Alternator/generator/regulator Problems of Chevrolet Cavalier

The contact owns a 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier. While driving at 35 mph, there was an odor of smoke inside the vehicle. The contact coasted over to the side of the road, lifted the hood, and noticed that the wires from the alternator were on fire. The contact extinguished the fire. The vehicle was towed to the contact¿s residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 169,000.

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Just wanted to clarify my call resulting in odi number 10133041. According to the mechanic, prior to the belt breaking, my car's alternator had a "hard spot". This means that it would seize and let go. My understanding is that the alternator should not seize unless there is a collision which in turn stops the engine. This car has never been in an accident. This random seizing, I believe, is what caused my "undiplomatic", steering and braking problems - with loss of control ranging from 1/2 second to 2 seconds at a time. On the report associated with the alternator repair, I again reported braking problems (not just the documented noise), and the oddball sensation in the steering wheel. Both lines of complaint were attributed to the seizing up of the alternator. To me, this means that my life, and the life of anyone else on the road with me - was and still is still at the mercy of a weird alternator, whose intermittent failures result in loss of power to the steering pump, and the brakes - resulting in complete loss of control of the car until the backup kicks in - which takes from 1/2 second to 2 seconds. I wish to make very clear - I do not blame the dealer for lack of ability to adequately repair what is an inherent design flaw. In addition, in the course of research, I have learned that most all new cars regardless of manufacturer are designed the same way. This is a serious hazard, and needs to be addressed on an industry wide scale. At this stage, steering, acceleration, and braking are all erratic. Sound in the front tires is like a clip-clop. I am not a mechanic, but in reading the descriptions placed here, I must also wonder if the crashes and airbag failed deployments in several posts were also due to a seizing alternator prior to the mva.

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While driving fuel regulator failed and gas went through the motor, and the motor blew up. Vehicle towed to the dealer. Engine and was removed and replaced. In addition, consumer stated that after purchase of vehicle the computer when out.

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Since purchasing my 2002 vehicle I have had to already put a new battery, new alternator, new tires (acceptable) two sets of brakes and the check engine light still is on and no one can find out why so therefore I can't get an inspection of the vehicle until light is off. Help.

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Consumer took the vehicle to dealer for a relay switch. After receiving the vehicle it was making a winning noise, and the clock on the radio was flickering. Dealer stated the alternator was defective.

Consumer complained about an electrical system problem. Since purchasing vehicle in 1999 consumer had this vehicle back and forth in the repair shop, and mechanics kept telling her that there was nothing wrong with vehicle. Also, since purchasing vehicle 4 batteries burned out. Vehicle had left consumer stranded, and she had it towed to dealers, and once to her home. Once consumer was told by mechanic that the electrical problem was solved, but vehicle still needed an alternator.

A strong fuel odor entered the inside of the vehicle when the vents were used. This odor caused nausea and headaches to any one riding in the vehicle. At any temperature, the vehicle took a very long time to crank up. Also, while driving at 50 mph, the vehicle suddenly decelerated and bogged down. The vehicle would eventually pick up speed and act as if nothing ever happened. These problems occurred eight times. There was rattle in the drivers side door panel due to the regulator, there was also an intermittent noise on the passenger side rear, the vehicle would not start due to the power train control module, the engine was hard to start at times and was unable to be duplicated, the engine would lose power, the driver door made a rubbing noise, the floor area was buckling, and the a/c displayed a burning smell.

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Head gasket on my 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier. We couldn't figure out why the vehicle would continue to stall , after placing nearly $800. 00 worth of new parts in vehicle, changing several alternators and starters, from the ingnition swith recall. I had taken to a mechanic and found out the car had a blown head gasket. Which, apparently there is a recall on other Cavaliers, although not with my VIN number. I have called gm motors and they want me to have the car diagnosised at their dealership, costing $100-$200. And now having to spend $400-$600 on another defect from these recalls, is really frustrating my family, espically my husband. We don't have the extra money to keep placing in this vechile, I'm a full time student with a 2 year old son and work only part time. I need a reliable car. I can't spend more money at the dealership and not have a guarentee that they wouldn' fix this part. I know that all the people I have spoken to in school,work and out any where else, hospital for clinicals will not purchase any gm motors vechiles, due to them not wanting to go through this themselves and how I've been unfairly treated by this manufactor. All I want is for this to be resolved. Thank you.

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We bought a used Chevrolet Cavalier from the year 2000 with an extended warranty (gm certified) for 3 months or 3,000 miles. Since the beginning there were 4 problems not yet fixed. 1 - there is a popping noise under the back of the car. Dealer (koons Chevrolet - withe marsch, MD) said he couldn't duplicate. After bringing the car for the 3rd time, he said the brakes were dirty and he cleaned them, but this noise is still here, when starting at a red traffic light for example, or when riding on a rough road. 2 - there is a grinding noise in front when driving. It's stopping when pushing the brake pedal. It's linked with the brakes for sure. The pads are new and the dealer said the rotor makes his noise, but he refused to change it (whereas it's under warranty). He said it's not unsafe. But this noise is coming louder and I feel like a loss of control. 3 - the abs light come on every single day while driving and not braking. The 1st time, the dealer changed the bulb. The 2nd time problem was not solve) he changed the alternator, because my car broke down the day before (no more power at all). He said the alternator putted a low voltage to the abs causing the light to turn on. The problem is not solve. And I need to go back to the dealer. All of these problems have not been solved, and this is the 5th time I am going to the dealer. I think he's playing with me, so that my car won't be under warranty any more, and I would pay to change stuffs in the future. Please provide information and support. Thank you.

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I purchase a used 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier from a Chevrolet dealer in hamilton NJ. Since the time of purchase in late 2001, the car has been in service many times for the windows and locks not working among other things, and has had three driver's side window regulators replaced. Each time I was told a new regulator was put in. When I questioned the quality of the regulators, the dealer told me my complaint was with gm and not them because they get their parts from gm. How can the window regulators be "bad" three times in less than a year? besides the windows, I've had problems with automatic locks not working and the drivers side door not closing. The car is still under warranty but what happens when the warrenty expires and I need yet another window regulator? I do not qualify for the NJ used car lemon law because the problems began three months beyond the limitation date, even though I met every other qualification.

The consumer owns a 2003 Chevrolet caviler. Was losing control of the steering and the brakes. It started in the winter. The consumer stated the direction that car was headed was the way it stayed. Also, she noticed that there was a hum in the steering wheel which lasted a couple of seconds each time. The consumer contacted the dealer, and they said that it did not sound to them as dangerous. A couple of months later the problem finally came to ahead in June. Lights came on the dashboard. The belt broke, and the alternator seized. When the car was repaired by the dealer they concluded the alternator and the belt malfunctioned. Also heard a grinding noise in the brakes. The dealer never did any repairs to the steering. The consumer said that the key was hot after it had been in the ignition. And the steering wheel was tight when turning to the right. The car went back to the dealer , and she did not have the tightness to the steering. But, the car was still pulling to the right. The brakes were spongy. There was a popping sound in the front wheel. There was a delay in the speed of the car. And almost had a collision.

Since purchasing the 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier, let me tell you, it has truly been like a rock thrown in the water. Less than 3000 miles on the car and I had to bring the car in to the dealership and was told that the alternator was defective. The car almost died on me on the road while making a left turn across two lanes of traffic. I was late for work, and I was stuck in the wal-mart parking lot for four hours. I finally got over that. Of course, I didn't take out the extended warranty, which if I had known that when I purchased this vehicle that I was getting a lemon, I definitely would have been a true sour puss and bought a Ford. Recently I have had problems with the fuel, not only does it not get good gas mileage that it should, I was recently told that the fuel pump inside the gas tank failed. $643. 77 later, I have my lemon back, after not having a car for work for a full week. The dealerships around my area were sold out of the fuel pumps, when talking to several parts salesman, I was told that they had a run on fuel pumps due to their failures, they sell several per week. Huh, imagine that? I have 43,000 miles and my warranty expired at 36,000. What I am suppose to do with my lemon? my wife is scared to drive the vehicle, not only because it has stalled several times, but because it is an accident waiting to happen. Hopefully something can be done in the near future to correct this defect. I am asking that the government recalls these vehicles for their defective fuel pumps before it is too late. I know the fuel pump is the same genuine Chevrolet part that was in there to begin with. Can I depend on this? hopefully, someone will follow up on this and call me so I can really express how I feel.

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Have put 3 alternators on this car, even when under warranty before 12,000 miles (approximately). Brakes have been replaced at least 3 times. Now, the brakes have failed completely and the abs light came on. Dealer says no recalls, except for the ignition system. Scheduled that for repair 7/23/02. Seat belt plastic covers snapped off (belt loose on one and hit by car door when shutting it. The other one just popped off. Belt continues to slip off engine, causes stalling even if driving 55 mph. Now brakes intermittently failing. Left front brake continues to have brake dust accumulate on wheel cover. Car has 110,000 miles on it (engine repaired last year). Car is also overheating; has had tstat replaced, radiator fluid. What else could cause this, I don't know.

See all problems of the 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier 🔎.

Alternator failed and was replaced.

After 500 miles vehicle started making a loud noise. Dealer later replaced alternator and idle arm. Vehicle continued grinding noise, and dealer replaced parts of clutch and transmission. Also, dealer advised consumer that GMC was aware of problem, but no remedy has been issued. Dealer will not process further repairs.

Vehicle stalled intermittently, at any speed, and will start again after 3 to 10 minutes. Been to dealer 3 times, once a burnt out wire on alternator was replaced. Dealer kept telling consumer there was nothing wrong with vehicle.

Car was purchased as a demo vehicle from the dealer but is still covered under the manufactuerer's original expressed warranty. First failure resulted in car stalling and towed and battery replacement by owner (6/00). Battery light illuminated and car taken to original dealer (casa Chevrolet) on 8/11/00, dealer could not duplicate problem. Car then taken to second gm dealership (galles Chevrolet) on 8/21/00, alternator failed test and replaced. Battery light illuminated again and car stalled and towed to galles Chevrolet on 9/22/00, fuse link at starter replaced. Battery light illuminated and car stalled and towed to galles Chevrolet on 10/04/00, alternator failed test and replaced. Battery light illuminated and car was driven to galles Chevrolet on 10/10/00, pcm replaced. In all instances the dealer could not duplicate the failure. Battery light illuminated on 10/17/00 but is intermittent and car has not stalled to date. Letter sent to manufactuer requesting repurchase of vehicle under lemon laws for failure/inability to repair the same defect while under warranty.

On July 5th of this year my car started making a strange nose when starting it. I took the car to my local Chevrolet dealer so that the and let them listen to the noise and narrow down the problem as to what might be the problem. The said that it sounded like either the flywheel or the starter, I then took the car to my menachic and he told me the same thing, I was going to take the car to him as some as I could be without my car and he told me not to start the car any more that necessary. Before I could find time to take the car to the shop whatever the problem was compleately failed and I had to have my car towed to the shop. This car should not have started problems because even though it has 46,000 miles the majority of those miles are highway miles which dose not require much starting of the car. I think that there is a major defect in my cars started system that should have not of occured to a car this new. When I bought this car it was mainly for the reputation of the Cavalier as a relibale car that would last me for many years.

There has been one thing wrong after the other ever since I bought this car and I believe it a piece of crap but I guess that I am stuck up it since Chevrolet declined my buyback request.

Alternator failed causing vehicle to loose power and drain the battery while driving on several occasions. Nlm.

Various problems with 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier. The vehicle tail light shorted out three times then the circuit shorted out. The gas gauge would fluctuate. Cold starts. The vehicle would hesitate at stop light or stall out completely. The driver' s side speaker blew. The cd player would eject the cd while it was playing. The rpm gauge bounced. The fuel pump was replaced. The alternator made noise.

Alternator failed. Nlm.

The problem is that when your driving at night there is a power drain on the electrical system. Whenever you apply the brakes the headlights will dim, the a/c will slow down, and the instrument dash lights will dim. The chevy dealer in inverness first worked on this problem on 1-23-98 and stated that this is normal for this vehicle. The problem continued to get worse so I took the vehicle in again on 2-23-98. Again they couldn't find anything wrong but they said the battery was drained so they went ahead and replaced the battery. This solved the problem for a while but after about two months the problem started again and I returned back to the dealer for repair. Again they said there was nothing wrong with the vehicle but they went ahead and replaced the altenator and recharged the battery. This has not solved the problem and just this last week 12-7-98 I retuned the vehicle to the dealer again. They kept the vehicle for four days and said that they could find nothing wrong but that the battery was drained again so they charged it and that there was nothing else they were going to do. My concern is that my family will be out at night and the vehicle will not start.

The vehicle experienced problems with the ignition switch. The consumer was unable to turn the vehicle off. The alternator had to be disconnected. Please provide further details.

The engine overheated, and stalled. The spark plugs melted. The technician found the head warped, causing excessive internal exhaust heat. The dealer replaced the relay switch, removed the head and resurfaced. The electric fans don't turn on. The technician found the fan relay, ect sensor, and fusible link shorted(removed replaced). The vehicle had surged and died out. The sensor connector clip broken and was replaced. The console under the radio had cracked. The vehicle wouldn't start, due to multiple dtc plugs fouled. The vacuum line had broken, and the connectors were re-pinned. The vehicle wouldn't start until the engine cooled down. The alternator was not charging and there was poor battery contact to the terminal. The alternator was replaced. Between the speeds of 25-30 mph, the vehicle felt like it was going to rev up. The transmission did not shift into gear. The transmission was replaced and the cooler lines were flushed. There was noise coming from the engine and or the defective timing chain. The tensioner was replaced/resealed, the timing chain was greased, and the serpentine belt was replaced. Scc.