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Chevrolet Cavalier: Head Gasket Issues

76 messages,  Last post on Aug 14, 2012 at 5:19 PM

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What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Cavalier, Engine, Sedan

Messages Page 6 of 8

#47 of 76 94 2.2 spits and sputters by blu_cavalier

Mar 12, 2008 (6:55 pm)

My girlfriend owns a 94 cavalier with 114000 on it. About 3 months ago it started to spit and lose power. After about 10 mins this would go away. Then a few days later it happened again. Then 2 months ago she just died and wouldn't start at all. Then 3 days ago I tried to start it and it just fired right off. Ran fine til this morning when it just wouldnt start. This afternoon it started right up. Can someone please help?

#48 of 76 Coolant Problems on my 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier by spcharles14

May 29, 2008 (7:53 am)

I am having Coolant Problems on my 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier. I keep filling it with water and it leaks right out. I have to refil the tank everytime I drive or my engine will overheat. If anyone on here may know what the problem is...please help!! Thank You in advance.

#49 of 76 Re: Coolant Problems on my 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier [spcharles14] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

May 30, 2008 (8:28 am)

Replying to: spcharles14 (May 29, 2008 7:53 am)
You mean it spurts out through the overflow tank, or it just "disappears" and you can't see where, or it leaks and you can see it leaking, or ?????

#50 of 76 Re: Is the head gasket blown? [jh12] by jpf

Jun 10, 2008 (2:55 pm)

Replying to: jh12 (Jan 16, 2008 2:56 pm)
The 2004 cavaliers came with the 2.2 Ecotec engine. This engine should not be confused with the old-tech 2.2 overhead valve engine that was the base engine in Cavaliers until 2002(?). The old-tech 2.2 had a cast iron block and aluminum cylinder head that was prone to blowing head gaskets. I do not believe the newer 2.2 has this problem. Good luck.

#51 of 76 overheated; possible head gasket problem by bella14

Jul 20, 2008 (5:31 pm)

I am the original owner of a 98 cavalier. It was problem free for many years, but in the last 2 years it has had issues. The latest is overheating. I hadn't gone 3 miles from home when a light came on the dash showing low coolant, then within 3-4 minutes the needle on the temp gauge went over to H when it normally is right in the middle between C and H. So, I pulled over and turned the car off. After it cooled off I looked in the water resevoir and it was empty, so I added some water and was able to drive it to a mechanic without the light coming on again or the needle going to H. After a day with the car, the guy tells me nothing is wrong with it. Charged me $85 for that information. I drove it home and the next day all that water I added and I guess antifreeze was now on the ground in my garage. I added more antifreeze/water and took it out and the dash light came back on.
 
Long story short, I had another mechanic look it over and he pressure tested the system and told me the water pump was leaking, a sensor that makes the fan come on was bad and the sensor wasn't switching the fan on, and I might have a blown head gasket. He replaced the water pump, he replaced the thermostat, replaced the sensor, he flushed the system and added some sealer - I think he called it Red Devil -- and said it was a temporary fix for a head gasket problem. He drove it around and said he thought it was ok for awhile.
 
I am a nervous wreck now to drive it. I figure I'll have to get that gasket replaced eventually, but how long do you think I have? I'll need to save money in order to get it done, otherwise I would have had him do it today. Is it possible that the water pump could have been the big problem or is it definitely a head gasket problem when the coolant leaks and the car temp gauge goes to H?

#52 of 76 Re: overheated; possible head gasket problem [bella14] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jul 22, 2008 (11:34 am)

Replying to: bella14 (Jul 20, 2008 5:31 pm)
I'm not sure why a mechanic would THINK you "might" have blown a head gasket. There are sure-fire ways to test for this.
 
In any event, perhaps the repairs done will fix the problem. If the head gasket is in fact leaking, you won't get far with the car.
 
In the future, the proper tests for a head gasket leak are:
 
1. pressurize the system, remove spark plugs and inspect
 
2. inspect the oil for water intrusion
 
3. test the radiator coolant for combustion gases with the proper tester
 
4. compression test that shows two low adjacent cylinders
 
5. white smoke out of exhaust pipe
 
6. rapid overheating

#53 of 76 Re: overheated; possible head gasket problem [Mr_Shiftright] by bella14

Jul 24, 2008 (1:22 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Jul 22, 2008 11:34 am)
Thank you for your reply. I have been driving it almost a week now and it isn't leaking fluid on my garage floor anymore -- but once I've been driving it around town a bit the needle on the temp gauge is starting to go over toward the H when all these years it always sat right in the middle between C and H. It doesn't get into the red H zone, but it is definitely no longer in the middle between C and H. Should this worry me? What does the fact that the temp is running hotter mean?

#54 of 76 Re: overheated; possible head gasket problem [bella14] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jul 24, 2008 (5:41 pm)

Replying to: bella14 (Jul 24, 2008 1:22 pm)
Head gasket failure wouldn't be a gradual overheat.
 
The general rule, to which there are exceptions, is that if you have a low speed overheat, that is, when the car is barely moving, you have an AIR circulation problem, (non-working fan for instance) and if you have a high speed overheat, that is when the car is moving fairly rapidly, you have a coolant circulation problem. (clogged radiator, stuck thermostat).

#55 of 76 Re: overheated; possible head gasket problem [Mr_Shiftright] by bella14

Jul 25, 2008 (3:14 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Jul 24, 2008 5:41 pm)
Thanks for the info. I know nothing about engines, but I am learning something here.
 
I brought it to the mechanic last night for him to look at the fan -- (to show me where it was actually) He is a friend's brother in law, so I do believe that he is honest. After the engine cooled down I checked and the coolant is staying in the resevoir -- no more big leakage in my garage yet the temp gauge climbs past halfway while driving in stop and go traffic under 50 miles an hour. I was very nervous seeing it climb past the halfway point since it never used to do that.
 
He checked it and showed me the fan was going while the A/C was on. Then he turned the A/C off and we waited and waited to see when or if the fan would kick back on by itself. It did eventually. So it seems not to be a fan problem. He said the temp outside has something to do with how hot an engine gets, and living in Florida it gets hot here. It is usually in the 90's everyday, most of the day and sunny. Driving it at night the temp gauge still goes past the mid point, but not by much. During the day it goes over 3/4 of the way and it seems dangerously close to the white line marking the space before the dreaded red zone of H.
 
Why is it running so much hotter? He said it was safe to drive it at 3/4 of the way over, but it scares me. He said to pull over and shut it off if it gets into the red H zone, of course. I spend all the time behind the wheel now staring at the gauge and praying for it not to move more. Why has it changed? (He replaced the water pump, the thermostat, some sensor, and put in that Red Devil sealant in case the gasket was going.) He didn't really have an answer that was definitive for me as to why it is running hotter. I thought maybe someone here with more experience would know. Is it safe to drive at 3/4 of the way over toward HOT? How can I get it back to the safer middle area?
 
Thanks.

#56 of 76 Re: overheated; possible head gasket problem [bella14] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jul 25, 2008 (5:52 pm)

Replying to: bella14 (Jul 25, 2008 3:14 pm)
Sure 3/4 is fine. Engines are happier when they run hot in fact.
 
It might be a good idea to see if you can get the fan to kick in SOONER, that is, at a lower temperature. Changing the type of sensor could help with this.
 
Overheating problems can be a devil to diagnose---very challenging for any mechanic.

Messages Page 6 of 8

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