Comments: 1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-60, 61-75, 76-90, 91-93
My 97 Cavalier has 177,000 km now (bought it used 6 months ago) -
- the horn stopped working
- the power window motors are going
- the headlights stopped working which resulted in my needing to purchase a new computer system and get everything re-wired
- I changed the control arm bushings (the shocks were replaced a few years ago)
- the seals leak
- there is a loud squeaking underneath
- the muffler pops
(and its been through various recalls over the years...)
A friend warned me that if I buy this car I will be putting money into it forever!
I have a 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier, it has 325,000 km on it and I have not put anymore then $500.00 into and that is just basic maintenance. I drive it very hard everyday and for a straight month I was putting on 600kms a day. I have never had any problems with it and it has never left me stranded. My opinion the best car ever made very reliable and with the mileage that I have on it I am still getting about 700 kms per 56.litres I have just purchased a 2000 cavalier with 225,000 on it and it sounds like brand new and still runs like brand new I have never been so impresses by a car, however if you bought the Z24 models with the 2.4 litre motor in it then yes you are probably going to have a lot of problems with it just for the simple fact that they are a terrible motor. If you have the normal 2.2 litre or the 2.2 ecotec motor then they are great motors and you shouldn't have many problems at all with it. But over all fantastic car!! Wish they still made them!!
I just bought an 04 cavalier on 5/30/07 was extremely happy with it then n 6/17/07 while at a stop sign notice my speedo stuck at 70mph. Called the dealer took it in 6/20/07 & am still waiting on getting it back. Haven't even made my first payment yet on the car.
The car itself runs great & I couldn't be happier with it,.. as far as the car dealer I bought the car from,.. well that's another story.
My girlfriend bought a 1997 Cavalier Coupe last year around this time with about 110k miles on it. Right after the guy transferred the title, the car would not make it out of the parking lot. I first thought it was a bad ignition coil because the engine was misfiring and it through a misfiring code (as well as a fuel trim lean - P0171). I replaced coil pack on the 1/4 side and this fixed the misfiring. The car was still giving a P0171 code and stalling at stop lights now. After that, I had the head gasket replaced. Thankfully my father and his friend were able to do that on a weekend. They fond that it had recently had a replacement that was poorly done. This did not fix the problem. I replaced the fuel filter, thermostat and temp sensor too. Still no solution. I am now trying to check the fuel pressure to see if it is low. I hope that it will be low and only the boot on the pump will be clogged. Bought the car for $850 and have about that into it lol. Two of my mechanic friends have no clue what is wrong with it either. In case you were wondering the symptoms of current problem, they are:
- car starts fine
- engine temp quickly climbs
- if accelerating quickly, DTC code of P1071C will appear
- engine starts to misfire around 190F
- temp continues to rise until car stalls
- cannot start car for about 30 min (I think as a safety precaution from the vehicle
- car starts and the vicious cycle continues.
I wanted to respond to this comment:
1st Mar 2006, 08:48
So I have a 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier which I have owned new since 1996. About a month ago, I drove the car out of my garage for about 5 minutes, parked it for an hour, and then came back to the car. It turned over, but did not start. I called the tow truck and while waiting, the car decided to start. My mechanic replaced the spark plugs, valve cap and gaskets. About 2 weeks later, same thing happened. I drove for about 5 minutes, parked for about 2 hours, came back to the car, and it wouldn't start. While waiting for the tow truck, the car decided to start. The mechanic could not find anything, but put in dry gas. The car worked fine for 2 weeks and once again, the same problem happened. The mechanic claimed that they need to replicate the problem in order to diagnose the problem. Has this happened to anyone here and do you have any ideas because my mechanic seems to have no clue.
Response to this comment:
I have had the same problem while in Canada. I have a 96 Cavalier Coupe and it was cold out the first two times this happened to me. The first time it started right after the tow truck guy got there and the second time I waited for a bit and it started back up again. I have no clue what the problem is, but the tow truck guy had an explanation that made sense, something about the temperature outside causing the issue. I have not had this problem since then, knock on wood. I also have the problem with the popping noise coming from the back of the car and thought it was struts. I was a little surprised to read about the person who had that noise checked out and it turned out not to be the struts.
My muffler makes knocking sounds, mechanic said it's wearing thin and needs replaced.
My heat only works on high.
The ABS light didn't start staying on until I had the transmission replaced and it only comes on after I reach 55mph.
The water pump has been replaced once.
The fuel pump and fuel line have been replaced once.
I have the squeaking sound in my brakes which means it's time to replace the pads and such, again.
The A/C does not work. I was told the whole thing needed to be replaced.
I had a heck of a time with my rear view mirror not wanting to stay glued to the windshield.
I have 167,000 miles on this car and it still runs good and I travel long distances all the time in it.
I only paid $2,200.00 for it back in 03 and it had 88,000 miles on it then. I've put a lot of miles in that car in a short period of time and still happy with my Cavalier.
Responding to the last two comments.
Have the EGR valve checked out had a grand am with this problem. would just not start sometimes would start and chug for a while had it towed twice, and by the time it got back to the mechanic it would start. couldnt find the problem. finally took it to a different garage and they replaced the EGR valve and never had the problem again,
I bought a 1996 Chevy Cavalier new.
300,000 miles and going strong
daily driver
just replace tires, brakes, muffler
No Problems at all, drive across country tomorrow
Finally after 300,000 miles I replaced water pump, power steering pump and altenator. (all orginal)
My 1996 Cavalier 2.2 4-cylinder automatic keeps on trucking.
Now it needs a new water pump, but it does have 160K miles on it. It has only ever needed normal type repairs.
For starting it, I have some advice. I have heard that these cars have bad fuel pumps that can't really be made right, so often they do not start. What I do is turn the key until all the idiot lights come on -- you can hear the fuel pump running when you do that. Then I turn it off. Then I repeat that procedure. I wait about 30 seconds and then, and only then do I start it. Works every time.
It has been a dependable car, although uncomfortable and noisy. It's been paid off since 2002, so I'm driving it now until it is ready for the junkyard.
My wife has had her cavy since about 2001. It now has 200,000 miles on it. It has the 2.2 engine.
I have replaced the injectors twice for a total of 8 injectors, due to leaky ac delco injectors.
I have replaced the front brakes twice.
I replaced the rear brakes once, the cause of the front brakes wearing out quicker.
I replaced the oil around 3k to 5k miles.
I have replaced the water pump and thermostat. It is very important to bleed the system completely. I work on heating and cooling systems and this car is difficult for me to bleed out.
I replaced the a/c system due to the compressors front seal going out.
The engine is a bit noisy, but a Mazda I had sounded worse and lasted more than some diesels.
Tonight my wife told me it was acting up. I went out and checked and it seems the B solenoid in the tranny went out, and it shifts hard 1 to 2, and 2 to 3, with no 3 to 4.
All in all, for the money this car has done everything I have asked, plus some. She has made it into an art car as a rolling canvas of quotes and art.
I will keep this car going until the frame wears out or until it is not feasible to keep putting money into it. Chevy Cavaliers are great cars.
Just bought a 1996 Cavalier 2.2L as my first car last summer with around 200,000K so I sort of expected some problems. So far, all I've had to replace were the front right bearing, and front brakes and rotors. Other minor problems are:
Gas gauge flucuates
Rattling noise near alternator
Heat only works on high
Battery light just came on, and stays on.
The last issue occurred when I decided to race my buddy's Lincoln Continental (bad idea). I'm going to have it diagnosed tomorrow, and I'm suspecting either a damaged alternator belt or misaligned pulleys. I'll let you guys know.
Other than that, a great reliable car (so far) that's definitely worth the $1,200 I spent!
Well, I just replaced the alternator and the battery light turned off when I first started the car! Yay! However, it now has a tendency to flicker on and off. Will have to go under the hood and re-tighten the bolts, which I hope will fix the problem.
Also, there is a horrendous rattling noise under the hood I suspect is coming from the serpentine belt's pulley system. It just sounds awful! Will have to bring it to a mechanic to have it looked at.
Wish me luck!
I got a 96 cavalier about 4 monthes ago and it is ridin pretty good. It was sittin for about 9 monthes prior and had to replace starter, but it's fine now. 123,000+ miles and rides like a gem.
I ordered my Z24 in late '95 and picked it up at the dealer in January of '96. In a matter of weeks the water pump went out, the AC button got stuck and the driver's side mirror got so loose it was unusable. The dealer fixed it all in hurry and the car didn't give me one bit of trouble for the next several years and 45K miles.
Then the motor blew. The dealer and GM screwed me so I had an independent garage put a new engine in.
Now I'm at 117K and the only issues I have with it are the ABS light and the blower resistor.
I've got $20K into a stylish, zippy car that has lasted me 12 years. I like it and I'm going to keep on driving it till the wheels fall off.
I have a 1996 cavalier that I bought in 2006. It runs good and is a good car overall. I have recently had to pay for though a new compressor a new evaporator and a rear view mirror that falls off and does not stay on. Does any body know where I can get a new one cause those things are expensive.
1996 Cavalier misfiring and chugging - changed coil packs, plugs, wires, fuel filter, fuel pump.
180,000 miles still check engine light comes on, cyl 4 misfire/to multi misfire.