Car problem... anyone want to take a guess?

[Supermercado]

I drive a 1989 Cavalier with 124,000 miles. Last summer, I noticed what felt like a lack of power. Turned out that my spark plug wires were bad and that fixed the problem. Well, I was driving around tonight and noticed the car doing the same thing it was doing last year. When I start out in first gear, I start as usual, but just as I'm about to get completely off the clutch, it feels like the car is about to stall on me. So I end up giving it a little more gas to keep it from stalling and after a second, everything returns to normal but I've got more gas in and the engine revs higher than normal. I noticed it doing it in second, third, and even fourth gears, too. Driving at 50 mph in fourth gear feels like I'm trying to do 25 in fourth gear. It just chugs along.

I don't know much about cars, so I don't have the slightest idea about how to go about this. My dad checked the spark plug wires and everything appears to be okay, but we took the car for a spin around the block and it was still doing it, so unless it's an actual spark plug (those were replaced 2 years ago), that doesn't appear to be the problem. There wasn't time to look over anything else tonight. As of right now, the only thing my dad can think of is that it might be related to the fuel pump.

Basically... anyone have any other ideas as to what we can check to try and find the problem? Thanks.

 

[Nohr]

Have the sparkplugs been gapped and cleaned recently? 2 years seems like a while.

 

[Supermercado]

Originally posted by: Nohr
Have the sparkplugs been gapped and cleaned recently? 2 years seems like a while.

No, they haven't. It was after 10 by the time I got home from work tonight and my dad didn't want to mess with it tonight. He said that he wants to try that before replacing them altogether, though.

 

[iamwiz82]

change the plugs first. Start with the easiest things first.

 

[Supermercado]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
change the plugs first. Start with the easiest things first.

Yeah, that's the plan. Clean them and make sure they're not just dirty. If that doesn't work, we'll move to the plugs themselves, and if that doesn't help, I guess the wires after that. Thanks for your help.

 

[iamwiz82]

dont bother cleaning them. Just get new ones. They are only $2/plug

 

[NokiaDude]

Dirty fuel injector? Maybe you should take it to a shop for an all around tune up?

 

[Supermercado]

Originally posted by: NokiaDude
Dirty fuel injector? Maybe you should take it to a shop for an all around tune up?

It could definitely stand that...

 

[Wolfsraider]

spark plugs do break down after a while

if you can try this

remove one spark plug from the motor

attach the spark plug wire back to it and (using rubber handled,thicker is better,pliers) hold the plug about a 1/4 inch from the motor or any metal.see if the spark is blue. look to see if you are getting arcing from the ceramic(a sign that the plugs need replacing)

if the arc is weak or more yellow than blue i would replace them.

be sure to check the distribitor cap rotor,and condenser (if applicaple) as well

mike

 

[C'DaleRider]

Plugs are a cheap replacement item........I'd almost say from the time you've had them, it's probably replacement time. But when you check the plugs, look at the electrodes. Are they still square in profile or have they become rounded? What color is the tip...black, red, oily, fluffy soot-covered? What's the gap on them now? They may just need cleaning and regapping.

As far as the wires, two ways to check their functionality.............either by checking continuity with an ohm meter, which is the better way. Second way is start the engine on a dark night, as little light around as possible and headlights off, and watch the engine run. Bad wires that are leaking/shorting will be easily visible with a blueish corona or actual visible shorting around the wire. Have to do this in the darkest place you can find, sometimes the shorting isn't very strong. Don't stick your hands in there.........never know what'll bite.

Oh, does the car have a distributor cap and rotor? If it does, have you checked the cap for cracks, carbon tracking on the inside, or just worn out? Is the rotor tip clean or covered with carbon? Again, cheap replacement items.

 

[IGBT]

With that many happy trails on it I'd change the throttle position sensor on the throttle body. There may be fault codes in the syst.fault logger to support this. Read the fault logger to get the low down.

 

[mastertech01]

An easy maintenance item is the fuel filter and also replace the air filter if it is dirty.

 

[Johnnie]

just hope it is not the catalytic converter

 

[Supermercado]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll pass them along to my dad. Hopefully we can figure out what's wrong and get it fixed.

 

[Ryan]

I have found the source of your problem - you bought a chevy.

 

[XZeroII]

Replace the fuel filter. It could be clogged. I would also make sure someone didn't tamper with your gas.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: rbloedow
I have found the source of your problem - you bought a chevy.

 

[Rkonster]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: rbloedow
I have found the source of your problem - you bought a chevy.

Haha!

 

[rufruf44]

Originally posted by: rbloedow
I have found the source of your problem - you bought a chevy.

Nah, apart of their silly plastic content, Chevy's engine and transmission are pretty solid

 

[thedarkwolf]

Originally posted by: Johnnie
just hope it is not the catalytic converter

You can get an aftermarket cat for around $50. Then you just have to have somebody weild it in for you.

 

[Thegonagle]

If you put cheap replacement wires on last year, don't expect them to last as long as the originals. I'd try replacing the wires again if the symptoms are exactly the same as they were last year.

BTW, that doesn't sound like the cat.

 

[LS20]

spark plugs
air filter
reground MAF
fuel filter
distributor rotor/cap
oxygen sensor
adjust valves

 

[Cyberian]

Originally posted by: C'DaleRider <
As far as the wires, two ways to check their functionality.............either by checking continuity with an ohm meter, which is the better way. Second way is start the engine on a dark night, as little light around as possible and headlights off, and watch the engine run. Bad wires that are leaking/shorting will be easily visible with a blueish corona or actual visible shorting around the wire. Have to do this in the darkest place you can find, sometimes the shorting isn't very strong. Don't stick your hands in there.........never know what'll bite.

Very good post.

Wouldn't the preferred methof of checking plug wires be the nighttime trick, where they are under a load, instead of using an ohmmeter?

 

[Beau]

Originally posted by: mastertech01
An easy maintenance item is the fuel filter and also replace the air filter if it is dirty.

That's car model dependant. Replacing a fuel filter on an '92 Passat is a PITA, as is the air filter.

 

[Beau]

Originally posted by: Cyberian

Wouldn't the preferred method of checking plug wires be the nighttime trick, where they are under a load, instead of using an ohmmeter?

Actually it's both. I've had plugs that gave the propper resistance, but still leaked. Another test you can do is to use a kilovolt meter to check for leakage, you don't have to wait till the evening for that. If you get in the 20's, you've got a problem.