I'm going to be the owner of a 97 Cavalier tomorrow. I'm wanting to know the problems that are commonly associated with this generation of Cavalier, specifically with the 2.2L OHV. The reason I ask is that I had a 99 Saturn SL2, and from being a member at a Saturn forum, I learned many things that you can almost expect to replace. One such thing is the coolant temperature sensor on these cars, which cracks and fails 99% of the time, causing many problems. Therefore, it would be a good idea to change the sensor as soon as you get one of those cars.
Anything like this with the 2.2? Input is appreciated.
They go through muffler straps like brake pads.
The earler third gens had head gasket problems leaking from the front drivers side corner. Recall
After you get about 100k on it the tcc may lock up and you may have to unplug it.(3spd auto)
Dash board will crack right up the middle.
Wheel speed sensor wires up front will beak and need repaired.
Front wheel bearings are common to go out, as well as the lower control arm bushings.
Steering shaft thumps when you hit bumps or if your in park , you jiggle the wheel slightly and it will thump. very common. recall
Ground Problems under the battery tray.
Ignition switch, and or key tumbler assembly worn out key doesnt turn or security systenm engages. recall on actual switch
Watch for the upper hose rubbing a hole in it on the battery tray.
Rear wheels lock up on dry pavement because of excessive brake dust in the drums. or because of leaky wheel cylinders.
Change a few ignition modules, coils and 95 only computers.
OEM waterpumps are normally good for about 100k or so.
For the most part the 2.2's are pretty reliable if you dont beat it and do regular maintenance, they are good for at least 125,000 then you otta change the timing chain or you will be towin it. then at least 160-170k miles before its ready for the scrapper.
Most 2.2's that I have swapped out for customers , they either didnt check or change the oil. Only one ran it out of coolant.
I believe there are other threads on this topic, I remember reading about it. Thats probably Y no one has replied.
01 cav w/01 3400 gam gt 4t45e
Lots of good information, thank you. Nothing too unusual, but definitely a few things to check into.
The 2.2 I'm getting actually has been rebuilt... prior owner threw a rod through the oil pan. The shop I used to work at bought it from the owner and rebuilt it. They had replaced injectors on it recently, too. Is that a common issue --- injectors?
Jo MX got most of the ones I'm aware of.
My 97 2.2 is approaching 100,000 miles. Recent issues:
- Water pump was changed at about 80k
- LF wheel bearing at about 85k, then the RF at about 95k.
- Slow coolant leak started at about 90k. Pressure test revealed external coolant leak at head gasket at front corner near alternator. I've continued to drive it, adding about a quart every 2 or 3 weeks. Head gasket is in the cards in near future.
- Alternator is getting weak (dimming lights during idle)
- I think I've got a couple of strut mounts on their last legs. (Common issue, especially with lowering springs involved.)
Shop Manuals, Brochures:
www.kenmcgeeautobooks.com
i have a 98 2.2 and im coming up on 160k. only main things ive replaced was the following
- water pump
- (2) starters
- vss
- coolant temp sensor
- valve cover gasket
other than that, the car runs like a beast and dont have any problems
I have only changed a couple of injectors, not real commmon, they were on a car that sat for a year or so, and the other was on a used engine for swap.They get stuck closed.
Yeah I missed the valvecover gasket, they tend to seep but nothing major. Sometimes the oil sending unit will leak pretty good too.
Another thing that I forgot is the A/C compressor, either the seal around the shaft leaks or the bearing falls apart and the clutch face rubs. some times the bearing will get so bad that it will lock up the pulley and burn the belt off.
Early (square looking )alternators had issues with the rear bearing in the alternator. the grease seal comes out and the ball bearings start spitting out of it. It usually makes a loud growling sound before the balls pop out.
serp.Belt tensioner pivot pin rusts and doesnt allow the tensioner to release and apply good belt tension.
Egr valve sometimes sticks open from carbon deposits getting lodged between the pintle and seat. Usually cause very poor to no Idle and engine surge going at a steady 25mph or so.
Exhaust manifold doughnut gasket wears out.
There are lots of little things that go wrong, they dont all happen at once and some may not experience that type of issue listed at all. This is just a list of what I have changed on them in the past. So dont freak out and think they are junkers, they are actually pretty reliable cars.
01 cav w/01 3400 gam gt 4t45e
Jo Mx... wrote:a.They go through muffler straps like brake pads.
b. Wheel speed sensor wires up front will beak and need repaired.
c. Front wheel bearings are common to go out, as well as the lower control arm bushings.
d. Steering shaft thumps when you hit bumps or if your in park , you jiggle the wheel slightly and it will thump. very common. recall
a. Mine rotted off and I used that band steel to replace it. That rotted off in 8 months, I just replaced it again (one dollar)
b. mine thru the abs light once and the abs quit. I unplugged it and plugged it back in, good to go
c. Replaced my wheel bearing (one of them) and the lower control arm bushings on the driver side
d. when sitting still mine does that, not on bumps. There is a recall? I move it left/right and there is a minor thump there
Good list!
The best part about this car is the support you can get on here (and give support)
99 cav 2.2L 212,000 miles
97 cav 2.2L 110,000 miles
91 cav 2.2L 236,000 miles RIP
04 Silverado Z71 Ext.Cab 55,000 miles
01 Suzuki SV650 22,000 miles
97 Arctic Cat ZRT 600 6,000 miles
Well, I've read this thread several times since I last posted but I didn't bother to reply again. Guess I should, because I've had the car 2 days now.
Anyway, it whines. Sounds kind of like a siren, and matches the RPMs. Definitely going to figure out which belt-driven device is complaining. Very unlikely that it's the compressor, since it's only a few days old. Blows VERY cold air, by the way.
Also, the check engine light came on during my drive home today. I'll hit up the shop (where I used to work) before work tomorrow and use the diagnostic computer. No change in performance, so it's probably just some sensor. In fact, I'm going to remove and re-tighten the gas cap before I start it tomorrow and see if that fixes it.
What's up with this shift light? Why would I want to be in 5th at 30mph? ( exaggeration, but you get the point
)
Yeah the steering shaft was under what I think they call a campaign, as well as the starter switch . Most of the time they just greased the slip joint in the steering shaft and sent you on your way. That lasts 4 months or so and it needs re greased. Kind of a crappy solution. I thought of installing a grease fitting in it and grease it when I change the oil.
Jim pull the belt and give each pulley a look to see whats making the noise.
I've never changed a PS pump so I doubt thats it.
01 cav w/01 3400 gam gt 4t45e
^ No kidding. Thats not good about the shaft. Same thing happend on my 04 Silverado, and my brothers 03, and my bro in laws 04. Finally GM game out with a permanent fix.. but even some of those are thumping occassionally.
I forgot to add another common issue for 97 j bod.. The heater blower motor resistor. If you lose functionality, time to work on that. Its a sticky at the top of the forum.
99 cav 2.2L 212,000 miles
97 cav 2.2L 110,000 miles
91 cav 2.2L 236,000 miles RIP
04 Silverado Z71 Ext.Cab 55,000 miles
01 Suzuki SV650 22,000 miles
97 Arctic Cat ZRT 600 6,000 miles
Well good, I hope its not the PS pump. I think the alternator's fine too, but it does sound like they do when the bearing's going out in them.
good one matt, I totallly forgot about the blower resistor. Thats an entire third gen problem and several other models.
Gm's steering shaft's are a sore subject, there are several models that have the same issue. My dad has an 07 silverado, its had 3 shafts changed under warranty, they last about 8 months and they start to thump again. the grand ams also have the issue. It just seems that the cavs have the crappier shaft cause it sounds the worst. Gm just seems to ignore it if the owner doesnt complain, and when they do fix it, its only temporary. I could go on about gm's ability to care but this isnt the thread for that.
Good luck on your new ride jim.
01 cav w/01 3400 gam gt 4t45e
Turns out the noise is the alternator. I'm going to look over how to change it (looks freakin' easy) and keep a new one in the trunk just in case. I sell car parts so with an employee discount, it's only $60. Cheap insurance.
only hard part on the alternator is getting the belt back on, and that isnt too hard either
Not if you know how to utilize a belt tensioner!
I'm a very infrequent forum user here, but thought I'd pitch in my 2 cents on this.
My valve cover gasket is leaking a bit, so I came here looking for tidbits on changing it out and this was the first thread my search yeilded.
My 98 Sunfire 2.2 has 180,000 miles on it and I've replaced
Ignition module (TSB recall)
Alternator at about 140,000 I think
Thats it. Factory clutch still too. I just had the coolant flushed and replaced with more Dex. I'm afraid the old Dex might have crusted around something inside and didnt want to risk putting in the green stuff and mixing it with any red stuff left inside even after a good flush. I did the power steering fluid back around 150k I think. Oil changes happen around every 4-5k. I alternate from high mileage to regular oil, no sythetic.
So, next item will be my valve cover gasket. I hate the smell of smoking oil when sitting in traffic.
Tom
98 Sunfire 2.2L
Goat Skull in the rear. It's science not satan!
About 97% stock
I don't think the valve cover gasket is anything I need to worry about, either.
My clutch looked pretty good when I saw it attached but pre-installation of motor. Hopefully it will last at least a year or two before I have to go pulling huge pieces of the car apart.
I'm partial to using synthetic oil, so I'm probably going to start using it when I change the oil. It's good to see you haven't had many issues.
I replaced my alternator yesterday. Much better. Took all of 15 minutes, too... and some of that was looking for my tensioner tool to fit between the tensioner and motor mount.
Also P0440 is a very commons CEL to pop-up(for me atleast). Its an emissions systems malfuntion/small leak. I had it on both my Js. 96' and 03' cavys.
Do you mean EVAP?
I had that code, but I found the leak.
1998 Cavalier 2.2L 2 Door: 253 000 Kms
Lower control arm bushings, wheel bearings, brakes, 3 starters within three years. Two water pumps within a year and a half. The motor mounts on the 2.2 arn't noted for their longevity, I replaced those. Trans axles, and Cv's I havn't replaced yet though.. New drive accesory belt, Oxygen sensors both bank 1 & 2 replaced.. Flex pipe. More of less general maintence.. Theres a recall on the lower rack bearing.. My upper strut mounts in the front and clunking pretty bad.. She's a s#!t kicker for sure. I havn't replace the timing belt yet though. New plugs and wires, air filters, transmission out of a sunfire..There good cars as long as you take care of them.. It's too bad because alot of them were treated rough and like race cars off the lot..
These cars are cheap economical cars. But with enough money you could turn them really into anything you desire.. I'm looking at perhaps getting a '99 Buick Regal 3.8L Supercharged motor for in mine.
