2001 Chevrolet Cavalier from North America - Comments

My 2001 Cavalier is doing the Trac Off thing too. Trac Off light comes on, car shifts hard, car dies next time I stop or slow down, check engine light comes on when I turn it back on. Lately I have to stop 3 times on my 3 mile drive to work. My work buddies messed with it last night and now the Trac Off light is staying on along with the check engine light. It's still shifting hard but it's not dying. I think I'm going to replace the TPS and see if that works. I will come back here and let you all know since nobody seems to follow up...

I was wondering if the person that posted on April 3rd has had any problems since he last posted? Please respond if possible as I am having the same problems.

I actually have a 2002 Cavalier and have had the same TPS issue as everyone else. This site helped me diagnose the problems with my car. My dad is a GM mechanic and agreed that the TPS is the problem after I took it to Auto-zone and got the code. We ordered the sensor from a dealership to get AC Del-co brand. He informed me that other brands may not correct the problem due to some kind of compatibility issues. So, we replaced the sensor in the car, and it has been running perfectly ever since (for about a week). I just wanted to follow-up since you guys helped me out first.

Same problem here! (80,000 miles) 2001 Chevy Caviler Indigo Blue (LOL) except it happened to me on the INTERSTATE! Trac Light came on and I knew what was going to happen, but I didn't notice any difference in driving until I had to slow down for a toll. Luckily, I have the sun pass and managed to stay in gear, but it felt like the car was going to shut off if I went any slower.

I managed to find a nice spot on the side of the interstate to turn it off and back on.

I also live in FL, humidity could be a problem because it mostly happens when I am in Tampa, and I live in Melbourne, FL. Tampa is a bit hotter and more humid. If the theory is correct, it should happen more now that it's spring.

I read from one of the comments that they did try the TPS and it didn't work! But I might just try it anyway, it's just difficult to know if anything works because it only happens to me about every 3 months.

Beside that, I had to change the gasket or something like that the first week I got it... brand new out of the show room! I had to change my battery like 1 year after I bought it. But those were covered with warranty. I just replaced the front speakers because of crackling.

Let me know if anyone actually gets rid of the Trac off problem - yalfonso1@gmail.com

Hey everyone, I posted April 8th about my Trac Off problem. Two days ago a coworker changed my TPS and now the car is running much better. The Trac Off light has gone off but my check engine light is still on. Everything else is running fine. I'm wondering if it just needs to be reset? Anyway, I paid $47 for the TPS at a local auto parts store and it seemed to do the trick...

Same problem with the Trac off light coming on. How many complaints does it take to have Chevy realizes that there is a problem?

I was the post on April 3rd. The TPS fixed my issues, no problems since then. I had the dealership do it and it cost me $200. I would suggest just spending $50 at the autoparts store, supposedly it's not a hard part to replace, I'm just lazy.

Good luck to everyone, hope this helps.

I have a 2003 that I have the same issue with, and it was the throttle position sensor, problem is those sensors are only lasting about 2-3 months. Just replaced it for the second time two months ago and it started again today. Going to have to get my third sensor in the last 6 months tomorrow. Can't believe that they would all be defective parts. So beware, you may think the problem is fixed only for it to come back again. First Chevrolet I have ever bought and it will be the last!!!

I was reading these blogs because my Cavalier is having a similar problem. Granted, I am looking at the 80 and 90k mileage and sort of smirking with the luck I guess I had.

I bought a 2002 Cavalier Sport (yellow) new in Aug of 02. I loved my car and I never had problems. She ran like a kitten even after hitting a rock and denting the rim and blowing a tire.

The head gasket and another part were replaced under warranty at 98,000 miles - only because of a suspicion when the temp gauge went up a few times.

I currently have 162,200 miles on my Cavalier and I JUST started having problems this past week after all this time. My Trac Off light came on and when I pulled in my driveway to reverse in, the battery light came on and it died. The problem was the fuel pump, which was replaced. But today (first day I had the car back) the Trac Off light came back on again for my ride to work and turned off afterwards on the way home. I am hoping it is not a transmission problem because I am a bit strapped to buy another.

The car still runs like the day I bought it, but that evil light remains the constant worry that the tranny may go if it comes back on.

I bought my 2001 Cavalier new and diligently maintained it with a checklist of dates and mileages for all services and repairs.

I needed a wiring harness replacement due to a defective, leaking Delco battery, a rack & pinion replacement, control arms and struts, etc. etc., and my extended warranty expired last year.

I had just replaced the brakes, tires and serpentine belt at 76K miles, and it was running fine, however, after reading all the driver complaints and bad reviews and having to drive on major highways each weekend to visit my kids & grandchildren, I didn't want to risk getting stuck on the road and/or shelling out hundreds for repairs on an 8 yr old car. So I just traded it in for a new Mazda,

As a retiree, I really wanted to keep the Cavalier at least for a couple of more years, but sinking more money into a car that seems as if it's ready to bleed me dry with an endless series of expensive repairs just doesn't make sense. No more GM cars for me, thank you!

I also had the trac off light come on in my 01 cavalier. My repair man said it was the accelerator throttle thingy and he replaced it and it has not done it since. Hope this helps.