1992 Chevrolet Cavalier Engine Problems

I OWN A 1992 CHEV CAVALIER Z-24 AND HAVE BEEN READING HORROR STORIES ABOOT THE EXACT WOES I HAVE BEEN SUFFERING SINCE BUYING IT USED IN 1998 WITH ONLY 15K MI ON IT; IT ONLY HAS 30000 ON IT NOW. THE FIRST TO GO WAS THE HEATER CORE AND BELT TENSIONER AND THEN THE COOLANT LEAKS THAT HAS REQUIRED SEVERAL DAYS OF SHOP TIME. I HAVE HAD THE INTAKE REMOVED TWICE, THE HEADS ONCE - THEY ACCUSED ME OF OVERHEATING AND WARPING THEM - THE WATER PUMP REPLACED, 2 WINDOW MOTORS INSTALLED AND THE ALTENATOR REPLACED. I HAVEN'T EVEN GOTTEN TO THE BRAKES - THE ABS SYSTEM ON THIS BUCKET OF JUNK SEEM TO WORK FINE MOST OF THE TIME BUT LOVE TO CHATTER INTERNAL TO THE ELECTRONIC/HYDRAULIC SYSTEM AS IF IT CAN'T MAKE UP ITS MIND. I HAVE DISABLED THE SYSTEM IN DIAGNOSING IT MYSELF AND FOUND THAT THE BRAKES WORK BETTER WITHOUT THE SYSTEM CONTROLLING YOUR BRAKING. THE SYSTEM IS INTACT AS I DON'T WANT TO FOOL AROUND TOO MUCH BUT THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A SWITCH ON THE DASH - ABS ON - ABS OFF. I AM IN POOR HEALTH AND HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO TAKE THE JALOPY TO OURISMAN CHEVROLET AGAIN - I BOUGHT IT AT OURISMAN'S ROCKVILLE STORE - TO SHOW THEM THE COOLANT IN THE OIL THAT I FOUND RECENTLY. I HAVE USED SYNTHETIC OIL IN IT SINCE I BOUGHT IT BUT I CAN'T VOUCH FOR THE SERVICE DEPT AT OURISMAN. THEY PROBABLY USE GOODWRENCH 5-30 AS IT CAME FROM THE FACTORY. IF THERE ARE THIS MANY REPORTS OF THIS PIECE OF JUNK, WOULDN'T CHEVY BE MORE CONCERNED ABOOT IT? I AM LUCKY TO HAVE GOTTEN A 4 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY AS I WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD IT; I WOULD HAVE JUST LEFT THE CAR WITH OURISMAN AND LET THEM DEAL WITH IT. AK

NHTSA ID

10075338

Incident

Oct 14, 1998

Mileage

15,500 mi

I OWN A 1992 CHEVY CAVALIER. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE HEATER CORE 3 TIMES. ONCE A YEAR EVERY YEAR SINCE 2001. I AM REQUESTING A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE DUE TO THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I DON'T THINK THAT I OR ANYONE ELSE SHOULD HAVE TO REPLACE A HEATER CORE/ BLOWN HEAD GASKET ONCE A YEAR. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU OR CHEVY ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND VERY VERY COSTLY. I BELIEVE THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COSTS INCURRED AND TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I LOVE MY CAR AND TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF IT. I HAVE INCURRED COSTS OF OVER $2000 AND AM SICK AND TIRED OF HEARING THAT I HAVE BLOWN A HEAD GASKET DUE TO HEATER CORE\COOLING FAILURE. PLEASE CONTACT ME ABOUT THIS MATTER ASAP. THANK YOU. SHERI MADRID *JB

NHTSA ID

10062742

Incident

Nov 9, 2001

Mileage

114,000 mi

NONE

NHTSA ID

715348

Incident

Nov 25, 1999

ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT, CAUSING FLUIDS TO SPRAY ALL OVER THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. COOLANT LEAKED OUT OF RADITOR. *AK

NHTSA ID

848303

Incident

Feb 2, 1999

WINDSHIELD GETS FOGGY RESIDUE MAKES POOR VISION; SEAT LATCHES DON'T LATCH FIRST ADJUSTMENT; THEY LATCH WHILE DRIVING;

NHTSA ID

710487

RADIATOR HOSE LEAK MADE CAR RUN HOT; REPLACED CATYLIC CONVERTER SO WOULD NOT RUN HOT; FUSE SHORTAGE ALMOST CAUGHT CAR ON FIRE; THE BODY SOUNDS SQUEEKY AND RUSTY WHEN GOES OVER BUMPS

NHTSA ID

710485

ENGINE STALLS OUT ABOUT EVERY 8 MONTHS BECAUSE THE BELT TIGHTNER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. BELT TIGHTNER HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. *AK

NHTSA ID

841997

CONSUMER WAS AT A STOP SIGN WNEN VEHICLE WOULD NOT CHANGE GEARS, ABOUT 2MINUTES AFTERWARD, VEHICLE WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT FIRE OUT. *AK

NHTSA ID

836267

Incident

Mar 26, 1999

STEERING COLUMN WILL NOT LOCK IN PLACE. MOVES WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. TOOK TO DEALER & HAD IT REPAIRED. PROBLEM REAPPEARED. ALSO, THE ANTI-FREEZE LEAKS OUT. HAS BEEN TO DEALER 5-6 TIMES FOR BOTH PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ID

828833

Incident

May 22, 1998

CYLINDER HEAD CRACKED.

NHTSA ID

511998

ENGINE MISSES, SURGES, OR STALLS INTERMITTENTLY DUE TO CATALYTIC CONVERTER. *DSH

NHTSA ID

500832

Incident

Dec 22, 1995

REPLACED CRACKED BELT.

NHTSA ID

484144

Incident

Jul 19, 1995

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILED.

NHTSA ID

486945

Incident

Mar 1, 1995

DEALER CHANGED THE FREEZE PLUG AND THE NEXT DAY THE ENGINE BLEW UP. TT

NHTSA ID

965704

Incident

Dec 2, 1994

EXHAUST MANIFOLD VALVE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

478288

Incident

Jan 9, 1995