Since I was the 3rd owner of this car, I cannot tell you everything, although I can tell you what went wrong when it was mine.
Alternator broke 3 times.
Alternator belt snapped every 500 miles.
A ridiculously loud obnoxious squealing from somewhere in the engine compartment every time it was fired up.
Shocks went totally flat.
When cold, the car needed extreme force to turn to the left.
When turned to the right, more squealing.
A/C stopped working.
Ugly.
Paint and clear-coat began to chip away and bubble on the hood.
Rust underneath the doors.
Ceiling lining fell so far that it covered the rear window visibility from the driver's seat.
Engine would lock up and stall if forced to travel for more than 50 miles a day (Trust me, this was bad)
Stalled at stoplights after driving for more than 50 miles a total of 68 times in 1 year.
Engine needed turning for at least 10 seconds before the fuel reached the cylinders every time the car was started, I believe it was a fuel pump problem.
This car certainly had character. It was legendary in the high school parking lot. I tried to keep it running, but the car was so bad to me that I just kind of gave up on it. Hear is a run-down:
The Good:
* Car was fairly comfortable for $500 dollars, yeah that's correct.
* Never had any serious problems going to and from work, which was 2 miles away
* Hard metal bumpers could resist bumps while new plastic ones cannot
* Nice exhaust note thanks to the Flow-Master bolted on.
* 140 horsepower in a GM 4 cylinder beat a Volvo 4 cylinder in a race once. Upon the second try it stalled of course.
The Bad:
* Car sucks
* It's ugly
* Engine is poor
* In 1987, GM supposedly attempted to convert to the metric system, but apparently, the factory workers only heard about this after this car's production began. There are bolts in the engine compartment which use standard U.S. measurements, and then there are some which require metric system tools. A stupid, pointless, time consuming lack of engineering skill.
* 0-60 time of approximately 10 seconds
* Topped out at 76 mph on Rt. 91 on a slight downgrade.
Well since you are the third owner of this car, I would say by all of your problems I can tell that this car was very poorly maintained in the first place.
Next time you buy a used GM car, make sure that the previous owner had maintained it properly. This means changing the oil, filters, gaskets, seals and other things explained in your manual. If you don't have a manual, you can pick up one cheap at automotive stores or you can pick up one at your nearest GM dealers.
My advice would be to scrap this car and look for another car I would recommend a Chevy, Oldsmobile, Buick or a Honda Car. Good luck in the future.
Hi.
I have a Comment about a 1987 Calais Oldsmobile
I have just gotten the car and to long ago I took it for a spin and it started to choke and back fire, these cars I are easy to fix, but this I don't understand!
Well, since your ALTERNATOR broke 3 times, the ALTERNATOR BELT snapped every 500 miles, and a REDICULOUSLY LOUD ABNOXIOUS SQUEALING came from under the hood every time you fire it up, it seems fairly obvious that either your tensioner was out of whack ($12 item), or your alternator was out of alignment.
When you had trouble turning the wheel, that's the rack and pinion out of whack, needed replacement. Sounds like an OK car otherwise...
I now own a 1986 Oldsmobile Calais 2 Dr. coupe that had belonged to my parents since new. My father let it go for nothing because he didn't want to keep it maintained any longer. He had a lot minor little things go wrong with it, but kept it nonetheless. I have since completely reconditioned the whole car through out. I discovered during the strip down phase, that this car is very simply engineered and manufactured. Nothing is over-built to last.
If the N-body it properly cared for and maintained, it should hold up to normal driving. However, this is NO race car, or sports car. It is a small, light compact car given a slightly plusher interior than most other cars in its category. (note; the special Pace Car editions were custom built by outside vendors, and not typical of the model.) Even the later models with the quad cams, and V6 aren't built any better than the first ones off the assembly line. I know, because I have looked many over in the junk yards. My advice is that if you own a FWD Calais, drive it modestly. If you drive it hard and slam it around, it will not hold up! If you keep it maintained, clean, and in a garage, and drive it normally, it should last relatively quite a while. The earlier models (like mine) are now pushing 20 years old. As they say; Since they do not build them like they used to,I'd have to say that in hindsight, a 20+ year old Calais is a fairly remarkable milestone of achievement.
Abuse, and you lose! end of story...
Of course you had problems you did pay $500 right? no car that costs $500 will run well as a general rule. Plus the fact it was obviously modified: 140 horsepower from the Pontiac-built 151 cubic inch (2.5 Liter) in-line 4 aka: The
4 Tech? A factory 4 Tech had 98 horsepower in '87 and '88. That's another reason why you had such trouble. The Calais was one of the best cars from the 80s, but only if its taken care of end of story!
My 1987 Olds Calais was the greatest car ever made. Sure it was the 2.5 liter and not the Quad 4, but it got over 30 mpg and was easily going to hit 200,000 miles when an old lady rear ended it and it was totaled (199,780 miles on the odometer). If you know how to replace the alternator and heater core, the car will last and serve you well.
Sorry, bub. You just got ripped off... Considering you had 3 previous owners and you only paid $500, that'd be the reason half your problems occurred. I've had my '87 Calais for just over 2 years and have only replaced the muffler and alternator... Have not had one slip up with the car since and for being 20 years old, it runs better than my girlfriend's '98 Mazda 626...So you just got a bad pick of the bunch.
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