I've been having a very strange problem with my cavalier the last couple of days. I went and put gas in it and drove it around last wednesday, and then the next day I started off to work and it was acting weird. Its a 2002 ecotec with 85,xxx miles and a slushbox, and when I get around 4k rpms it suddenly looses power, doesn't sputter or backfire, but just feels like the e-brake is being pulled. It seemed like a fuel filter, so I changed that out this morning, and now it runs great, right up to 4k and then starts acting up again. I also thought it might be a transmission problem, but in park, or neutral, it will rev to 6 and then start to lose power again, eventually dropping back to about 4k....So i dunno if its a sensor, a dying fuel pump, or just some water in the gas tank. Just thought I'd pick some brains and see if anyone else has any ideas before I start throwing money at it with parts and diagnostics.....
Catalytic Converter.
-Chris-
-Sweetness-
-Turbocharged-
Slowly but surely may some day win this race...
i would do a fuel pump volume and pressure test
You do realize when a fuel pump starts to lean out due to malfunction it backfires and sputters right? Its like hitting the limiter.
When a catalytic converter goes out the car suddenly feels like you're driving it through molasses. Once it's completely clogged it sputters and backfires at an almost exact rpm.
Had both happen to me so I'm speaking from personal experience.
I'd look at both just in case.
-Chris-
-Sweetness-
-Turbocharged-
Slowly but surely may some day win this race...
well I got under it, and I have a big dent on the front side of my cat...and when I was driving home from work last night...it would act like it was on the limiter and then it sounded like something was breaking loose and then it would rev a little higher. then when i would slow down and then get on it again it would to the same thing...
i would be checking the plugs and wires, maybe even the fuel filter had the same issue with my 2.2 noneco
plugs are maybe 2 months old, doesn't have wires, and the fuel filter is one day old.....I might pull the plugs tonight when the car is cool and see how they look...but I wouldn't think that would be it....
I'm goin with the cat diagnosis
The material inside the cat gets knocked loose or gets so hot that it comes undone and blocks the flow of exhaust.
One quick test is to let her get all warmed up and take the temp, like with a laser thermometer, before the cat and after the cat. If the cat is blocked the part before the cat will be hotter.
Another way you can kinda check is to take out the before cat 02 sensor and run it. This can relieve some of the pressure and if it runs better, it's most likely the cat. You can do the same thing with a spark plug too but i don't believe there is any way with the coil on plug like the eco.
-Seth
Have someone rev up the car and feel te exhaust coming out the tailpipe. The flow will probably be low. New cat converter time.
zsquee24 wrote:Have someone rev up the car and feel te exhaust coming out the tailpipe. The flow will probably be low. New cat converter time.
All you need to do is start it and feel how hot it is (no reving needed).. If you can not hold your hand there (too hot), its the car....
P&P Tuning
420.5whp / 359.8wtq
yeah its really hot..i'm pretty sure thats what it is. It was getting worse and worse, and now its starting to run better the more i drive it, so i think everything is starting to break up and blow out...
Cody Hendricks wrote:i would be checking the plugs and wires, maybe even the fuel filter had the same issue with my 2.2 noneco
wow
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cavmania wrote:Cody Hendricks wrote:i would be checking the plugs and wires, maybe even the fuel filter had the same issue with my 2.2 noneco
wow
hahaha was just gonna comment on that but WOW pretty much somes it up
listen to chris, correct me if i wrong but if you drive long enough with a plugged cat couldn't it fawk the motor i think i head something about that somewhere but can't remember or does it just eventually just stall out
JBO since July 30, 2001
wow does fit that wow indeed didn't even thing about the ecotech having the coil lol
i agree with the cat diag . if you dont fix it it can and probably will hurt the engine .a quick way to see if it is the cat is to just un bolt the exhaust from the header pullit to the side and do a quick spin around the block if your power is back cut the cat out and strait pipe it . this will take you about 30 minutes and cost about 20 dollars . or have it replaced with a universal one for 150-200 dollars .
if you arent spraying your just playing !!!
thanks to everyone for their help....it was the cat....i unbolted it and it ran like a dream....and sounded like a dirt bike...
