i think it depends on how you care for your car.
bought my 2002 LS Sport and was the 2nd owner (technically, one owner in between for 3 months)

bought it with 124,000 miles on it.

previous owner (young chic that couldnt drive and "tried" to race it)
cracked rotors...had to replace them
new hub bearings because of ^

5 months later had a "knock" but it wasnst, GM said it had happend to lots of early ecos... needed new tensioner, chain and rail.
so once those had been fixed its great!

Just curious but what rail are you talking about that needed to be replaced? My 03 has what sounds to be almost a lifter tick noise and it drives me crazy. Has 46k on the engine. My dad's 05 doesn't make the same noises I described but he only has 30k on his.

21000 miles light my head light switch broke thats all

ck03bluefire wrote:Just curious but what rail are you talking about that needed to be replaced? My 03 has what sounds to be almost a lifter tick noise and it drives me crazy. Has 46k on the engine. My dad's 05 doesn't make the same noises I described but he only has 30k on his.

umm...ill check on the rail and post later...ill go look at my work receipts for it.
but if it helps, i would hear a knocking sound that started around 2500 rpms and obviously was when i was accelerating...

126,538 on my 04 Ls sedan, still running like a champ.

230,126km on my 03 cavalier Z24 (ecotec) still runs good

21x xxx km on my chassis, and about 11x xxx km on my ecotec (swapped in)


had a blown ecotec swapped 2000 cavy, now just an 02 Grand Am, and a 74 BMW 2002...

almost at 64,000 miles on my 03 auto. only had to replace rotors once due to a lot of hard braking(i was young too). all other stuff was just oil and filter changes and new tires and new battery.

http://youtu.be/RXppsUVhJJE
my car ^

86,000acording to the junk yard i think actualy 110,000 on the new eco/tranny 122,000 om the car over all. still drivin it like i stole it. needs new tires i have camber issues.

113k on my Eco.

Get's beaten on. As a result, it's burning about a quart every 3k miles.

I think it's my valve seals since it sees high RPM's on twisties a lot and compression is still pretty good.

I have 162,254 miles on my 02 eco cav.
And I still drive it HARD... but I meticulously keep up maintenance.I just replaced ball joints,tie rod ends,prothane control arm bushings,thermostat,radiator fan motor,new antifreeze,and oil change with castrol gtx high mileage 10w30.
All of this was done within a month.



13.520 @ 98mph! 220whp 234tq

128,180 on my 04 Ls sedan, still running great though recently started using oil. Can't figure out why though until now i have never been down at all between changes, after reading 02cavcruzins post, nice to know i'm not the only one using 10-30 high mileage oil. it was recently recommended i start using it, though i have to admit i was leary about using 10-30 the cars my daily driver so i keep up on the maintenance religiously.

Just hit 113k last weekend

i have a 2004 sunfire ecotec with 148000km and no hitch yet

2004 with 100xxx. Two transmissions later

whiskerbiscuit wrote:2004 with 100xxx. Two transmissions later

Cuz of your burnouts i assume.




http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2898349

03 5 speed with 133xxx miles replaced driverside wheel bearing and passenger side cv shaft.still getting 34 mpg and burning a little bit of oil.

My wife's 2003 Sunfire has 112,000 on it now, and the engine is so smooth you barely feel any vibration when in nuetral.
The only things fixed is the brakes all around and a leaky oil tower gasket.


My wife's 2003 Ecotec 2.2 liter Sunfire:
* 2 1/4 inch turbo muffler
* 2 1/4 piping to a 2 1/2 inch resonator
* 2 1/4 inch catalytic converter
* 2 1/2 inch down-pipe
* a match ported 4:2:1 RK Sports 'clone' header
* an AEM true cold air intake NOPI edition
* 8 gauge ground wire kit
* Toyz front strut brace
* Vibrant rear strut brace
* and Russell stainless steel brake lines all around.

131,500 on my 04 Ls sedan, still rockin right along engine and trans in these cars seem almost bulletproof.

Hey all! I have a '03 Cavalier with 234,000+ km on it. Starting to have idle problems...problem only when idling, does not seem to miss at all or lack power when pressing on the accelerator. My bf replaced spark plugs, coil pack and module, still same problem. Changed Idle air control valve, no changes. Checked fuel pressure, 60 psi steady no fluctuation. Removed injectors, verified orings and injectors didnt seem to be clogged or really dirty. We're going nuts, wondering what it could be. any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated! .

Almost forgot: Getting P0300 check engine code.

55k on the 03

13.5k on the 04


Didn't drive much this summer......

72,000 on 5 spd 2005 ecotec.
-40k ticking noise: replaced lifters, valves etc.
-68k clutch stuck on floor: replaced master cylinder & clutch actuator

I bought mine from a Honda dealer(*Flinches* Don't shoot me, joking), used with 75,582 miles on it back in August of 2007. At around 89,000 miles, earlier this year, I had a coil begin to fail. Paid $778 dollars at the dealer to replace the coils, ICM, plugs, and plug boots, and that is after a 10% discount my service writer gave me. And this was at a GM dealer I used to be a porter at and with a writer I knew from then. Since then I haven't had an issue and I have just over 94,800 miles and counting.

Oh, and my setup is a 2003 Cavalier LS coupe, 2.2L L61, 4 speed auto.


"United by Individuality"
"If life is a joke, why aren't we laughing?"
"Normality depends on one's perception of reality."
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3820803

Body now has 242,188 miles. Motor has roughly 42k