1443 messages,
Last post on Mar 01, 2013 at 9:56 PM
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Chevrolet (Geo) Prizm Forum.
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Chevrolet Prizm, Geo Prizm, Sedan
#1043 of 1443 1997 geo prizm climate control
by coleyna
Jul 09, 2006 (11:04 am)
ok i am reposting this ....because i probably did it wrong the first time.
I have a 1997 geo prizm question....the knobs for the climate control broke off.so a friend brought me some misc knobs to put on there.they kept falling off.so another friend thought it would be a good idea to super glue them on.not a good idea.the knobs were froze.upon turning them they busted off with the male part stuck into the knob.the fan is stuck on med-low. will i have to buy a whole other climate control or can this be fixed? thank you
Colette
Jul 11, 2006 (12:16 pm)
I recently replaced my 1993 Prizm with 160k miles with a 2001 Prizm with 60k miles, which I bought for $6000. It's the base model, though it does have the 4-speed automatic. I'm wondering if anyone else finds the last generation Prizm to be noisier, particularly clunks from bumps in the road. The new car is a perfect replacement for the old Prizm--a commuting appliance, boring but dirt cheap to own--except for the noise.
I checked the spare in the trunk, and made sure it was tightly secured, as well as the jack, but whenever I go over a moderate-sized bump in the road, it seems noisier than the old car. I'm pretty sure it's coming from the back end of the car.
In looking in the trunk, I noticed that there seems to be very little sound barrier between the trunk and the passenger compartment. I was wondering if it would make sense to bolster the barrier between trunk and passenger compartment with some kind of sound-deadening material. The first thing that came to mind was my wife's old yoga mat.
Any ideas?
#1045 of 1443 Re: 2001: noisier than 1993? [dougleeknowles]
by mt700a1
Jul 14, 2006 (11:28 am)
The noise you described sounds like a bad strut (suspension component). If it makes a loud clunk only when going over a pothole or sharp speed bumps, you should suspect the struts.
#1046 of 1443 Re: 2001: noisier than 1993? [mt700a1]
by dougleeknowles
Jul 14, 2006 (12:32 pm)
Thanks for the suggestion. Is there a way I could visually check for a strut problem without having the car on a lift?
#1047 of 1443 Re: 2001: noisier than 1993? [dougleeknowles]
by mt700a1
Jul 17, 2006 (8:19 am)
I don't know of a way to test this for sure...
Put the car on a jack, and try to push up the suspected wheel. Some say if you can lift the wheel up by hand, the suspension mount is worn. Can someone verify this?
What you can do easily is to make sure that it is not the jack or spare tire in the trunk that is making the clunking sound over bumps.
You could go for a test drive with a mechanic and see what he says. If a full replacement of strut assembly is recommended, you can call around and see if anyone will replace only the worn part.
Good luck.
#1048 of 1443 Re: 1997 geo prizm climate control [coleyna]
by jetmonkey84
Jul 17, 2006 (12:15 pm)
No u don't have to r/r climate control, use industrial strength adhesive remover to unstick climate control linkage, clean surface, then re-attach, with stronger adhesive, such as appriate type of Epoxy.Find Epoxy at Auto part store., If ur initial attempt fails to remove adhesive, because the glue has leaked into climate control linkage lever slot, remove dashboard and center console, to axcess climate control mechanism, take it apart, use adhesive remover on stuck or sticky parts, then wash off any adhesive remover with water, then dry, then reassemble ur unit minus the knob then put dashboard and center console back together...good luck....
#1049 of 1443 Re: 1997 geo prizm climate control [jetmonkey84]
by coleyna
Jul 18, 2006 (3:37 pm)
Thank You for your reply(answer).Sounds like I'm gonna need alot of luck.
#1050 of 1443 ABS light for non-ABS cars
by cf_p
Jul 19, 2006 (11:33 am)
In a Prizm (2000) with no ABS, does the ABS gauge light serve any function, and should it light up when the ignition key is turned (or ever)? IOW, does this light test anything at all about the condition of ordinary brakes?
Thanks!
#1051 of 1443 Re: help for weird starting problem [sofrustrated]
by scarygirl
Jul 22, 2006 (10:07 pm)
One word: ignition. The whole thing is likely to go out at any second. That's what mine did. Just last week. I had the exact same problem as your daughter. Until recently, I thought it was me! I HIGHLY suggest that she get rid of this car now while she's ahead!
Within the last year and a half I've spent $3600 due to one break down after the other. That doesn't include all the other repairs that it needs that I can't afford. At about 120,000 miles, this car turns to mush. So what it has a toyota engine, it just isn't worth it. If you fix this I guarantee you have a host of other problems just around the corner. If you have't already. This car is a sinking ship.
While I'm all for paid off cars, this is riduculous. I so wish I had traded it six months ago.
#1052 of 1443 Geo Prizm Leather Seats
by usa2
Jul 26, 2006 (7:49 pm)
I have a 1996 Geo Prizm LSI with tan leather "faced" seats. It just turned 104K miles.. great car without any mechanical issues.
I have had this commuter car ever since 11,000 miles but now need to repair or replace the side bolster of the driver side leather seat because of wear (and a tear).
Does any one know a site that I can find a replacement leather (not cloth/cover) seat or a shop that repairs/re-upholsters leather seats?
Thank you very much. Good forum...
Joe