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2003 Cavalier Starts then dies
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D'evil One
Novice
Apr 23, 2011, 5:28 PM
Post #1 of 15
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2003 Cavalier Starts then dies
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I have had my cavalier since 03. Maintenance is good and have never had a problem until recently.
Car specs:
2003 Chevy cavalier manual DOHC 2.2
Any other details needed I can get if you need it in order to get.
A few weeks ago the engine light came on and the car lost power and was sputtering. Got error code 304 (cylinder 4 misfire) so I checked the spark plugs which looked fine but I replaced them anyway as the are cheap. That didn't fix the problem. So I replaced the ignition coil which fixed the engine light problem and the engine had power again. Everything seemed fine for the last week but this afternoon after driving around town I parked and came back in less than an hour. I tried to turn the car on but it just started then sputtered and died. Tried a few more times but no dice. I was thinking about replacing the ignition control module but I figured I would get some feedback here first. Also how can I check to make sure that I am getting enough fuel to the injector.
BTW the check engine light has not come on again.
Any and all help is greatly be appreciated.
(This post was edited by D'evil One on Apr 23, 2011, 5:50 PM)
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Apr 23, 2011, 5:43 PM
Post #2 of 15
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Re: 2003 Cavalier Starts then dies
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All "crank, no start" conditions are approached in the same way. Every engine requires certain functions to be able to run. Some of these functions rely on specific components to work and some components are part of more than one function so it is important to see the whole picture to be able to conclude anything about what may have failed. Also, these functions can ONLY be tested during the failure. Any other time and they will simply test good because the problem isn't present at the moment.
If you approach this in any other way, you are merely guessing and that only serves to replace unnecessary parts and wastes money.
Every engine requires spark, fuel and compression to run. That's what we have to look for.
These are the basics that need to be tested and will give us the info required to isolate a cause.
1) Test for spark at the plug end of the wire using a spark tester. If none found, check for power supply on the + terminal of the coil with the key on.
2) Test for injector pulse using a small bulb called a noid light. If none found, check for power supply at one side of the injector with the key on.
3) Use a fuel pressure gauge to test for correct fuel pressure, also noticing if the pressure holds when key is shut off.
4) If all of these things check good, then you would need to do a complete compression test.
Once you have determined which of these functions has dropped out,
you will know which system is having the problem.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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D'evil One
Novice
Apr 23, 2011, 5:58 PM
Post #3 of 15
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Re: 2003 Cavalier Starts then dies
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Thank you, I'll run through these first thing in the morning and post my findings. Should I focus on any one in particular as the car is turning and it just dies after a few seconds?
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Apr 23, 2011, 6:01 PM
Post #4 of 15
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Re: 2003 Cavalier Starts then dies
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You might want to start with fuel pressure.
All this is assuming you don't have a security light on or flashing when you try to start it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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D'evil One
Novice
Apr 24, 2011, 9:50 AM
Post #5 of 15
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Re: 2003 Cavalier Starts then dies
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So I spent all morning working on this. I checked the sparks on the plugs and and they all worked fine. I checked the cables and everything was good to go. Doesn't look like this was the problem. I called a buddy who had fuel pressure gauge and it looked fine in both the on and off position. I checked the fuel filter and it seems to be ok. I may replace the filter just for good measure it again as it is only $10 depending on what you guys think.
A neighbor suggested to bang on the fuel tank and try to start. So I did it and it came on! So I am guessing it is either that tank is dirty or the pump is on its last ropes. Its turning on repeatedly now so I am not sure if I should just replace the pump or if I should try some sort of cleaning solution. What do you guys think?
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D'evil One
Novice
Apr 24, 2011, 11:30 AM
Post #7 of 15
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Re: 2003 Cavalier Starts then dies
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He said it was about 35 psi on both. He said that was good. I assumed he knew what he was doing. What should it have been at?
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Apr 24, 2011, 11:39 AM
Post #8 of 15
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Re: 2003 Cavalier Starts then dies
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No, the fuel pressure spec for that engine is 50 to 60 PSI, no less.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Mr.scotty
Enthusiast
Apr 25, 2011, 3:17 PM
Post #9 of 15
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Re: 2003 Cavalier Starts then dies
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So his pump is bad then you think?
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Your only as good as your tools!
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Apr 25, 2011, 3:26 PM
Post #10 of 15
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Re: 2003 Cavalier Starts then dies
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It sounds like it but you need to verify power and ground getting to it.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Mr.scotty
Enthusiast
Apr 25, 2011, 9:24 PM
Post #11 of 15
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Re: 2003 Cavalier Starts then dies
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Is it ok just to run 12volts strait to the pump to test the Pressure?
I got a van i think the fuel pump is getting ready to go and i want to know a couple things in advanced.
Thanks for replying.
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Your only as good as your tools!
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Apr 26, 2011, 4:31 AM
Post #12 of 15
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Re: 2003 Cavalier Starts then dies
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That would be testing the pump only and not the rest of the circuit in the car so it may not tell you everything you need to know. It would be OK if you end up finding a bad pump.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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D'evil One
Novice
Apr 30, 2011, 2:29 PM
Post #13 of 15
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Re: 2003 Cavalier Starts then dies
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Just finished changing the fuel pump. Holy hell that was a pain getting the tank out of under there! After replacing it started without a hitch. If I have any more issues with it I'll repost. Otherwise, it was just a matter of replacing the pump.
Happy I finally finished. Saved $300 bucks doing it myself! A few places around town were asking for $450 parts and labor (Is that a good price?). I ended up spending $150 on the pump and a few additional tools.
Thanks a lot guys! I really appreciate it.
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Mr.scotty
Enthusiast
Apr 30, 2011, 2:53 PM
Post #14 of 15
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Re: 2003 Cavalier Starts then dies
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Cool!
Glad it's fix'd!
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Your only as good as your tools!
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Apr 30, 2011, 3:24 PM
Post #15 of 15
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Re: 2003 Cavalier Starts then dies
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Quote ">> Just finished changing the fuel pump. Holy hell that was a pain getting the tank out of under there!<<" Glad it's fixed too and LMAO. Try rusted straps and bolts and you may have. Hope you lubed them up so if back there again it will be easier. On some tanks over the years I just cut the straps then could use torches on it with tank out and no gas around and welded up the straps for re-use. Rust belt here and it happens fast. Why they make bolts and studs that rust I'll never know. Guess saving ONE dollar a car is worth it T
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