90-94 Cavy common problem areas....Z24....

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90-94 Cavy common problem areas....Z24....

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90-94 Cavy common problem areas....Z24.... - 11/17/2006 5:53:48 PM

matt_p

Posts: 4
Joined: 11/17/2006
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k well i had a 90 daytona but recently the head gasket went and there was more wrong than right with the car so i was looking for a new one....I seen a cavy for sale today but dont know the specifics..... its somewere between 90-94 and im assuming its probably got the 2.2L ( that was one engine offered right? ) its automatic. O and its a Z24

But i just am curiious as to what some common problems with Cavaliers are, im going to go look at it soon again and get ahold of the owner to start it up and maybe take it for a test drive. Also to read the computer code i found this on the net...

quote:

On the aldl connector under the dash, short the "A" and "B" openings with a paper clip and read the flashes of the check engine light. A code 12 { one flash pause then 2 flashes} means the system is operating. Any other code will follow and is flashed 3 times. This works on all GM previous to '96

Is that true? .... my daytona just needed to turn the key on off a few times....

Thanks for your guyz's help!

P.S any other info on these cars could help me out i guess because im really not sure if i should fix my daytona or get this cavy... i dont wanna get a lemon again tho haha.

Post #: 1

RE: 90-94 Cavy common problem areas....Z24.... - 11/18/2006 5:33:14 PM

matt_p

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Joined: 11/17/2006
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please anyone... i would really like to know how these cars handle to high milage and what kind of abuse they take.....

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Post #: 2

RE: 90-94 Cavy common problem areas....Z24.... - 11/18/2006 6:39:30 PM

313hitman

Posts: 159
Joined: 10/10/2006
Status: offline

honestly, I cant say what problems that car might have. every car has its own characteristics. it really depends on how it was used, that will determine the problems. its a good car if preventative maintenance is done regularly. most common problem is very poor crash test and front struts give out with age.. thats all I can think about for now. hope that helps....

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in life only death is promised

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RE: 90-94 Cavy common problem areas....Z24.... - 11/18/2006 6:45:01 PM

matt_p

Posts: 4
Joined: 11/17/2006
Status: offline

thank you.... yea thats all im lookin for... stuff like the front struts with time and stuff that is a bit more common to go wrong on a older cavalier than other cars.

I just would like to find out more about the car so i dont make the same mistake that i made with the daytona. I buy the thing then do research and find out the 4 bangers are notorious for head gaskets.

thanks for the reply

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RE: 90-94 Cavy common problem areas....Z24.... - 11/18/2006 6:55:16 PM

313hitman

Posts: 159
Joined: 10/10/2006
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4 cylinder engine are good lasting motors. there just not strong motors. drive 'em like there meant to be driven.

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in life only death is promised

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RE: 90-94 Cavy common problem areas....Z24.... - 1/21/2007 8:03:40 AM

tallslimtim

Posts: 6
Joined: 11/6/2006
Status: offline

Besides the normal things that go out like starter & Alt, I have had only a few problems with the 3 Cavaliers 2.2 that my girl friend & I have owned, My girl friends 91 Cavalier had a intermittent problem with stalling, after weeks of this I finely got lucky, it happen as she pulled in the driveway, I pulled the code out of it, TPS= Throttle Position Sensor, Another problem I had with the auto trans on a 90 was it would get locked into over drive after it warmed up on a hot day, it was like trying to stop a car with a stander trans without stepping on the clutch, it would stall, I never fixed that problem, I just unpluged what I think was the switch the let it go into over drive, ( on the front of the tranny ) must of goten gunned up, I didn't have over drive anymore, or that problem, and I can't forget the 3 HEAD GASKETS, ever one after about 100,000 but that only a 15 dollar gasket, 12 pack of beer and a afternoon to fix that, other then that, I found them to be pretty good little cars

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Post #: 6

RE: 90-94 Cavy common problem areas....Z24.... - 1/21/2007 1:28:44 PM

matt_p

Posts: 4
Joined: 11/17/2006
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: tallslimtim

Besides the normal things that go out like starter & Alt, I have had only a few problems with the 3 Cavaliers 2.2 that my girl friend & I have owned, My girl friends 91 Cavalier had a intermittent problem with stalling, after weeks of this I finely got lucky, it happen as she pulled in the driveway, I pulled the code out of it, TPS= Throttle Position Sensor, Another problem I had with the auto trans on a 90 was it would get locked into over drive after it warmed up on a hot day, it was like trying to stop a car with a stander trans without stepping on the clutch, it would stall, I never fixed that problem, I just unpluged what I think was the switch the let it go into over drive, ( on the front of the tranny ) must of goten gunned up, I didn't have over drive anymore, or that problem, and I can't forget the 3 HEAD GASKETS, ever one after about 100,000 but that only a 15 dollar gasket, 12 pack of beer and a afternoon to fix that, other then that, I found them to be pretty good little cars

thanks! and for anyone that cares i bought the car( well not yet i guess) but i wrote the check and im just waiting to run into the guy because he is working real weird hours right now

Im not sure of the year but its in that 90-94 look. It has a 3.1L V6 followed up by a 3 speed auto and has about 200 000 KM on it. It needs new tires on the front and he said the brakes were making noises when he parked it but when i started the car and just drove it back and forth a bit in his driveway the brakes worked good... i paid 700 CAN for the car and cant wait to get it

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RE: 90-94 Cavy common problem areas....Z24.... - 3/3/2007 3:43:22 PM

matts156

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Joined: 3/3/2007
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I was just about to post a message saying that if it was a 90-94, it should be a 3.1L V-6. I see that's what you found already.

The 3.1 is a good running engine - about 150 HP. Also, very smooth running. Keep up on the oil changes, though.

Tune ups aren't too bad - getting to the back plugs is tight, but there's a certain way you can get your arm in there. When you find that position, you can get to the plugs easily. The PCV valve, on the other hand, is a bear because it's in the back under the intake plenum. It's very difficult to reach and it takes a fair amount of effort to push the new valve into the rubber bushing.

Someone mentioned the overdrive issue earlier. The cause of that is the Torque Converter Control (TCC) solenoid in the transmission. When it fails, the torque converter is unable to unlock and as you approach a stop, the engine stalls. It's the same thing that would happen if you stopped with a manual transmission and forgot to step on the clutch pedal. The part is only about $35, and it's located inside the end cover on the driver's side. You may have to lift the engine slightly to get the bottom row of bolts.

The transmission is a Turbo-Hydramatic 125 (TH125). They can fail, especially if you run the car hard. The most common failure is the hydraulic pump shaft in the input shaft. It's very small with a diameter a bit larger than a pencil. The bearings on this shaft tend to sieze, which causes the shaft to snap. Suddenly you have no forward or reverse and you need a new transmission. Used ones are usually available for around $300. Oh, and planetary gears have been known to fail, too.

One bit of maintenance that I suggest you undertake right away is to replace the transmission filter and fluid, and keep doing so every 30,000 miles (or annually is even better). The TH125 is probably the most unforgiving part of the Z24. Transmission fluid and the filter are cheap, and replacement is not difficult at all. Simply drop the pan slowly to drain the transmission. Let it drip for 10 minutes or so. The filter is held in place by a small bracket. Simply push up on the filter slightly and rotate it away from the bracket. The filter can then be pulled down out of the rubber grommet. The new filter should have a new rubber grommet with it, so replace the old one.

Like many Chevy's, the trim has a tendency to break or come loose. Parts are relatively inexpensive, though. Some body parts, like the window belts (the weatherstripping that goes along the top of the door and the base of the window) is currently unavailable, so if you have good ones, don't let them dry out.

< Message edited by matts156 -- 3/3/2007 9:24:49 PM >

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1993 Ford F250 Supercab 7.3L IDI N/A Diesel (247,000 mi.)
1984 Mustang 6-speed 300+ HP... for now (My resto - 146,000 mi.)
1994 Z24 Convertible (My woman's ride - 122,000 mi.)
1965 VW Beetle (My woman's resto - God knows mi.)

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Post #: 8