Hi guys,
We just bought my sister a new Cavalier to use as a daily driver to school and work. I recommended it as a decently reliable and cheap car, but I don't know much about any chronic items related to these cars...
It's a 99, 2.2L, manual trans, 2dr. Only 40k miles!! It's had the HVAC head (or at least the resistor in the fan speed control) replaced, as I understand those are a bit of a chronic item on j cars. It also has new rotors and pads up front, which I know are generally problem areas on most things GM.
When we bring the car home tomorrow, I'll give it the standard once-over... oil change, I'll throw in new plugs, check the air filter, etc... but I'm wondering if there are any other items I should check or have checked? Any chronic issues I should investigate for her??
Also, I'm a bit worried about the manual trans/clutch. I would have preferred to get her an auto, but the price was right on this one. Who makes these trannys? Getrag? Are they decently reliable? Or am I looking at clutch work in a year or two? She'll be driving it a fair bit, probably 30k miles/year.
Thx
Er, sorry, I guess I sorta worded that badly. It's not a NEW car, it's a used 99. Just new to me.
Its an isuzu transmission. If you don't abuse it, it should be fine. The clutch should last as long as any other clutch (like 80-100K). 2200's are pretty reliable, I don't really know of any major problem areas on the engine.
2.2OHV problems: waterpump (easy repair), valve ticking, headgaskets (don't worry too much), what else guys?
Thanks guys. I'm curious about the whole vehicle in general, not just the motor. This one doesn't have power locks or windows, so those can't break ... but other stuff? Suspension parts? exhaust problems? anything I should know about?
Jacob B wrote:2.2OHV problems: waterpump (easy repair), valve ticking, headgaskets (don't worry too much), what else guys?
Headgaskets were not a problem on 2200's. The head is fairly well improved over the 95-97 2.2's.
Factory struts/shocks tend to break relatively easy. An upgrade to KYB GR2's will solve that problem. Rear strut mounts sometimes make nosie. Blower motor resistor is pretty much guaranteed to die on you at some point (you will know this when the blower speeds quit working for the AC).
Zach wrote:Factory struts/shocks tend to break relatively easy. An upgrade to KYB GR2's will solve that problem. Rear strut mounts sometimes make nosie. Blower motor resistor is pretty much guaranteed to die on you at some point (you will know this when the blower speeds quit working for the AC).
Awesome. I lubed the strut mounts already, and the blower motor resistor is fixed already too.
I'll keep an eye on the shocks, thanks!
