1997 Chevy Cavalier starts wont run

BODIEY

MEMBER
1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
4 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
130,933 MILES

Hi, I have a 1997 chevy cavalier vin 1G1JC1249VM105100 vehicle will start for a moment then stall, adding fuel does not help, I thought theft lock but light stays on steady indicating theft lock ok as far as I know, scanned vehicle and only cam up with a Z28 history of vtd fail enable - cranklow, that was with a snap-on scanner, has spark, fuel, not sure about injector pulse when unit stops running if you folks have seen this and can help me out on this one that would be great, Thank You Very Much, Let Me Know If You Need Any More Info.

Wednesday, August 25th, 2010 AT 12:56 PM

6 Replies

WRENCHTECH

MECHANIC
20,761 POSTS

VDT is Vehicle Theft Deterrent so there is a good possibility that is the issue. I'm giving you the relearn procedure. If this doesn't work, you will need a Tech2 scan too to diagnose it.

Disconnect the battery and hold the cables together for about 30 seconds then reconnect the cables before performing the procedure. Read it carefully if done incorrectly it won't work. If it helps let me know.
Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF.
Attempt to start the engine, then release the key to ON (vehicle will not start).
Observe the SECURITY telltale, after approximately 10 minutes the telltale will turn OFF.
Turn OFF the ignition, and wait 5 seconds.
Repeat steps 1 through 4 two more times for a total of 3 cycles/30 minutes (the vehicle is now ready to relearn the Passlock� � � Sensor Data Code and/or passwords on the next ignition switch transition from OFF to CRANK).
Important
The vehicle learns the Passlock� � � Sensor Data Code and/or password on the next ignition switch transition from OFF to CRANK. You must turn the ignition OFF before attempting to start the vehicle.
Start the engine (the vehicle has now learned the Passlock� � � Sensor Data Code and/or password).
With a scan tool, clear any DTCs if needed (history DTCs will self clear after 100 ignition cycles).

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Wednesday, August 25th, 2010 AT 1:48 PM

BODIEY

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Hi and thanks, went thru reprogram ill write it out, disconnected battery held cables together for 30 sec, turned ignition on and cranked vehicle started and ran poorly for about 3 sec then died, theft system telltale came on during crank but when vehicle started it went out, I waited 10 min anyways then turned ignition off waited 5 sec, turned ignition on and cranked same thing vehicle started and ran poorly for about 3 or 4 sec then died theft system telltale came on during crank but went out when vehicle started, I waited 10 min then turned ignition off for 5 sec, turned ignition on and cranked this time vehicle did not start and theft system telltale stayed on I waited beyond the 10 min cuz light never went out, turned off ignition and waited 5 sec, I then cranked and and vehicle started and ran poorly for about 2 sec then died, I did notice every time vehicle would start for a sec telltale would go out but the one time it did not start telltale stayed on but then never went back out even if I did wait, sooooo im not sure, is it possible bad module in instrument cluster, some body else tried a ecm out of another cavalier and it was a no go so I put the original back in the car but this is were its at.

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Thursday, August 26th, 2010 AT 2:34 PM

WRENCHTECH

MECHANIC
20,761 POSTS

You can't just swap clusters like that. They are programmed with a VIN # and won't communicate.

Your going to need a Tech2 scan tool to get to the bottom of this one.

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Thursday, August 26th, 2010 AT 2:42 PM

BODIEY