up a new car today. link to picture thread

it has a CEL on but theirs nothing i can do about that till i hook it up to the scanner tomorrow and update this thread. One question i do have is, when i turn my left signal on i get a buzzing noise, when i turn the right one on, it blinks fast. So the right side needs a bulb, but what does the buzzing mean. Also, i noticed the gas gauge when starting was at 1/4 then after a minute or so it went to full tank...When i turn my headlights on, on the dash the signal lights light up? maybe something to do with the buzzing. I haven't looked over the car to much in tracking down the issue. Maybe a fuse, relay or burnt out bulbs. But at the same time I'm hoping someone has read this long and has the same problem.

thanks.

1999 - Cavalier - 5speed - Exhaust - 17" rims - carbon fiber hood - the beater

The headlight/ts light coming on could mean you have a short behind the cluster causing that, usually a ground meaning is backfeeding into the signal indicators. The buzzing could be with that too but i have never had that issue, but nonetheless goodluck!!!! I hope this helps.

thanks, looks like i have some work ahead of me. Hopefully nothing to major.


1999 - Cavalier - 5speed - Exhaust - 17" rims - carbon fiber hood - the beater

It should not be much. Sometimes the grounds behind the clusters go bad and cause a back feed. Remove the top dash pad and the front plate around the cluster. With the car on not running, start wiggling wires and see if it goes away or gets better. It could also just be a bad cluster. That happens too, either way its a easy fix.

thanks, i had the dash apart today to remove the "delta alarm system" aftermarket piece of junk. anyways after following wires and reconnecting @!#$, i should have no trouble tracking down these issues. The buzzing noise is gone, now that i have removed the alarm system. Everything works, car starts right up.

Before anything i hooked the car up to the code scanner.

PO141 - HEATER CIRCUIT BANK 1, SENSOR 2
PO140 - 02 CIRCUIT NO ACTIVITY BANK 1, SENSOR 2
PO440 - EVAP EMISSIONS SYSTEM
PO125 - INSUFFICIENT COOLANT TEMP FOR CLOSED LOOP FUEL CONTROL

The ABS light is on too, but who needs abs anyways.

anyways i removed the old amp wiring harness, as theirs no subs or amp back there...disconnected the battery, did all my electrical fun with the alarm. Plugged battery back in, Started car up. So no i guess i need to drive the car and get it to throw some codes. I drove it for about 5-10min, no CEL..so maybe they were old codes.


1999 - Cavalier - 5speed - Exhaust - 17" rims - carbon fiber hood - the beater

also noticed theirs a signal/headlight switch unit for sale, the whole lever plus the hazards. is it possible that went bad?


1999 - Cavalier - 5speed - Exhaust - 17" rims - carbon fiber hood - the beater

The PO141 and 140 sounds like you just need a new O2. I had one of those coeds throw for my girls car (96 Ls w/ LD9) but I cleared them and I drove the car for about 40 mins and nothing came back, I think bc the connector was loose (pushed it in farther last night, oops )

The PO440 I would look into that, Im ot sure what exactly would cause that, and im sure someone has had some trouble with that, that can help you more then me with that one.

PO125 I would just replace the coolant temp sensor. If you have a guage, if its not working, thats prolly the reason. Other then that im not sure.

The switch, yes its very possbile, but when they go bad usually you cant turn your lights on, and such, they dont NORMALLY back feed. Usually the backfeeding is, like i said, a bad ground. Like when you pull up behind a car, that has there brakes on, and you see the tail lights, and the B/U lights are lit up but dim, or they have a turn signal on and the B/U light flashes opposite the tail/turn signal light. This is the same concept. But I have also heard that clusters go bad and do the exact same thing. I would try the wires thing first, if that dont help, pick up a cluster from a yard, that has a warranty incase it dont work, then do the switch. Something is wrong, just gotta figure it out.

ya i was thinking it has a bad O2 sensor, does have a new exhaust on the car, so maybe someone didn't hook it back up. ill have to look. Going to pick up some bulbs tonight and change the light bulbs tomorrow, see if that does anything. then ill be wire hunting. I need to go to the junk yard to get a new passenger seat track, might puck up a cluster while im there. just need a 5-speed one. not sure if they are different from they autos.


1999 - Cavalier - 5speed - Exhaust - 17" rims - carbon fiber hood - the beater

Yeah they are. The autos have the PRND321 on the cluster for the gear selector but im not sure if it will work with the 5speed. Im sure it will and thats just a cable but dont quote me on that lol.

Mike Z A.K.A SNEEZY wrote:Yeah they are. The autos have the PRND321 on the cluster for the gear selector but im not sure if it will work with the 5speed. Im sure it will and thats just a cable but dont quote me on that lol.

hahaha good call on the PRND321 didnt even think of that. picking up some parts n the am tomorrow. New lights all around minus my headlights as they work fine. Also thinking maybe my i need a new gas cap. The gas gauge goes from 1/4 tank to full tank and fluctuates up and down. ive read could be a bad wire under the car, gas cap. bat maybe all this is just from the cluster, i wish their was a way to pin point it. does anyone have any links to wire diagrams and voltage readings?

the PO125 code, i was just thinking, the previous owner told me it has a new rad in it as the car was overheating, could it be just an old code? dont think ill pick up a coolant sensor unless it throws the code again.

if the new bulbs doesn't fix the signals ill take apart the dash and see how the wires are and report back here asap lol.


thanks for all the help Mike Z A.K.A SNEEZY big ups





1999 - Cavalier - 5speed - Exhaust - 17" rims - carbon fiber hood - the beater

also been reading about a "flasher relay" not sure maybe that could have something to do with it.


1999 - Cavalier - 5speed - Exhaust - 17" rims - carbon fiber hood - the beater

off to the store to get some bulbs n stuff


1999 - Cavalier - 5speed - Exhaust - 17" rims - carbon fiber hood - the beater

how do i get the dash pad off, seems to be stuck at the airbag. any help?


1999 - Cavalier - 5speed - Exhaust - 17" rims - carbon fiber hood - the beater

okay so good progress today lol if you can call it that. I changed the bulbs all around, well the front to signals in the bumper i need lights for. But the good news is, i was able to get the signal on the left side working and the right side still blinking fast, just need a new bulb. The connections were horrendous, grease and some brown crap looked like seam sealer...anyways i cleaned the @!#$ outta them and its working normal again. I had it all working both sides for a minute but the bulb was old and used, need new. I wonder if i can buy new connectors for the lights.

still no more CEL...power steering makes a noise too. PITA, still works, just growls at you. any ideas? figure pump done.


1999 - Cavalier - 5speed - Exhaust - 17" rims - carbon fiber hood - the beater

add fluid. my power steering made noises until i added more fluid.

EvoFire wrote:add fluid. my power steering made noises until i added more fluid.

its full, might try and change it.


1999 - Cavalier - 5speed - Exhaust - 17" rims - carbon fiber hood - the beater

You may have air pockets in the system. Do this (your going to bleed it really simple) take the cap off the reservior. With the engine running car parked, turn the wheel from left stop all the way back to right stop, and do this as many time as you like. More then 10 times is best. Then clean the "dipstick" off and check the fluid. If its gone down, then fill it up and do it again, if not, then the pump is possibly on its way out. Beautiful part about that, is its only 2 lines and 2 or 3 bolts holding it to the engine. Really easy swap. but make sure when u reinstall the pump, you fill it before you start your car, of u can chew that one up too. Then after you refill, have someone with you to keep a eye on the level of fluid, and do the bleeding thing i just said, and you should be good. Also, make sure while there watching it, they keep it pretty full, and try not to use trans fluid. Trans fluid expands when it gets hot, and may spill out when it gets hot, try and stick with power steering fluid as much as possible. Hope this helps ya!

Mike Z A.K.A SNEEZY wrote:You may have air pockets in the system. Do this (your going to bleed it really simple) take the cap off the reservior. With the engine running car parked, turn the wheel from left stop all the way back to right stop, and do this as many time as you like. More then 10 times is best. Then clean the "dipstick" off and check the fluid. If its gone down, then fill it up and do it again, if not, then the pump is possibly on its way out. Beautiful part about that, is its only 2 lines and 2 or 3 bolts holding it to the engine. Really easy swap. but make sure when u reinstall the pump, you fill it before you start your car, of u can chew that one up too. Then after you refill, have someone with you to keep a eye on the level of fluid, and do the bleeding thing i just said, and you should be good. Also, make sure while there watching it, they keep it pretty full, and try not to use trans fluid. Trans fluid expands when it gets hot, and may spill out when it gets hot, try and stick with power steering fluid as much as possible. Hope this helps ya!

yea i have already gone through trying to bleed the system, im guessing the pumps on its way out. Ive done a few of them when i worked at a shop for a little while. Change up the serp belt while i am there. Shouldn't be to hard at all. Need to figure out why my abs light is on. might just need some brakes. do you know of a way to test the gas cap?




1999 - Cavalier - 5speed - Exhaust - 17" rims - carbon fiber hood - the beater

If ur ABS light is on, its not ur brakes, but something electrical, like speed sensor or the module, or something of the such. If your brake light was on, and your pedal was low, then I would say brakes, but I dont think its the brakes. The computer can only see electrical, and nothing more. I would try and geet someone who has access to a scan tool,a nd have them read your abs codes. That will tell you whats going on. Really the only way to figure it out too.

could be a number of things, think ill get some tuning/scanning software, i got the hook up for my computer just need the soft. Used to tune and edit my old 95 LT1 Camaro, im sure ill be able to figure this out.


1999 - Cavalier - 5speed - Exhaust - 17" rims - carbon fiber hood - the beater

Yeah. But the chance it being ur actual brake pads is pretty slim to none. But at least you know how to tune. Goodluck man!

Mike Z A.K.A SNEEZY wrote:Yeah. But the chance it being ur actual brake pads is pretty slim to none. But at least you know how to tune. Goodluck man!

haha just read what i wrote, i meant to say look at the brake/hub assembly.


1999 - Cavalier - 5speed - Exhaust - 17" rims - carbon fiber hood - the beater

lights are fixed! just some new bulbs and cleaned up the contacts.
Broken wheel stud front drivers side is now replaced with a new one. while there ive noticed i need some brakes, pads have uneven wear and rotors are scored to @!#$.

now i just need to give her a tune up, cap, rotor, wires and plugs. should be purring like a kitten by then. I also want to get a new muffler, theirs a magnaflow or borla on there, i cant remember. Think i just want to toss a stocker back on there.

then its onto cleaning up the rockers. their used to be skirts on there, so theirs a few holes i need to fill, some surface rust to clean up. Then ill have to spray and it will look different...so ill need a z24 skirt package. any ideas?


1999 - Cavalier - 5speed - Exhaust - 17" rims - carbon fiber hood - the beater

ive noticed the abs light only comes on after driving the car about 10-20 feet, guessing a wheel sensor is damaged.


1999 - Cavalier - 5speed - Exhaust - 17" rims - carbon fiber hood - the beater

Well since you have the 2.2 there is no rotor or cap to do the tune up. Just wires, and plugs. I would also do the PCV (I dont remember if the 2.2 has one or not) and the air and fuel filter. That should help her out tons.

for the sides, I would grab some Z24 skirts, or LSS skirts, they would even out the sides really nicely. The muffler if you want to quiet it up, then yeah stocker, but u may notice a little less peppyness in it, but the motor has like 110HP anyways so you may loose the 2 or 3 you gained with the muffler

And as far as the abs light, yeah sounds like you have a bad wheel speed sensor. Like I said, AZ maybe able to pull those codes for you, just dont turn off the car bc it will reset it, and you will loose it, if thats the case. Then just replace the sensor, and check the wiring. I do love your bumpers tho, bc I have a set of those going on my girls car, cant wait till I get them painted and installed