NationStates Jolt Archive

So about a month ago, my car stopped working. I was driving home from a day at the lake, and as I came into town, it started to sputter, as if it was dying. So, over the last month I have had the oil changed, fuel system cleaned out, the engine cleaned, and I replaced the spark plugs. After all of this, my car decided to run normal today. I was very happy, as you might expect. Well, I was taking it for a spin, when I was going up a hill, and I hear a "clunk" and the car begins to sputter again. My dad said it sounds like there is too much pressure built up in one of the valves, considering that my #1 spark plug keeps burning out.

My car is a 1994 Chevy cavalier. Its a 4 banger, and an automatic, if that helps. I want to take it to mechanic, but not if I don't have a general idea, or if it will be something small.

Have you petrol? ;)

Yep, fresh tank of gas in there.

Have you petrol? ;)

So about a month ago, my car stopped working. I was driving home from a day at the lake, and as I came into town, it started to sputter, as if it was dying. So, over the last month I have had the oil changed, fuel system cleaned out, the engine cleaned, and I replaced the spark plugs. After all of this, my car decided to run normal today. I was very happy, as you might expect. Well, I was taking it for a spin, when I was going up a hill, and I hear a "clunk" and the car begins to sputter again. My dad said it sounds like there is too much pressure built up in one of the valves, considering that my #1 spark plug keeps burning out.

My car is a 1994 Chevy cavalier. Its a 4 banger, and an automatic, if that helps. I want to take it to mechanic, but not if I don't have a general idea, or if it will be something small.

Those Cavaliers are known POS. If you can't get a simple fix for it I say scrap it. Buy a older Honda. Taken care of Honda's last forever.

Those Cavaliers are known POS. If you can't get a simple fix for it I say scrap it. Buy a older Honda. Taken care of Honda's last forever.

TBH, this car has lasted me for 3 years, and I'm up at 143K miles with it. Its run like a champ the whole time.I'm really please with its performance up until now.

TBH, this car has lasted me for 3 years, and I'm up at 143K miles with it. Its run like a champ the whole time.I'm really please with its performance up until now.

My mom used to have a cavalier... she drove almost 1,000 miles in one week and it was more fuel efficient than any car she's owned since. Anyway... I guess I must be spamming because I don't know shit about cars...

This?

http://216.93.173.97/images/image/8826qg-plbx.jpg

TBH, this car has lasted me for 3 years, and I'm up at 143K miles with it. Its run like a champ the whole time.I'm really please with its performance up until now.
I'm the most enthusiastic believer in saving and fixing old things that you'll ever hear from. I won't go through my vita, but we don't own any vehicle built after 1995 and we don't have problems with them. Well, no problems that I can't figure out in a weekend, or two.

If you're not mechanically inclined, now's a good time to start. If you don't want to be, it might be time for that Honda Civic...

You need to do a compression test. Do it wet and dry. Record the results and post them. You might have some binding at the valve stem in one of the exhaust valves -- usually they burn out, and sometimes they launch themselves into the rest of the engine.

I'm not going to teach you how to be a mechanic, but there are some good "how-to" books on car repair. If you're interested, this (http://www.car-stuff.com/carparts/chevroletcavalier19822005haynesh16103601.html) might be a good purchase.

Did cleaning the fuel system out include checking the petrol tank - if the car sputters out going up hill I would suspect some crap in the fuel tank blocking the fuel supply?

At some point an old machine dies - what happens is that, at any point, one part breaks down, you may fix it but it stresses another part. Each time you're fixing it, stress has been placed on other parts. At some point, the whole is worn down to the point where you really need to replace the entire engine.

So each time you replace a part, your engine is still dying a little, each problem arrives quicker and quicker.

You have to decide what the losing point is.

However, my actual advice is that a good kick works wonders.

So about a month ago, my car stopped working. I was driving home from a day at the lake, and as I came into town, it started to sputter, as if it was dying. So, over the last month I have had the oil changed, fuel system cleaned out, the engine cleaned, and I replaced the spark plugs. After all of this, my car decided to run normal today. I was very happy, as you might expect. Well, I was taking it for a spin, when I was going up a hill, and I hear a "clunk" and the car begins to sputter again. My dad said it sounds like there is too much pressure built up in one of the valves, considering that my #1 spark plug keeps burning out.

My car is a 1994 Chevy cavalier. Its a 4 banger, and an automatic, if that helps. I want to take it to mechanic, but not if I don't have a general idea, or if it will be something small.

Timing chain? It might be just slipping at this point. If you haven't ever had it replaced, go do it NOW before you get badness. (like engine ruining badness, I swear)

I have no idea. The pressure thing sounds about right. I would say find a good trustworthy mechanic, and ask him. If you live in the States, you can go to the Car Talk Mechanics Files (http://www.cartalk.com/content/mechx/find.html), and search for people that listeners to their show have recommended.

Timing chain? It might be just slipping at this point. If you haven't ever had it replaced, go do it NOW before you get badness. (like engine ruining badness, I swear)
That would also explain the excessive wear on a particular plug. The timing chain makes the valves open and shut at the right time, relative to the crankshaft.

It's easier to check compression -- but on an old engine with 130K miles, either could be a good place to start. The timing belt/chain ought to cost a couple hundred dollars to replace.

This?

<snip>

Is that... what I think it is?:eek:

TBH, this car has lasted me for 3 years, and I'm up at 143K miles with it. Its run like a champ the whole time.I'm really please with its performance up until now.

I just know that the engines used in that model and many other of the time are not the best.

As for another suggestion on mechanics. Whenever I was new to an area and needed one. I searched out who worked on the city and county vehicles. They typically are on the up and up since they do government work.

This?

http://216.93.173.97/images/image/8826qg-plbx.jpgA golden polished monolithe:eek:

That would also explain the excessive wear on a particular plug. The timing chain makes the valves open and shut at the right time, relative to the crankshaft.

It's easier to check compression -- but on an old engine with 130K miles, either could be a good place to start. The timing belt/chain ought to cost a couple hundred dollars to replace.

Personally I would check the timing chain first, with that many miles it's probably nearly done for and if he continues to drive and it breaks he could end up with a valve situation, which is hairy and expensive and no fun at all.

I'm not a mechanic though, I'm just a girl.

I'm not a mechanic though, I'm just a [smart] girl.
I think we know this is a little closer to the facts.

You need to do a compression test. Do it wet and dry. Record the results and post them. You might have some binding at the valve stem in one of the exhaust valves -- usually they burn out, and sometimes they launch themselves into the rest of the engine.


^This. because you might have a cracked cylinder head. My ex had a cavalier that had the same issue.

Is that... what I think it is?:eek:

Yes. Wise Cabra West is suggesting that Zilam take a look at his catalytic converter and see if the platinum plug needs replacing.

Personally I would check the timing chain first, with that many miles it's probably nearly done for and if he continues to drive and it breaks he could end up with a valve situation, which is hairy and expensive and no fun at all.

I'm not a mechanic though, I'm just a girl.

I may be wrong but I believe this particular engine may be equipped with gears, not a chain. I know some of the GM 4 cyl engines had them. (Believe it or not the crank gear was made of a polymerized nylon material that tended to chip and throw out the timing. This was done to keep the noise down. We used to replace them all the time with a new cast iron gear.)

Either way, I would discount the timing as the problem because if it were, it would tend to foul all the plugs equally.

I may be wrong but I believe this particular engine may be equipped with gears, not a chain. I know some of the GM 4 cyl engines had them. (Believe it or not the crank gear was made of a polymerized nylon material that tended to chip and throw out the timing. This was done to keep the noise down. We used to replace them all the time with a new cast iron gear.)

Either way, I would discount the timing as the problem because if it were, it would tend to foul all the plugs equally.

meh, I've seen it begin screwing over 1 or 2 plugs repeatedly and then move on to badness, but if his car has gears then I don't know, I've only had cars with timing chains and my experience doesn't exist outside of my own cars. so... again, I'm just a girl.

meh, I've seen it begin screwing over 1 or 2 plugs repeatedly and then move on to badness, but if his car has gears then I don't know, I've only had cars with timing chains and my experience doesn't exist outside of my own cars. so... again, I'm just a girl.

"Just a girl?" Meh. When I was a mechanic, the mechanic in the bay next to mine was female.

"Just a girl?" Meh. When I was a mechanic, the mechanic in the bay next to mine was female.

Nearly everything I know about anything has been self taught. I have some gaps in my knowledge because I haven't directly experienced everything.

Nearly everything I know about anything has been self taught. I have some gaps in my knowledge because I haven't directly experienced everything.

Impressive. Just be careful. One of the things they taught us in mechanic school was the half dozen ways you can get killed by certain automotive systems if you don't know what you're doing.

..seriously.

Impressive. Just be careful. One of the things they taught us in mechanic school was the half dozen ways you can get killed by certain automotive systems if you don't know what you're doing.

..seriously.
Yeah, I know, I read the horror stories when I was rebuilding a Jeep. There are certain things I won't fuck around with.

Yeah, I know, I read the horror stories when I was rebuilding a Jeep. There are certain things I won't fuck around with.

At the top of that list should be:

Airbag
ABS System

At the top of that list should be:

Airbag
ABS System

Yeah.

My car is a 1994 Chevy cavalier.I think I have found the problem. I prescribe fire.