Quick question, Im looking for a 2 door 98+ non z24 5 speed. Just wondering if they have timing belts or not. Is there any common problems with these cars that I will most likely have to replace. I searched timing belt but nothing came up. Thanks



2003 Cavalier 2dr. 5spd

They have timing chains. And the most common problem i'd say is the head gasket.

sounds like a big problem. At what KM about does the head gasket go?



2003 Cavalier 2dr. 5spd

head gaskets aren't that bad to change. And it varies when they go. I'd say around 120k

yeah mine blew around 128k. i looked up what the most problems where with 95-99 cavi's and it said head gasket failure

Mine blew at about 80K. Front left side of the engine (if your looking at the engine), it will blow out one of the water jackets.


3400 SWAP DONE. 187WHP 212TQ (14.2 @100MPH NA) 240WHP 310TQ (N2O)

I changed mine around 125k or so... wasn't blown.. car ran fine.. just seeping out the front on the block.


- Your not-so-local, untrained, uncertified, backyard mechanic. But my @!#$ runs

Do the ecotec have this issue. I'm testing a few cars tomorrow. testing a 01 Cavalier 5 spd and a 03 cavalier 5 spd. Hoping the 03 is in good shape.



2003 Cavalier 2dr. 5spd

If I remember correctly the head gasket issues were corrected with the 98-02 2.2l ohv motors. I had put 165k on the old motor before a broken ring landing sidelined that motor.

black sunshine wrote:If I remember correctly the head gasket issues were corrected with the 98-02 2.2l ohv motors.

nope. just as common across all flavours of the OHV. luckily, head gasket swaps are super easy.



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Anything to look out for on the ecotec engine. Does the ecotec have head gasket issues? I just sort of made a deal for a 03 cavalier.



2003 Cavalier 2dr. 5spd

The getrag transmission in those cars has a 1st gear syncro issue. Not sure how common it is though.

The ecotecs do not have a head gasket issue. BUT if one does go in them.... Good luck.


3400 SWAP DONE. 187WHP 212TQ (14.2 @100MPH NA) 240WHP 310TQ (N2O)

My 02 2.2ohv is having a tranny issue where sometimes it's hard to get it to go into first? any info on this?


It's not where you're going, it's how you get there.

Blackedout02 wrote:My 02 2.2ohv is having a tranny issue where sometimes it's hard to get it to go into first? any info on this?

Mine does the same thing occasionally, it'll go in just a little stiff. Now for a little while i was having a lot of trouble getting it in to any gear, and it was screeching and squeeling when it was in gear, turned out 1 of the springs in the clutch was broken, it stopped doing that and started working normal again, then another one broke and the car was struggling just to move.

As for the head gaskets in the OHV motors, i've got the 2200sfi, 260,000km and i have yet to do a head gasket in this car.



2002 2200sfi 5-speed.