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97 Cavalier 2.4L cylinder misfire??


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polkbriand
New User

Jan 30, 2010, 10:34 AM

Post #1 of 8 (15403 views)
  post locked   97 Cavalier 2.4L cylinder misfire??  

1997
Chevy Cavalier LS
2.4L with 164,000 miles

While driving home yesterday my car all of a sudden kicked and started to react like a cylinder misfire. I pulled over and checked to see if there were any leaks and there were none. The exhaust did smell like gunpowder though. I have changed all of the spark plugs and checked all the fluids. What could be doing this? Please give me a hand, I am 21 and trying to make this car last 4 more months.


steve01832
Veteran
steve01832 profile image

Jan 30, 2010, 5:45 PM

Post #2 of 8 (15382 views)
  post locked   Re: 97 Cavalier 2.4L cylinder misfire??  

You should start by checking for spark at all cylinders. Sounds like you may have a bad coil or module. Cylinders 1 and 4 share one coil, cylinders 2 and 3 share the second coil. If you find a pair of cylinders dead, swap the 2 coils but put the ignition wires back to original locations. Rerun the spark test. If the same 2 cylinders are dead you need to replace the ignition module. If now, the other 2 cylinders are dead, replace the coil.

Steve


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Jan 30, 2010, 7:16 PM

Post #3 of 8 (15380 views)
  post locked   Re: 97 Cavalier 2.4L cylinder misfire??  

The one very most common cause of misfire in this engine is the coil housing. The white plastic housing where the coils sit acts as a distributor cap on that engine and they cause problems like this all the time.





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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.



(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Jan 30, 2010, 7:17 PM)


polkbriand
New User

Jan 31, 2010, 7:06 AM

Post #4 of 8 (15367 views)
  post locked   Re: 97 Cavalier 2.4L cylinder misfire??  

I checked the housing and it is cracked on the side, but the contacts at still good. I had them run a diagnostics test on the coils at Autozone and they are fine. I also did a scan on the car and it says cylinder 1 is misfiring. that is all. I have bought new sparks for all of the cylinders, and cant think of what it can be. any other suggestions?


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Jan 31, 2010, 7:39 AM

Post #5 of 8 (15365 views)
  post locked   Re: 97 Cavalier 2.4L cylinder misfire??  

Just replace the housing.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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.



Sidom
Veteran / Moderator
Sidom profile image

Jan 31, 2010, 10:50 AM

Post #6 of 8 (15358 views)
  post locked   Re: 97 Cavalier 2.4L cylinder misfire??  

HT pretty much nailed for you on his 1st post..... Usually you don't even get a crack to "see" on those...

The problem lies inside the housing where the crossfiring occurs. If you more conclusive evidence (which isn't a bad thing) before you replace it then you are going to need a scope & some test plug wires.....


brinn23
New User

Jun 18, 2012, 11:31 AM

Post #7 of 8 (12442 views)
  post locked   Re: 97 Cavalier 2.4L cylinder misfire??  

hey i just changed the spark plugs in my cavalier, and i still have the misfire, but no dead cylinders, should i still try switching the coils? or is there another problem that im missing?

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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Jun 18, 2012, 12:07 PM

Post #8 of 8 (12436 views)
  post locked   Re: 97 Cavalier 2.4L cylinder misfire??  

You need to start a question of your own.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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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