1992 Chevrolet Cavalier engine problems

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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 complaint #10075338 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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

NHTSA complaint #10062742 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

NONE

NHTSA complaint #715348 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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

NHTSA complaint #848303 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY

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

NHTSA complaint #848303 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS

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 complaint #710485 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR

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 complaint #710485 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

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

NHTSA complaint #710487 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

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

NHTSA complaint #841997 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

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 complaint #828833 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

CYLINDER HEAD CRACKED.

NHTSA complaint #511998 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR

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

NHTSA complaint #500832 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

HEADGASKET FAILED, CAUSING ANTI-FREEZE TO LEAK.

NHTSA complaint #486945 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

REPLACED CRACKED BELT.

NHTSA complaint #484144 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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

NHTSA complaint #965704 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

EXHAUST MANIFOLD VALVE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #478288 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY

RADIATOR/RADIATOR HOSE BOTH REPLACED DUE TO LEAKS.

NHTSA complaint #478288 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.