12 problems related to engine cooling system have been reported for the 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Excessive coolant leakage from under car. Car heats up, causing to pullover constantly to get the car to cool down. Seems to be a head gasket problem.
Car suddenly leaked coolant, engine temp was reading hot on dash. Thought problem was related to a stuck thermostat, replaced thermostat and coolant. Belt starts slipping a couple weeks later, and engine light comes on. In the process of replacing radiator, water pump, and belt.
8/28/98 recall airbags--7/20/01 water pump replaced--9/5/01 stabilizer link replaced--horn works sometimes.
Cylinder head gasket blew while driving. Dealer said this was covered under a recall, but water pump failed because of gasket, but wouldn't cover the pump.
Feb 2000 I replaced a faulty water pump continued to have slow coolant leak. . . May 2000 head gasket was found to be bad. No recall and extended warranty was . . . . . Not purchased buy the extended warranty is what I recommend.
Contacted dealership on recall #c00010, dealer agreed to pay part of repairs and not all. Would not pay for dealership charges on pressure testing cooling system even though dealership required it. . . .
I first noticed the coolant light on at low speeds and when I turned corners. The light never stayed on for more than a few seconds, then I took the vehicle into the dealer to get some recall work completed and they told me that a gasket connecting to my water pump has a slow leak. My brother has a 1997 Cavalier z24 and has the same exact problem. I hope you can get something done so others dont have the same problem. Thank you.
The water keeps leaking from the weep hole and there was no fault of mine or preventive maintenance that I could of done. Due to the location of the water pump (under the exhaust manifold) the repair is very expensive (approximately $800. 00).
Vehicle bought w/bad water pump which was leaking badly. Brakes in rear were making metal to metal noise & were slushy. When vehicle was driven any great distance & then stoppped, it would overheat & then stall out. Hard to restart. Odometer numbers not even & out of sync. Water hose is leaking.
Coolant loss, low coolant light, coolant leak odor. Dealership mechanic verifed that it is leaking and damaging the head gasket. He also told me that the 95 Cavalier have this problem on recall. My car was manufactured 11/95, has the same head gasket as the 95, but Chevrolet will not pay to fix it.
After listening to a squeek noise from trunk area proceed to a clunking noise, I took vehicle in for service. Was advised by dealer that rear strut and it's mount had failed requiring both to be replaced at a cost of over $800. I feel the failure of this assembly to be a manufacturers defect. Muffler failed prematurely. Water pump failed prematurley. Starting to think 1996 Cavalier was not engineered very well.
Vehicle is overheating. While driving to keep vehicle from overheating has to turn fan on for air conditioning. Dealer contacted.