Sam, need your opinion. Friend of mine is looking to pick up a cheap car while he is on course and we came across this :

1997 cavalier, gold in colour, beige interior.
5 speed tranny
newer clutch, front tires, and muffler
Car runs excellent and still has life left in it, and is coming certified and etested


asking 1500.00 obo
270 KM

Things to look out for? You're the only person I can think of.

there are only two engines available for that year. One was the 2.2L OHV engine, the other was the 2.4L DOHC... the DOHC was a troublesome engine and should really be avoided. 1997 was a transition year between the 2.2L MPFI and the 2.2L SFI. Even though these engines are considered the same OHV architecture, they are different engines. The 2.4L was optional on the LS sedan for that year, but not many were optioned so.

One thing to look for on the 2.2L engine is head gasket failure. The head gasket on the 2.2L fails in two specific locations, right at the drivers' side front corner of the head and on the passenger side rear corner of the head, coincidentally where the locator pins on the block are. Nine times out of ten, the headgasket fails externally which means you won't kill the engine.
Biggest way to avoid this is to allow the car to warm up thoroughly.

Also, the engine sticker calls for 5W-30. This oil is too thin for the timing chain-equipped engines. In all my 2.2L's, and there were a bunch, I ran 10W-30/40 Valvoline Max Life or DuraBlend.

really, that's the biggest and only blah of that car. These are rugged and rock solid cars, especially with the 5 speed transaxle. Most of the parts for the car are super cheap. Fuel pumps are a little pricey, especially since it's best to replace it with a GM/Delco model. For some reason, GM's do not like 3rd party fuel pumps, at least in my experience.

1997 was a good year for the Cavalier. There are very comfortable to drive, the sedan being a little more difficult to get into than the coupe. With my 96 coupe with the MPFI engine and a 3speed automatic, i was turning in mid-30's for mileage. With my 98 Cavalier coupe with the 2.2L SFI engine and 5speed, I was in the high 30's, low 40's on the highway, and that engine had over 150,000 miles on it.
(that car eventually was totaled at 300,000 miles)

My only caution is that YOU DRIVE THE CAR THOROUGHLY BEFORE BUYING IT. Sometimes these older Cavaliers have had modifications to them that were not in the best interests of the car and don't show themselves until the drive home.

What are some of the problems with the 2.4? My friend just bought a sunfire with that engine.

yeah as samurai said, my sunfire left me high and dry with the fuel pump, a jobber one at crappy tire cost me 900$

Posted by Xanadu What are some of the problems with the 2.4? My friend just bought a sunfire with that engine.

the 2.4L DOHC has all manner of weird problems.
Here they are in no particular order:

ignition problems
head gasket issues
12 hours to change a waterpump
timing chain tensioner clip failing or falling out of position after changing the water pump.

they are a very hit or miss engine. Either you got a good, trouble-free one, or you got a bastardly lemon.

my 2001 sunfire gt with the 2.4 killed 3 water pumps in the first year, its now relegated to beater status so its minimum repairs these days. The alternator on the 2.4 is also a bitch to change, its taken out from underneath. Mine runs pretty well considering the abuse it has suffered since i owned it (bought it new) It burns about a half pint of oil between oil changes starts first crack when cold. Changing spark plugs on the 2.4 is silly, the actual operation of changing them is ok but getting the cover with the ignition coils off is what makes it silly, the 2 fuel lines make it tough to get back on while aligning the boots. In my humble opinion go more towards one of the many cars with the buick fireball v6. great gas mileage on the highway and cast iron block, only drawback i find is doing the tuneup because of the phantom cylinders in the firing pattern

You guys are the best.

We contacted the guy and the car has the 2.2L and he says that the fuel pump was changed last year. We are waiting to go see it and try it out within the next few days. Only thing that worries me is that it has 270 000Km, which is a shitload, regardless what the car is.

Posted by Professor Chaos You guys are the best. We contacted the guy and the car has the 2.2L and he says that the fuel pump was changed last year. We are waiting to go see it and try it out within the next few days. Only thing that worries me is that it has 270 000Km, which is a shitload, regardless what the car is.

prof, i had 500 000kms on my 92 sunbird when i sold it , my sunfire has nearly 300 000 (its an 01) my grand prix is a 97 with nearly 300 000 as well, its all in how it was driven

Posted by Professor Chaos You guys are the best. We contacted the guy and the car has the 2.2L and he says that the fuel pump was changed last year. We are waiting to go see it and try it out within the next few days. Only thing that worries me is that it has 270 000Km, which is a shitload, regardless what the car is.

Cavaliers/J-bodies are fearless when it comes to mileage.
I forgot another point to check, this coming from some higher mileage Northeastern owned cars. Make sure to check the subframe where the control arm bolts to the pivot point. I have seen a couple of J-bodies have rot issues there. Basically when it breaks, it allows the wheel to shuck back and forth. As I said, these were very high mileage Northeastern New York and Vermont-owned cars.

Just something to keep in mind.

also, if its anything like the sunfire gt, check behind the ground effects panels for rust. also if the passenger side inner fenderwell is broken have the wiring harness looked into, gm in all thier brilliance put the ECM in the front bumper there and well it gets a good deal of road spray if the fenderwell is missing

Posted by nostra-YOUPPI! also, if its anything like the sunfire gt, check behind the ground effects panels for rust. also if the passenger side inner fenderwell is broken have the wiring harness looked into, gm in all thier brilliance put the ECM in the front bumper there and well it gets a good deal of road spray if the fenderwell is missing

mid-96 the problem was corrected by putting the computer inside what basically amounts to a ziplock bag. (lol)

This is the beast in question, we are going to test drive it over the weekend.

click to view

click to view

looks better than my '01!! just a word of advice, pull the radio because you dont want wiring that has been butchered

Posted by Professor Chaos This is the beast in question, we are going to test drive it over the weekend. click to view click to view

good godfrey! it's the coupe twin to my cursed Cavalier!!!



but this one, this one was my baby.
1998 Cavalier RS clone