Ok, about a month ago I was talking about having the engine swapped out as the Sunfire 2.2 Ecotec hit 231 - 240 degrees while sitting at a drive-thru.

The motor had some new sounds coming from the head, and I immediately changed the oil.

The sounds disappated and I think that the lifters just got some burnt on crud from getting too hot.

It tried to overheat again to around 231 degrees, but the car was pulled over and shut off.

Some days fluid was on the ground and some it did not.

Some days the level of coolant went down, and others it stayed level.

I have read so many places on how much people are wanting to do a water pump on the Ecotec and there is two ways to do it.
One way adds a lot more time.

Here I just had the left axle and hub replaced and they inspected the right and said it too was toast. I was going to just sell the car as a mechanic's special.

For the last axle and hub, the stealership ripped me off for $850.

I went to Goodyear, and they did the waterpump, coolant flush, new thermostat, axle, hub and a 3 point fuel system service for $1100.

Yes, it was a lot of money, but nowhere as much as the stealership would have charged. The reason I did the stealership on the first repair was because I called around and most said around $450 for the axle. When the dealership got the car, they said the hub is worn too. They said with labor it is around $400.

They matched other shops pricing for the axle, and it seemed like a good deal on the hub, I guess I was wrong.

Anyways, the good news is that the car no longer clicks when turning, no more leaks, and no more overheats.

The engine runs smoother than it ever has, and no noises. I guess the wife shut the car off in time before it damaged it both times.

They said the thermostat was sticking and the radiator needed cleaned good.
I guess the sticking thermostat, extra heat and sediments through the pump hyper-excellerated wear.
The pump had 120k miles on it, so I am not surprised it failed.

I guess the point of this post is: shop around

Yes, I know, there are people that already know this.
I will get a lot of "don't go to the stealership" statements.
I agree...





My wife's 2003 Ecotec 2.2 liter Sunfire:
* 2 1/4 inch in and dual 2 inch out muffler Trans Am muffler
* 2 1/4 piping to a very long 2 1/4 inch resonator
* 2 1/4 inch catalytic converter
* an AEM true cold air intake NOPI edition
* 8 gauge ground wire kit
* Toyz front strut brace
* Russell stainless steel brake lines all around.

I use the dealership as my diagnostics. Then I do my own work.




Your car may do 13 sec @ 103 mph, but my car does 146db @ 35 hz.