1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasoline Problems

MY MOTHER HAS A 1997 CAVALIER WHICH SHE BOUGHT USED. SINCE SHE HAS HAD THE VEHICLE THERE HAS BEEN TWO RECALLS AND UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION ON MY PART I FOUND ON YOUR SITE 5 MORE TOTALING 7 IN ALL. SHE BOUGHT THE CAR IN AUGUST OF 2001. WHEN THE CAR REACHED 109,000 THE OIL PUMP WENT OUT AND SHE HAD TO SPEND 3,000 DOLLARS TO GET ANOTHER ENGINE PUT IN, AND SHE DON'T EVEN HAVE THE CAR PAID OFF. WITH THESE NEWER CARS 109,000 IS NOTHING AND EVEN IN THE OLDER VEHICLES I HAVE NEVER HAD AN OIL PUMP GO OUT WITH THAT LITTLE BIT OF MILES ON THE ENGINE. I HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE MECHANICS THAT I HAVE TALKED TO AND THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE HAD A LOT OF THESE PARTICULAR ENGINES BEING THE 2.2 LITER WITH BAD OIL PUMPS IN THEM. THIS IS THE REASON...

WHEN FIRST STARTED STRONG GAS FUMES IN CAR; THEN HESITATION/STALLING WHILE DRIVING, HAS GONE DEAD TWO TIMES; ROUGH IDLING.

THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED A NUMBER OF STALLING WITH THIS VEHICLE, ALMOST CAUSING ACCIDENTS IN A FEW CASES. THE CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THERE HAS BEEN AN ATTEMPT TO REPAIR, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THIS PROBLEM COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WHICH COULD LEAD TO DEATH /SERIOUS INJURY, AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPLACED FOR ONE SHE CAN TRUST. *SCC *DT

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON , VEHCILE STARTED TO SHAKE AND STALLED OUT. ENGINE HAD BLOWN.*AK

ABOUT 1-2 MONTHS AGO MY WIFE TRIED TO START THE CAR AND SHE SAID THAT ALL OF THE SYSTEMS(I.E. WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES, INTERIOR WARNING LIGHTS, ETC.) STARTED GOING OFF ALL AT ONCE, THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD'T PUSH IN, THERE WAS A LOUD BUXXING NOISE, AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. EVER SINCE WE HAVE HAD TO TRY SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD START AND THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WHEN WE ARE DRIVING ALONG (SPEED DOESN'T SEEM TO PLAY A ROLE) AND THE CAR WILL REACT IN A SIMILAR MANNER AND STOP RUNNING. AFTER THIS HAPPENS, IT CAN TAKE US UP TO 10-15 MINUTES TO GET IT STARTED AGAIN. JUST THIS MORNING IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND IF THE TRUCK BEHIND US HAD NOT SWERVED AS IT DID, IT WOULD HAVE TOTALLED OUR CAR. WE THEN SPENT ALMOST 20 MINUTES IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC TRYING TO START OUR CAR.(THIS...

I LEARNED THAT TECHNICAL BULLETINS WERE GIVEN WITH REGARD TO THIS PROBLEM. IT APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AFTER REVIEWING NUMEROUS CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND TECHNICAL BULLETINS. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE PARKWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. NLM

VEHICLE STALLS AT SLOW SPEEDS AND IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. WILL START AGAIN AFTER 5-15 MINUTES. TAKEN TO DEALER, CANNOT REMEDY. VEHICLE HAS STALLED ABOUT 15 TIMES. *AK

WHEN EVER THE CAR IS STARTED THERE IS A BAD KNOCKING/TICKING SOUND AS IF YOUR CAR WAS LOW ON OIL...AND EVEN WHEN THE OIL IS CHANGED AND/OR CHECKED AND THE OIL LEVEL IS FINE...THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS...I HAVE NOTIFIED THE DEALER MORE THAN 20 TIMES ABOUT THIS PROBLEM(WHILE UNDER WARRANTY) AND THEY COULD NOT FIND WHAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM..THEIR (CHEVY'S)ENGINEER WAS EVEN IN TOWN AT ONE TIME AND THEY HAD TO BRING IT IN THEN AND HE/SHE COULD NOT EVEN FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM....IF HE CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS..THEN I THINK THEY NEED TO INVESTIGATE FURTHER AND PULL THE ENGINE COMPLETELY DOWN THERE COULD BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND WANT THE OWNER TO COVER THE CHARGES WHEN IT IS NOT EVEN THE OWNERS FAULT...CAN YOU PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT I NEED TO...

VEHICLE STALLS WHEN FIRST STARTING UP. TAKES A FEW TIMES BEFORE VEHICLE WILL STAY RUNNING. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT AND ETS LIGHT HAVE BEEN ON. DEALER CANNOT REMEDY PROBLEM. *AK

CONSUMER HAD JUST GOTTEN HOME AND PARKED VEHICLE. 5-10 MINUTES LATER, HORN WAS BLOWING. CONSUMER LOOKED OUTSIDE FRONT END OF VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. DASHBOARD AND STEERING COLUMN WERE COMPLETELY DESTROYED. CHEVROLET DEALER SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THEREFORE, THEY WOULDN'T BE LIABLE. ALLSTATE INSURANCE ADJUSTER TOOK ONE LOOK,AND COULD TELL IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. CHEVROLET DEALER WAS NOT RESPONDING TO INSURANCE ADJUSTER. VEHICLE WAS UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE.*AK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, DEALER HAD REPLACED THE OIL PUMP, SOLENOID, AND EXHAUST HOWEVER LIGHT STILL ILLUMINATED. BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WINDSHIELD WIPER SKIPS AND CHATTERS ACROSS WINDSHIELD, DEALER REPLACED BLADE. TRUNK WOULD NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE LEVER, COMPARTMENT LID RELEASE BROKE. CLICKING NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL, DEALER COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. *SLC

CONSUMER STATED THAT SOMETIMES COULD TRY TO START ENGINE BUT IT WILL NOT START. CONSUMER HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER AND COULD NOT FIND WHAT WAS CAUSING PROBLEM. ALSO, FUEL WAS LEAKING AND VEHICLE COULD GET ON FIRE.*AK

VEHICLE WILL STALL WHILE IDLING AND WITHOUT WARNING , DEALER HAS REPLACED THROTTLE POSITIONING CENTER, AND REPROGRAMMED PCM, BUT DEFECT STILL OCCURRING, AND CAUSING SAFETY HAZARD. *AK

THE ENGINE HAS STALLED MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO IDENTIFY OR RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES BECOME DIFFICULT TO OPERATE WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLS, AND BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO OCCUR RANDOMLY MAY LEAD TO SUBSTANTIAL INJURY IF THE VEHICLE STALLS WHILE IN TRAFFIC. *AK

BLOWN HEAD GASKETS/VALVE COVERS ON VEHICLE WITH JUST OVER 30,000 MILES. VEHICLE'S WARRANTY IS UP DUE TO A PURCHASE DATE OF SEP96. PLEASE ADVISE ON ANY RECALL INFORMATION. I WAS TOLD THIS IS COMON WITH CAVALIERS. *AK

1). WHEEL BEARINGS WEARING OUT THEN TIRES AND WHEN DRIVING ON WET PAVEMENT CANT GO MORE THAN 40 MPH OR CAR WILL SPIN AROUND IN ROAD . BACK LEFT BRAKE LIGHT ALWAYS NOT WORKING. ENGINE WITH ONLY 12,000.00 MILES KNOCK BAD UNTILL WARMED UP AND SOME TIMES DONT STOP WHEN WARM.IGNITION SWITCH WILL LOCK UP AND CANT GET CAR TO CRANK MUST WIGGLE AND GIGGLE TO GET IT TO WORK.HORN HAS NOT WORKED SINCE BOUGHT CAR.TRANSMISSION CLATTERS WHEN TRYING TO GIVE TO MUCH GAS

COMPLETE ENGINE SHUT DOWN WHILE IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AT 25 MPH ON 3 SEPARATE OCCURRENCES. EACH OCCURRENCE WAS 24 TO 48 HOURS AFTER A OIL CHANGE AND "TOPPING OFF FLUIDS" AT THE SAME DEALERSHIP WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. AFTER EACH OIL CHANGE, THE SMELL OF HOT OIL WAS PREVALENT THE NEXT DAY. AFTER THE FIRST ENGINE SHUT DOWN OCCURENCE, THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED THE CAR BUT FOUND NOTHING WRONG. THE ENGINE HAS SHUT DOWN ON JAN 12, 1999, APR 12, 1999, AND JUNE 12, 2000. OIL CHANGES TOOK PLACE 3 DAYS BEFORE EACH OCCURRENCE. THE ENGINE HAS NEVER SHUT DOWN IN TRAFFIC WITHOUT A RECENT OIL CHANGE. THE VEHICLE SPEEDS AT THE TIME OF THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN HAVE ALL BEEN APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH DUE TO RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC WHILE ON THE EXPRESSWAY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ALL SIGNAL LIGHTS CAME ON, AND ENGINE LOST POWER. THERE WAS NO STEERING, AND FINALLY VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM ONC EBEFORE. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WOULD STALL AND LOSE POWER. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE THREE TIMES, BUT PROBLEM RETURNS. . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR FROM THE DATE THAT IT WAS PURCHASED. THE BRAKE ROTOR PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN WORKED ON SEVERAL TIMES, AND IT WILL STOP FOR A WHILE, BUT WILL CONTINUE TO WORSEN WITH TIME. THE ABS LIGHT AND LOW COOLANT LIGHT HAVE BEEN ON AND OFF FOR OVER AND YEAR AND WE WERE TOLD THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THEM FIXED, THE SOUND FROM THE EXHAUST, POSSIBLY THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER A YEAR AND AGAIN, WE WERE TOLD WE NEEDED TO REPLACE IT, THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THEN ENGINE IS SOUNDING MORE AWFUL AS TIME GOES ON...LOTS OF NOISE UNDER THE HOOD ESPECIALLY AT CRUSING SPEED, AND THEN AGAIN WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP, AND MORE RECENTLY EVEN WHEN IDLING. NOT ONLY WAS THIS CAR NOT SERVICED PROPERLY WHEN I WOULD BRING IT IN WITH...

HORN: HAS NEVER WORKED FROM THE TIME THE CAR WAS RECEIVED. HAVE HAD THE DEALER FIX IT 3 TIMES BUT IT STILL DOESN'T WORK. HEATER FAN: FAILED DURING THE WINTER OF 1997. PAST WARRANTY PERIOD?? HAVE NOT GOTTEN IT FIXED YET. ENGINE PROBLEM: STALLS INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AFTER THE CAR HAS WARMED UP, ESPECIALLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP. WILL HESITATE AND JERK WHILE DRIVING IT. HAVE REPLACED: SPARK PLUG WIRES, PLUGS, FUEL FILTER, FUEL PUMP AND HAVE HAD THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER CHECKED. PROBLEM IS NOT RESOLVED. UNABLE TO DRIVE IT MORE THAN 2 MILES. IGNITION: KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN IGNITION/ REPLACED BY DEALER X 3.

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE MOTOR. ALSO, WHEN VEHICLE IS IN PARK THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE, AND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL IS SOFT AND HARD. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SENSOR WITHIN THE BRAKE. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLS AND CUTS OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. FUEL PUMP HAD BEEN REPLACED TWICE, AND PARTS WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION HAVE ALSO BEEN REPLACED. BUT VEHICLE CONTINUES TO STALL. *AK

ENGINE DIES UNEXPECTEDLY ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, UNABLE TO DETERMINE FAILURE. MJS

THE ENGINE STALLS AT ODD TIMES MAKING THE VEHICLE, WHICH HAS POWER ASSISTED BRAKES AND STEERING, DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE DASH RATTLES CONSTANTLY. THE DASH WAS REPLACED IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIX THE STALLING PROBLEM BUT IT ALSO RATTLES CONSTANTLY. MY WIFE AND I HAVE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY DISPLAYED BLATANT DISREGARD FOR OUR PROBLEM BY SAYING THAT THEY WERE GOING TO ABIDE BY THEIR 3 YEAR/ 36000 MILE WARRANTY( WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE NOT DOING, SINCE THE VEHICLE IS STILL NOT REPAIRED). THIS VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS!

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND COMING TO A STOP LIGHT, AND WHEN COASTING WHILE MAKING A TURN WITH AIR CONDITIONING OFF, VEHICLE SHUT OFF. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. *AK

CAR LOST POWER AND SHUT OFF WHEN A/C CHANGED TO VENT RECRANKED EASILY.

VEHICLE WILL NOT START UNLESS DRIVER DOOR IS OPEN. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

VEHICLE CONTINUALLY HESITATING/STALLING, REPLACEMENT OF FAULTY FUEL PUMP AND PRESSURE REGULATOR DID NOT RECTIFY ENGINE STALLING. MJS

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE CUTS OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE DEALER'S SHOP FIVE TIMES FOR REPAIR PROBLEMS, AND THEY CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK

THE ENGINE CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING AND THE STEERING GOES OUT WITH IT. DEALER CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK

THERE IS A CONSTANT, LOUD TICKING SOUND THAT CAN BE HEARD IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IT SOUNDS LIKE BAD LIFTERS. AS TIME GOES ON, IT IS GETTING WORSE.

ENGINE FAILED.

WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC THE VEHICLE STALL AND THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN. DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION COIL MODULE WHICH HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. LATEST REPAIR ATTEMPT WAS FOR A SHORT IN THE PCM IGNITION CIRCUIT, WHICH APPEARS TO HAVE SOLVED THE PROBLEM. *AK *ML

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BUCKS AT ONE POINT AS IF IT LACKS GAS AND IT ALSO STALLS. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK CONSUMER RECIEVED RECALL TO REPLACED PCM. PCM REPLACED 4 TIMES HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXIST. CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. *TT

ENGINE FAILURE AFTER NUMEROUS SERVICE PROBLEMS. IE: FAILURE OF FUEL PUMP, FAILURE OF COIL AND HOUSING AS A RESULT OF OIL RESIDUE AND CRACKS AROUND THE CRANK SENSOR, FAILURE OF IAC MOTOR, TOTAL IGNITION FAILURE ON FOUR OCCASIONS. COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE DIRECTLY RELATED TO PROBLEMS OUTLINED IN GM SERVICE BULLETIN. AUTOMOBILE HAD NOT REACHED RECOMMENDED MILEAGE FOR FIRST SCHEDULED TUNE-UP AS PER MANUFACTURE RECOMMENDATIONS. CONTACT OF GMAC CUSTOMER SERVICE RESULTED IN NO ASSISTANCE IN THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT.

ENGINE CONTINUALLY STALLING.

ENGINE IS OVERHEATING.

ENGINE CONSTANTLY MAKES NOISE/RATTLES.

THE ENGINES STALLS. ADDITIONALLY, THE BRAKES FAIL AND PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR.

DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AND VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWERVE BECAUSE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. WENT INTO THE CENTER OF MEDIUM, TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. WITNESSES STATED THAT VEHICLE SPUN AROUND AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED AFTER HITTING THE MEDIUM, CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE HOTTEST PART WAS IN THE REAR, ABOVE THE LEFT REAR WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS MOSTLY BURNED. THERE WAS NO BODY DAMAGE. ALSO, HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT BROKEN IN THE FRONT FENDER. VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, FOR NO APPARENT REASON, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK

WHEN MAKING MAKING A TURN, THE VEHICLE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. PLEASE DESCRIBE ANY DETAILS. *AK

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLS AND CUTS OFF. OWNER HAS HAD VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER THREE TIMES FOR THE STALLING. *AK

INTERMITTENT STALLING/HESITATION. *AK

ENGINE FIRE.