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Have a 1995 Cavalier , with the 2.0i ecotec engine . My first enqiery is what are the engines like on the reliability stake , and also im a bit concirned over the temp gauge what sort of running temp should they be at when in traffic or even when on a good run ? Hope you guys can help ? please.......?
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Very reliable engine, IMHO - just make sure the cam belt and tensioner is changed every 40,000 miles or 4 yrs (whichever comes sooner)
IIRC, the temp gauge should sit at around the 85 to 90 deg C mark.
Check HJ's car by car breakdown for more info on what else to watch out for.
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Thanks very much for the advice , I was a little frightened today as it was very warm weather , about 28 degrees here in cardiff , and the temp. gauge nearly went upto 100 , maybe 96 I think , then the temp went back down .
Just as ive bought the car , some websites are stating that the 2.0i ecotec engine is a bad buy ! ! ! !
God please say its not bad.........is it ?
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Providing the rad fan kicked in once the gauge went above 90 deg and then in turn brought the temp back down, then all ok.
some websites are stating that the 2.0i ecotec engine is a bad buy
More than likely because of the cambelt tensioner failure. Originally Vaux recommended an 80,000 mile belt change, but the tensioner would not go the distance, which is why they lowered the service interval down to 40,000 and also advised changing the tensioner as well.
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The cavalier I have has 120,000 miles , I presume that the cambelt tensioner that your refering to has been changed then by now ?
Whats the recomended time to get the belt changed ?
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The cavalier I have has 120,000 miles , I presume that the cambelt tensioner that your refering to has been changed then by now ?
One would hope so. Is there no history with the car?
Whats the recomended time to get the belt changed ?
I've mentioned it twice already in this thread. 40,000 miles, or every 4 years - whichever comes sooner. That also applies to the tensioner as well. Vaux will probably try and sell you a cambelt kit instead of just the belt these days as they're fully aware of the tensioner problems. Some cars were recalled because of it.
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Dave , thanks so much for the advice(info). Looks like its time to get cambelt changed just for peice of mind . The car came with no history at all. Saying that though the car is very clean and tidy and has no problems at the moment , touch wood !
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The Office bought one of these as a hack. I have become an expert on its cooling ! The temp guage raises to the third quadrent on warm-up then should drop to just above the second quadrent, it then hovers there until it gets into traffic and then climbs with alarming rate up towards the top quadrent but invariably drops back when the fan kicks in. Developed a third eye to watch it but its never gone wrong even in the hottest weather.
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I think thats what mine does , on a run the gauge shows around half if i remember correctly , but in traffic it goes to around the 96 degree mark , but soon drops back to normal again . It frightens the life out of me I can tell you ! ! ! ! So from what your saying , mine behaves ok ?
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Ours is a 1.8, but they should be the same. Keep an eye ont he coolant levels, ours has leaked since we had it despite a new Rad, hose and thermostat and a seal. Some weeks it doesn't use any and then drops its collant onto the ground. On Thursday it did a 60 mile round trip on duals and into two towns and it didn't lose a drip - Head gasket is ok, I think. No Mayo or oiul in the water (if it stays there long enough) - This car does over
500 miles a week, it was , is and always will be a banger - but it has earnt its keep, loads of dents and sctratches and not a rust spot anywhere.
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Pugugly, your coolant level problem is almost certainly the filler bottle (header tank). My 1.8 has used 2 in its life. A factory defect,the plastic expands and contracts on the seam, cost me £1 to fix from a breakers yard.A most annoying fault as not visable.
John
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