So here's my story.
I bought a 2000 cavalier 3spd auto back in '05 and was fairly happy with it until discovering how crappy the auto transmission was, and started having odd emissions issues and vacuum leaks at only 81k miles
I sold it and bought a '99 civic EX coupe for next to nothing. Tried putting an integra engine in it, but got scammed on an engine twice, and after hearing about hondas getting stolen so often ( including what looked like an attempted break in on mine ), I've decided to forego the swap... So here I am with a boring, slow, reliable economy car that I'm over with.
I've test driven an ecotec-powered cavalier and they are thrilling compared to my old 2000. I am thinking about getting one but I'm worried about reliability, as I've heard of random engine shutdown, ecu, transmission, and other types of issues.
I've got a couple questions.
Are these ecotec-powered cars less reliable than the old 2200 SFI models?
Are there certain years I should stay away from?
Is it even worth it to get a cobalt? I hear they're 100 pounds heavier.
Thanks..
Sadly, no more..
The only problem i have with my 03' cavy is P0440 and sometimes P0442 emission codes. I got almost 55K miles on it and it runs strong. I like it alot better than my old 96' 2.2 cavy.
Go with an 04. They changed a few tiny things. I love mine. I have owned a 90 with 2.2 and 3 sp auto. lasted to 166k. Then 96 2.4 with 4t40E that got rear ended by an 87 year old man that had no business on the road any more. Now I have my 04 ecotec with 5 sp. See the sig... it is still reliable.
Darryn
2004 Cavalier coupe, 5 speed, White
GO
Hahn Stage 2, Eagle rods, Wiseco 8.9, SS Valves, Dual valve springs, valve job, Ti seats and retainers
spec stage 3, Fidanza 7.5lb flywheel, Short Shifter
Slotted and dimpled rotors, EBC green stuff
SHOW
VIS EVO CF hood, KOBE KAM 5 17", Nexxen N3000, Ebay Black tails and filler, 5% tint
Gold line springs, Tokiko D-spec struts
ELECTRONICS
Kenwood in-dash DVD and Navigation, single Kicker CompVR
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2974835
My 02 Z24 is getting an 03 eco and tranny.
OT: can i have your exhaust tip?? where did you get that!?
Ecos are Very reliable, get an 03+ and your golden. The old 2200 dont even speak about it lol. ECO is what you need.
ecotec best cav motor ever
the ecotec is a far better engine, but a 2200 with a 5 speed is a fun and affordable car too, the automatic just sucks away too much HP.
I was going to get an ECO for my car, but for power more than reliability (not that the eco isnt reliable, I just would swap out a 2200 for the ECO if reliability were my only concern).
I have an '02 2200 with a few mods which are all in my registry. Its quick, but its no ECO. By any kind of standard I should have broken SOMETHING by now, i beat the hell out of it daily, its got 2 sticky lifters and exhaust issues (no time to fix these problems lately) -- but every time I start it it only takes 1/2 a crank, and its really fun to drive. Im only at ~90k Miles and its still going -- stock clutch even (not that this is motor related)
I was going to get an '03 motor, the only thing keeping me from it is that tuning and a cam on this motor sound like more fun and the payoff with a turbo strapped to it might be more worth the work than a swap. Plus im already knee deep in mods. (underdog FTW)
Good luck if you decide to get one.
83k miles and holding strong on my 02' 2200, but it's only a snowy / lazy day driver. So far the only thing to have died is the battery 2 years ago. That said, it's an automatic and most of my miles are stop and go in the city...my left leg thanks me for it.
With the mild upgrades it has to the engine (no cam or turbo yet gimme warm weather
) from 0-60/70 it's faster than my brother's stock 04' auto eco by almost 1 car length. Nothing to be happy about, still slow as balls for the money I have into it.
Matt Linke wrote:underdog FTW
qft.
If you want something fast that's also cheap, don't buy a car
i love my 2001 cavi 2.2 non echo 5 speed smock the @!#$ out off the echo techs
my 97' 2.2 has 125,000 miles and has had the @!#$ beat out of it, I drove that car like I stole it and is still running strong, it's a little underpowered, but still very quick, I love my car!!
well, 161,000km on my 2003 Auto and it's running fine. Only probems so far were the brakes, power steering, and had to replace a fuel pump.
Yeah i would tend to agree Like David i too was a little leary about the reliability when i first got my 04, but there are times i have been somewhat hard on mine as well and it seems to be holding up pretty well so far. Though i sometimes wonder how good is the 4t40E tranny has it been around forever or did they only put it in the 03,04,05 J's. I remember reading a post somewhere else on here i think where someone mentioned the 4t45E which i think that may be a manual or something.
Personally, I would do the GSR swap, boost it and call it a day. Not that I am a civic fan but it would go like hell. I do find it weird that you would have a problem with the 3 speed auto though. If it was the TH-125C they are a really good tranny, very tough and dependable and have backed engine in the Citation, all 3 speed A-bodies, and the v-6 and 4 cyl cavis as well as many other FWd Gm cars.
Personally, I would do the GSR swap, boost it and call it a day. Not that I am a civic fan but it would go like hell. I do find it weird that you would have a problem with the 3 speed auto though. If it was the TH-125C they are a really good tranny, very tough and dependable and have backed engine in the Citation, all 3 speed A-bodies, and the v-6 and 4 cyl cavis as well as many other FWd Gm cars.
hehe.. i found the exhaust tip at a local shop.. had a dynaflow on that thing.. sounded f'in wicked. I don't know where you'd get one of those .. but it was at one of those classic car type places.. and it fit the bumper perfect..
car's already sold btw.. long ago.
Sadly, no more..
I would do the GSR swap but again.. already started feeling the shadyness of the honda scene and it gets to me.
Besides, the B18 motor is pretty old technology. My Civic is also sort of a rat-mobile... has a good amount of rattles
and body damage here and there.. i want something nicer.
Besides, the GSR makes 128 ft/lbs of torque at 6200rpm. No power down low whatsoever. not impressive. Turbo B18B
is the only way to go, in my opinion. Even the oldschool 2200 SFI makes 135 ft/lbs at what.. 3500rpm?
Sure, a high revving motor is fun, but only when you are beating the piss out of it.. driving around in the city is kinda irritating.
Does anyone know if a cavalier's interior bits can be swapped with something more upscale that was based on the J Body?
( wasn't there an oldsmobile or cadillac based on it at one point? ) The interior of the cavalier is not bad, but the dashboard
and center console look pretty mundane.
as for the transmission, at ~86000 miles, mine was starting to kick.. not cool.. also 3 speed autos are horrible. Your car
is never really sure what gear it wants to be in.. ha ha. But i've sworn off automatics now so it doesn't matter. I hear that the manual
transmissions on cavaliers are really good.
And dudes, i don't want to hear about how 1337 your pre-ecotec cars are :p
Going from what you guys have said ( all three of you ) about your ecos, i am still kind of leery.. -_-
How many miles you guys got on your ecos?
Sadly, no more..
mines gunna have 48K on it when i am done. mind you the aftermarket for the eco is very nice. and you don't have to worry about some punk stealing your car for parts becuase he just blew his tranny. lets face it. half the tuner hondas on the road have stolen parts. Becuase the break. Simple fact is hondas break when modding so do every other car on the planet it's something that happens. at least with the cavy you have less likley hood of gettig stolen ample parts good after market and it's still considered an under dog. buy an eco cavy with a 5spd put in a tg lsd and hahn stage 2 turbo kit with port fueler rods and pistons and a 3 inch exhaust and kiss those hondas good by. hell my four door z use to eat up slightly modified hondas stock.
I have an 03 with 10psi and I stomp the !@#$ out of hondas and V-8s on the street before I gave up street racing, and I still beat hondas on the track and some modded V-8s, dont get me wrong there are hondas and V-8 with money that beat my a%$ but a boosted Ecotec is a great suprise to V-8 drivers when u beat them.
man i need to get some sleep i just realized this is the turd gen forum.....brainfart ownage
ha yes, i am certain they are fast.. i remember driving a 4 speed automatic '05 and it romped. I realized it was a big mistake to get the 2200 SFI cavalier right there and then -_-
also i don't like the trunk on the eco cavalier.. wtf with the light bar? can you replace the trunk with a non-eco one?
Sadly, no more..
yes. or you can get an 02 ls sport with the eco. but an 03-05 base is quicker.
From what I have seen of the ecos they aren't bad... The V-6 is still the way to go, why GM stopped the V6 cavs after the 2nd gen cars is beyond me... I personally like driving my 90 Z-24 better then the '02, even though the 90 is beat, its a much nicer car. As for the B18B... Try the Rotary engines... No power at the bottom but man are RX-7s fun to drive, the sound and feel of the Rotary is just unbelievable...
