'96 Chevy Cavalier runs for about 10 minutes then dies. Right before it dies, the gauges will go haywire. Once dead, theTheft Light stays on and will not restart for about another 10 minutes. I

SOURCE: 99 chevy cavalier fuel gauge jumps

The fuel pump as a gage sender that monitors the gage in the dash. I would replace the fuel pump .
Very common problem

Good Luck

Gilbert Labont?

• 195 Answers
• Posted on Jul 08, 2009

SOURCE: 1996 chevy cavalier. problems starting and running

Actually i doubt the switch is in default here. Especially that if i'm not mistaken the theft light on those was only on the monsoon radio systems and only tells the status of the theft lock on the radio. And if the theft lock light on the radio comes on it's because it thinks it's being unplugged. Taking that in account and reading all the problem you have with the car, i'm strongly leaning toward a grounding problem. So check the negative post on the battery to be sure its not moving or broken in any way, and verify all the grounding wire and straps and replace them if needed. Not many people know this but the ground wires on a car are 100 times more important than the positive wires. Without the grounds, the current has nowhere to go on any components, so that means even the spark plugs stop sparking. If all the grounds are good, just check the battery itself and the alternator just to be sure they are not causing these problems. And if all else fails, then it would be option to change the ignition switch/cylinder. Pretty sure though that you can find one in a scrap yard for less than 150$, those cavaliers are practically raining everywhere in the scrap yards, and you can also use one from a pontiac sunfire which is the same car. Also, you can use most switches from other GMs in the same years, like a grand am, grand prix, lumina, etc. Just make sure that the car you take it from has basically the same equipment more or less than your cavalier so that the zenith has the same number of wires as yours and same positions also.

SOURCE: 99 chevy cavalier theft system light on steady, car wont crank.

My 2000 cavalier has done this for 6 months. You take your key out then open your door, wait ten minutes and the system resets itself and the car will start-annoying you bet!!!

SOURCE: 98 chevy cavalier cranks but wont start changed

try to start the car, than the anti theift would shut the car off. you wait ten min with the key on, until you see the anti theift flash or disapear. than turn key to off position and try to start it. this will reprogram the computer.. Good luck.

you can also try disconnecting the battery for 30 minutes

SOURCE: 93 chevy lumina euro won't stay running

sounds like it could be a fuel injector shorting out. have to get it hot, pull off the plenum and check the resistance in each injector. if any injector has bad resistance, replace it. when an injector shorts out on these particular vehicles, it shorts out the whole injection circuit. and when it cools off the resistance goes back up and it will run ok. i think the correct resistance should be about 13 ohms.