So, Ran into a problem today....

I drove the car to and from work with no problems. This afternoon, I went to run an errand and drove two blocks, and the car stalled. It started back up, but stalled again when I put it in gear.

After some drying off from the rain, I had my dad run me down so he could crank while I was under the hood. The ignition coil wire was a bit loose. So I had him crank while I checked the connection (yea, I got shocked...). I plugged back in and it fired up, with no problem.

Fast forward 1 hour, and I leave to take my kid to dance. I drive three blocks (woohoo, got a block further!) and the car stalled again. I double checked all wires, and when my dad stopped down, I pulled the coil wire and he cranked once. I put coil wire back on - and yep, car fired right up. I drove it back home, and let it run for a good 15-20 minutes.

So now, I'm replacing the ignition coil (in the dark!) before I drive it off again to see if it stalls.

Everything else seemed okay, but the only common issue was pulling the coil wire off and putting it back on after cranking it once while the wire was removed.

Will post follow up - as I NEED my car - it's my only one!

if coil does not fix it the next thing to look at i think would be the coil wire

So, I replaced the coil and the ignition module. Car wouldn't start. So, I double checked connections, made sure everything was tight. Car starts up, and runs with a miss. So I take everything back apart and put it back together again, making sure the firing order was correct.

Car would not turn over at a all. So, in my frustration, I call AAA and have them tow it to my mechanic buddy's place. (The AAA tow fiasco is a story for another time - but the driver's name was Squirrel.)

Once he looks at it tomorrow, I'll give a heads up on what they find. My father bets it something I overlooked - and something simple. I know I have a headache and am so physically and mentally exhausted (I had to work after spending several hours under the hood, lol) that at this point I'm okay with anything not heavy on my wallet!

93 TBI, right? Pop the air cleaner off and make sure you can see a nice cone of fuel spray descending from the injector. A failing fuel pump can be a sometimes yes, sometimes no kind of thing for a while before it gives up completely.

Want to feel better? Be glad you can change a coil in the dark in an hour or less. I worked all afternoon trying to change a bad coil on a 97 Cavalier 2.2 with 4 speed auto. The coil pack is at the bottom rear of the engine, obstructed by the transmission and the sub-frame. Access from above is even tighter. I had to remove the exhaust system to make enough room for my arm, couldn't see the coils while my arm was in the way and had to work by feel. Then one of the two retaining bolts rounded off instead of unwinding so I had to remove the entire pack, bracket and all, to get the bolt out. Dumbest. Design. Ever.

(sorry for venting...)

I put coils on my old 01 Cavalier 2.2, it was easy because they were on the driver's side of the head, the 98 redesign helped that for the 2.2ohv engine, although on S10's they were still down under the intake manifold.

I agree that it could be a fuel pump. How was Acceleration those few precious blocks?

Luckily TBI units are really easy to rebulid, even if the injectors themselves are expensive if you need them.

stewzer55 wrote:

I put coils on my old 01 Cavalier 2.2, it was easy because they were on the  driver's side of the head, the 98 redesign helped that for the 2.2ohv engine,

That''s approximately where I'm going to move them to -- bolted to the side of the air filter box, above the transmission. I opened up the wiring harness and teased the wires out to get enough length before I had to quit for supper last night.

buickwagon wrote:

93 TBI, right? Pop the air cleaner off and make sure you can see a nice cone of fuel spray descending from the injector. A failing fuel pump can be a sometimes yes, sometimes no kind of thing for a while before it gives up completely.

Want to feel better? Be glad you can change a coil in the dark in an hour or less. I worked all afternoon trying to change a bad coil on a 97 Cavalier 2.2 with 4 speed auto. The coil pack is at the bottom rear of the engine, obstructed by the transmission and the sub-frame. Access from above is even tighter. I had to remove the exhaust system to make enough room for my arm, couldn't see the coils while my arm was in the way and had to work by feel. Then one of the two retaining bolts rounded off instead of unwinding so I had to remove the entire pack, bracket and all, to get the bolt out. Dumbest. Design. Ever.

(sorry for venting...)

Fuel was not an issue.  On the TBI, the coil is literally right next to the distributor cap.  In fact, one must remove the cap to get one of the bolts off for the coil.  That said, below is everything that happened.

In my ever hardworking state, I managed to mess one of the ignition module bolts when tightening down the new module.  I apparently went in crooked - which caused an issue with the distributor.  On top of this, he pulled the distributor, and it had a lot of rust.  I scratched my head, as the two module bolts were very rusted as well.  So, it looks like a distributor problem at this time.  The part arrives tomorrow (lol I work at the parts place he uses, so he was just calling me to order the parts!)

On thing that bothers me is the fact that I did not struggle at all to get the module bolts on.  Literally hand started, and they went on with no trouble what-so-ever.  I mean not even a tight spot when putting them on the car.  It is aluminum there, but wow, I didn't put any pressure to tighten them.  That said, before I say the problem is solved, I will wait till the guy calls me back to say it's finished! LOL.

Oh, and for the record, me screwing up the bolts led to the discovery that there was a lot of rust and the distributor may have been causing this whole problem.  So does this in fact make it my fault that it happened?  hehe.

Edit: Oh yes, and two more things.

1. My buddy calls me and says, "How do you get this stupid back bolt loose to get the distributor cap off?" I laughed said 1/4" drive deepwell socket, 2" extension and a 1/4" drive socket. He said to me... hmm, sounds like you had a problem doing this at one time - you answered too quick. I died laughing.

2. How "clean" does the area below the ignition coil have to be? I was told that I should have wire brushed where the bolts mount the coil, as that's where it grounds. I did not do this - but as of now, read above!

gosh golly wow. I've been reading this thread for a while and was out in the piney woods for the last week away from the internet. I need some closure to this saga. Was the problem found to be the dizzy and is it running fine now? It's almost been a week since your last post. The suspense is killing me

Ah, yes! Sorry for that. It was the distributor. Running well, though it seems I've picked up a slight hesitation. I'll examine that tomorrow and Thursday. Other than that, all is well!

Are you using a GM ignition module? When I replaced my distributor it came as a complete unit including a China made ignition module. The first time I drove it the car cut out a couple times and the tach was erratic. Bought a AC Delco module and installed it, no issue since, car runs perfect

MalibuSSwagon wrote:

Are you using a GM ignition module? When I replaced my distributor it came as a complete unit including a China made ignition module. The first time I drove it the car cut out a couple times and the tach was erratic. Bought a AC Delco module and installed it, no issue since, car runs perfect

Thanks, I'll be sure to check that!

MalibuSSwagon wrote:

Are you using a GM ignition module? When I replaced my distributor it came as a complete unit including a China made ignition module. The first time I drove it the car cut out a couple times and the tach was erratic. Bought a AC Delco module and installed it, no issue since, car runs perfect

Also had issues with my tach when I used a cheap ignition module,installed the original module and everythings back to normal!

Well I figured out the big hesitation problem.  Those at WF, thanks for the help in the super fast TPS change!  That hesitation is completely gone.  I won't lie, I abused the heck out of the car on the cruise, but it responded nicely!  

Nick,  (I think it was Nick) pointed out an odd spray from the right side injector that is causing some problems with my fuel mileage.  Oddly enough, I did WAY better on my MPG after swapping out the TPS in the church parking lot.  It's still a bit off, so in the next week or two, I'll put new injectors on it. (Edit: There are no fuel injector repair kits available for the TBI's that I've found - but it is Sunday!)

Coming home, there was zero hesitation, and it was all over the acceleration when I put the pedal to the floor on I-81, so it's nice to know that part is fixed!

Thanks for the input everyone, and I look forward to the next WF I can attend!

That's great. Didn't know a TPS could make such a change.
Pete

cbshea13 wrote:

Well I figured out the big hesitation problem.  Those at WF, thanks for the help in the super fast TPS change!  That hesitation is completely gone.  I won't lie, I abused the heck out of the car on the cruise, but it responded nicely!  

Nick,  (I think it was Nick) pointed out an odd spray from the right side injector that is causing some problems with my fuel mileage.  Oddly enough, I did WAY better on my MPG after swapping out the TPS in the church parking lot.  It's still a bit off, so in the next week or two, I'll put new injectors on it.  (Edit:  There are no fuel injector repair kits available for the TBI's that I've found - but it is Sunday!)

Coming home, there was zero hesitation, and it was all over the acceleration when I put the pedal to the floor on I-81, so it's nice to know that part is fixed!

Thanks for the input everyone, and I look forward to the next WF I can attend!

Set aside the last Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in July for 2015. WF NY should fall on those days. Great to see you car running better. That is an extremely clean Cappy you have there Chris, or shall I say Stubby No'mods

BigBlackBeaSSt wrote:

cbshea13 wrote:

Well I figured out the big hesitation problem.  Those at WF, thanks for the help in the super fast TPS change!  That hesitation is completely gone.  I won't lie, I abused the heck out of the car on the cruise, but it responded nicely!  

Nick,  (I think it was Nick) pointed out an odd spray from the right side injector that is causing some problems with my fuel mileage.  Oddly enough, I did WAY better on my MPG after swapping out the TPS in the church parking lot.  It's still a bit off, so in the next week or two, I'll put new injectors on it.  (Edit:  There are no fuel injector repair kits available for the TBI's that I've found - but it is Sunday!)

Coming home, there was zero hesitation, and it was all over the acceleration when I put the pedal to the floor on I-81, so it's nice to know that part is fixed!

Thanks for the input everyone, and I look forward to the next WF I can attend!

Set aside the last Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in July for 2015.  WF NY should fall on those days.  Great to see you car running better.  That is an extremely clean Cappy you have there Chris, or shall I say Stubby No'mods

I was informed today that I (and maybe the girls, if they want to go!) are clear for WF NY. I am conflicted - family vacation spot that I've visited for 35 of my 40 years on this planet...or WF NY. (For the record - both! I am planning on attending WF NY!)