Chevrolet Cavalier problems and issues


There are 133 reported problems


Problems with a Cavalier? Share them
1 ... 345

Transmission problem

Chevrolet Cavalier 1997 2.4 liter 190000 miles
Just had a replacement on the transmission
With 2 shift senolids replace. And it still won't shift out of 2 gear
Edward from United States 7 years ago  
ED
Rank 9
5 reports 

Transmission problem

Chevrolet Cavalier 1997 2.4 liter 190000 miles
Just had a replacement on the transmission
With 2 shift senolids replace. And it still won't shift out of 2 gear
Edward from United States 7 years ago  
ED
Rank 9
8 reports 
Edward from United States 7 years ago
You right I Do have an ignition problem is it why it's not getting power to my trasmission
Comment

Won't start

Chevrolet Cavalier 2003 03 chevy cavalier 2.2 ecotec  127000 miles
Put new headgasket on time it put back together stared missed bad I forgot to put on fuel injection spacer put them on started up ran fine gave some fuel died and never started back got fire got fuel
Derrick from United States 7 years ago  
DE
1 report 

Bad muffer sound from under engine

Chevrolet Cavalier 1997 2 door coupe 160000 miles
Load sound from under engine,,,,,sounds like a bad muffler
rkenney from United States 7 years ago  
RK
2 reports 

Battery overcharge

Chevrolet Cavalier 2003 2.2 ecotech 300000 miles
My guess is there is a ground somewhere that's causing the voltage regulator on the alternator to go bad it's a 630 cranking amp battery t the charger keeps overcharging it and my battery don't like it
Jason from United States 7 years ago  
JA
3 reports 
Mook from United States 7 years ago
Do you have a multi meter or a battery tester? Start up the car and let it idle put probes on battery terminals to check the charging voltage. Usually voltage should be between 13.8 to 14.6 volts. If it's higher than that the voltage regulator isn't working properly letting alternator overcharge.
Comment

Timing chain broke replaced it now for some reason loading up really b

Chevrolet Cavalier 1991 2 door 2.2l 2884 miles
Loading up bad with full soon as u turn the key to power the car
Mechanic 101 from United States 7 years ago  
ME
1 report 

Clogged pcv value

Chevrolet Cavalier 2004 2.2 eco tech 156200 miles
Blow in the intake and air comes back at u
Jason from United States 7 years ago  
JA
2 reports 

Over heating

Chevrolet Cavalier 1998  17700086 miles
My car is over heating. I changed the reservoir the water pump thermostat flushed the radiator checked the fan checked the hoses for leaks and it still runs hot
Tired from United States 7 years ago  
TI
9 reports 
butch from Canada 7 years ago
I recommend you change the radiator pressure cap.
Mook from United States 7 years ago
Check to make sure cooling fans come on before the temperature needle goes over half way to hot. If the temperature keeps climbing and the fan doesn't kick on it could be a fuse,relay temperature sensor that kicks fan on or the fan itself is shot.
Comment

Speed omiter

Chevrolet Cavalier 1991 cavalier 2295617 miles
My speed omiter won't come on the first 8 or 9 miles and my check ingine light comes on when the car goes for a bit the speed omiter kicks on and the light goes off what's the problem
eddie from United States 7 years ago  
ED
2 reports 

Stuck tire and I am tired of this

Chevrolet Cavalier 1996 Sedan 250000 miles
Rear tire stuck on hub assembly and it won't budge
Screwed from United States 8 years ago  
SC
1 reply 
Mook from United States 7 years ago
Spray some pb blaster around center hub and let it soak in. Then take a sledge hammer and hit around outer Center of the rim. That should break the rust holding the rim on the hub.
Comment

Oil is shooting out from somewhere around the belt side of motor

Chevrolet Cavalier 2001  140000 miles
Oil light has came on a few times but turn back off again and now oil is spraying out all over the motor somewhere around the belt area
yrob from United States 8 years ago  
YR
6 reports 
Mook from United States 5 years ago
Front main seal is bad or timing cover gasket needs replacing
Comment

Fuel pump not getting enough fuel want to check out voltage to pump. I

Chevrolet Cavalier 1993 RS manuel 150000 miles
No fuel everynow and then you hear pump come on but car only runs for a few seconds
Chevy man from United States 8 years ago  
CH
2 reports 

Fuel pump not getting enough fuel want to check out voltage to pump. I

Chevrolet Cavalier 1993 RS manuel 150000 miles
No fuel everynow and then you hear pump come on but car only runs for a few seconds
Chevy man from United States 8 years ago  
CH
2 reports 

Cant keep water in ratdator

Chevrolet Cavalier 1997  20350 miles
I put Dex-cool in and and it comes back out of the tank help
lucy from United States 8 years ago  
LU
2 reports 

Leaking coolant

Chevrolet Cavalier 2002  195000 miles
Leaking under middle of radiator
Moondoggie from United States 8 years ago  
MO
3 reports 

Will Exhaust affect your reverse

Chevrolet Cavalier 2001 2 door/2.2 75000 miles
My exhaust fell and I fixed it. Problem seemed fixed till I hit a bump and now my exhaust sounds like shit. I have an appointment to have it fixed but like most Americans I need it to go to work till then. This morning I went to back up and I had to slam on the gas to get it enough power to go in reverse. I hope thats all thats wrong with it. My question is why does the exhaust affect your reverse?
TheDarkSpartan from United States 8 years ago  
TH
1 report 
Mook from United States 7 years ago
Low reverse bands maybe worn out. Or plugged transmission filter. Drop pan and fluid if you find chunks of clutches or a lot of filings in bottom of pan or in fluid. Transmission might be shot.
Comment

Spertine belt

Chevrolet Cavalier 1996  50000 miles
Keeps breaking. The belt. Noise coming from a/c
Ruby from United States 8 years ago  
RU
3 reports 

Power lost in drive

Chevrolet Cavalier 1997 Automatic  65000 miles
In drive car runs hesitant in reverse car runs fine
Jayson from United States 8 years ago  
JA
2 reports 

AC Doors in the dash 1 is stuck and trying to find out if you have to

Chevrolet Cavalier 1999 4dr 2.2 automatic 198000 miles
The AC is blowing hard in the bottom , but not alot of air coming out the front panel, trying to see watbi have to do, take stereo outvto get to it, thanks for advice !
George56 from United States 8 years ago  
GE
1 report 

Ignition problem

Chevrolet Cavalier 2002 4 door 109000 miles
Been starting the car with screw driver because the ignition is out, it starts but I can't put it into any gear and it will turn forward but won't turn off. How can I get it to get into gear?
Tina from United States 8 years ago  
TI
1 report 

Rough idle stalls

Chevrolet Cavalier 2004 2.2 echo tek 150 miles
I changed my throttle position sensor but my car still idles rough
Robert_ from United States 8 years ago  
RO
6 reports 
Nate from Canada 7 years ago
Remove the fuel rail and inchectors and clean out the holes were the inchectors go it helped a lot with my 01 cav but make shur you already done a tune up first
Comment

Engine stall

Chevrolet Cavalier 1996 2.2 123009 miles
Runs fine on highway with no problems. When you get to town and stop at stop light it starts to buck and shake and rough engine. It will usually die but let it set a while it will start back up and if you go back on highway it runs great. Have replaced crank sensor and plugs and wires. Any suggestions??
Frustrated from United States 8 years ago  
FR
Rank 10
5 reports 
Grockette from United States 8 years ago
I will let you know if my husband figures it out. My car is having the same problems and I've had it ten years without an issue.
Frustrated from United States 8 years ago
Found the problem to be the fuel pump. New fuel pump and problem solved.
Comment

Bogs and stutters when gas pedal floored

Chevrolet Cavalier 1994 sedan 2.2 auto 126000 miles
Car engine bogs and stutters when pedal is pushed to the floor. Once or twice it has backfired and started to stall, caught itself and stutters and lacks power to gain speed.
youse from United States 8 years ago  
YO
8 reports 
halbilly from Canada 8 years ago
Reelays in fuse box
Prity sure
Midway from New Zealand 7 years ago
Ghange the spark plugs, I had this same problem. All fixed now with new plugs
Chris from Australia 7 years ago
I have the same problem but we put new spark plugs in still doing it
youse from United States 7 years ago
Try adding injector cleaner and see if that helps
Comment

Installed a new car stereo & everything died

Chevrolet Cavalier 2000  120000 miles
I replace the factory radio with another radio and now the car won't start and I have headlights only & no power to the interior of my 2000 chevy cavalier. No dash lights or anything but the headlights. Tries to start then kills itself.
Any suggestions?
FlaGator from United States 8 years ago  
FL
8 reports 
Danno from United States 4 years ago
Disconnect the radio wiring, then double check your fuses all work (with key turned forward) and check both sides of each fuse. Then try starting your car.
Comment

P0701 and p0300 check engine flashes ets light on too

Chevrolet Cavalier 1995 j body 179642 miles
The vehicle while in gear and hesitation occurs while driving and idle. And check engine light flashes also when the vehicle is in park these problems still occur. But the rpm is still normal. I have replaced the entire spark system. The ets light is on next to flashing check engine light.
Marcus from United States 8 years ago  
MA
1 report 

Car will not start

Chevrolet Cavalier 2004 2.2 ecotech 190000 miles
Last Monday I got in my car started it and drive 1.5 miles home. It was very loud pulled in my parking lot parked, and turned key off. Waited bout an hour went out and checked my oil and to my surprise there wasn't any registering. I added 2qts and started it waited 10 minutes for car to warm up and noise starting away. Put it reverse backed 15ft changed to drive and it died. No restart. I have thus far have replaced the:
Ckp sensor
Starter
Fuel filter
Spark plugs
Fuel regulator
Coil above spark plugs. I'm getting spark and if leave foot on pedal a minute I smell gas. I've checked the pressure and it is right. It also turns over. I am stumped
Cobaltlover from United States 8 years ago  
CO
12 reports 

Data link connector

Chevrolet Cavalier 1998 2.2L OHV 117000 miles
It doesn't work, so I can't plug the scanner in to get the trouble codes. What could be the problem?
Soñny from United States 8 years ago  
SO
3 replies 
Mook from United States 7 years ago
Check the cigarette lighter fuse it could be blown. The data link power is connected to the circuit.
Sotie from United States 3 years ago
Ok i'll check the cigarette lighter fuse later...thanks...
Inkman66 from Canada a year ago
Key needs to be in the on position as well to read codes. If still no power, check fuses both under hood and in vehicle
Comment

Oil light was on (added oil) now car won't turn Over

Chevrolet Cavalier 1999 Sedan 32000 miles
The car will not turn over after it had check oil light on. Makes a single click when trying to start
James from United States 8 years ago  
JA
4 reports 

Shifter will not go into reverse

Chevrolet Cavalier 2002 2.0 standard stadard 5speed 124000 miles
It runs through all gears fine but will not go into reverse.
chris from United States 8 years ago  
CH
4 reports 
chuck from United States 5 years ago
I have the same issue. All the gears work just fine, but reverse doesn't work. It will not even go into gear, when tried it acts as thought the gear doesn't exist, like blocked from the inside
Comment

Power steering

Chevrolet Cavalier 1998 Chevy cavalier automatic 2.2  2000000 miles
I'm having problems turning the wheel. One time it turns easy then the next its hard again.
Tiff from United States 8 years ago  
TI
4 reports 
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