Hey everybody, so I'm new here.. First Cavalier, first twin cam car all that fun stuff... You might know the car, I bought the white 99 z24 that was in classifieds or for sale about a month ago. It has been solid since I got it except recently like last week the exhaust rusted and fell off behind the CAT between the end of the pipe and the rear exhaust sensor which makes it a little harder to repair, I am going to try to do it myself but might end up taking it to an exhaust shop since I lack some of the tools.. lift, wire welder and etc... It hasn't affected how it runs I dont think but the vibrations are really annoying when driving so I havent driven it much just when I had to.
Aside from the exhaust the car is great. The only thing that bothers me is the fuel gauge is off and I dont know why, when filled it reads just over 3/4 and I ran out of gas last week and it wasn't even to the low fuel mark so its a mystery to me. Also the Temp Gauge reads funny, I was told by PO that it had been hooked to OBDII scanner and it ran at normal operating temp but I was just driving it tonight and it hit the red line 260 *F mark in just a few miles driving conservatively that is also a concern.
Here is the info from the for sale ad that was on here to let you know some of what the car has :
1999 Chevrolet Cavalier Z24
About This Vehicle:
SOLD on 6/21/2010
Body Style: Coupe
Color: White
Engine: 2.4L DOHC
Transmission: Manual
Interior: Charcoal
Purchase Date: 7-06-2004
Purchased From: Extreme Auto Plaza
Quarter Mile Timeslips:
01:58 AM - 29/Aug/04 - Cedar Falls Raceway (first time dragging the car, bone stock, with some issues.) (16.287@85.10)
Manufacturer Options
* Z24 package
* 5 speed
* moonroof
* power everything
MODIFICATIONS
Engine:
* eBay Intake
* AEM 9" cone filter
* Adjustable Fuel Pressure Regulator
* 2.2 coil/icm/plug wire conversion
* Pacesetter Coated Header
* W41 Crank Pulley
* Prothane Upper Insert
* Lower Dogbone
* and Tranny Inserts
* Spec Stage 1 Clutch
* 2.5" Exhaust
* 2.5" Catco
* 2.5" turbo muffler
* 3" resonated tip
Suspension/Wheels/Brakes:
* Homemade lower frame brace
* GM convertible strut tower brace (dual firewall mounts bolted up)
* Progress Rear Sway Bar
* Rear strut tower brace
* EBC Greenstuff Pads
* Brembo Slotted Rotors
Interior:
* B&M shifter
* A/C blows at a frosty 33* Fahrenheit
Exterior:
* Painted mirrors and door handles
* Clear corner lenses
* clear bumper lenses
* NEW B-Pillar Covers from GM
* 00-02 Tails
Audio:
* Pioneer Premier MP3 player
* Alpine Component Set
* Extra set of Alpine Tweeters
* Audiobahn AS69Q 6x9s
* Dynomat'd on the rear package tray
I guess this would just be a post to get me started, I would love to hear all of your input, comments, concerns whatever you have to say! Thanks everybody!
couple things:
all that info about your car you should put in your profile, under cars. That way, when you ask a question in a forum, people can readily pull up your cars info instead of asking you "does you car have this?", or "what kind of mods" etc. Makes it easier for people to help you. Also, pics are appreciated.
I would look into replacing the termostat, if you've already confirmed that you arent leaking coolant and made sure your coolant doesnt need to be replaced. thermostats are a very common part that needs replacing.
The gas gauges on most GM cars tend to be inaccurate. Best way to fix this would be to replace the gas tank, but otherwise just keep track of your average mileage and I'd keep a gallon of gas in the car for a while until you get an idea of how many miles you get between fillups.
Hope that helps.
No doubt I will get pics up ASAP.. I have ALOT of pics that I "borrowed" from the PO I will post some of them up, with his consent, as I dont have a good camera right now so I will ask him on that. As far as the coolant temp goes I figured it out today, I added water and it disappeared in just an hour or so, moved the car and there was a puddle below it, not from A/C. I had checked oil and everything to make sure I didnt have a leak mixing in the coolant and the oil was fine. I put it up on ramps and did some looking around.. I followed the lower radiator hose, whatever its called, below the engine, then up and then left (transmission side) and found where it switched to a rubber hose, with a regular hose clamp on it, so I loosened it up a little then tightened it back down. Drove the car tonight and it was perfect, right back to where it had been operating before it spiked. Got home late so didnt have time to check fluid level but I will do that tomorrow, I hope it is still where I left it earlier today.
I will get all that info put into my profile right away... Like I said i'm a first timer here. Still getting to know my car.. To make it simple I was told the car is fully optioned z24 with 2.4 twin and 5 speed man. trans.
As far as the thermostat It was recently replaced by PO along with new water pump I would say only about 3k miles since they were changed.
I have been tracking my mileage, I keep every gas receipt and write down trip mileage and divide it into gallons put in and have them all together in one place.. my best so far has been 32.89mpg on a mini vacation.. mostly highway/interstate miles there. otherwise it has been 25 to 29 mpg. I fill it up at about 1/4 tank usually to stay on the safe side.
Jordan wrote:
I have been tracking my mileage, I keep every gas receipt and write down trip mileage and divide it into gallons put in and have them all together in one place.. my best so far has been 32.89mpg on a mini vacation.. mostly highway/interstate miles there. otherwise it has been 25 to 29 mpg. I fill it up at about 1/4 tank usually to stay on the safe side.
Very typical in a cavalier. the closer you get to empty, the more inaccurate it gets. Always keeping gas in the tank is only going to benefit you. running it to empty can be bad if there is sediment in the tank; all that @!#$ can end up in your fuel lines and injectors. Also, having 1/4 or more will make sure your fuel pump stays immersed in gas (which helps keep it from heating up and wearing out prematurely). Of course, this is often debated, along with your method of determining your gas mileage.
Welcome to JBO.
Well I got some bad and very upsetting news, to me anyway, I was at a casino with my friends yesterday and this morning.. got back to town around 3 15 AM.. went to leave and there was a truck blocking us in at my friends house, it was my friends moms truck so I just moved it like I would usually, and my friend left who was parked behind me and then I went to leave... as i was pulling out I side swiped a small trailer that was left on the side of the road.. scratched up the right side pretty bad and dented in the panel right where the Z24 emblem is, and knocked the side view mirror out but didnt break so I hope I can put that back in alright... this is adding a lot of work to what I was planning on doing. and I very well might not get any money to compensate for damages if I have to get it worked on at a shop... bad night.. didnt even win anything at casino.. I will have pictures up tomorrow. probably around noon if I wake up by then.
Holy crap! that sucks dude... at least you arent hurt.
Thanks for your concern.. Your the first to be glad I was alright lol Here's a few pictures.. I wasn't going that fast at all like 2 or 3 mph riding the clutch not giving any gas even.. I found this first dent of the front fender that I didn't see last night with some paint scrape there..
Next is mirror, fell out but not broke so does that mean I get any luck or just no more bad?...
The door didn't come out too bad, should just be some paint there and a little re alignment..
This is the worst of it all, I'm not sure if we can suction that out or not, might have to hit it with the slide hammer but that requires making a hole which I dont want to do.
Theres alot of paint scrape on the edge of the wheel well and scuffs.. another fairly simple fix.
And since you haven't seen the whole car yet here's one from its good side
