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2002 Chevy Cavalier, need help.


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Barbarabriana
New User

Feb 21, 2013, 7:00 PM

Post #1 of 7 (2787 views)
2002 Chevy Cavalier, need help. Sign In

Okay, this is gonna be long and I apologize for any typos, I'm typing this on a smartphone.

My 2002 Chevy cavalier was left at a business the other day and towed. I think someone messed with my car while left at this business, because it ran fine when it was left there, it just needed an oil change.

I went to get my car on Monday from the place that towed it, got it out, was driving it home, it stopped accelerating, wouldn't brake, power steering went out.TTurns out it was out of oil. Yes, I know how bad this is. I'm not mechanically inclines whatsoever but I do know, no oil is bad. Anyway, we replaced the oil, and also put a refurbished battery in there because it was bad and the car wouldn't start or get enough power to start.

We got it home, then took it out the next day to run errands because it had more oil in it and a new battery. We stopped at a grocery store, went back out, car wouldn't start. It would start for a minute and then die. I was told it could be the alternator, so we left it at the store and I brought my dad back later to check it out and help me get it home again.

He checked the alternator and told me it was fine, turns out it was leaking oil and needed the gasket that goes where you drain the oil. Drain plug gasket, I believe. So it again had no oil and my dad told me it had an automatic shut off to keep it from screwing up the motor.

Today my fiance changed the oil, replaced the oil filter, and replaced the supposed gasket that was the reason my car was screwed up. We went out to run more errands, car died in us when we stopped at a red light. We managed to get it home, but it had issues with acceleration. It would go up to 3000 rpm and make a loud roaring noise (as if with a stick shift in 2nd gear where the car needs to shift but makes the roaring until shifting.) if you let off the gas pedal then revved it again, it would go.

Anyway, my car is currently sitting in the driveway. When ever it dies the battery light and oil light still turn on. It doesn't seem to be leaking oil now, but I could be wrong. I still believe someone drained the oil or did something terrible, but it doesn't matter, I just want some opinions as to what could be wrong.

It could still be the alternator, maybe, or my dad supposedly thinks it's a sensor.

Help?

I apologize for how long this was, but I didn't want to leave anything out.

It's the 2.2 ecotech motor, automatic, with 136k miles on it. Has Been regularly maintained the past year and a half I've owned it and I believe it was maintained well before it was mine. It's had a lot of work put into it and I really need it running again.


Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Discretesignals profile image

Feb 21, 2013, 7:05 PM

Post #2 of 7 (2779 views)
Re: 2002 Chevy Cavalier, need help. Sign In

Check engine light on? If so, what trouble codes are stored?

Any odd noises from the engine?




Quote
So it again had no oil and my dad told me it had an automatic shut off to keep it from screwing up the motor.


Tell Dad that there is no feature that will kill the engine if there is no oil pressure. The engine will stop running when the crank spins a rod bearing and the camshafts seize and break in half though.





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.

(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Feb 21, 2013, 7:09 PM)


Barbarabriana
New User

Feb 21, 2013, 7:08 PM

Post #3 of 7 (2773 views)
Re: 2002 Chevy Cavalier, need help. Sign In


In Reply To
Check engine light on? If so, what trouble codes are stored.

Any odd noises from the engine?

[quote.]So it again had no oil and my dad told me it had an automatic shut off to keep it from screwing up the motor.


Tell Dad that there is no feature that will kill the engine if there is no oil pressure. The engine will stop running when the motor locks up though.

Check engine light is not on.

There's a ticking noise while the car is running, it is a lot quieter than it was since it didnt have Oil in it. It sounds god awful when accelerating or I should say attempting to accelerate.

We're gonna try to get it to advance auto to get them to check codes on it tomorrow. I also had a mechanic tell me he'd look at it for free.


Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Discretesignals profile image

Feb 21, 2013, 7:11 PM

Post #4 of 7 (2767 views)
Re: 2002 Chevy Cavalier, need help. Sign In

I got a bad feeling, but I think you are too late. Engines won't last long at all without oil or oil pressure. Is there anyway you could record the noise and upload it to a video hosting site and then paste the link in here?





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.


Barbarabriana
New User

Feb 21, 2013, 7:14 PM

Post #5 of 7 (2761 views)
Re: 2002 Chevy Cavalier, need help. Sign In


In Reply To
I got a bad feeling, but I think you are too late. Engines won't last long at all without oil or oil pressure. Is there anyway you could record the noise and upload it to a video hosting site and then paste the link in here?

I might be able to, but it's not loud enough to hear on video I don't think. It's not a super loud tick.

I really hope it's not the end for my car... :/ its kind of essential that I have it.


Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Discretesignals profile image

Feb 21, 2013, 7:16 PM

Post #6 of 7 (2753 views)
Re: 2002 Chevy Cavalier, need help. Sign In

If you do decide to record this noise, also record the awful noise you are hearing when your accelerating. Does the noise get worse when you rev the engine in park?





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.

(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Feb 21, 2013, 7:16 PM)


Barbarabriana
New User

Feb 21, 2013, 7:19 PM

Post #7 of 7 (2742 views)
Re: 2002 Chevy Cavalier, need help. Sign In

I dont think it sounded as bad when the car was in park. We drove it around a loop a couple of times after changing the oil and it sounded normal. Some rough sounds going up a huge hill, but I didn't think it sounded horrible till we took it out onto a main road.






 
 
 






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