The ignition mod. died at approx. 111,000 miles.
The "dogbone" (top motor mount) was replaced twice from excessive down shifting.
Right channel in the factory stereo has been dying.
The exhaust manifold broke from excessive down shifting.
Both front CV axles were replaced at 115,000 miles due to excessive down shifting and normal wear.
The A/C never worked at all.
The front anti-roll bar broke in two and was replaced at 150,000 miles.
The headliner has fallen down from ceiling.
The passenger side rear brake sticks and also its parking brake cable is frozen where it forks off (over the rear axle) to that brake.
NOW, HERE'S THE BIG ONE THAT GETS MY GOAT...
The transmission is DESIGNED to prematurely
wear major and minor components on this engine
and drive train as it ages...
Here's what I mean; The tranny is a 3 speed automatic with a "lockout", meaning, when the car reaches a certain speed, (41mph in my case) the drive axles lock together and the engine revs drop approx. 10%. The problem is that lockout happens about 10mph too early, (it should happen at 50mph) and seeing that it's not adjustable at all, (thanks to the fine management at GM) and also seeing the engine, tranny, and many other components are already in a somewhat weakened condition from age, they take a serious beating when the transmission kicks down to fix its premature lockup mistake. This happens because the transmission senses the lack of revs and forces an extra-hard down shift to occur usually when you start going up hills (when the speed limit is 45 and there's traffic in front of you).
This simply leads to premature component failure
of things like motor mounts, exhaust parts, tranny output bearings, inner CV joints, etc. which all take this unnecessary beating and finally wear out way before they're supposed to. If the lockout was adjustable, this could all be avoided and I could drive my old crappy car in peace and not cringe every time it slams from lockout into drive. YUCK!
First of all, whoever designed this engine should
drawn and quartered. PERIOD!!!
The distributor cap and oil filter are located in
the absolute most hard-to-reach places I've ever
seen. Don't get the 2.5 litre 4 cyl. engine!
The spark plugs cannot be reached by mortal man unless you buy the special tool.
The transmission is the most "user unfriendly" thing I've ever delt with.
The car is very comfortable.
Once (if) you get it up to cruising speed, she's happy. 70mph is cool!
The 2.5L engine is definitely NOT peppy!
How come I have to look around the steering wheel to see my gas gauge? Couldn't they put it where you can see it?
There are two types of Cieras... ones that totally rust out, and those that don't rust ever!
This car gives you no road feel whatsoever. In fact, it doesn't even give you a feel for what's happening to the engine. In most cars you can get a sense of what might be wrong or right with the engine. Not in this car! It gives you absolutely no feedback. It is an old person's car for sure!
By the way GM, it's "unleaded GAS" not "unleaded FUEL". Gasoline is NOT fuel. Gas and oxygen is fuel!!! Get it right!
It should have int. wipers and cruise control, but that would make it a better car... and we just can't have that, now. Can we?
Okay, the car cost me $450.00 and I got 3 years out of it. I guess it wasn't too bad a deal.
Wow! I'm amazed how similar my experience with my 1986 Calais has been to this reviewer's. My 4 door Olds shares the 4 cyl. 2.5L engine, and it sure sounds likely to have many more components in common. In my car too, the A/C has never worked, the headliner fell, the right speaker works only intermittently, and the tranny "sketches" (especially hard right around the upside of 40mph). But most frustratingly, this reviewer's gripes are right on about the engine design and its creation of terrible difficulty in allowing routine maintenance. 2 of the spark plugs were reachable to me only by removing the alternator, the oil filter really is in a crazy spot and the distributor is probably just an inch or two away from being totally unreachable (short of unhooking and re-hooking half the engine lines).
But, oh what comfort inside!
This is for the gentleman who believes that gasoline is not fuel. Fuel is a combustible substance. Oxygen is NOT combustible, therefore gas and oxygen together is not a fuel. Oxygen AIDS combustion, and considering that it makes up only 19% of the air that the car uses to AID in the burning of its fuel, it cannot be called fuel. Ever. Gas, Diesel, Propane, Natural Gas, among others are the fuels. YOU get it right. Maybe learn a little more before you spout off.
PS
I've yet to see a "peppy" carbureted 4 cyl engine.
To the person who wrote this review of his 2.5 4cyl Olds:
That downshift problem is most likely caused by a broken accumulator spring in the 125C transmission. This is a common problem with these transmissions, but a very easy and cheap fix. After dropping the transmission filter, there is a small cap with 4 "philip's-head" screws. Remove the screws and drop the cap, and the broken spring will fall out. The spring is about a half inch wide and about 2 inches high and under fifteen dollars.
The exhaust manifold broke because the "dog-bone" motor mount was worn excessively. They are about ten dollars (American) are simple to change and carry a lifetime warranty.
The AM/FM stereos are easy to replace and find in junkyards. Many models and years of GM car stereos will fit.
For additional help contact Celebrity Club of America. It is a Yahoo group.
Steve from Albany, N.Y.
1987 Celebrity 4dr 2.5 <--171,000mi
1987 Century 4dr 2.5 <--132,000mi.
I love my 89 calais, but it's a real witch to work on, I agree about the poor design in the engine. It's a 5 speed and I've spun the idler barrel twice and have had to replace the camshaft barrings and you name it, its gone wroung and I just can't say no to not fixing it. Its fast, for an old fogie car, I think it's a cheap race car. I drive it like one and treat it like on to boot. I bought it from a drunk x-painter and it was in bad shape. But over all, the people who designed the chasie should be kicked. It took me 5 and half hours to replace the waterpump and 3 hours to figure out how to put the darn timing chain back on. It's a nice ride, but when it hits 100 k miles, it runs out of poop.
Smooth Edwards of Oregon.
The 1985 cutlass ciera 2.5 liter 4 cylinder is truly the worst car, period. About everything that was said about this car is true. I hate how hard it is to reach the oil filter and its the slowest car that I have ever driven. I got mine for $550, waste of money.
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