Question For People Who Know Cars

S. Thompson · Post by **S. Thompson** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 9:05 pm

My car began acting weird today. It feels like it struggles to accelerate - accelerates a bit then kind of lags. Occasionally, there is also a click/pop type sound right before the car's acceleration lags. When I'm idling at a stop sign or something the thing shakes. My dad said it's probably a problem with the ignition system. This really worries me as I can't foresee getting a new car any time soon.

It did just warm up a bit and rain, but I'm fairly certain that wouldn't affect the car this way.

I figured I'd get a second opinion.

- Fuzmeister

hearld500 · Post by **hearld500** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 10:02 pm

What kind of car is it?
Is it a turbo?

More then likely it's something in the ignition system. How loud is the pop before it lags?

S. Thompson · Post by **S. Thompson** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 10:15 pm

1993 Chevy Cavalier - hardly a turbo.

The sound isn't too loud - but you can hear it if you're paying attention.

- Fuzmeister

arrowhead · Post by **arrowhead** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 10:22 pm

Have you changed your plugs recently? It might be bad plugs, so you arent firing on all cylinders. Also, if you did change your plugs recently, you might have put the plug wires back on in the wrong order. Or if it is a fuel injected system, you might have clogged injectors or something like that.

SlammedNiss · Post by **SlammedNiss** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 10:38 pm

could be a number of things. Motor mounts can cause it to shake. Bad spark plugs, clogged fuel filter,clogged injectors can all be causes of the lack of acceleration. Loud "pop" could be caused be CV joints.

It's hard to say. It's a 93 Cavalier, so the car is way past it's prime. Perhaps it's time to trade her in, before she isn't working nothing at all.

S. Thompson · Post by **S. Thompson** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 10:50 pm

SlammedNiss wrote:It's hard to say. It's a 93 Cavalier, so the car is way past it's prime. Perhaps it's time to trade her in, before she isn't working nothing at all.

It's got less than 70k in mileage. I don't know how much it would fetch though considering the age.

- Fuzmeister

Zealous zerotype · Post by **Zealous zerotype** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 11:08 pm

Same thing was going on with my friends truck today. He got new spark plugs/wires and it stopped. So, hopefully it is just that (to buy the parts and have them installed set him back 40bucks). Another thing I can think of is the timing is off. I was working on an old land rover (one of the originals) and it would clank like a bitch because the timing was off. Hope that is helpful.

Sir Slash · Post by **Sir Slash** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 5:07 am

like people said check the plugs
go by an autozone and get your codes read for free... tht should get you started in the right direction

S. Thompson · Post by **S. Thompson** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 11:43 am

It was the head gasket. Lots of money to fix it seems - especially if it's taken off and they find that the head itself is cracked. Don't know what I'm going to do.

- Fuzmeister

Post by **pixel** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 9:22 pm

SlammedNiss wrote:It's hard to say. It's a 93 Cavalier, so the car is way past it's prime.

Bah, cars can last longer than that.

Sir Slash · Post by **Sir Slash** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 2:10 am

eh you can get another one for the price of head gasket

btw stay away from 93-98 ford v6s they tend to have lots of head gasket issues

S. Thompson · Post by **S. Thompson** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 8:19 am

I was quoted a price of 325 at one place... that's worth it to me.

The other place said 800-900 bucks.

- Fuzmeister

SlammedNiss · Post by **SlammedNiss** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 8:42 am

pixel wrote:
SlammedNiss wrote:It's hard to say. It's a 93 Cavalier, so the car is way past it's prime.
Bah, cars can last longer than that.

You've apparently have never owned a "quality" American made car then.

S. Thompson wrote:I was quoted a price of 325 at one place... that's worth it to me.

The other place said 800-900 bucks.

- Fuzmeister

$325 is a very good deal. Hopefully they won't find anything else wrong while they have it pulled apart.

Post by **pixel** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 11:49 am

SlammedNiss wrote:
pixel wrote:
SlammedNiss wrote:It's hard to say. It's a 93 Cavalier, so the car is way past it's prime.
Bah, cars can last longer than that.
You've apparently have never owned a "quality" American made car then.

Oh crap, I didn't see it was a Cavalier.

SlammedNiss · Post by **SlammedNiss** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 5:36 pm

pixel wrote: Oh crap, I didn't see it was a Cavalier.

somebody once told me that "Cavalier" meant cheap in french. Can anybody confirm?

Post by **Roofus** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 5:55 pm

SlammedNiss wrote:
pixel wrote: Oh crap, I didn't see it was a Cavalier.
somebody once told me that "Cavalier" meant cheap in french. Can anybody confirm?

According to Babelfish, it means "rider."

Smiley · Post by **Smiley** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 7:59 pm

My old 3.0 v6 dodge shadow had the same thing happen to it and I decided to donate it to the kidney foundation. Of course, mine went ape shit because of constant overheating issues. Were it not for that, I think I could have gotten lots more mileage out of it.

Disheveled DrFreeze · Post by **Disheveled DrFreeze** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 6:04 am

Roofus wrote:
SlammedNiss wrote:
pixel wrote: Oh crap, I didn't see it was a Cavalier.
somebody once told me that "Cavalier" meant cheap in french. Can anybody confirm?
According to Babelfish, it means "rider."

sounds alright, i would probably translate is as "Horseman" as chevalle means horse in french

Covar · Post by **Covar** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 6:52 am

S. Thompson wrote:I was quoted a price of 325 at one place... that's worth it to me.

The other place said 800-900 bucks.

- Fuzmeister

labor is expensive.

Gmc · Post by **Gmc** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 8:16 am

Could just be your car misfiring - get new spark plugs and leads, if its not that, take em off and sell them on again!