Hello Guys and Girls....

I haven't been on this site for a VERY long time, since I got rid of my 05 Cobalt SS/SC I think... Anyhow I am in the process of looking for a car to drive as a commuter... my 5.3 V8 Silverado is killing me in gas (it's got a slight front lift and 33's agressive tires) going to work and back (Almost $800cdn in fuel per month).. So I have been looking at cheaper cars that won't cost me much to buy, fuel cost and maintain... So I have been looking at Cavaliers and Sunfires as you can pick them up fairly cheap and they don't really have a high cost as far as maintenance goes (and buying parts)... I have located one that seems to be pretty decent shape and everything..

It's a 2002 Sunfire GT Coupe with 155,00km (96,000miles) .... It thankfully has the 2.2 Eco-Tec which I know was an option in 2002... Newer winter tires already on this thing... You can check it out on kijiji 2002 Sunfire GT

Now I haven't gone to check it out yet but judging from the low km and the pictures it seems like a good deal that I might just grab.. Now here is the issue they told me it has.. It is slipping slightly in 5th gear as I am told by the owner... Now to me this sounds mostly like a clutch but I am no expert which is why I have come here... Are the chances more that is it a clutch or could it be something else.?? I have talked to my mechanic and asked him how much it is to replace and clutch and he said its not cheap cause it has to come out from the bottom all in one piece (book says 18hrs labour)... So he says clutch is $500cdn and labour... He will help me out by lowering his labour cost so I probably can get this done for about $1500-1800....

So if the asking price of the car is $1500 and I say offer $1000 and then $1500 or even $2000 into it then I still think it's worth it.. Making the car cost $3000 at most (but probably $2500).. Well I think this is pretty decent still compare to what I have seen some of the others selling for and they don't even have the Eco-Tec motor in them.. Unless I can get them to lower the cost below $1000 like $700 or something...

So basically can anyone tell me about this clutch information if there could be anything else wrong or if it probably is the clutch... Or if the offer is good or should I ask for lower then $1000... I know this is the maintenance forum but I am trying to combine both information on the clutch and to get some views on the car and deal itself....

Thanks...

Sorry forgot to say...

If I the clutch is only slipping in 5th gear and if mild enough... Then I figure I could probably just keep on driving the car until the clutch gets really bad.. Would this be advisable or could it end up doing more damage??... Like I said this is just a "Beater" car so if I can get the clutch to last me 1 year without having to replace it then that is pretty sweet cause I really don't know how long I plain on keeping the car... If it ends up being a good car then I might keep it until it dies.. Who knows..

If the clutch slips in 5th gear then it'll slip in all gears if you floor it. I'd be somewhat cautious about the car. I replaced my clutch with ~10-20k miles left in it at 98kmiles with 20k of that boosted and I leaned to drive stick on it. so it could mean the car was driven by someone who wasnt all that good at stick or beat the living piss out of the car. Though irrc 100k miles is the service interval for the clutch.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edited Friday, February 03, 2012 9:07 AM

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Well I don't mind replacing the clutch but just figured I would get some intake on it.... So if the service of the clutch is about 100,000miles and right now it's sitting at 96,000miles then it really isn't to far off them... Would the service include replacing it or doing what greasing and adjusting???

I was just talking to my friend who also has a Sunfire, but he has a 1997 GT with the 2.4 ... He did his in 8hours in his garage so from what I am looking at it seems the books numbers are really high at 18 hours if my friend did it in 8 hours in a garage with no hoist and not a full range of mechanics tools.. In a way this is a good thing because if this car needs the clutch then I could probably just buy a clutch for $300-500 and do it myself with my friend who already knows how to do a clutch in one of these cars.. Now is the 1997 different or the same at the 2002 as far as the removal and everything goes?? Does the fact that he have a 2.4 and this car has a 2.2 Eco make a difference in removal or anything??? If it can be done in 8hours at this place then I would just do it myself on a Saturday or something.. I would need to rush through it as I could do it in a weekend without working fast plus it's a 2nd car so I am not in a rush anyhow.. I'll just drive my truck.... I called another shop to see how much they want to replace it if they numbers are lower then I'll just pay to have it done rather then mess around with it myself.... I don't mine paying $1000 if I only pay like $1000 for the car...

The car from the pictures like I said looks to be in good shape... It's a GT which is nice with the sunroof and fog lights etc.... Low KM on the car so it should last be a while.. I know how to drive standard very well (I drive a transport truck for a living.... shifting 18 gears)... Like I said I don't mind replacing a clutch because at least I know it is new and will last me a long time.. It will probably outlast the car (or the time I own it)....

On the other hand... If I can get away without having to spend any money on the clutch my taking it easy on the transmission and clutch then I will just wing it and not even spend the money.. I don't need to be flooring it and giving it at all.. This is a commuter car so I want to be as easy with the throttle as I can.. It all depends on what the outcome is once I can go see the car and test drive it... After I test drive it I will know what the deal is...

Is there an adjustment on the clutch (like my transport) for the clutch or no?? If there is could this be the problem or anything else be the problem.. Or do you think it most def would be the clutch acting up??

You can just drop the transmission to change the clutch.
After securing the car on jack stands,
remove the front wheels
unbolt the driver side inner fender,
remove the air cleaner assembly and washer fluid tank,
unplug 2 sensor,
pop the shafts out,
disconnect the clutch line,
pop the shifter cable off the trans and the bracket or remove the bracket a 10mm socket works, just be careful not to lose the rubber bushings,
unbolt the starter,
next to the starter on the trans there is a stud holding the wiring harness, remove the nut but leave the stud on the trans,
unbolt the transmission to motor bolts (don't get underneath the motor and trans after this step),
there are 2 bolts on the firewall side, 1 is hidden under the thermostat housing,
2 underneath through the oil pan,
1 near where the starter was,
1 up top and a stud,
hold the motor up (chain block or a jack under the oil pan with a piece of 2x4 in between works)
unbolt the transmission mount (one is under near the front the other in under the brake booster)
work the trans apart from the motor and carefully maneuver it to the ground ( you can slightly lower the motor to help slide it out, the frame might look in the way but it fits between it and the rad support),
change the clutch (you should get the flywheel machined and get new bolts)
lift the trans up and align the input shaft to the clutch (you'll need to lower and raise the motor and work the trans around the sub-frame to get it right)
reassembly is mostly backwards of disassembly.
bleed the clutch.
It's tight but I've done it many times . If your friend did his he should be able to help you. The hard part is getting it back up. You just need to bleed to clutch and go in these cars too there is no adjustment. Thats what I remember off the top of my head. It may look intimating but it's possible with a friend and time, I hope this helps you make your decision

Thanks for the help... Unfortunately the car was pretty much a flop... It needs to many things fix to bring it up to par for safety.. Not to mention it doesn't look appealing.. For the money I am gonna spend getting it into drive-able mode I can get something in good shape that is already in drive-able and safety mode..

It needs shocks and struts, window motor on passenger side, the clutch and some other little things.. Not to mention it's been spray painted here there and everywhere..... So it doesn't look nice either... So I am gonna pass on this one.. Back to the search.... Still lookin for a Cavalier or Sunfire tho..