I know VERY little about cars and my friend said he finds helpful information from these forums.
I have a 2005 Chevy Cavalier, auto, 4 cylinder, nothing special. Today the battery was dead (I hadn't driven it in two days). I got it jumped and was able to drive home (about 2 miles away). The whole way there was a high pitched sound that fluctuated with the RPMs (higher sound as i pressed on the gas). Of course, when i got home, i let it idle a bit then turned of the engine. then it was dead again. I understand the battery might be drained. Some odd bits of info when trying to start it: the radio comes on (even when turned off right before) but when i go to turn on the headlights, the radio shuts off. Also, the clock resets
There have been previous indications of some troubles. The gas gauge is out of whack and the spedometer doesn't always work. I live in AZ so have accounted that to the heat as the spedometer works in the evening when its cooler. There have also been once or twice when the electric windows would roll down but not back up.
I'm a girl and have been taken advantage of before at an auto shop. I can't afford to spend money that needn't be spent. Any recommendations? Any help is GREATLY appreciated. Thanks.
~Shannon
Are you still warrantied? If so, have them look at it.
Good luck though.
Your problem sounds pretty serious. GM has upped the warranty on it's vehicles to 5yr/100,000miles. I would take advantage of it.
^^^ they only upped the warranty on 2006 and newer cars. the j-body is still 5yr/60,000 miles.
start by replacing the battery, it sounds like its done.
Quote:
Some odd bits of info when trying to start it: the radio comes on (even when turned off right before) but when i go to turn on the headlights, the radio shuts off. Also, the clock resets
when you turn the headlights on and the radio shuts off is the car running or is it while you try to start the car?
Quote:
There have been previous indications of some troubles. The gas gauge is out of whack and the spedometer doesn't always work. I live in AZ so have accounted that to the heat as the spedometer works in the evening when its cooler. There have also been once or twice when the electric windows would roll down but not back up.
as for the gauges not working because of the heat, i doubt it. the heat will cause it. it gets as high as 40 degrees Celsius here which is about 104 degrees Fahrenheit and the gauges in my 05 always work.
the faulty fuel gauge could be the fuel sending unit but with the speedo reading erratic id try replacing the cluster. *im not sure if replacing the cluster will fix it, im hoping someone will know for sure and chime in*
the problem with the power windows is pretty normal. my 05 cavalier does it once in a while, so does my 05 sunfire, when it happens alot the power window motor is on its way out.
i hope this helps with some of the problems, someone else on here probably knows the electrical problems much better then i do.
http://registry.gmenthusiast.com/images/my2005cav/my%20car%20the%20bash.jpg
Wow sounds like lots of bad advice has been posted above.
For one is this car under warranty, should be it is under the 3/36k warranty.
I would first make sure your negative battery is tight. I would seriosuly doubt your battery is gone already.
This high pitched whine, is this coming from the passanger side of the engine, like one of the pullies
I would secondly make sure your cluster ground is tight.
the power windows, you can use an amp clamp to measure the amp draw of a power window, more than about 10-12amps is bad.
- 2004 Cavalier - 124k, owned since new
THEREAL2005Z24 wrote:
as for the gauges not working because of the heat, i doubt it. the heat will cause it. it gets as high as 40 degrees Celsius here which is about 104 degrees Fahrenheit and the gauges in my 05 always work.
I can assure you that the AZ heat does mess with the gauges. I live in AZ, and its been around 112 F to 117 F (47.2 C) the past few days, and I have a temp gauge in my car that is normally at 175 F (79.4 C) when its parked outside. Anyway my tach and speedo read WAY BELOW normal (tach reads 0 at idle) when the car is hot like that, only after about an hour with the AC on and I restart the car they read normal. In the AZ heat, a car battery will only last about 2 years. Batteries are one of the #1 selling things in arizona because of the heat.
Then Move. Duh
Just Kidding.
If it fluctuates with heat, heat probably causes it. I would get it checked by a mechanic, some wiring may be shorting, and the heat causes the wires to not come in contact or something.....
Gah. 2 years on a battery? That sucks. But 2005+ 2 is 2007 so your battery may need to be replaced if that 2 year rule is true.
