Any Gear Heads out there?

My Garage ^ | today | me

[Michael Barnes]

Hoping one of your gear heads out there can help. I have a 96 Cavalier that died on me last week. I was driving it around town (stop and go traffic). The car was doing fine until I went to a drive threw. As I was waiting in line, the car was idling then the RPM's dropped very, very low..The engine was sputtering and if I applied anything to the accelerator, the car would almost stall out. This went on for a couple minutes, then the car just died.
The engine will crank up, but will not turn over.

I'm leaning towards a fuel filter or fuel pump as the culprit. Does this sound familiar to anyone?

More details on vehicle:
2.2L, 52K miles
manual transmission
YES, there is gas in the tank!

[Michael Barnes]

Also, does anyone know the easiest way to relieve the fuel system pressure?

[Vesuvian]

It sounds like it could be the fuel filter- I don't know when a change is directed by Chevy (ask me about Audis- I have the A4 shop manual on my bookshelf) Have you looked for Chevy Forums online? Someone there can be better able to help you out. Best of luck to you!

[shadeaud]

you sure it's the fuel line problem and not your timing chain?

[Cyber Liberty]

What was the temperature outside when this happened at the drive-through?

[bgierhart]

There should be a valve ( it looks like a valve stem from a tire) on top of the engine. It will probably have a blue or black cover on it, use a flat head screw driver and depress the valve.

[mbynack]

It sounds like it might be fuel related. How full was your tank? You could have a percolation problem where the fuel in the lines boils (sometimes called vapor lock). This usually happens when it’s hot outside and the fuel level is below half a tank.

Did the car start back up after it had set for awhile or is it still giving you problems?

A good garage can check the fuel pressure and tell you if you have a bad fuel pump or a clogged filter.

[mbynack]

Also, does anyone know the easiest way to relieve the fuel system pressure?

Loosen the fuel line where it goes into the throttle body.

[FateAmenableToChange]

Out of gas?

[ThinkingMan]

If the vehicle is fuel injected, you should be able to relieve pressure by taking the wires off one of the injectors on the rail, hooking some 18 gauge jumper wires to the battery, and touching them several times to the exposed contact on the injector. the important thing is to just tap the injector with the wires, don't hold the wire on the injector. I found that 3 or 4 taps usually works.

[Michael Barnes]

What was the temperature outside when this happened at the drive-through?

If memory serves, it was around 80 degrees. Don't recall the humidity that day...

[Michael Barnes]

Tank was at a 1/4. The car still will nto turn over, just crank. I checked the plugs and sprayed a little starter fluid on the plugs and repaced them..The car wanted to turn over, then quit, so I don't think it's ignition/spark.

[Michael Barnes]

Thanks for the input!

[Michael Barnes]

Thanks...jsut found more info on the valve on the web...

[Michael Barnes]

you sure it's the fuel line problem and not your timing chain?Not 100%, but it's the fuel filter/pump are the least expensive to replace..

[The_Victor]

I realize FReepers are full of advice (mostly good advice), but you might try a site intended for such stuff like http://www.mechanic.cc/mechanic/index.htm or similar sights.

PS: fuel pump sounds like a likely culprit to me. Fuel pressure relief valve should be on the fuel rail leading to the injectors (Schrader valve on my Jeep). Check for fuel pressure there to start with.

[habs4ever]

ping

[Michael Barnes]

Hey cool site..thanks for the response..

[mbynack]

Sounds fuel related to me, too. I would check the fuel filter first. Sometimes a good parts store will run a diagnostic for free, so you might start off with them. The fact that the engine tried to start when you used starting fluid is a reasonably good indicator that it's fuel related and not an ignition problem.

Another possibility is water in the fuel. I once worked on a Mustang where someone had intentionally put water in the tank.

[Kathleen]

Hmmmm...I'm guessing fuel injectors, but my expertise leans more toward muscle cars, back in the days of carburetors. *sigh*