IMPORTANT--- Attention anyone who owns a 1990's Chevy Cavalier.....
GM issues secret service bulletins for certain repairs that they will do and will cover all costs for. Many of the 1990 Cavaliers are covered for head gasket failures. I know that 1992, 93, 95, & 96's are, and 1994's are covered in Canada. Check it out at lemonaidcars.com under the secret warranties section. You could be in for a refund! Plus, any owner of a cavalier that wasn't covered under the specified years, please send a letter of complaint to GM. These service bulletins are based on the # of complaints received. Unfortunately, my car is a 1994. (I'm thinking about moving to Canada....) Seriously though, I am taking GM to the small claims court.
I have a 1990 Chevrolet Cavalier 2 door coupe. I purchased it new and have not had any problems with it.
I've had brake pads and shoes put on twice.
I haven't had any oil leaks or valve gaskets to go bad or any headgaskets blow.
Also it is a 5 speed, and I haven't had any problems with the clutch or gears. And I have almost 140,000 miles and I'm gonna put 140,000 more on.
Greg from Georgia
mission1@planters.net
I have a 1995 Cavalier that was purchased new for my daughter. She now has 47,000 miles on it. A dealer in the city where she attends college said that the head gasket is leaking. The dealer where I purchased the vehicle is checking to see if the repairs will be covered by GM under a service policy. If anyone knows the service bulletin number for this repair, please let me know.
Randy Nutt
Warren, Arkansas
jrnuttsr@yahoo.com.
I have a 1995 Chevy Cavalier, and several years ago I got a note from my dealership saying that if you were having trouble with the head-gasket-leaking, etc.-that you were to have it replaced, free of charge. It was on a recall notice, so no one should have to use their warranties, Chevy should be paying for the whole thing if you have a bad head-gasket. I would highly recommend checking with your local Chevy dealer on that. Ours has been awesome in keeping up with any recalls. There's also one on the ignition switch-a relay needs to be installed. So check on that one, if you haven't gotten a notice.
I love my Chevy, though. I didn't have a problem with the head-gasket. :^)
I have a 1993 4-Dr. Chevy Cavalier. I have had more problems with it since I got it. When I would call for service I would it one quote, but once I arrived received another -every time. Now I can't get the front doors to close. What else is new.
I have a Chevy Cavalier (either a '96 or '97, I'm not quite sure, my parents bought it for me used in 1999). I just found out the I have to have the head gasket replaced, and in looking at other postings, I'm getting the idea that I should be able to get it repaired for free (or it'll be covered by GM) Unfortunately my parents are out of the country for 1 1/2 weeks, so I can't get any more information about my car until they come back. Does anyone have any more information regarding this issue that they could give me? Or calm my fears of having to pay $1200 to get it replaced? I'd appreciate that, thanks!
I purchased a 97 Chevy Cavalier in 97. I have 87,000 miles on it and have a faulty Head Gasket. I have also had to replace the power steering train.
Hope this helps.
April 10, 2003
We bought a Chevy Cavalier new in 1994 as of today we have 187,000 + miles on it. We have put brakes on it a couple of times. But we have not had any serious trouble
Also we have changed spark plugs a couple of times and it is still running great.
The only problem that I can see is that when you slow down to about 35 mph the engine has a jerking to it.
I have not figured out what to do for it. I've put ejection cleaner through it, but it doesn't seem to help.
I am very pleased with the over all performance of it.
Oh ya I had a switch replaced in the transmission also.
Robert (Bud) Weirich of Ohio.
You probably have a bad clutch. My Citation jerks a bit when shifting in all gears and it is an automatic transmission.
I have a 97 cavalier (with 98,000 miles) that I have had for about 2 years now. I have had to purchase a new alternator, fix my horn because some of my wires are crossing and causing me to not have a lighter, I just got finished putting in antifreeze in it, and now I'm working on getting my A/C fixed, since I have a leak somewhere.
Hi... I have a 1995 chevy cavalier 2.2 lit. I am now replacing the head gasket for the 2nd time... my car has 88,000 miles on it..hasn't even broke 100,000 I have recently written a letter to the Better Business Bureau to see about getting reimbursed for parts and labor totaling near 700.00. Also have done my research on the net and have found that I'm not the only one with this problem... GM should really do something about this... or else they will decrease there business... cause I know for sure I will never buy another Cavalier...
Listen up, ALL of you:
Cavaliers have aluminum engines. Aluminum engines can get very hot and burn up the head gasket. Also aluminum engines are VERY light so they are more fuel efficient than cast iron engines. If you keep your car maintained and do weekly check ups, (coolant level, oil, fluids, etc.) then the head gasket will last longer. ALSO (I think) you should check for any high quality coolant and use it. Well worth the time and money.
I am a huge GM fan and I love Chevys.
GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR CAVALIERS!!
Its all in how you drive and maintain the car. mines a 94 2dr 2.2 5 spd and I just did the head gasket. I've only done about 1000 dollors more repair and, bought it four years old one owner, now it has 2250000. Canadian driven.
In Response to the Above post regarding secrect warrenties for the cavalier, The head gasket problem is limited to the 1995-1996 models, Read.
1995-1996 Cavalier/Sunfire and the two-wheel-drive models of the 1996 Chevrolet S-10 and GMC Sonoma pickups with 2.2-liter four-cylinder engines.
Problem: Engine headgasket failures that include overheating, loss of coolant, the smell of coolant, coolant leaks around the cylinder head and white smoke from the exhaust. Sometimes the heater won't work or a film (from the coolant) will be deposited on the inside glass surfaces. If the coolant leaks inside the engine it can cause severe engine damage from overheating.
Warranty coverage: The 1995 and 1996 vehicles are now covered for headgasket problems for seven years or 100,000 miles (160,000 km), whichever comes first. Consumers who already paid for repairs at a dealership should contact the dealership to be reimbursed. Consumers who did not have a GM dealership do the work aren't excluded from the refund program and should contact the toll-free customer assistance number in the owner's manual. Future repairs, however, must take place at a GM dealership. The program is not a recall, and owners should take their vehicles to a dealership only if it appears they have a problem.
Remember, if you have an engine headgasket failure on a GM vehicle or engine not included in the above-noted programs, don't despair. Simply use the same benchmarks for your own vehicle and threaten small claims action on those grounds.
I have a 95 cavalier with 83000 miles on it now. since 34000 miles I've had the head gasket replaced 3 times! the third time they replaced the head along with it. less than six months later I was back at the dealer with the same problem. the dealer said I needed a new engine cause the coolant mixed with the oil and ruined the cylinders. I said sure replace it since it was under warranty. the dealer and gm both said no, after four months of arguing and leaving the car at the dealer for this answer. my question to gm: why do you offer extended warantys on 95 headgaskets, but when the gaskets gets so bad that coolant passes through and ruins the engine, you turn you head and say the gasket was not the cause? let me remind you that gm repaired my head gasket 3 times before. I guess they can't afford to correct my problem and put a new engine in my car. now I'm going to small claims court with them and took my car else where to get an engine!
I have a 1994 Cavalier 2.2 L with the 5 speed standard. The clutch seems to be having issues.. When you put it in first gear or any gear actually it doesn't seem to be disengaging fully (only about 20% disengagement ) I was wondering if it's a cable or hydraulic clutch and where the adjustment on the thing would be.. also if there could be any other possibilities that could be causing the problem.