Comments: 1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-48
Paint is wearing off on the hood, trunk, and roof.
Air conditioning went out.
New battery.
New starter.
New alternator.
All 4 tires leak on a weekly basis.
Brakes front and back replaced.
This car started out like a dream. Then it went downhill after about 4 years. It started off with the electrical problems with the battery, starter, and alternator. One after another. Then the paint went bad. My son takes care of the paint by waxing it at least 3 times a year with the same wax he uses on his car. And day after day the paint on the trunk, then to the roof, then to the hood started turning gray. Which my son told me that my primer is coming through. It started out fading then turned gray. It's like cancer on the car. Then the air conditioning went out last summer. Now my biggest problem is that I heard a grinding noise whenever I take a turn. I took it into a nearby mechanic in which one of the mechanics is my friends son. He put a stethoscope up to the transmission and heard a light rattling noise. Now they think I need a new transmission. Great!!! Any body know what that could be. I don't think my friend's son would be lying to me about my car. It's a shame, because overall this car was a wonderful car up until I hit around 60,000 miles. Ilove the look of the interior and exterior. It's a very solid car for a Geo. I drive the car like an old lady. Why would all this stuff go wrong within the first 70,000 miles?
Well that is a real surprise. I own a 1996 Geo Prizm and have now got the mileage up to 165k miles. The only things I have replaced are the Starter and Battery. Of course, I do take a keen interest in my Vehicle and have replaced the Transmission Filter, and Fluid every 9k miles. Preventative maintenance is the key here. I have never heard of anybody destroying a Toyota Transmission in under 70k miles before.
A grinding noise when turning probably isn't the transmission. It could be as simple as a bad wheel bearing or CV joint, although they usually make a clunking noise. Get a second opinion from a different mechanic. Don't go to a trans shop, they will DEFINITELY think it's the trans.
I do preventive maintenance on my car. I read through the owners manual and did everything right for it. I say again that I drive it very nicely.
The griding noise you hear when you take a turn is almost certainly an outer CV joint.
I have a 1994 Geo Prizm LSi and it's a dream I love it right now it has 178,000 miles and the only thing I've replaced besides common items is the alternator and besides that it's a real peach, however I do have a few paint issues starting to pop up, but nothing like yours yet, I don't think your transmission is the problem I bet you its something in the axles so get those checked out... oh one more thing I didn't like your comment about " holding up like a Geo" first of all those were very good cars so check it out before you make it sound like they were crap cause they are not-
I have a 96 Geo Prism (Toyota Corolla) with 137K with no problems until a worn tire from a bent rim destroyed a wheel bearing. The loose wheel bearing allowed the rotor to twist and rub against the brake pads when turning. This caused a grinding noise. I replaced the bearing and tires and the car is perfect once again.
I am the original poster of this Geo Prizm. I thought I would give an update. My son checked the transmission in which he found little metal shavings in the fluid. So to all those that said I don't know what I am talking about. Also the ABS light sometimes stays on when I start the car, and will not go off for a couple of days. Then all of a sudden it will go off. Does anyone know what that could be?
You Just have an ABS Sensor gone out. It just means the ABS will not work, Take a Wheel off inside (behind Brake Rotor) you will find a Cog or Gear. The ABS Sensor is on there somewhere. You will see where it is, it obviously has Wires on it. I would try taking off or even leaving in place and spray a good amount of Brake Parts Cleaner in the Area. They normally get too much Mud around them. I hope this helps you.
Maybe you should change your tranny fluid every once and awhile. All engines have small bits of metal in the oil, its inevitable as engines are bound to rub to metals together somewhere even in the tranny. Those clunking noises are probably bearings in the wheels or cv joints. If one of the cv joint rubber boots is ripped then you need a new one. If your tranny was screwy in turns, wouldn't it be screwy going straight? You have to think about these things logically. If the tranny goes fine forwards then its not the problem during turns. Look to the part that connects to the turning wheels... etc...
If more people thought logically, they wouldn't get ripped off by mechanics.
To the smart guy up top. I do think very logically. I however do not know a lot about cars. I am in my mid 50's and do not do any work on my car or do I intend to. I know the mechanic that I talked about in the beginning was full of it because I replaced all my front brakes in the front and the grinding noise went away. The mechanic who replaced the brakes said that the brakes were wearing very uneven, so he fixed them and that is that. I do get regular transmission fluid changes every other year. Then after the grinding noise went away I could then hear a very loud knocking noise coming from the engine or transmission every once in a while. The sound sometimes lasts for days and then goes off. And yes I do get my oil changed every 3 months or 3,000 miles. Despite the engine noises, honestly should the air conditioning stop working, door handles breaking off in your hand, climate control knobs popping off, hole in the gas tank, alternator, starter, 2 batteries, air leaking out of all 4 tires to be told that all alloy wheels leak a little, and paint burning off to nothing, but primer. Maybe I just have a lemon because no one else seems to have these problems. And for the last time I do baby my car, I am just very disappointed in it.
Well you sound very correct now.
It might have helped if you had explained all your problems at once instead of leading us on with vague descriptions and then throwing it in our faces with detailed problems.
My last comment about logic in dealing with mechanics, didn't apply to you. In general, people get ripped off and often get one problem fixed, only to go home with 3 more.
Would climate affect your car? Like auto trannys don't shift nor do they move fluid well in cold weather, same with snow, salt, and rust which is to be expected when living in northern regions. If you live in florida or some warm place, well, your car is a lemon. Sell it and buy something else.
I have a 1993 Geo Prizm LSi, and I have a few problems myself. The paint on my roof is almost completely gone; I have spots like that, also, on my hood and trunk. My gas sensor is beginning to not work; my 'low gas level' light doesn't come on anymore. My door open and lights on sensor doesn't work anymore. My airbag light is on constantly, which probably means there is something wrong with the airbags, but I don't have the money to get that fixed right now. My aunt had drove it for 11 years, and never got an oil change unless the car broke down because of lack of oil! It has 157,000+ miles, so I guess it runs good under those circumstances! So, overall, it is a pretty good first car.
I have a 1993 Geo Prizm. 197K freeway miles. It has been running great. About 2 months ago I had a tune-up (spark plug, wires, rotor cap) done. Brake light comes off and on sometimes, but still runs fine. 2 days ago I'm driving and it just dies. I parked it for about 15 minutes. and started back up fine. Drove about 15 minutes. then dies. Parked it for a few minutes, started back up fine. Drove another 10-15 minutes and dies. I can drive it for about 10-15 then it dies. When it dies the "Check Engine Light", "Oil Light", and "Battery Light" come on. I had no prior problems besides the brake light off and on problem and a leak in the power steering. Any suggestions/help/etc. will be much appreciated. HELP!
-thanks.
Sounds like an electrical problem to me, check for shorts/loose wires/things grounding out where they shouldn't be.
Hey can someone please tell me:
I am 16 and I don't have my first car yet. For some reason these are the only requirements I have for my first car:
1. Under $6,000
2. Under 100,000 miles
3. Turquoise/Teal in color
4. 4 door
5. Automatic.
I found a car which SEEMS to look perfect, a 1993 Geo Prism Lsi 4 door... it has 86,000 miles on it, and it meets all my other requirements...
Unfortunately my dad won't let me get it because he doesn't want to have to keep up with the maintenance of it. He thinks it is too old and has too many miles.
Please someone help me convince my dad that it will be fine... or convince me that he's right!
Thank-you.