I have a 2000 Cavalier 2.2 with 170 000 miles and the engine is starting to knock. I've changed the Oil every 3000 miles Timming Belt changed twice, water pump changed and battery changed. The engine is still running but not souding too good. I should maybe change the timing chain or should I be looking into getting a new engine soon. If so should I replace with a 2.2 or 2.4? Need help to make my baby last a little longer...

Sorry I wanted to say serpentine belt changed TWICE and TIMING BELT NEVER CHANGED.....

Knock? How loud? My 96 Sunfire makes a knocking/ticking type of sound, doesn't really hurt anything like that.

what kind of knock? as long as it's not the banging really louds knocks you may be ok.

Jason, you definitely have a "high mileage situation" where the vehicle may have too many
"other things" that may be almost ready to need replacement...

If it truly is a timing chain that's making the noise, get someone qualified to give
you an opinion and estimate.

It may be "economic" to do a timing chain replacement, but, a complete engine
replacement for a 7 year-old vehicle would be foolish......

well the thing is, the car has no rush and rides smooth. it's been very good to me besides the electrics. I keep blowing lights and my HVAC control panel doesn't light up anymore besides that the car is awesome. It's just the engine thats starting to worry me and it's eating tones of gas.

Leland Sparks wrote:Jason, you definitely have a "high mileage situation" where the vehicle may have too many
"other things" that may be almost ready to need replacement...

If it truly is a timing chain that's making the noise, get someone qualified to give
you an opinion and estimate.

It may be "economic" to do a timing chain replacement, but, a complete engine
replacement for a 7 year-old vehicle would be foolish......

it knocks real loud some days and others you can't even hear it. Lets just say when I'm at a red light the sound overpowers the music in the car almost..

unfortunatley all GM cars share an offset engine, and at one time or another do knock.
ive seen a v8 gasoline engine sound like a diesel engine before, however it ran and drove absolutley fine.
if you want to be safe anyhow do have the timing checked or check it your self.
chances are its only a old valve at worst, dont sweat it man!!

alright ill drive it until it just stops working hahah

or if you have some extra money just sell it and buy a newer car. with 170,000 miles you probably won't get much, but at least you get rid of it before it's time to put in serious money in it.

john smith wrote:or if you have some extra money just sell it and buy a newer car. with 170,000 miles you probably won't get much, but at least you get rid of it before it's time to put in serious money in it.

i live in Ontario the people here are Cheap they will offer me 500 bucks for it haha. maybe get enough for a small down on my IS300

Is this a LN2, pushrod engine we're talking about?

Go beyond the "bolt-on".

Nickelin Dimer wrote:Is this a LN2, pushrod engine we're talking about?

Yes it is.


My car--->http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2569452

Okay then... First off, you without a doubt want to replace the timing chain & tensioner, NOW before something unbelieveably bad happens. Trust me, I know. After that, is it quieter? If so then check your oil pressure if you can. Tee in a gauge under the hood if you must but this is crititcal to know what to do next. Lower than the 56-74psi at 3000 rpm ( According to what the book says is right for your app. ) with less than 40psi at idle is an initial indication to a problem that needs addressing. Less than 30 means definate trouble. Any lower and still ticking in the crankcase means you have more than the crank, bearings, oil pump & pickup to replace. How much more? Try the whole short-block for starters. Reason being is the oiling priority on the LN2 is lifters & cam bearings, then mains & rods. If any metal frags get past the pickup screen & filter, it's the begining of the end for your engine. If the ticking is from up-top, then you're only talking a need to replace the offending rockers, pushrods and lifters as needed 'til its quiet. In which case you might as well replace the whole set. I know this is alot to use but I just thought I'd give you a "Heads-up" just to spare you the misery I went through with my LN2 when I got my truck. Oh, and just one more thing? Invest in a FilterMag for security's sake.

Go beyond the "bolt-on".

well i have a 98 cavalier that has a really bad knock too. it has 148000 kilometers on it. i just did the head gasket and i was testing it out when i shifted from 1st to second at about 5500 rpm i really booted it around the block. took it back home and it started doing a tick. now it sounds like a bad knock coming from the belt side (passenger) mid/top area. the car runs fine and theres lots of power. but theres this over powering knock that i really need to get rid of. i also can kind of feel it in the clutch petal. now i had my tech teacher at school check it out and we had it fired up for a second with the valve cover off. all the valves moved freely and oiling up there was fine. i did an oil change today and i know that we have a magnetic drain bolt. the top had a bunch of filings on it. i want to have it fixed this weekend. so if anybody can help me out i would appreciate it. i hope this is enough information.

p.s. dont worry about being the barrer of bad news. i just want to get it fixed. either a cheap simple fix or a motor. i can do it. i just dont want to if its not necessary.

Thanks Taylor

Taylor, how big were the filings? 'Cause if you saw flakes, it's short-block time! If not then you should at least get a chain and tensioner on it, NOW! And like I've mentioned before, don't rule out lifters and what else on-up may need replacement. Say... did you torque-to-yield those rockers during reassembly? With new bolts? This is just one of those things that you'll find as part of the assembly requirements from '98-up on the LN2 engine. Oh yeah, if you do go with a rebuild, there is a lot of suggestion to go with a '90-'93 Cavalier oil pump because of the increased volume and higher pressure-relief spring setting of 80 psi. Just thought I'd throw that in for ya to use. And don't forget the FilterMag!

Go beyond the "bolt-on".

my 2000 sunfire 2.4 started knockin and ticking with just over 140,000k . i could feel it in the clutch and it was quite loud over 1000rpm. i took it to gm dealership and it turns out its the rod bearings and main bearings .they said it would be cheaper to replace the engine than to open it up and fix it . hopefully that isnt the issue for you but it sounds like it is.

I think all these 2.2 motors tick once they get a certain mileage on them. Mine's been ticking for the last 75K+ miles, but I don't beat on it either.

If you DO end up needing a new engine, swap in an Ecotec. Theres mounds of info on that swap on this forum, and supposedly its mostly a bolt it in and drive affair, and if you can find a wrecked-in-the-ass Cavalier with the Ecotec, you might be able to damn near get the whole thing for 1000-2000 bucks (thats American bucks).

As an addition to my previous post, most all the interior parts from newer cavs (on up to 05) will go right in your car, except the steering wheel/airbag (the whole column might though so you COULD get the newer version wheel/airbag). this includes your messed up HVAC panel.

I have a '98 Cavalier Z24 and i just got the exhaust done on it, All of a sudden one day i was sitting at a red light and it started to knock. It has 174,000K on it. I haven't drove it for about a month but it does run and drive. At idle its a loud tick, at 2000 rpm and up its a knock, and at 4500 it gets really quiet and bogs out a little. It almost seems like the engine mounts are gone becasue the engine shakes really bad in the bay. Any suggestions? I've gotten a few quotes for a new engine but everyone is charging over 3000 $ for an engine with high KMs. And apparently nobody rebuilds the 2.4L Twin Cam. I havent even had it looked at yet because I'm worried it's blown. It still had oil, I've been leaking a bit of coolant, and now since this happened theres a bit of an oil leak. Theres no water in my oil or anything. Please help.

http://registry.gmenthusiast.com/images/ajbacon/98%20cavalier%202-1.JPG

If you have never replaced the timing chain at 170k and the knock is loud enough to drown out your radio.................dont waste time, money, and energy doing the timing chain. get a junkyard motor or get a new car.

Unless you want to start going performance, i wouldnt do any 2.4 or ecotec swap. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong but I dont think the transmission will bolt to either of those??

You can try using Seafoam through the vacuum line. Carbon deposits in the cylinder can raise compression to the point of detonation. Seafoam through the vacuum will wipe out these deposits, and at 170Kmi, I have a feeling it will be blowing an impressive amount of crap out the exhaust.

2002 Cavalier 2200 5spd