1990 Chevy Cavalier dies when it warms up

Tiny
TIFFANYV
  • MEMBER
  • 1990 CHEVROLET TRUCK
I have a 1990 Chevrolet Cavalier Sedan 2.2 L 4 cylinder automatic w/ approx 109,200 miles on it. After driving my vehicle for about 1 hour 15 min w/ heater/defrost on and about 2 1/2 hours w/out the heater and defrost on, when I come to a stop, my vehicle starts to stutter or chug, if you will. Then when I stop, the engine shakes makes a vibration noise (kind of like grinding) and shuts off. I try to turn the vehicle back on, and it starts up great, but idles really high (I don't have a tachometer to advise of the RPMs), then when I put it into gear, and it repeats itself. I have to let the vehicle cool down for about 10-20 minutes before it becomes driveable again. I've changed the fuel pump and the thermostat. And fyi my temp light doesn't come on to tell me I'm overheating. I really don't want to keep throwing parts at it, but she's all I've got! Help Please!
Friday, December 15th, 2006 AT 7:23 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
MATHIASO
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,209 POSTS
Check the ground on your negative battery cable
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Saturday, December 16th, 2006 AT 6:17 PM
Tiny
BACKYARDMECHANIC
  • MECHANIC
  • 337 POSTS
How does the car run when it is cold? It does not sound like an electrical issue to me. It may be an engine management problem. Such as a defective engine temperature coolant switch. Is your check engine light coming on? Are there any other problems electrically ie; dimming lights, trouble starting?
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Saturday, December 16th, 2006 AT 6:26 PM
Tiny
TIFFANYV
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
The car runs fine when it's cold. The check engine light doesn't come on, except when it dies, but goes off as soon as the car is started back up. Recently I have had some trouble starting the vehicle on a cold start, it takes 3 seconds for the engine to turn over. But when the vehicle is warmed up, it takes a little longer for the engine to turn over. Thank you all for your time in helping me with this! 8o)
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Tuesday, December 19th, 2006 AT 12:50 AM
Tiny
BACKYARDMECHANIC
  • MECHANIC
  • 337 POSTS
It still sounds like a engine management issue to me. Just because the check engine light doesn't come on doesn't neccessarily mean its not a sensor that can not be detected by the PCM. The reason I am leaning toward the Engine Coolant Temp sensor because the car runs fine when its cold but once the car warms it dies. This is one of the sensor that change with engine temp. One last thing I am assume that the basics ( plugs, wires, cap rotor. Filters ) are good and have been maintained properly
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Tuesday, December 19th, 2006 AT 7:17 AM
Tiny
TIFFANYV
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
My veh is a 1990 and doesn't have a PCM. It does however, have an ECM, which is what I thought it may be, however, I really don't want to keep throwing parts at it, especially expensive ones. Lol everything has been maintained properly since I've had the veh, including trany flush, radiator flush, all filters (e.G fuel, air, oil, etc.), Power steering flush, and I think I had an engine flush if that's possible. Its really a pain in the rear to get to my ECM and sensors with the exception of my map sensor. Any other suggestions? Thanks again!
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Wednesday, December 20th, 2006 AT 6:18 PM
Tiny
BACKYARDMECHANIC
  • MECHANIC
  • 337 POSTS
I don't think the EMC is bad, they don't go bad that often. If the car doesn't run bad once it warms up then maybe this something you may want to live with. LOL I can't think of anything else to check.
Good luck
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Wednesday, December 20th, 2006 AT 7:30 PM
Tiny
SLAPHAPPYIKE
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
Now that I've had this problem and it kicked my behind until I got it, This is easy! The problem is that when your engine warms up, obviously it expands ever so slightly. Well guess what. Those old O-Rings on your fuel injectors aren't capable of expanding anymore! The lack of correct pressure causes your engine to run like garbage but won't throw any error that will tell you this is the problem. Only buy genuine parts when it comes to seals. I can't stress that enough. 30 bucks and you're back in the game!
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Saturday, April 18th, 2009 AT 8:40 PM

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