Problems with 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

This car has been lovingly cared for since it was new. the underbody is perfect but the subframe (engine cradle) is badly rusted, with pitting, scaling and a rusted through hole. i am heartbroken! this car is very nice but now i can't drive it. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 chevrolet cavalier. the contact stated that while driving approximately 55 mph, the vehicle began to jerk abnormally and the vehicle stalled. the battery warning light was illuminated when the failure occurred. the contact attempted to start the vehicle yet it exhibited an abnormal knocking before stalling again. after several attempts, the contact was able to restart the vehicle yet it stalled a third time. the vehicle was then towed to the contacts place of residence. the vehicle was neither inspected nor repaired for the failure. the failure mileage was approximately 208,000.

Purchased used 2000 cavalier in 2006. first problem (which has continued for 5 years) is that the service light will come on when the car is cranked unless the headlights are first turned on. if you turn the headlights off while driving, the service light comes on. it will not go off unless you turn the car off and restart it (with headlights on). second problem is that fuel hand does not reflect accurate amount of gasoline in tank. it goes up and down while driving (with the check gauges light on). or sometimes it is stuck on e or stuck on f regardless of how much fuel is actually present. third problem is that car intermittently overheats and is always losing coolant. i have replaced thermostat, water pump, & radiator. three different mechanics cannot find a leak in the cooling system (despite pressure testing, compression testing, & block testing). we are baffled why it cannot retain constant coolant levels. this is a very frustrating situation as i am left without reliable transportation. *tr

The vehicle overheated within 3 minutes to start up. the consumer stated that there was no coolant getting into the engine. the thermostat was replaced 4 weeks ago. the consumer had to use dexcoolant, but, the vehicle started to overheated again. *ak the heater could not be turned on or the vehicle would overheat. the headgasket needed to be replaced. *sc *jb

Check engine light appeared on the dashboard and remained. while driving at any speed vehicle stalled. consumer restarted vehicle and drove it to the dealer for inspection. *ak

Vehicle has problems starting and when it starts a few blocks down the road it shuts off. *bf *tc

Car idles extrmemly rough and feels like it is going to stall. bogs while driving, makes a firing noise from the tailpipe. i put better gas in the car, new spark plugs and fuel injector cleaner. no help. check engine light comes on when car is started, but also goes off just as fast. when idling, it does not stay at the same level. very rough. cluster for digital odometer is broken, i need to bang on the dashboard to read the mileage. the light in the center console is also out. *ak

The first time this happened i was driving to work and the fuel injectors were replaced to fix the problem. the next 4 times (all in the same day) i was driving to and from pensacola, florida on interstate 110 and highway 98 and the gas filter and spark plugs were changed. these incidents were in the spring 2003. the dealer informed me in april 2003 that the spark plugs were the problem and they fixed it and said we should be fine. the most recent episode was on highway 20 in niceville, florida. i was driving with my wife and newborn when the car stopped accelerating again and thankfully i was able to pull to the side of the road without getting hit. car stopped accelerating with no warning and was stranded on the interstate and busy highway. most recently the problem cannot be fixed. this car is only 4 years old and i bought it new with keeping the maintence up. as of now the car cannot be started and they have no clue as to what the problem is. i am concerned as this could have happened while on the interstate where i could not get to the shoulder or on the local mile long bridge where there is no place to pull over to. i am just glad my wife and child were not injured this time. *la

While driving at any speed the vehicle stalls. *ak

Consumer stated that while driving on the freeway vehicle stalled. highway state patrol had to give consumer a ride because vehicle did not restart. consumer had the vehicle towed to a garage, and mechanic told her that the problem related to the part that was put on by the ford dealer for recall repair. mechanic took the part off and the vehicle started. he put it back on and the vehicle would not start. consumer indicated the part that ford was using for recall repair was faulty.*ak

Brakes vibrate when stopping from any speed. was told by dealer that was common with abs. brakes wear poorly, have had to replace brakes 2x since purchase. engine stutters when car first started or while standing. key hot out of ignition, was told recent recall affecting ignition relay would fix, did not. check engine service and abs lights coming on and staying on. car has only 32,000 miles. *jb

While driving 55 mph check engine light appeared on the dashboard and remained on. a loud noise was heard coming from the rear. consumer was able to drive the vehicle to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that wheel bearing, caliper. and both frontal rotors needed to be replaced. dealer informed the driver that this was the twelfth set of wheel bearings that had been replaced this year. *ak

After purchase of my vehicle - battery was dead dealer replaced new battery lost coolant - engine was smoking then found out vehicle was on recall had to replace rotors and pads with less than 20,000 miles on vehicle something needs to be done to improve the brake system on the chevy cavaliers they do not last. i commute to work by train and hardly drive so i was surprised with all the problems with this vehicle with not alot of miles. *nm

While driving 55 mph vehicle stalled. consumer had the vehicle towed. dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak

While driving 30 mph vehicle stalled. this caused loss of steering power and brake power. *ak

Engine head gasket failed prematurely. dealer repaired, and 8 months later the part failed again. *ak

Low track light came on when the vehicle was accelerated or when the gear was placed in reverse. *bf in order for the light to go out, the consumer had to take his foot off the accelerator, sometimes the engine shut off by itself. the consumer stated the dealer fixed the problem in the beginining, however the problem returned. the valve cover gasket leaked.

My cooling system failed causing my car to overheat and kill my 2.2l engine. also at 36000 my timing chain broke. my extended warranty company is refusing to pay.

1st car would act like it wasn't getting gas while driving down the road even though the motor was till running and it had power . then it started just stalling completely (dying) while going down the road. now car won't crank at all because they've been trying to find the problem. was found out that car had been wrecked but carfax report reported only minor front fender damage. *ak

When i purchased my used 2000 chevrolet cavalier in april 2003 about 1 month i started having problems. after putting gas in my car i would drive a little and then the gas gauge would go down to appear that the car was almost empty but it wasn't. while driving one day the car just shut off it had gas in it i had just put gas in it but the gauge dropped to appear to be almost empty. i had to get my car towed to the shop i was told my fuel injection went out. not even a month after that my car stalled at a red light and my temperature gage went in the hot zone my car wouldn't start i had to get it towed again to the shop but they could not find the problem. now here it is june 2003 my car is sitting in the drive way right now as i am typing this information. my son was driving home at 1:00 a.m. this morning from work when the car overheated again and started smoking. he said smoke was also coming out of the battery and he also heard noise coming from the rear of the car today is saturday and my car has to sit in the driveway until monday morning that when the dealer opens. i feel that something should be done. i don't think it is fair for dealers to be able to sale cars that are in this kind of condition and the car is suppose to be certified. i am making payments on the car and i am having all these problems. it is dangerous to be driving and the car decides to cut off especially at 1:00 a.m. i have to be at work at 3:45 a.m. and my son gets off work at 1:00 a.m. this is very, very dangerous for the both of us. *nlm

Head gasket blew at only 50320 miles, allowing antifreeze to enter the engine block and flood cylinder heads and spark plugs, warping them to the point where they had to be rebuilt, in addition due to lack of antifreeze, car overheated almost to the point of catching fire, seizing the engine. this came with no warning, and no sign of leakage as antifreeze leaked into engine rather than onto ground. car broke down in the middle lane of a busy intersection while stopped at a light causing a traffic obstacle during morning rush hour. *nlm

The vehicle stalled, which caused consumer to abruptly pull over.*jb *ts

While making a turn vehicle would shut off. dealer notified. ph

Timing chain loose/tensioner wearing out. first happened around 60,000 miles, at this time the chain, tensioner, and gears were changed. worked fine for a week and a half, then slowly started to rattle again until the noise was worse than before it was fixed. brought to chevy dealership, car stayed there for 5 days, said they couldn't find anything wrong, charged me $250 for diagnostic labor and told me it was a normal noise. then i called gm customer service, the woman i spoke to was all ready to help me out until she spoke with the dealership then came back on the line with me and just agreed with what they said about it being a "normal" noise. then brought it to another chevy dealership, service manager listened and said it was definitely not a normal noise, agreed it was coming from the timing cover area, called back customer service, said i'd have to pay for another diagnosis before they could even tell me if they would assist me in getting it fixed. i'm finished with it, i've spent over $1000 on this car in the last 2 months and it's still not fixed, plus i'm out $250 for a dealership telling me there's nothing wrong. this dealership was not the one i purchased the car from.....the original dealer messed up my rotors at 10,000 miles and were very rude about it so i vowed never to go there again.....now i've been burned by two dealerships...

Nov.7,2002 car won't start. dec.11,2002 won't start. took car to potamkin chevorlet dec.19,2002. i was told there's was nothing wrong with the car and they would not replace battery. jan.13,2003 car won't start. car was towed to liberty chevorlet. was told car needed battery and starter. also told if proper test was done, potamkin should have picked up the problem. currently having problems with car. car stops while driving. liberty unable to find problem. also since i purchased the car,new, my interior lights flash on and off when i brake hard or go over bumps in road. either dealer unable to find out why.

Consumer stated while driving at highway speed the engine shut down whic caused loss of power steering. please any additional information.*jb

light comes on, on dash consumer has taken vehicle to the dealer, and they told him that it was nothing wrong with vehicle.when he was on vacation,radiator hose busted. when he returned home , he went to the dealer, and was reimbursed some of his money back by the dealer. also, was told by dealer when dash light indicator that something was wrong with battery. *ak

Car stalled numerous times at any speed, dealer has been notified. please provide further inforamation. ts

Vehicle just started having problems cutting each time approaching a stop. no warning indicator illuminated on dashboard. dealer was notified of problem. please provide more information.*ak

The consumer stated he experienced 3 blown head gaskets; one day it will start and another day it would not start.

Timing chain had to be replaced because vehicle was becoming inoperable. contacted dealer, and the dealer was not willing to do anything.*ak mj

Consumer states that the engine is overheating and the engine light illuminated. *tt

I have a 2000 chevrolet cavalier. the first problem i experienced was in oct 2001,while driving the temperature gauge went to the maximum reading without warning, i pulled off the highway and turned off vehicle. waited a while started back went approximately 1/4 mi and same problem,after stopping 3-4 times i started back on the highway and continued to drive with temp gauge in the red for a approx 1 mile and all gauges returned to normal. chevrolet garage could not find any problems with cooling system..my second problem i keep hearing a clanging/rattling sound from the front area of vehicle while sitting still if you turn steering wheel you can hear a thump from the front left area where strut is located..my third problem is my check engine/service engine light keeps coming on at various times. my fourth problem i have had to replace my front rotors three times now due to them warping,the first time i had less then 10,000 miles....... *nlm

My car has stalled 4 differnt times w/out any warning,the 2 or 3 times i was told to put gas treatment in my tank . they thought i had water in my tank. finally after almost hitting an 18 wheeler in the rear w/my 3 year old daughter in the car, the dealer said the fuel filter was defective,& the fuel modular regulator was shorting out.i tried to get gm to do a buy -back on my car the refused.this is only one of many repeated problems w/my z24. i am going to file the lemon law on this car.*ak

The consumer was in driveway trying to go firward but the vehicle wouldn't go, the consumer tried reverse, nothing happened and the vehicle completely shut down, there was no steering ability and no brakes, the vehicle was taken to the dealer but they were unable to duplicate the problem

Vehicle stalls when a/c turned off. this happens when vehicle is in park and/or drive and vehicle is at stand still. dealer has had three attempts to correct defect. dealer states that they can't engineer a fix for the stall. in process of having vehicle classified a lemon under the state of florida's "lemon law".

When turning steering wheel sharply there was a popping sound at all times. dealer replaced power steering shaft.*ak consumer states engine light comes on while driving, squealing noise from passengers side of engine especially on cold starts, and engine is slow to crank up-intermittent, battery was replaced, also vehicle would not start, dealer found fuel pump was inoperative and replaced fuel pump. *yd

While driving on three different occasions at 65 mph and without prior warning vehicle cutt off, causing loos of all power. also, vehicle has lost a great amount of fuel, problem may be linked, causing occupants of vehicle to get sick. (ak consumer states no one knows as of yet, the first time dealer replaced battery, the second time they did nothing, the third time they replaced filter in gas line or tank.*jb

Clutch was not engaging properly, was noisy when changing gears, and would jerk once in gear, dealer found master cylinder leaking and replaced it. *slc

While driving engine check light came on. took to dealer, and they replaced oxygen sensor. in march of 2001, problem reoccurred, and dealer replaced oxygen sensor again. on september 11, 2001, problem occurred again, and dealer did not have a solution for problem. on october 22, 2001 problem reoccurred. a dealer told consumer it was okay to drive with engine light on. finally, on november 14, 200 engine light came back on. please provide any further information. *ak

Going uphill vehicle stalled, after 10 minutes. started again, and a while later, on uphill vehicle stalled . had vehicle towed to dealer, mechanic took vehicle on test drive, and it stalled uphill. dealer replaced fuel sending unit. in november 2000, head gasket had to be replaced.*ak

The vehicle only had 2917 miles on it when the steering rack had to be replaced. *nm at 6237 miles the dealer had to replace a strut mount and a bearing plate. the engine light illuminated and the o2 sensor and starter was replaced. the intermediate shaft was replaced twice and the headlamp was replaced. *jb

growl / moan type noise coming from the front of the vehicle on heavy acceleration when making a sharp left hand turn. *ak

Three times the car had to be towed to the dealer. twice it died when i was driving causing me to miss work. it always shuts down the same way.*ak

Vehicle experienced possible engine failure which caused vehicle to shut down completely resulting in a collision with several vehicles due to stalling (ohio traffic crash report). *mjs

Was driving vehicle when without warning vehicle experienced an oil & transmission leak. nothing was working properly in vehicle. there were no instrument panel lights, also, transaxle was found to be faulty. waiting to receive a new transmission from michigan to replace original. *ak