Never had an issue yet, I'm at 42,000 miles.
Semper Fi SAINT. May you rest in peace.
My 04 runs like a champ, I get a littel Idle flutter when it's really cold out, but it goes away in like 10 minutes and it's not even severe to begin with, the only complaint that I've got is that my CV's are bad and I've only got 64k on her, I dunno, she's still a champ!
2004 Cavi sedan auto owned since October 2004... started with 30K miles, now have over 81K miles... while on vacation in Vegas last month the rear turn signal bulb burned out. [sarcasm]What a junkpile.[/sarcasm] Nothing wrong other than regular maintenance (as in this is great since it's low maintenance) and normal wear and tear... brakes, tires, wipers etc...
2003 Cavi sedan auto owned since December 27 2006... started with 27,8xx miles, now have 28,xxx miles (I bought it at a dealership about 100 miles from home), no problems yet and I anticipate nothing besides maintenance and normal wear and tear... and it has new tires just like the 04
This is an update from my earlier posts on this topic. I now have 84,000 kms (52000 miles)on my 2004 Cavalier. In the first 48,000 kms I had heater fan switch and interior door jamb light switch replaced under warranty. Other than normal maintenance, the only additional repair was replacement of a censor which caused the service engine light to come on.
All this is so funny! haha! I feel kinda bad though cause i have an 03 LS Sport 5spd with 44k miles on it so far. Never had any idle problems. No clunking noises. Decent gas mileage. No problems starting up. Nothing. I think people just need to take care of their cars better.
"You can only feed them semen for so long before their legs fall off."
04 Classic - 64,000 miles
1) turn signals quit occasionally - just tap on the hazard switch.
2) front susp. creaks over speed bumps or cross-gutters
3A) eats front brakes for lunch
3B) brakes grab hard when cold/wet,.spongy once dry and warm - wtf?
4) rear seat smells like cat pee when its warm out - could be that cats that peed on it once
5) rear doors occasionally squeak on opening (very minor)
Otherwise, an awesome ride.
Vincent Spaghetti wrote:04 Classic - 64,000 miles
1) turn signals quit occasionally - just tap on the hazard switch.
2) front susp. creaks over speed bumps or cross-gutters
3A) eats front brakes for lunch
3B) brakes grab hard when cold/wet,.spongy once dry and warm - wtf?
4) rear seat smells like cat pee when its warm out - could be that cats that peed on it once
5) rear doors occasionally squeak on opening (very minor)
Otherwise, an awesome ride.
Buy better brake pads/rotors not the crappy cheap organic ones for 12-20 bucks at Autozone, or if you already have decent ones, might be that your calipers are worn out already and are sticking, so you'd have to rebuid/replace the calipers. Lubricate the chassis, fix the short (probably something really simple and cheap), then you'd be all set besides the cat pee.
Mike2200 wrote: Buy better brake pads/rotors not the crappy cheap organic ones for 12-20 bucks at Autozone, or if you already have decent ones, might be that your calipers are worn out already and are sticking, so you'd have to rebuid/replace the calipers. Lubricate the chassis, fix the short (probably something really simple and cheap), then you'd be all set besides the cat pee.
I realised the other day that my brakes make a squeak noise when I let off the brake pedal, so I think you're right in suspecting the calipers.
So does mine. Thats what it did right before the engine went bad.
i have the iridium plugs in my 04 4 door and they really did not make a difference. i also have 83,000 miles on my car and the only thing that has been done is axle sealsand that was not until 70k.
i am an advisor at adealer ship in flint, and the only recall i have seen is : Product Emission - Loose Spark Plug Center Wire #03042 - (09/24/2003)
Models: ***Dealer Inventory Vehicles Only***
2003-2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer, TrailBlazer EXT
2003-2004 GMC Envoy, Envoy XL
2004 Oldsmobile Bravada
Equipped with 4.2L L6 Engine (LL8)
2004 Chevrolet Cavalier, Classic
2004 Oldsmobile Alero
2004 Pontiac Grand Am, Sunfire
Equipped with 2.2L L4 Engine (L61)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THIS RECALL IS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOVEMBER 30, 2003.
Condition
General Motors has decided to conduct a Voluntary Emission Recall involving certain DEALER INVENTORY 2003 and 2004 model year Chevrolet TrailBlazer and TrailBlazer EXT, GMC Envoy and Envoy XL, and 2004 model year Oldsmobile Bravada vehicles equipped with a 4.2L L6 engine (LL8); and 2004 model year Chevrolet Cavalier and Classic, Oldsmobile Alero, and Pontiac Grand Am and Sunfire vehicles equipped with a 2.2L L4 engine (L61). Some of these vehicles may have been built with spark plugs that misfire. If a spark plug misfires, it could result in illumination of the Service Engine Soon Light/Check Engine Light and/or engine misfire and roughness.
Correction
Dealers are to inspect the spark plug(s) and replace them if necessary.
Vehicles Involved
Involved are certain DEALER INVENTORY 2003 and 2004 model year Chevrolet TrailBlazer and TrailBlazer EXT, GMC Envoy and Envoy XL, and 2004 model year Oldsmobile Bravada vehicles equipped with a 4.2L L6 engine (LL8); and 2004 model year Chevrolet Cavalier and Classic, Oldsmobile Alero, and Pontiac Grand Am and Sunfire vehicles equipped with a 2.2L L4 engine (L61).
this was the only one out there for a ecotec as far as i know. any questions let me know
ECOtecs are sensitive to spark plugs, theyve had ground wire issues, early engines(2000-2002) break timing chain because of lubrication issues, recent engines(06-07) have issues with maching debris clogging the filter and sometimes the tensioner, 2.4L LE5's warped heads early on in the big vehicles(G6, HHR, etc.), ECOTEC ECM's from the second half of 2005 have a failure history, 2006 L61's have had oil gallery plug leaks, Theres more than one service issue with ECO's numerosu bulletins have been issued but for the most part.....its a great engine.
ASE Master Auto Technician & Advanced Engine Performance Specialist
GM Mark Of Excellence Platinum Award (Engine repair)
GM Corvette Technician requirements complete
I think a lot you all are making you all are making too much of a big deal out of this. Let's be clear we speaking about the fist Generation Ecotec. The new 2.0 supercharged and and 2.4 have had not be in production long enough to tell. I have an 06 HHR with the 2.4.VVT have had only one issue thermostat stuck open, that's it. The 2.2 as well has been revised in a joint effort with GM and it affiliates SAAB, Holden,Suzuki (yea), and Opel. All which either have their own version of the same power plants or some technology from it. That being said if the Ecotec was as s@*ty as must of you make it sound I don't think Holden the biggest auto maker in Australia would make productions cars with the very same 2.2 and 2.0 oh and a 1.9 gas or diesel engines all with turbocharged versions. So obvously they can't be all that bad. As far as the 1st generation Eco's yea they had some issues, but you gotta think GM mass produced the caviler to compete with the Civic, Sentra, and Corolla, who had very respectable and reliable power plants. The Cavilier when released was the only 4 cylinder GM manufactured and developed at that time. Do you remember the Geo Storm, Prizm and Tracker or was that the Izuzu I-Mark, Toyota Corolla and the Suzuki Sidekick. So there were bound to be some bad apples in the bunch. I also think people expected to much from these engines like you were going to be able to just pull up to a light and smoke a CRX , Civic or Del sol. Those engine were designed for no torque and high end RPM revving which is why they have 7 and 8 grand red lines. You gotta break them in. Also routine maintenance is your best friend. Regular inspections can go a long way to preventing or finding a problem before it becomes a big one. Point is all Automakers have had engine when first produced had some issue. Do you think Honda B-Series and D-Series engines were always as great as they are/ How about the VQ30 in the first 300Z, or the infamous 4G63 in the 1st and 2nd Gen Eclipse's. The Ford Duratec and Zetec engines. Or how about Hyundai, they've came along way from the old Eccel. Point is like my pops says an old school gear head "take car of it and it will take car of you. My buddy use to have an 03 Cavi and never had one issue. He had a supercharger, chip mods, Never one issue. Why routine maintenance, and knowing the limits or you power plant. Now what funny is that this post was back in 2003, it is now what date and this tread is still open , is there no end.
