Hard chugging or missing...

T

Toad

New member
Joined
Mar 23, 2012
Messages
9
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Hello, Im semi new to the site so please pardon me if my post is noob :-)

I recently bought a 2001 sunfire, manual trans, 2.2. Today I was driving it as normal and half way through my trip my engine lost all power and started chugging or missing terribly. It has a fresh tune up including plugs and wires, the timimng chain has been checked and turned out ok. What should I be looking for? It will start but only run if I give it some gas, and the reason i say missfire or chug is because the engine shakes pretty hard core as if it were a simple miss.
 
Is the check engine light on?
 
The CE light came on during the ride back to the house. It was flashing the entire ride home. I read the codes with my scanner and it flashed the following.
p0440 (twice)
-emission related
p0300
-Random, multiple misfire
p0325
-Knock sensor

I replaced the knock sensor and inspected the timing chain, which looked fine, without any improvement.
 
chase the po300 code, it is a very vague code and can be quite a number of different things. Your best bet is to google it and follow what you find.
______________________________
 
vague indeed. Well i did as much snooping around as i coul the last couple of days. Just as the code thrown most of the threads out there are just as vague. I got a lead on a CPS, changed it and no improvement. The only other lead I got that I havent already tried was a plugged cat.

My car barely runs, like a very dramatic missfire... Does that sound like anything a cat could do? Most of what Ive read seems to say power loss, but nothing like a miss... Im still lost.
 
google hasnt helped me but i tried. Well crank position sensor and coils have been tested or replaced. still no improvement.
 
Going to check about a plugged cat but that doesnt sound right to me...
 
Cat removed, no improvement.
______________________________
 
do a fuel pressure check , if good do a compression check .
 
I had this exact problem and it ended up being one of the coil packs. Mine is a 97 2.4. My very reliable mechanic friend told me to go ahead and change both packs. I did along with a new housing that the packs set in and it has run like a champ ever since. Just turned 230000 miles this week.
 
Well today I finally figured out what was going on... One of my valve springs broke resulting in a bent valve (which blows my mind because it wasnt bad on the compression test). Severity is unknown at this point, but i will find out soon.

Next question, I hear there are many different heads used on the 2.2, how do i identify mine?
 
why do you need to know that? arent you sending the head out to a machine shop to be rebuilt? was the head damaged? the 2000 to 2002 used the same head check your casting number, 146?
______________________________
 
I want to know because ill probably just buy a used head if indeed i need it. Ill check the number, thanks for the info.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Back
Top