Cavalier 2.0 16v Engine light help

Honest John Back Room » Technical matters
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Sun 17 Sep 2006 17:46
Cavalier 2.0 16v Engine light help - trigger_mike
Hello, I'm just about to sell a 1995 Vauxhall Cavalier 2.0i 16V SRi and ebay for my sister-in-law and have just noticed it hit's the rev limiter at 4500 rpm and then misses.
When you start it, it pops and bangs a bit then runs fine until you rev it.
The Orange engine mangerment light is on which i knew and and had said in my listing.
Does anyone know why it does this and is there a quick easy way to fix it?, it shoud rev to 6000 rpm.
The car hasn't been used for at least 6 months also.
Cheers
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Sun 17 Sep 2006 18:08
Cavalier 2.0 16v Engine light help - trigger_mike
O.k just put some petrol in it and it ran fine, the light didn't come on and it reved right up and pulled well, even more confused now!
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Sun 17 Sep 2006 18:37
Cavalier 2.0 16v Engine light help - Armitage Shanks {p}
In 6 months of standing the petrol could have gone 'off'. The new stuff has mixed with the rubbish and car now runs OK. I can't think that the state of the petrol would put the engine light on but it sounds as though you have a result - I hope!
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Sun 17 Sep 2006 19:04
Cavalier 2.0 16v Engine light help - Screwloose
TM

The 4500 rev symptom suggests a crank position sensor fault. If the ECU can't read a coherent signal from the crank sensor, it'll use the cam sensor instead, but limit the revs to 4500.

The crank sensor may have been damp and has now heated and dried.
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Sun 17 Sep 2006 19:13
Cavalier 2.0 16v Engine light help - trigger_mike
That would make sense i quess, well the cars only got 45min to go and it's still only £160 so im hoping it will go for more now as i've spend the afternoon clean and fixing it!
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Mon 18 Sep 2006 01:17
Cavalier 2.0 16v Engine light help - Dynamic Dave
Did it sell? If not, there is a way of reading out the fault code by means of using a paperclip to short out the relevant pins in the diagnostic socket.
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Mon 18 Sep 2006 10:04
Cavalier 2.0 16v Engine light help - cheddar
I had a 96 Vectra from new, later version of same engine, I had this fault, engine management light, I recall the handbook said it would have a 4500 rev limit.

The crank sensor was replaced under warranty though in the IME normal Vaux dealer style they bodged the repair by routing the new crank sensor cable across the engine with a couple of cable ties. I took it off myself and rerouted through the convoluted though correct and protective series of clips and channels.

Cleaning the sensor may help, otherwise a DIY fit is easy and unlike some cars the light *should* reset itself.
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