jes

First off, let me apologize.
I know this is a truck group.
I just can't figure out where else to post this.

My daughter (her first car) has a '97 Cavalier with a 2.2L and a manual
trans.
It has been running fine until today.

She was driving and then all of a sudden it cut off and would not restart.
She said she heard a light "POP" and it cut off. (I was thinking the timing
chain)
My wife was with her when it happened and she heard nothing.
I had the car towed to my home.

I check for spark and that's good.
I hear the fuel pump run when I turn the key to the on position.
I removed the air intake, opened the throttle plates and sprayed a bit of
starting fluid and tried starting.
Still nothing. (I don't think it's a fuel or spaark problem)

Next, I rode over to my local Murrays Auto and rented one of their OBD II
Code Scanners.
I plug the unit into the Cavaliers DLC and got the following info...

Camshaft Position Sensor A- Bank 1 Circuit Low.

I check a Haynes manual and it stated that...

"... If cam signal is lost while the engine is running, the fuel injection
system will shift to a calculated fuel
injection mode based on the last fuel injection pulse, and the engine will
continue to run."

So, I am at a loss.

Can someone help?
Will a bad Camshaft Position Sensor cause the engine to "NOT" start?
I check around and the sensor cost about $65.00.
I'd hate to spend that and later find that that's not the problem.

HELP!!!

pkurtz2

Jes,
GO with your daughters ears. She is young, and her hearing is probably
considerably better than your wifes. Plus, she was driving and therefore
(hopefully) paying better attention to the car and the road. If she heard a
pop, then it might be that the timing chain broke, and that could be your
problem. Also, check your fuses.. I have actually heard a fuse make a
popping sound when it blows. One way to check the timing is to remove the
valve cover and see if the cam is turning...

whitelightning

I don't know about the cam sensor for sure, how ever if you sprayed starting
fluid
and she didn't even attempt to start, I would be looking at ignition.
Unless over 150K miles I would not suspect the timing chain. Pull spark
plug,
hold thumb lightly over hole and crank engine, if she has compression, chain
is
ok. If chain broke she wont have compression. Ignition module in
combination
with one of the two ignition coils, or crank sensor would be my guesses.
The light
pop she heard could have been a minor back fire if timing went goofy as
module died.

Again these are guesses on my part.
Whitelightning

cl (dnoyeb) gilbert

chain may have jumped timing, but i doubt if it damaged anything. its
just been sitting in a parking lot not being driven so personally I
think thats unlikely.

It could also be flooded?
--
Thank you,


CL Gilbert
"Then said I, Wisdom [is] better than strength: nevertheless the poor
man's wisdom [is] despised, and his words are not heard." Ecclesiastes 9:16

jes

If the module died, would I still get a spark?

And, after thinking of your recommendations, I have another question
regaring checking for compression.

If you crank the engine with the spark plug off, wouldn't you get
compression if the chain is bad or not???
I mean, the starter engages the flywheel (manual trans) and turns the
crankshaft.
The pistons are mounted on the crankshaft.
It would seem to me that you'd get compression either way.
Am I wrong??

Jesse

no one

NO spark


NEVER REMOVE the Plug wire and check for Spark by holding the wire NEAR
A Ground... 9 times out of 10 you will FRY the module . USE a Spark
plug , grounded to the engine..

NO ... The Chain Synks the Valves with the up and down motion of the
piston to Create the compression

Ir the timing Chain is Broken or Gears are Stripped .. The Distributor
ROTOR WILL NOT TURN

whitelightning

Your wrong, if the valves don't open, the engine cant suck air into the
cylinders to compress. If the cam isn't turning, the valves aren't opening.

Whitelightning

whitelightning

Read the posts, 1997 Chevy Caviler, 2.2 ltr engine, NO DISTRIBUTOR.

No cap, no rotor to turn..

Whitelightning

jes

Hello Again,
Regarding my daughters Cavalier problem...

I checked each and got a spark at every cylinder using a spark plugf
tester.

I also checked for compression by removing the plug and
feeling for suction on compression and it passed.

I also rechecked and the fuel pump is working (buzz) in the tank.

So, it's definitely not fuel or ignition related.
I picked up the crankshaft position sensor and will replace that next.

If that doesn't work, any other recommendations??

Thank you,

Jesse

jes

Well, After having checked everything as discussed including changing the
crankshaft sensor, the cavalier still will not start.

I have spark, I have fuel, I have compression and I have a new crankshaft
sensor installed. What else should I check???