1995 Cavalier

BrownTown28 · 04-29-2009, 10:09 PM

I have a 1995 Cavalier 2.2 SOHC and an automatic and I race at a local dirt track in the Pro-4 class. And Im currently having a problem were trying to fix. When Im goin down the straight away the cars starts cutting out like popping and **** and back firing out of the exhaust. But it only starts it once the car gets warm. Because when I go out for practice laps it doesnt do it and once the first race starts it doesnt do it until further in when the car gets nice and warm/hott. Put new plugs and wires on, Fuel filter and coil pack, check fuel pressure and it was good. Any help would be greaty appreciated to what it could be. Thank you in advance

**pat mcgroin** · 05-04-2009, 08:30 AM

It sounds like it could be the coil pack.
It could be as simple as when it gets hot, it expands and wiggles causing a poor connection.
More than likely though it is just failing when hot.
If you have another try to swap it out and see if it helps.

Also due to race conditions maybe it could be relocated into a cooler area to help reduce its temps.

majorahole · 05-05-2009, 10:19 AM

do you have a catalytic converter? i'd check that

BrownTown28 · 05-10-2009, 11:27 PM

We tryed switching out Coil Packs but that ended up not being it and No I dont have a catalic converter. I ran it last night and still does it. Was popping and backfiring and shooting fire and flaming balls out the exhaust. Was thinking on trying the timing? What do you think? Please keep the feedback coming. I appreciate it

**Midnight Tech** · 05-11-2009, 12:25 PM

I'd say timing as well - how many miles were on the engine when you put it in the car?

majorahole · 05-11-2009, 02:25 PM

def. timing, thats distributor-less though isn't it? check to see if your timing belt jumped teeth

**wrench97** · 05-11-2009, 03:08 PM

Ign module or ....is the fuel tank vented? It could be pulling more gas out then air in causing vacuum in the tank, or if it is a stock fuel pump in the tank? as the fuel level drops the pump can be higher then the fuel level and overheat if it is starting to fail.

**mack1** · 05-11-2009, 09:12 PM

I'm thinking you might have a sticking exhaust valve. Put some STP in the oil and see if it helps. Seems to me that most timing issues normally cause backfire to be through the intake, not the exhaust.

I saw this happen many years ago when a mechanic replaced valves with ones that had smaller stems.(and no, I was not the mechanic, I was the driver) After the engine heated up, the exaust valves would warp and cause severe backfiring and the engine would grind down to a hault. After cooling, the engine would run fine till it again warmed up.

Not sure this helps, but noticed no one had mentioned it.

Wishing you luck,
Mack1

BrownTown28 · 05-12-2009, 09:07 PM

Thanks for the replies guys, I appreciate it.
Yeah it is distributer less. I was told that the computer automatically times it. But I will check the timing teeth. Now it will do it once you start it up and hit the gas and as you get higher in rmps it continues to backfire and pop and shoot flames out the exhaust. And it does have the stock fuel pump in it still. I'll try puttin some STP in it and see what it does if it makes it anybetter.

**pat mcgroin** · 05-13-2009, 07:48 AM

Be sure to have a look at the timing belt to be sure that it is in good shape
If it gets old and slacks up when warm the timing can vary.

**octaneman** · 05-13-2009, 08:23 PM

Hello Browntown28

Since you are racing the car, and there is no catalytic converter I suspect you are running a straight pipe. There are a few things that will cause backfiring that you can check out since you are running at full throttle.

a) ignition timing off
b) spark plugs of wrong heat range
c) excessive lean or rich mixture
d) engine overheats
e) carbon in engine
f) valves hot or stuck
g) cracked coil pack
h) inoperative anti-backfire valve or EGR
I) cross-firing plug wires

UsedCarManTN · 05-14-2009, 01:02 PM

I've heard no-one mention an ignition module heating up and starting to fail. Also, there is something to be said about re-locating the coilpacks as mentioned before.??????

**octaneman** · 05-14-2009, 01:39 PM

On the 95 cavalier the ignition module and coil packs are bolted on to a plate on the head just under the air intake tube. Relocating it maybe difficult since space is at a premium.

kg_44football · 07-11-2009, 11:54 PM

hey , i saw ur post bout the 1995 cav that u race, i also am racing one up here in canada, kinda just getting my feet wet, woundering if you knew of any good tips or upgrades i could do , ucan writ bac here r send mean email at kg_44football@hotmail.com thanks guys

04-29-2009, 10:09 PM	#1 (permalink)
BrownTown28 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 3 OS: Win	1995 Cavalier I have a 1995 Cavalier 2.2 SOHC and an automatic and I race at a local dirt track in the Pro-4 class. And Im currently having a problem were trying to fix. When Im goin down the straight away the cars starts cutting out like popping and **** and back firing out of the exhaust. But it only starts it once the car gets warm. Because when I go out for practice laps it doesnt do it and once the first race starts it doesnt do it until further in when the car gets nice and warm/hott. Put new plugs and wires on, Fuel filter and coil pack, check fuel pressure and it was good. Any help would be greaty appreciated to what it could be. Thank you in advance

05-04-2009, 08:30 AM	#2 (permalink)
pat mcgroin TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2009 Location: Toledo Oh. Posts: 617 OS: XP Professional SP2 Vista Ultimate SP2	Re: 1995 Cavalier It sounds like it could be the coil pack. It could be as simple as when it gets hot, it expands and wiggles causing a poor connection. More than likely though it is just failing when hot. If you have another try to swap it out and see if it helps. Also due to race conditions maybe it could be relocated into a cooler area to help reduce its temps.

05-05-2009, 10:19 AM	#3 (permalink)
majorahole Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 10 OS: xp sp3	Re: 1995 Cavalier do you have a catalytic converter? i'd check that

05-10-2009, 11:27 PM	#4 (permalink)
BrownTown28 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 3 OS: Win	Re: 1995 Cavalier We tryed switching out Coil Packs but that ended up not being it and No I dont have a catalic converter. I ran it last night and still does it. Was popping and backfiring and shooting fire and flaming balls out the exhaust. Was thinking on trying the timing? What do you think? Please keep the feedback coming. I appreciate it

05-11-2009, 12:25 PM	#5 (permalink)
Midnight Tech Admin/Head GreaseMonkey/Igor's alter ego/Grand Exalted PoohBah Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: SC Posts: 2,924 OS: Windows XP Home/Pro SP3/Windows 98SE/Fedora Core 6/RH 7.2 with Autopoint/TAMS II	Re: 1995 Cavalier I'd say timing as well - how many miles were on the engine when you put it in the car? __________________ Please post all questions in the appropriate forum. Questions sent by email or PM will not be answered. Sharing my life...with my Imzadi! Interested in Trek gaming? Check out the Dynaverse! Proud supporter of the Carolinas Aviation Museum. If we have helped you in any way, please donate to keep TSF up and running!

05-11-2009, 02:25 PM	#6 (permalink)
majorahole Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 10 OS: xp sp3	Re: 1995 Cavalier def. timing, thats distributor-less though isn't it? check to see if your timing belt jumped teeth

05-11-2009, 03:08 PM	#7 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,712 OS: Win7	Re: 1995 Cavalier Ign module or ....is the fuel tank vented? It could be pulling more gas out then air in causing vacuum in the tank, or if it is a stock fuel pump in the tank? as the fuel level drops the pump can be higher then the fuel level and overheat if it is starting to fail. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

05-11-2009, 09:12 PM	#8 (permalink)
mack1 TSF Articles Team Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Texarkana, Texas Posts: 1,245 OS: xp sp3 My System	Re: 1995 Cavalier I'm thinking you might have a sticking exhaust valve. Put some STP in the oil and see if it helps. Seems to me that most timing issues normally cause backfire to be through the intake, not the exhaust. I saw this happen many years ago when a mechanic replaced valves with ones that had smaller stems.(and no, I was not the mechanic, I was the driver) After the engine heated up, the exaust valves would warp and cause severe backfiring and the engine would grind down to a hault. After cooling, the engine would run fine till it again warmed up. Not sure this helps, but noticed no one had mentioned it. Wishing you luck, Mack1 __________________ "If you like yourself others will like you also" me "Don't drink downstream from the herd" Will Rogers Submit New Articles Here Last edited by mack1; 05-11-2009 at 09:25 PM.

05-12-2009, 09:07 PM	#9 (permalink)
BrownTown28 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 3 OS: Win	Re: 1995 Cavalier Thanks for the replies guys, I appreciate it. Yeah it is distributer less. I was told that the computer automatically times it. But I will check the timing teeth. Now it will do it once you start it up and hit the gas and as you get higher in rmps it continues to backfire and pop and shoot flames out the exhaust. And it does have the stock fuel pump in it still. I'll try puttin some STP in it and see what it does if it makes it anybetter.

05-13-2009, 07:48 AM	#10 (permalink)
pat mcgroin TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2009 Location: Toledo Oh. Posts: 617 OS: XP Professional SP2 Vista Ultimate SP2	Re: 1995 Cavalier Be sure to have a look at the timing belt to be sure that it is in good shape If it gets old and slacks up when warm the timing can vary.

05-13-2009, 08:23 PM	#11 (permalink)
octaneman Mentor Home Support, Gearhead Automotive Center Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 556 OS: WINXP	Re: 1995 Cavalier Hello Browntown28 Since you are racing the car, and there is no catalytic converter I suspect you are running a straight pipe. There are a few things that will cause backfiring that you can check out since you are running at full throttle. a) ignition timing off b) spark plugs of wrong heat range c) excessive lean or rich mixture d) engine overheats e) carbon in engine f) valves hot or stuck g) cracked coil pack h) inoperative anti-backfire valve or EGR I) cross-firing plug wires Last edited by octaneman; 05-13-2009 at 08:31 PM.

05-14-2009, 01:02 PM	#12 (permalink)
UsedCarManTN Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 5 OS: Vista	Re: 1995 Cavalier I've heard no-one mention an ignition module heating up and starting to fail. Also, there is something to be said about re-locating the coilpacks as mentioned before.??????

05-14-2009, 01:39 PM	#13 (permalink)
octaneman Mentor Home Support, Gearhead Automotive Center Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 556 OS: WINXP	Re: 1995 Cavalier On the 95 cavalier the ignition module and coil packs are bolted on to a plate on the head just under the air intake tube. Relocating it maybe difficult since space is at a premium.

07-11-2009, 11:54 PM	#14 (permalink)
kg_44football Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1 OS: xp	Re: 1995 Cavalier hey , i saw ur post bout the 1995 cav that u race, i also am racing one up here in canada, kinda just getting my feet wet, woundering if you knew of any good tips or upgrades i could do , ucan writ bac here r send mean email at kg_44football@hotmail.com thanks guys