This seems to me to be a sabotage:

I took the 2003 Sunfire to get an oil change about a month ago, and a day or so after, I see small puddles under the car...

-I found out it was the bolt on the oil pan directly next to the oil drain plug
--Solution: tightened it up, no more oil leak

I then hear a clicking noise when steering and check the CV boot.

-I found the boot looks like someone took a file and rubbed two of the high points on one side and it leaked out the axle grease.
--Solution: get an aftermarket axle priced with install cost, save up my pennies, get it done--Cost: $350

THEN YESTERDAY I have the car run 4 lines above 195 degrees and say "oh well, the car does it only when it comes to a stop, I am in AZ, and the winterblend gas is in the tank"
It gets worse...
The car yesterday when the wife was driving shot up a line before RED on the temp gauge.
Unacceptable... I taught her better than this. She said it happened waiting at a drive through.
She said she shut it off until it cooled, but (&%*&, letting it get up that high can damage the motor...

--Solution: take it to the dealer

I am expecting it to be the water pump, a stuck thermostat or even a plugged radiator.

THEN TODAY the wife pulls the car out (planned to drop it off Friday) and there is a puddle. I checked the fluid levels and it is the power steering fluid.

She drives off and calls me letting me know it has already just 1 mile down the road, hit 4 lines above 195 degrees.

--Solution: SELL THIS CAR... No way in &@!) did this car all the sudden at 115k miles just have an axle, power steering and overheat problems. Some douche bag mechanic is going to hell for this, sabotage is the same as theft.

I know at 100k miles things start to die, especially accessories. But this is ludicrous... First indicator of sabotage was the loosened bolt on the oil pan right next to the drain plug immediately after an OIL CHANGE.

If the motor is F'ed I am selling it off.

Any suggestions? Other solutions or observations?

Thanks


My wife's 2003 Ecotec 2.2 liter Sunfire:
* 2 1/4 inch in and dual 2 inch out muffler Trans Am muffler
* 2 1/4 piping to a very long 2 1/4 inch resonator
* 2 1/4 inch catalytic converter
* an AEM true cold air intake NOPI edition
* 8 gauge ground wire kit
* Toyz front strut brace
* Russell stainless steel brake lines all around.

Sometimes things like that happen.

In one month (with only 30,000 miles on the car), My cat went bad, both front strut mounts, BCM, PCM, Cluster, pass side ball joint, AC blend door actuator, power steering pump, and I had some headlight wiring issues. I worked for GM, and it was all covered on warranty so I know the techs working on it didn't mess anything up or sabotage it. Most of the work was done by me. I'm not saying yours wasn't sabotage, just stating things like this can happen.

I hear you.

When I took the car back to the lube shop, the guy looked and said "I cannot find where the leak is coming from".
I went into the pit and looked for myself and spotted it right off.
That guy knew his handywork was spotted and pretended.
He should have chosen another bolt, I mean come on, the one directly next to the drain plug? Not even imaginative...

The oil leak was stopped, but now I get power steering fluid, the over heating and the axle grease and axle needing replaced as it is now clicking. This truly is ludicrous.

My hours were cut severly, as many others are currently dealing with too or worse.
I simply cannot afford major surgery on this car.
I am predicting at least $3k... and if it is true, it is trade in time.
I found a GT Sunfire that is mint with 70k miles for $4k.
The 2.4 SC kit is so inexpensive I am tempted...

I love the Ecotec motor, but as tough as it is, being a couple lines from red on the temp gauge will turn the motor into junk.
Saddening...

I might be selling some parts here soon depending if it turns out to be just a thermostat or waterpump that causes the overheat.
Also will have to see the condition of the motor as whether it is worth salvaging.

Then hope the power steering fluid is coming from an easy to replace hose and not the pump or steering unit itself.

The axle cost will be on top of the other 2 mystery costs.

If the engine needs rebuilt, that will cost me $1500 or so. Last time I had a motor rebuilt, the valve seats fried, the cam broke (seriously) and then the motor bearings went out causing rod knock. The guy who rebuilt it blamed me! I drove it like Grandma and it smoked like James Bond's car. It cost me $1200 for a 2.2 SOHC 8 valve motor 5 years ago. I can imagine it costs around $1500 for the Ecotec, maybe more.


My wife's 2003 Ecotec 2.2 liter Sunfire:
* 2 1/4 inch in and dual 2 inch out muffler Trans Am muffler
* 2 1/4 piping to a very long 2 1/4 inch resonator
* 2 1/4 inch catalytic converter
* an AEM true cold air intake NOPI edition
* 8 gauge ground wire kit
* Toyz front strut brace
* Russell stainless steel brake lines all around.

I'll just take the possessed car off of your hands thanks.




Your car may do 13 sec @ 103 mph, but my car does 146db @ 35 hz.

Lol, I bet you would.
By the way that is one freaky pic.

I pulled the car out today, had some time before taking it to the dealership and checked everything I could.
I would have checked this yesterday, but the overheat would not allow me. I had to go to work and had no time for allowing for it to cool.

So with the engine cool, I checked the overfill... It was almost empty.
I thought about it for a second, and I remember seeing the lube shop top off the coolant level but with a jug.
Guaranteed it was just water or a weak mix.

I bet the overheating was gradual as the water slowly evaporated from the coolant.

The reason being, I topped the overfill and could not get the car to overheat while idling.
Nor when I went to the dealership going 10 miles down the freeway would it go over 193 degrees.
When it got to the dealer, it went to 195 and sat there after going 65mph for 10 miles.

No climb in temp even after 10 minutes of idling after the 10 mile trip.

I am having the oil changed, axle replaced, and have them find where the power steering fluid is coming out. I am betting they'll find a line with a small cut in it.
So far I have $350 for the axle and $37 for the oil change, and yes, the oil change is not cheap. I just want it all done at once so the wife is back on the road again.

The engine sounds great, no shakes or irratic idle. No smoke out the back, nothing. I am guessing the wife shut it off before damage occured.




My wife's 2003 Ecotec 2.2 liter Sunfire:
* 2 1/4 inch in and dual 2 inch out muffler Trans Am muffler
* 2 1/4 piping to a very long 2 1/4 inch resonator
* 2 1/4 inch catalytic converter
* an AEM true cold air intake NOPI edition
* 8 gauge ground wire kit
* Toyz front strut brace
* Russell stainless steel brake lines all around.

Mike85220 wrote:So far I have $350 for the axle...

I don't know about anyone else, but $350 sound a bit high for the axle...

Save yourself some money and do the work yourself. You can pick them up for $50 to $65 all over, takes a max of 3 hours to change, then $50 to $100 for an alignment. $165 or so sounds a lot better than $350.