Comments: 1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-55
The timing belt wore out at 68,000 miles. This caused the belt to slip on the pulley and required to be towed to the mechanic.
Timing belt crank shaft pulley retaining bolt snapped shortly after new belt was installed. Dammage to crank shaft end resulted in $1,300 worth of repair.
Disk brake rotors worn out at 120,000 miles.
Fuel injector and Electronic Control Module(ECM)failure at 120,000 miles. Fuel injector cost $450 to replace and ECM new cost $2,500 to replace. I purchased a used ECM for $175. Car ran for another 50 miles before leaving me stranded. The fuel injector is dumping fuel down the throttle body. I have not yet repaired this problem.
I purchased this car for very little initially three years ago -- $1,350. It immediately doubled in cost regarding repair to the timing belt pulley. Although it ran fine for the next three years (60,000 miles), it has broken down again and repair costs are near equal to its value. I maintain my cars very well and treat it like I want to own it for a long time. This car is a lemon though. When running it gives me good gas mileage and performance, but when it breaks down problems are major and not for the weekend mechanic to do.
Hmm you must have gotten a bad one I've had several metros and never had anything like that happen I always had the timing belt changed right at 60,000 miles like the owners guide says, my current metro is a 1995 4 cylinder with 145,000 miles and the little thing still runs great, I've never had a serious problem out of it-
I have an update on my Metro. I had it towed to my mechanic again for repair. It would not start. Come to find out that the fuel injector was running at full blast as soon as I turned on the key. My mechanic could not find out what the problem was after 2 weeks of investigation and recommended that I have an automotive electronic specialist work on it. The specialist he recommended was able to find the problem. The fuel injector is controlled directly by the ECM. The wire loom runs behind the engine and vibration from the engine wore through the injector wire. The fuel injector is fired when the control wire is grounded so in this situation it would run at full blast as soon as the ignition switch was turned on. Of course stuffing that much fuel down the throttle body without the engine running filled up my crank case with gas requiring the oil and filter to be changed. The car runs fine now, but it just cost another $450 to hunt down and repair the wiring problem. For those of you who love these cars, I'll gladly sell you mine.
Hello to you that are not happy with your Metro's. I am looking to buy one that has the 1.0 engine, with an automatic. My E-mail address is myswots@yahoo.com
Thanks, Howard.
I also love my Metro and am looking to purchase another one in the Milwaukee, Wi. area. If you have a 1 liter,3 cylinder, standard 5 speed transmission car you wish to sell please contact me at riushr@netscape.net
Thanks and regards,
Rick.
I think Geo Metros are one of the best autos ever built to get from point A to point B. There great on fuel & the 1.0 engine amazes me at what it can do. They are very easy to work on if you know what your doing. A good running metro will zip right along and are fun to drive. If your too proud to drive a fifty plus mpg metro you have to much money or your very insecure. Being a auto dealer for fifteen years I've owned many autos & none have in pressed me more than my 3 CLY. LIMO = Chick magnet.
For the record, the same crankshaft issue has just happened on my Geo. It's going to cost around the same to repair.
I guess it's the way with these cheap, mass produced cars - some end up missing a few quality checks along the way, and you either get a good one, or a lemon. And I got a lemon.
I'll gladly spend the money on a proven brand like Toyota or Honda next time, just for the peace of mind.
Yes, I hate little cars like this. I don't give a rip about gas mileage. Gas costing you too much for your comfortable old car... quit whining and work more hours to pay for it... That's what I do...
I hate geo's I had a 1994 geo metro base line hatch back from september -december of 2005 it was a pain in the a** all it did was dump water out of the tell pipe and broke down 100 times I put $5000.00 it to a car I got for $300.00 the kbb on the car is $50.00 or n/a don't get a geo.
My Geo (93 152,000) has been an exceptional vehicle. Almost no maintenance costs other than tires. The tires on the back cup and need regular rotation. Gas mileage is great. Always above 40mpg. It just keeps ticking. Recently however I have encountered a problem. First, I just gave the car to my 18 year old son. He drives it two months, and breaks down 26 miles from home. It won't start. Has plenty of good gas, good battery and no obviouse problems. The engine turns over, but doesn't sound exactly as I am used to. No spark from the coil wire to ground! Hmmm??? We leave the car. Get home very late.
The next morning I read this site and find that other people have the same trouble occasionally. Here is how to check. Open oil fill cover (cap). Look in there at the cam shaft. DOES it turn when someone tries the ignition??? (No spark will be created if the cam shaft does not turn) If not then you could have a bad timing belt. My timing belt was deteriorated by a bad camshaft seal leaking oil into the timing belt cover. The teeth on the bottom of the belt were torn from the belt. The top of the belt still looked good. Of course I should have replaced this 5 dollar seal sooner. It would have cost less. However, I have been spending so much more time on my other three vehicles trying to keep them running. (Chvy TRK, PLY VOY, TOY COR) The poor cheapo geo got no lovin at all. So that's my answer for the no spark, no start, everything seems OK problem. Obviously this doesn't cover all situations.
By the way. the Geo costs less to purchase, NEW $7500 with one year of gas. Great in the snow.. It only weighs about 1600 lbs. It requires less materials to manufacture. It consumes less air and less fuel, less oil, less coolant, less rubber for the tires, less brake pad materials. Smaller battery, It pollutes the environment Less. Overall, it is a very smart concept. And could actually increase ones personal image!
I'm a 24 year old college student with 2 jobs and 2 kids. I'm always on the go. During my spare time, I drive from state to state on a regular basis. My car is small, good on gas and has great trunk space. In Brooklyn, New York I always manage to get a parking space. I have never needed any major repairs and it's a 1996 with well over 125,000 miles on it. My mechanic didn't think that it would last more than a year. lol My Geo fits into my lifestyle perfectly. Oh, and check it out, I bought the car used from the previous owner for only $950.00!!!
I have a 94 Geo Metro-I love it-I haven't had any trouble with mine until now-purchased in 96.I think I have a blown head guasket. Hopefully that is all. I am hoping to have it repaired-it is a 2 door hatchback. In Columbus, Ms.
I presently have a 1996 Geo metro 1.3 litre.
I enjoyed the car for the first month.
Unfortunately the car has been in the shop for 2 months. My mechanic (skilled and honest).
The car had suddenly stalled on me. It did however restart for a short moment.
It will run very well for a while and spontaneously would stop. The problem seems to be a stopping of the fuel injector function.
It seems an electrical problem. The electrical "pulse" stops.
He has been searching diligently for wiring problem.
The car otherwise runs like a top and I am really looking forward to its return.
Has anyone had or heard of this problem?
Check to see if the radiator fan is coming on or one of your cooling sensors isn't broken.
Both my wife and I have driven 3 cylinder 90 - 95 Geo Metros (250,000 miles on one) for years up and down the mountain pass from Colorado Springs to Woodland Park. They are great little cars. They have enough power to keep up with traffic even on the grades. They are also excellent in the snow and ice. I do all the repairs myself. I have found the following common repairs to be needed; 1) wheel barrings around 120000 miles (About $15 each in parts). 2) struts at 120000 (about $50 each in parts) 3) radiators every 75,000 miles (about $140 in parts). I just pulled the engine head off one and had it re-done at the machine shop ($360 with a new bolt and gaskets set)
As far as safety in a crash goes, We have crashed them twice in 55+ mph crashes and had no injury. I love these little cars. Some times I get the finger from people when I can't pass a slow moving motor home as fast as they want me too, but I give it right back at em when I pass them at the gas pumps and they are putting $20 plus in their tank!
Up until March of this year I had a 1996 Geo Metro that I absolutely adored!!! Great gas mileage and since I rarely had to drive in the last 2 years I only filled it up once a month (I moved close to a metro station)... I never had any problems with it... could be because I didn't drive it that much.. it had less than 70,000 miles on it... the only reason I don't still drive it is because I had an accident -- rear ended an SUV... there was damage to the hood... my air bag didn't deploy, the car didn't even cut off... and I was going about 50 mph before I hit the brakes (with very little breaking room). The only reason I don't still own it is because my insurance company totaled it... with the prior interior damage (sun damage to the dash board, a nasty bleach spill on the carpet behind the driver side and a broken door mirror, not from an accident, but kids playing too close to the car), before they took the deductions it was still worth $2,000 and I only paid $8,000 when I bought it in '96. I would have gotten it fixed and still be zipping through traffic and parking in those tight spots that only a Geo can. Outside of regular maintenance, I only put about $2500 worth of work in the car and most of that was a stalling problem that the mechanic thought may have been the fuel injector, but turned out to be some type of clog in the exhaust system.. it went away as soon as they replaced it.
Again... I thought it was a great little car and I'm sorry to hear of anyone that has problems with them.