Hey all, I am thinking about buying a late model cavalier Z24. What I want to know is if these cars have any real common problems... For example, Audi 1.8T's burn through timing belts like nobody's business, and 4th gen camaros eat up window motors like some cheetos.. or something.

Any ways I just want to know what I might be up against. If I get one I am going to get the five speed, probably 98-02 or whenever they made them.

So, do these run into any major engine problems over time? how bout transmision? any issues with the interior? or anything else for that matter? thanks for the info.

just about all gm cars have problems with the power window motor. i went through a couple on my cavy. other than that the car held up pretty well. just a few creeks and rattles from the interior that got annoying over time.



2002 Toyota Celica GT

the 2.4l engines are notorious for bad water pumps...

my doors arent aligned properly and my fenders are bent to hell.....oh wait, thats what i made wrong with the car. the only thing i cannot stand are the pwr string overflow tanks. theyre is not a possible way to stop those sob's leaking.....



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water pump..interior noises..skweeks ..rattles..also if u drive fast and take a turn really fast at high rpm..the engine goes...hahah #3 spins a bearing

Waterpump, timing chain.....SYNCHROS!!!!, I also had alot of problems with strut mounts went through about 10 on the rear in one year. I have an air leak on my drivers side door hear everything outside the car perfectly. The power steering is also leaking on mine, think its actually the steering rack though not the pump. Its a good car just be prepared to see some sort of gm quality defects. If you buy one, make sure you rip through the gears and check to see if the synchros are chewed or not, the transmission can feel fine when driving around town but may be a nightmare on the track mine grinds hard from 1st to second and down shifting 2nd to first. Overall very fun car makes decent power too, just be aware of the possible problems to come my car does have 155,000km(about 110,000miles). I still love my car and at this point with what I've invested I`m not gonna stop now, new transmission is gonna have to be put in though.


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Yes officer I knew the speed limit was 50

When I sold my '99 Z with 95,000 miles on it, I had owned it for 6 years (since it was new) and had never had one problem with it. I never had to take it to the dealer, etc to get any work done on it! I couldn't have asked for a better car. The only things I ever had wrong on it were things I messed up.

Rob





Sold 2/2/05

thats awesome. Nothing too major... except the #3 main bearing? thats pretty serious. I'm not buying this as a racer, i have a mildly built Z28 for that. I need a grocery getter that gets good mileage and has at least a little pep. Thanks guys!

They firggin Valve knock on the 2.2's are annoying as hell.. ...........or maybe its just me.

Headgasket on older 2.2's although, it's not a bad fix unlike it's DOHC siblings. iac's tend to go as well. and the cost of wheel bearings almost makes me ask for vaseline befofe i pay the guy at auto zone. sealed non-serviceable sons a' ......

never buy a sunbird, thats all i have to say.


-Borsty

i have a 97. I've had problems with something in my clutch ( syncros?). I was locked in 3rd gear about 30 or so miles from home. And right now my water pump housing sucks!!!! I go through a bottle of anti freeze in about a week and a half. Right now my car isn't really being run so that's no big deal. I'm gonna get cams and lifters in about 2 months so I'm gonna do the water pump when I do that. My pump ain't bad. My temp doesn't go up or fluctuate. Just the housing is bad. Anyways my car got about 80,000 miles on it.

yeah my syncros are worn. and i hear lots of the front dash peices crack on the cavaliers. im not sure what models or years. i think my head gasket may be leaking.


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it's not ghetto, it's "in progress"

lots of things-
-rear struts and strut mounts rattle like hell, figure at least twice a year replacement. get ones that have a long warranty, so you can replace them for nothing. After the fifth time it gets pretty easy.

-WATER PUMP My dad is a mechanic and he didn't even want to mess with it. Before you buy find out how old the water pump is on the car. (If it is a 2.4 motor)

-Window motor, that is if you have power windows. Try to crank windows-it'll save pains down the road.

-Spun #3 bearing--lots of people have problems with this. I never have, but i don' t dirve like i just stole something either.

-Valve cover leaks. Only had to replace that once @ 95,000. It was the original. The motor won't pry last another 100K aso i wont have to worry about replacing that again. I'll part ways w/ her in about 6 months.

-I don't know how ROBZ IL CAV never had a problem. I don't know anyone who has never had a problem with a J-body car!!!!!!!!! He is obviously a used car dealer in disguise


don't go home mad, just go home

i have a 98 sf gt 150.000 km. i had to replace tranny in dec otherwise no probs



maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow....... but some day

My 97 cav has the same interior noises. Great milage out of her and parts are easy to find (at least for now.) The only chronic problem I have had was the washer pump had to be replaced twice, a year apart. Also my bearing plates had to be done twice. Other then that the car's great. I love my cavi. Keep in mind they're not luxury cars so you will have a little bit of a rough ride and the seats get a little uncomfortable if your in them for a long time (2+ hours). You could do a lot worse then a J-body but shop around.There are a lot of people selling so get a good deal and make sure you have her fully checked out first.


Longevity is not acheived through mediocrity

99 sunfire se here, other than rear brakes, a corroded wire to the high beam headlights, interior rattles, window rattles when all the way up or down, the blower resistor went so the fan only worked on high, and the A/C compressor no longer compresses anymore, but i think the compressor clutch is at fault there, delco battery was brand new when i bought the car, and 10 months later it went bad, the rear view mirror that fell off the windshield and landed in the back seat during hard acceleration, and a noisy steering rack, its been a good car... nothing too major to repair... can't complain, i got a great deal on the car.. 90k miles when i bought it for $1,995, drove straight to SC from VT and back 3 times, the car now has 109k miles...i only wish i had tilt wheel because i'm only 5' 7" tall, and i sit with the semi ghetto lean, i look sometimes through the steering, and sometimes over it...OK i'm writing a book here so....THE END


®â€îñg666™

Struts? I'm sure mine are bad now since my car is a 97. Haven't changed them yet. Although my car has been sitting for almost 3 years. twice a year?? you must really beat your car.

Quote:

C R J
Wednesday, February 23, 2005 3:28 PM

They firggin Valve knock on the 2.2's are annoying as hell.. ...........or maybe its just me.

Yeah that annoys me too... course, it could be my JBP race springs too =P Some crane 1.6 roller rockers should cure that 'knock' disease...

Quote:

I don't know anyone who has never had a problem with a J-body car!!!!!!!!!

thats true with more than just J bodies tho

just take care of your car and do MAINTENENCE when required to avoid costly repairs...

I've learned my lesson the hard way, as have many others on this forum

my 03 cavalier wiper arms are all screwy they sometimes stop in the middle of the windshield then like 2 min later go back to normal

keep in mind with any car a water pump can go bad. bearings can wear out. just keep up proper maintence and you'll be fine



Im a Xbox 360 fanboy...and damn proud of it!!

The problem with every J is the union jack-offs building it.

95 2.2L 5 speed here one of the first 3rd Generations made.

I've owned it for 2 years, it has about 222,000Km (about 138,750 mi), I've put on Water Pump, 1 front Wheel Bearing, control arm bushings, front brakes, new Clutch and a couple tune ups. That's all. Headgasket was done by the previous owner at 160,000km(100,000mi).
I think it is a great car, good gas mileage. Lacks on power but it's only the 2.2
I dont have power windows or doors, and No A/C, so theirs less to break.
People have troubles with the strut mounts out back, I've never had any problems with that or any noises. I have all the bills from the previous owner, he's never replaced the strut mounts, so they're the originals.

i dont have the 2.4 but ill put in my .02 anyway....

ive had my car for about 2 and a half years, its a 97 2.2 5spd...bought it with 54,000 miles and its about to roll over to 80,000 miles....besides the sqeaks and rattles, which got alot better once i took apart the dash and tightend everything, its been a great car.....i had the converter replaced under warrenty cuz it smelled like rotton eggs so no cost to me, replaced the valve cover gasket which was like an $8 part, and the a/c broke but i never used the a/c to begin with so i didnt really give a crap


so ive only spent a grand total of 8 bucks on maintence work on this car....its been a great car and i still love it, hell im thinking about buying another cavalier

My 2002 Cavalier has been very good so far. I did a front brake job (pads and new rotors for 40 bucks) and while under warranty the passenger side sunvisor was replaced because it was coming apart. I bought the car new and in Feb. 2002 and take very good care of it. My opinion is that the J-body cars are the very best for the money spent. A co-worker has a 2001 Civic and has had a lot of problems with it. Also the Civic was $3,000 more than the Cavalier.


God bless America.