1991 Chevy Cavalier problems
 

I know this is a truck forum but I've got to ask about my car, and I can't find a single place that I can find that even gives me a hint to what's wrong with it... Because I don't know the parts, well, mostly, a throttle body set up.

Okay.

After the car has been running for a while, the oil pressure starts dropping, (it goes up to 80 on the dash, so I assume PSI, but stays in the 70 range) adn it goes down to about 50% to 40% and the temp starts increasing, but veeeeeery slowly.
A few minutes longer, the car starts jumping like a clutch let off too fast, but mine's an automatic, and it vibrates sporatically. If you're going between 25-35 mph (this is as far as I know, because I don't attempt to go faster) it acts like it's hardly getting any fuel. You've gotta put the pedal practically to the floor to get it to run normally, but as soon as you let off, back to the vibrating. Whilst it's doing this, it is making deep, gutteral noises. Any ideas? It sounds almost like a fule pump going bad, but it does this thing frequently, and given time to cool, it runs perfectly, no problems. Any insight into this little problem of mine?

RE: 1991 Chevy Cavalier problems
 

Might be you cat cloged.

RE: 1991 Chevy Cavalier problems
 

1. How far does the temp go? Is the car overheating?
2. I assume there is a check engine light?
3. Have you tried scanning for codes?
4. How far does the oil pressure get? Like how low?
5. How many miles on it?
6. I assume it is a 2.2?

Only thing I can think of is the head might be cracked, BUT we have to go through the steps first.

RE: 1991 Chevy Cavalier problems
 

Caty's fine, had it checked, but with it's dirty plugs, I should probably check again.

Temp goes to the middle, between 100 and 260.
Check engine light DOES NOT come on, for some reason unknownst to a lot of the mechanics I had take a look at it.
Scanning is more than I can afford at the moment.
Oil pressure drops 20 PSI, ending at about 40psi.
157,205
and yes it is a 2.2 automatic

I've done a decent look over of the engine and components, and there's nothing that I can think of that looks wrong with the vehicle. Nothing's cracked or anything that I can see. I DID do an engine clean up and nothing looks out of place. Maybe, if I take the stock air tube off, would it work? Like dismantle the rubber piping up to the breather?

RE: 1991 Chevy Cavalier problems
 

Im sure you changed the fuel filter. You should check your fuel pressure and do a compression test both very easy im thinking fuel pump if your lucky!

RE: 1991 Chevy Cavalier problems
 

yeah had those checked, but I'm not sure how well of a job I did. Thanks for the replies and hopefully these things work.

RE: 1991 Chevy Cavalier problems
 

Pull the dipstick and see if it smells a little like gas. Make sure its not all bubbly lookin.

RE: 1991 Chevy Cavalier problems
 

oil's fine. So far, can't really see anything else that may be wrong, other than sensors.

RE: 1991 Chevy Cavalier problems
 

Fuel pressure needs checked, I mean make sure its where it needsd to be. I'd say fuel pump, filter or something like that. A sensor I would think would throw a light.

RE: 1991 Chevy Cavalier problems
 

okay but if it were the pump, wouldn't it be fried by now? This car has had this problem for a couple years now.