Hello all,
My 02 cavalier 5 spd. 2.2 ecotec has just stopped running. I was told that it would most likely be the fuel pump, and my question mainly is, IS THERE AN ACCESS POINT UNDER THE BACKSEAT to get to the fuel pump? I have a full tank of gas and was told that in some cars there are access points? If someone knows anything about this please inform me. THANKS!
the problem: The car turns over and every once in awhile will fire but a second later will put and die out. The car is obviously not getting gas, I unhooked the air filter and sprayed a little ether in there and the car fires up therefore I know its not getting any gas, if there is anything else I can check please let me know!
keith
I would check your fuel filter, fuel injectors, wiring to injectors, fuel pump relay first. There is no access from the inside of the car, but the tank isn't that hard to get off, should only take about 45 minutes, but since your full make sure you have some extra hands helping you, 12-14 gallons of gas will weight around 105 lbs.
I would still check fuel pressure before you go nuts....
but as far as i know it is a drop the tank situation.
Also check power AND ground at the pump
This couldnt be a Theftlock thing could it? I had this problem before, for no reason at all my 02 did that (2200 motor, but similar problem).
I disconnected the battery for about 30 mins, then reconnected it, pressed unlock on the fob and it fired. (this is before I read the procedure for this problem on this site, i was in the middle of the nowhere with no internet lol).
Good luck!
theft lock will allow the car to start, then die a few seconds later.
Keith Barhorst wrote:Hello all,
My 02 cavalier 5 spd. 2.2 ecotec has just stopped running. I was told that it would most likely be the fuel pump, and my question mainly is, IS THERE AN ACCESS POINT UNDER THE BACKSEAT to get to the fuel pump? I have a full tank of gas and was told that in some cars there are access points? If someone knows anything about this please inform me. THANKS!
the problem: The car turns over and every once in awhile will fire but a second later will put and die out. The car is obviously not getting gas, I unhooked the air filter and sprayed a little ether in there and the car fires up therefore I know its not getting any gas, if there is anything else I can check please let me know!
keith
Sounds like the theft system is acting up. There's a procedure posted somewheres on how to get it to do a relearn, i'm sure. Takes about 10-15 minutes total. I'm guessing it starts, then dies after a second. When you turn the key more it'll just crank forever, but if you stop take the key out put it back in and crank again, it does the start then die for a second again? That's definately the theft system.
One easy way to tell, if you can't hear it from the outside, open your gas cap, and have someone turn the key on while you listen to it. You'll hear whether or not the pump is turning on.
BTW, no there's no access panel. You MUST drop the tank. However while you're in there, if you find it possible/necessary, you could make an access panel in case you need to in the future. That is of course, if the fuel pump is actually bad.
Ok guys thanks for your posts and please continue because the problem just got worse....! We checked the fuel pump and it wasnt kicking on or anything. We replaced the fuel pump and fuel filter and the car fired right up with no problems... But now the engine has a pretty harsh KNOCKING sound on the top end, I was told this may have been from spraying starting fluid into the air breather when I checked to see if it was getting gas? I was told afterwards that we shouldnt have used starting fluid on a fuel injected car? So now the car starts but like I said it has a pretty bad knocking sound. We are going to change the oil and spark plugs this afternooon but I doubt that is going to help... If anyone has an expierence with such problem let me know? This 02 cavalier does have the 2.2 ecotec engine. My buddy believes it could be jumped a tooth on the timing chain/belt or maybe blew a valve? Please let me know if any of you have any idea whats going on and how much I could be looking at spending for this fix?
thanks
keith
I will post later on a let you all know whats up...
The factory in-tank pump has a service life of about 135,000mi before it needs replacement, so if your car's mileage is around or above that it's no surprise if it failed.
Just thought I'd pass that on.
Go beyond the "bolt-on".
any update?
i have a 02 cav like yours and when it gets weird starting i know it is time to change the fuel filter.
how much starting fluid did you spray into it?
Jake, has the car ever had the up-dated reflash'e, i think there have been 4-6 of them that i saw last on SI...
Chris
'02 Z-24 Supercharged
13.7 @102.45 MPH Third Place, 2007 GMSC Bash SOLD AS OF 01MAR08
