Guys, I'm losing faith in my car, 05 cav 108k well maintained (5k oil change, mobil 1 5-30 wix).

Already done these things in the history of the car

-Two passenger wheel bearings

-Cooling fan motor

-trans flush at 50k

-thermostat and gasket (old gasket detiorated around 80k, just sorta disappeared)

-plugs are fresh (2mo old), second set I've put on the car

-front struts and mounts at 36k

-alignment at 85k

-fuel pump failed at 100k


The car isn't modded or anything, dd for work, I commute a 120 miles a day for work, all interstate (75mph avg) car gets 30mpg avg tank at those speeds, still have winter tires on (I know its dumb but there done after this year anyways). I've always take care of her but I am a spirited driver. Not dumb, spirited (there is a difference).

Here's the problem/s

-brake pulsation (rotors prolly warped or glazed from hwy driving I'm sure)

-driver side wheel bearing noise

-car sways at hwy speeds. I.e behind a semi the air stream pulls the car around, especially feel it in the rear, my thoughts are rear strut mounts (they aren't cracked from what I can see though). Everything else is tight. Car tracks fine, doesn't pull or anything, tires wear even.

- transmission hesitation when lightly accelerating, seems to hang a bit between 4 and 3, oassenger axle seal weeps slightly (usually not so much after winter is done).

- on cold start when first put into gear car will bog down and almost die, also sometimes on cold start when car bod down it idles hard, real hard, untill I rap the gas then it comes out of the vibration. (When this first started it was winter, I had assumed I got some ice packed into the crank pulley or something). But now it still does it in nice weather (not every start of everyday, intermittent)

-idles at 550rpm when warm,

- vibration when ac is on, when ac is turned on car doesn't seem to increase idle at all, just puts more load on car and cause engine vibration, ac blows cold

-rough vibration from 3000 to 3800 rpm, most noticeable in park

- I have recently put in new plugs(delcos), oil change a week ago,pulled the iac and cleaned it and put it back,

So any ideas on the vibration? I was thinking balance shafts maybe sticking? Just not sure what to do with this car, seafoam the piss out of the intake and drop some in the oil prolly next step, also gonna flush transmission in about a week (pay day) untill then gonna throw a little seafoam trans tune in, any ideas?

It's a cavalier, drive it till it dies...

Crzy i had a 2003 Red Lowered..... Z-Type lol.. with 395K just sold it never changed a thing and i had it from new, and i drove the piss outta her lol.. thats crazy u must bought it from someone? that abused it before u got it, like really abused it. i dunno this is crazy how u had all these issues.. and 05 not a 03 something lol.

I've had this car since 25,430 miles on it, and it hasn't been abused, trust me I'm not confused about my bone stock 4d cavalier being a race car. And its been great untill the last year, really the last few months. And I intend to drive it until it dies I just want my moneys worth. Oh and the driver seat is broken in it too, but that may have been my fault. I can however tell you there's more room between you and the steering wheel than one might think.....

well after two pass bearings bound to need the driver soon. also with those miles have u done struts yet? probly time for it. we did them on my dads car and it stopped swaying ruff on bumps and dips are sooo better now. its like a new car lol. the right was accually blown. we also did struts on a cav all four were either done or almost done. 137k on them and second set over the years and now is all good. we had weird vibes all over and when stopping the brakes would vibe since the sturts were shot the wheels were skipping a bit causing the abs to ping. check ur trans fluid maybe low. mine had shifting and hesitation and fluid was low.

So the last time the transmission had a fluid change was over 50k ago? Jeez. Change it. Drop the pan, replace the filter, refill with Dexron VI, add a bottle Lubegard red. That should take care of the transmission problems.

Also, you probably need new struts, that is what is likely causing the bad ride. Best ones are Monroe Sensa-tracs, ride is phenomenal, and they have much improved handling to boot.

I am having the same troubles, accept mine a 5sp. All highway past 60+mph for 60k miles. If your ride is suffering definitely new struts. The highway driving creates lots of small bumps that will heat up gas shock real quick and kill them. Im getting ready for my replacements this summer. Any suggestions other than Monroe? I am looking for A small drop possibly, and mild improvement on original handling.

As far as drop, I'm not sure. All I can say is that the Sensa-tracs give a cadillac smooth ride, while at the same time handling is vastly improved. Body roll in corners is minimal, it is composed, and the sensa-tracs are made in either USA or Canada. I suppose KYB are also worth a look, but the ride from those is much worse than even OEM what what people I've talked to have said.

If your dropping kyb agx gas adjustables,, somewhere around 500 dollars for a set though.. Prolly worth it though in a dropped vehicle

You think thats bad I got my 05 new its been a total lemon let me think off the top of my head. clutch slave two times replaced mast once. fuel pressure regulator, Igninion, exhaust fell apart like 6 times plus rotten muffler. Bad cat havent fixed that yet. new tire 6 new tires now one is bald) new strut plates. computer reflashed new thermostat . car rides poorly on high way suspension makes a poping sound since 8,000 mileson the car. I would go to the dealer they would tighten the suspension it would pop lose i did that 8 times then gave up. oh the fuel line on the filter fell apart 3 times squirting gas all over. there is probley more i cant think of right now


darkblade j

Sounds like road salt and rust are getting to you too!! my exhaust desintegrated after this winter.

Sounds like you pretty much already know what you need to do.

Replace your wheel bearing, front brakes and rear struts.

As far as the vibration- I've gotten that in the winter a few times, mine is related to my compressor somehow. If mine gets too bad, I'll just bypass the A/C.

Vibration in Park- If I try to rev my 05 in park, it doesn't seem to fire on all cylinders (fuel cutoff, rev limiter???). It's done that since I bought it new. Misfiring could cause a slight vibration.

Your idle seems like it's a little low. From what I've read 750-900 is most normal depending on operating temperature. I'd try the Seafoam. Split it between the brake booster line and the fuel tank. Change your fuel filter as well.

Let us know how it goes.

It routinely gets a new fuel filter every other oil change (every 10k) and I've seafoamed it about once a year since I bought via brake booster. Update new struts bearing and mounts and brakes in the front, made a hell of a difference, still a slight vibration in front end though, ball joints/tie rods seem tight, tires are relatively new (two summers on them). I think I'll get them balanced again for @!#$s and giggles, maybe threw a weight.. Still need to replace struts in the rear as well as a brake job, might put in new bearings as well just because their cheap (I do work at a parts store so that helps). Unfortunately I haven't had a day in the past 4 that my commute hasn't been plagues by 30mph winds so its hard to tell what the cars really doing though. Next payday I'll do the rear and prolly flush all the fluids out and get a balance/rotate done. Than see if I still got a vibration. I'm starting to think an inner cv joint might be going out, no clicking noise but the inners usually don't click, vibration in stearing wheel happens between 60 and 70mph primarily. Not to be confused with my engine/ac vibration. And as far as that vibration goes I'm gonna replace the belt and see if it comes back, even though my belt looks good our cars have epdm belts, which never really crack and chunk out like the old (neoprene?) belts... So I'm hoping its just slipping, belt doesn't squeel but who knows.