14th Mar 2004, 23:45
Update
The car's heater now leaks coolant, I have to decide if I want to keep it or drive it through summer and then buy a new car.
15th Mar 2004, 06:20
Replacing the heater core shouldn't be that tough, not a reason to dump the car.
21st Mar 2004, 17:37
I just got the heater core replaced for 400 bucks Canadian (first money ever put into the car, other than 30 dollars for maintenance junk) the Chevy dealership cleaned the car inside and out for free (we know the owner) now it runs and looks much better. It just needs new spark plugs and wires and every maintenance part will be new. It is nice to drive it without the rancid smell of rotten coolant and also nice to not have slime all over the inside of all the windows.
12th May 2004, 22:46
I managed to get an old Citation with the old L4. It has a bad oil pump, and I spun the bearings. Somehow it still runs and climbs the steep hills of New York better than most. If your car still has a solid body, keep it as long as you can. Parts are very cheap, and interchangeable with several other Chevy cars. I was lucky to keep many parts off of my previous Citation for my current one. The weak horsepower problem can be remedied by better air and fuel filters, along with some carburator cleaner added to a full tank of high grade gasoline.
25th Dec 2003, 00:39
I am the reviewer. The iron duke is actually 90 HP. For a light car, it is fairly quick off the line, but the top speed is nothing to brag about.
I just did some basic maintenance---air filter, fuel filter, plugs, wires, cap, rotor and it starts a LOT easier now and NEVER stalls when it is cold (that is a problem I noticed when December cold hit.) The power is also "there" when at highway speeds. The poor power at high speeds before can be attributed to the clogged fuel filter.
BTW mine also leaks oil, not something I will complain about. A couple drops after the engine is hot and it doesn't drip when the engine is cold. I am almost positive it is leaking from the valve cover... an easy fix. The transmission also needs topping off. I noticed it has to "search" for what gear it wants to stay in when it is cold. Meaning it goes "2nd, 3rd, 2nd, 3rd, 2nd, 3rd" all in the time of about 20-30 seconds when cruising at 50 kph without making any movements to the throttle. More trans fluid should fix that right up.
All in all, a durable car with an engine and trans that can take a beating and some neglect. Although the interior is falling apart (a problem with almost all 80s cars, unfortunately.)