New User Of 2001 Chevy Cng

[zolez]

i got this cavalier which runs on cng but i really cant really figure out if it is running or not cuz i am new to the whole thing and i have no experience with cng cars.. i filled the car up with cng but i still use gasoline instead of cng some ppl asked me to wait till i am out of gasoline and see if the cng thing would start..... i reallly dunno wat to do... btw thw nearest service center to my place is 80 miles away and i have no time to go there

[siai47]

Re: New User Of 2001 Chevy Cng

You will see a switch right next to the instrument panel light dimmer. On the switch is a small red light. If the light is off, you are on CNG---if the light is on you are on gasoline. When there is CNG in the tank, the car will always run on CNG until empty, then it will switch to gasoline--the red light telling you that it is time to refill. If it is not running on CNG and there are no check engine lights, check the 20 amp CNG fuse under the hood---make sure it is there and not blown.

[freedml]

Re: New User Of 2001 Chevy Cng

I understand it should also start on gasoline every 100 starts.

[CNG Utah]

Re: New User Of 2001 Chevy Cng

Sometimes you need to crank the Cavaliers longer than you would expect to have them start on CNG. If you just crank for a second and let go before it starts and repeat that a few times then it will switch to a gasoline "safe-mode" and start on gasoline for the next 10 starts or so.

Oh yeah, if you're having trouble starting, don't pump the gas pedal, it can blow the airbox.

[zolez]

Re: New User Of 2001 Chevy Cng

wat do u mean by crank?
i get no check engine light and the fuse id just fine and the still doesnt run on cng

[zolez]

Re: New User Of 2001 Chevy Cng

by the way i hit the switch as many times as i can but there is still no green or red light

[siai47]

Re: New User Of 2001 Chevy Cng

If you have CNG in the tank and you first turn on the ignition switch, look at the fuel switch. The light should go on for a couple of seconds for a system check and then go off. If the light doesn't come on, then either the bulb is burned out, or most likely (because the car won't run on CNG) there is a problem getting power to the system. You should also hear the lockout valve in the tank click at the same time the ignition switch is turned. If the cng fuse (20 amp located in the box under the hood) is good as you have said, and neither of the above things happen when you turn the key---it is possible that power is not reaching the Alternative fuel ECU. There is a relay that switches between the two ECUs that could have failed, beyond that it is possible that the AF ECU has failed and you should be sitting down when you check the price on that thing!

[siai47]

Re: New User Of 2001 Chevy Cng

I just re-read your last two posts. Hitting the fuel switch does nothing that affects the operation of the CNG system. It is only used to check the fuel level of the gasoline system when operating on CNG. If you have the owners manual supplement for the car, it explains the operation of the switch. The switch needs to be held in for a period of time for the fuel gauge to show the level in the other system. It can not be used to switch between fuel types.

[philbert]

Re: New User Of 2001 Chevy Cng

make sure its insured, then pour gas on it....take some matches....well you get the picture

[josch]

Re: New User Of 2001 Chevy Cng

i got this cavalier which runs on cng but i really cant really figure out if it is running or not cuz i am new to the whole thing and i have no experience with cng cars.. i filled the car up with cng but i still use gasoline instead of cng some ppl asked me to wait till i am out of gasoline and see if the cng thing would start..... i reallly dunno wat to do... btw thw nearest service center to my place is 80 miles away and i have no time to go there

I wouldn't run it out of gas though, because gas is the lubricant for the electric fuel pump which is inside the gas tank. When the pump cavitates and sucks air (runs dry) it's been my experience that it will take life out of the pump. I've seen cars where they ran them dry and customers have said the pump would whine louder afterwords. Most fuel pumps I had ever changed, sometimes I would ask the customers if they ever ran the car out of gas or frequently ran near empty, and many people had confirmed my believes that you should always keep at least 1/4 tank in your car.

[zolez]

Re: New User Of 2001 Chevy Cng

kkk
1st of all the switch doesnt even show me if i have gasoline or not
and i filled the car with cng
2nd i dont hear and "tink" at the back nor the car shows any signs of using cng cuz after a month of pumping cng i went back to the station and wanted to see if it fills but if was damn full........

Btw blowing the car is not a good idea cuz i cant fine another car thata runs on cng in my area and GAS PRICES ARE UP