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97Cavalier:Head Gasket?Tranny?Engine?
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djgrubb06
New User
Mar 18, 2012, 9:08 AM
Post #1 of 6
(2042 views)
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97Cavalier:Head Gasket?Tranny?Engine?
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Hi Everyone, I've got a major problem on my hands and no idea where to start. First off,
97 Chevy Cavalier
2.4 Engine
148,xxx miles
I bought this used a little over a month ago. My Check Engine Light and ETS Off lights have been on. Auto Zone told me it was due to "Torque Converter," and "Random Cylander Misfire," but I've not once had any problems with the car. It's been running great.
I took it out of town for the first time yesterday, 220 miles out of town. It did great on the highway, no problems. I get into Chicago with bumper to bumper traffic, so obviously moving at a snails pace, I see white smoke or steam coming from under the hood and my temp gauge shot up. Pulled off, lifted hood, Antifreeze/coolant seemed to be full enough but possible leak? I noticed my air intake hose looked as it needed to be replaced. Let the car cool down and parked. Thought my only problem was the air intake and the bumpter to bumper traffic caused the issue.
I get back into my car 5 hours later and everything seemed to be working properly again. 130 miles down the road (on the highway) I hit my Cruise Control resume and it started smoking again,more this time, came to a loud screeching halt, and basically died. Let the engine cool off again, this time seemed more coolant had leaked out, tried starting. It started up but sounded absolutely horrible, and when I placed into any gear sounded wretched!!! I was to afraid to even drive it into the nearest driveway so ended up pushing it. Right before this happened my coolant light came on but temperture gauge was normal and stead.
Please anyone help me. My car is now 2 hours away from home and I have no idea what's wrong with it, if it's worth towing and fixing or just cut my losses and get a new car. Was thinking could be blown head gasket or possibly blew the tranny? Never experianced these problems before.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 18, 2012, 11:04 AM
Post #2 of 6
(2002 views)
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Re: 97Cavalier:Head Gasket?Tranny?Engine?
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I know it's been unusually warm in Chicago but not that warm and don't blame overheating on traffic as if all was normal it would have tolerated that.
So now is to figure out what the original cause was if not a head gasket itself first. If fan(s) didn't come on or some other issue it still overheated which is about like throwing a hand grenade under the hood. It driven hot enough the trans gets too hot too. Stinks but neither are happy overheating.
If that far away from you home base now you may need some local help or an expensive tow back to familiar ground to you to really diagnose it and decide on how bad it is and what you really want to do from there,
T
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 18, 2012, 2:52 PM
Post #3 of 6
(1936 views)
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Re: 97Cavalier:Head Gasket?Tranny?Engine?
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Your question doesn't make a whole lot of sense nor do your statements sound very accurate.
Your computer is telling you that the engine is misfiring but you say it runs great. How loud is the radio?
You saw white smoke and steam coming from the engine but the coolant level wasn't low. What do you think that steam consisted of? Did it find it's way back into the engine?
It sounds like you have ignored all the warnings and now have a wasted engine. They don't like to be overheated.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 18, 2012, 9:24 PM
Post #5 of 6
(1908 views)
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Re: 97Cavalier:Head Gasket?Tranny?Engine?
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It's nice of places/parts outlets like Autozone to do free code checks but they do that IMO to sell parts more than be nice folks and they are not all very mechanically inclined as their job is parts - not repair.
By the time you notice steam it's past a simple slight rise in engine temp is furiously boiling. Simply appearing to have enough coolant by looking at recovery tank or if this model has a radiator cap isn't proof after that - that the engine itself isn't now full of air or perhaps exhaust gasses displacing coolant if/when it overheated the head gasket let go.
The original reason could have been several things as I said perhaps the fan didn't kick on after highway driving then suddenly slow traffic engine is hot and needs the fan to kick in. In full Winter when cold it might not be needed at all depending on conditions.
Many are not needed when moving along even in full Summer heat and most will stay on if A/C is used.
I'm a New England lifer and know the temp extremes which are similar to Chicago and let's call it the I-90 corridor.
Just like the first cold snap or the first heat wave the weak links come out like crazy. Breakdown lanes are loaded. Nothing new with that.
No matter with that but noticed for a lifetime of this crap. The air temp reported isn't necessarily the real temp over the road in traffic for sure but we weren't talking about 120F outside where most vehicles would struggle.
When hot enough by gauge or worse seeing steam trans fluid isn't thrilled either. All bets are off on the impact. Did it really hurt it or not is unknown.
Hey - we all take a chance, mechanics or not out there with motor vehicles.
I'm from West of Boston with infinitely more weather extremes than on the coast itself. Last year it did do an actual air temp of 107F here while Boston itself barely broke 90F.
Doesn't matter but some damage is near certain for you car but by symptoms now probably some serious stuff and might be more costly than the car is worth. Can't say. If still away if this was my own problem in your case I'd spend the dime (huh) to get it assessed as to how bad things really are.
Vehicles are expensive and it sure stinks to break down no matter how you slice it,
Tom
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