Main IndexAuto Repair Home Search Posts SEARCH
POSTS
Who's Online WHO'S
ONLINE
Log in LOG
IN









97 Cavalier 2.4L cylinder misfire??


Search for (search options)
 



polkbriand
New User

Jan 30, 2010, 10:34 AM

Post #1 of 8 (16002 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 (15981 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 (15979 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.





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

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 (15966 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
Hammer Time profile image

Jan 31, 2010, 7:39 AM

Post #5 of 8 (15964 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 (15957 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 (13041 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?

In Reply To


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Jun 18, 2012, 12:07 PM

Post #8 of 8 (13035 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.







 
 
 






Search for (options) Privacy Sitemap