My sister has this '97 Cavalier with about 150k. Standard 2.2L single cam engine, automatic trans. Thing was running just fine, only problem was a horrible rattling sound it made when starting. One day she went to drive it and it had no power, couldn't get over 20mph. After she brought it home I started it and it started and idled fine, but I didn't drive it. Next time I went to start it, it did not start. It would backfire and had low compression, and after some research I believed the timing chain had slipped due to a failed tensioner. After taking the timing cover off, I saw that I was correct, the tensioner was in pieces and the timing marks did not line up at TDC. Seems the rattling sound was the chain smacking against what remained of the tensioner.
I bought all quality parts to replace the tensioner, chain, and sprockets, and made sure the timing was set correctly at TDC. I also put in new plugs and wires, replacing the wires one at a time. The car refuses to start now.
A test of the compression showed that the valves were not crunched, as all cylinders could produce 140psi.
I replaced the fuel filter, added drygas, and put in 5 gallons of fresh fuel, just to be sure it wasn't water in the gas.
I did the passlock reset procedure just to be sure, but I do not think that is the problem, because it has spark and fuel when cranking.
What it will do now, is I can come home from work, hop in the car and turn the key, and it will start and run for a second or two before dying. Then after that it will not start, it will crank with spark and plenty of fuel, but not fire up and run. There is no backfiring, sometimes it will fire a cylinder here or there, but not enough to start up. I am completely baffled, unless the car is somehow flooding the cylinders with so much gas that the plugs (the recommended plain platinum plugs gapped at .60) cannot light it, I cannot imagine how it fails to start.
I'm about ready to either put the thing on Craigslist for $500, or set it on fire. What could possibly have decided to fail at the exact same time as the chain slipping, that would let the car have spark and fuel but not start?
I bought all quality parts to replace the tensioner, chain, and sprockets, and made sure the timing was set correctly at TDC. I also put in new plugs and wires, replacing the wires one at a time. The car refuses to start now.
A test of the compression showed that the valves were not crunched, as all cylinders could produce 140psi.
I replaced the fuel filter, added drygas, and put in 5 gallons of fresh fuel, just to be sure it wasn't water in the gas.
I did the passlock reset procedure just to be sure, but I do not think that is the problem, because it has spark and fuel when cranking.
What it will do now, is I can come home from work, hop in the car and turn the key, and it will start and run for a second or two before dying. Then after that it will not start, it will crank with spark and plenty of fuel, but not fire up and run. There is no backfiring, sometimes it will fire a cylinder here or there, but not enough to start up. I am completely baffled, unless the car is somehow flooding the cylinders with so much gas that the plugs (the recommended plain platinum plugs gapped at .60) cannot light it, I cannot imagine how it fails to start.
I'm about ready to either put the thing on Craigslist for $500, or set it on fire. What could possibly have decided to fail at the exact same time as the chain slipping, that would let the car have spark and fuel but not start?