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Hello!
I have a huge issue with my 2000 Cavalier. Last year I had to switch my fuel pump - my fault, I kept on driving on empty.
Few months later - about 4 - the Check Engine light came on. I waited a bit before I got it checked out, until I needed emissions test. In March I went to a shop, it was a P0440 code, emission system failure. They changed the selenoid valve - don't remember the exact name of the part, but that might be it. A month later the light came back on AND my fuel pump went out - exactly a year after it was put in.
They put a new pump in, cleared the light and the Check Engine light stayed off long enough for me to pass my emissions test. But it came back on, and a month later my FUEL PUMP went out AGAIN!!! They put a new pump in - this was just a week ago, April 17. So now I am on my 3rd fuel pump since last May.
Now, a week later, the check engine light still hasn't come back on, but I haven't driven that much so it probably still will, and today I drove on a highway a little, and after parking the car for about 15-20 minutes I had problems starting it (it's about 70 degrees here, so the car was hot). It would start, stay on for a few seconds, and turn off. I was only able to drive away after i gave it some gas right as I started it. Now it's parked in my garage and I have no problems starting it. It has a full tank of gas. Before when my pumps went out, the tank was only 3/4 full. But I NEVER drive anywhere near empty since my first pump went out. I have an odd feeling the problem is not the fuel pump, but I sure have no idea what it might be. I checked oil, it is full and clean (I change it every 3,000 miles unless it's still not dirty, but I drive A LOT so I make sure my oil is good).
I don't really want to go back to my shop, as good as they have been to me in the past 10 years, I fear they might not know enough about domestic cars since they all are from Korea. I am tempted to just go to a dealer, but I'm reading horror stories about them taking money for nothing, not knowing what they're doing, etc. Somebody PLEASE HELP! I'm a travel photographer, which includes - you guessed it - TRAVEL! I have to have a reliable car, and lately I had to rent to go out of town. Thanks in advance!
P.S. My chevy has 170,000 miles on it, but they are highway miles. It runs quietly, good idling, no shakes. I did have an ac problem, they changed AC compressor a month after they changed the first fuel pump.
I have a huge issue with my 2000 Cavalier. Last year I had to switch my fuel pump - my fault, I kept on driving on empty.
Few months later - about 4 - the Check Engine light came on. I waited a bit before I got it checked out, until I needed emissions test. In March I went to a shop, it was a P0440 code, emission system failure. They changed the selenoid valve - don't remember the exact name of the part, but that might be it. A month later the light came back on AND my fuel pump went out - exactly a year after it was put in.
They put a new pump in, cleared the light and the Check Engine light stayed off long enough for me to pass my emissions test. But it came back on, and a month later my FUEL PUMP went out AGAIN!!! They put a new pump in - this was just a week ago, April 17. So now I am on my 3rd fuel pump since last May.
Now, a week later, the check engine light still hasn't come back on, but I haven't driven that much so it probably still will, and today I drove on a highway a little, and after parking the car for about 15-20 minutes I had problems starting it (it's about 70 degrees here, so the car was hot). It would start, stay on for a few seconds, and turn off. I was only able to drive away after i gave it some gas right as I started it. Now it's parked in my garage and I have no problems starting it. It has a full tank of gas. Before when my pumps went out, the tank was only 3/4 full. But I NEVER drive anywhere near empty since my first pump went out. I have an odd feeling the problem is not the fuel pump, but I sure have no idea what it might be. I checked oil, it is full and clean (I change it every 3,000 miles unless it's still not dirty, but I drive A LOT so I make sure my oil is good).
I don't really want to go back to my shop, as good as they have been to me in the past 10 years, I fear they might not know enough about domestic cars since they all are from Korea. I am tempted to just go to a dealer, but I'm reading horror stories about them taking money for nothing, not knowing what they're doing, etc. Somebody PLEASE HELP! I'm a travel photographer, which includes - you guessed it - TRAVEL! I have to have a reliable car, and lately I had to rent to go out of town. Thanks in advance!
P.S. My chevy has 170,000 miles on it, but they are highway miles. It runs quietly, good idling, no shakes. I did have an ac problem, they changed AC compressor a month after they changed the first fuel pump.
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