I was messing around on the internet today and pulled up a reliablity check on MSN today just to see what it said about our cars. This is what it had to say:



Common problems on this vehicle are failures of the Coolant Fan Temperature Switch (VIN E TBI-V8 engine only), the Fuel Injectors (V6 engine only) and the Electronic Control Module (ECM), and a periodic problem is failure of the Fuel Injectors (PFI-V8 engine only). Failures of the Fuel Injectors may prevent the vehicle from starting.The cost to repair the Coolant Fan Temperature Switch is estimated at $9.00 for parts and $19.50 for labor.The cost to repair the Fuel Injectors (V6 engine) is estimated at $126.00 each for parts (total of 6) and $175.50 for labor.The cost to repair the ECM is estimated at $134.00 for parts and $65.00 for labor.The cost to repair the Fuel Injectors (PFI-V8 engine) is estimated at $134.00 each for parts (total of 8) and $338.00 for labor.All prices are estimates based on $65 per flat rate hour and do not include diagnostic time or any applicable sales tax.

 

Judging by all the "my car doesn't start" threads, I'd say there are a few more "reliability issues" that need to be addressed.

 

Yeah, no kidding. And they didn't even mention the heater core.

 

Amen to that. I didn't even go through the hassle of replacing it, just ran the hoses back to the engine with an L connector. Who needs a heater the way SoCal has been lately.

 

forget the fact most of the cars here have 200k miles, and have made it at least 13 years. some as many as 22 years.

So you have a few MINOR things go wrong. They have proven to be a great realiable car.

BTW, try a heater-core on a new subaru, then talk to me about one in a thirdgen.

 

crap.

i better even it up.


from now on, every time my car starts just fine, i'll make a new thread.

i reccomend everyone do the same. dont forget now... tell all your friends... if your car is perfectly fine and nothings wrong, go on the internet and talk about it.






:lala:



seriously though, its like any older car. if you know what you're doing, things like a leaky heater core dont even make you late for work.
if you dont know what you're doing, somthing as simple as a heater core makes your car go down for a week and becomes a hassle.

 

Serpentine hangs head in shame...

 

I wouldnt say thirdgens are the best built or reliable cars on the road by a longshot.


I could be wrong, but I think some people on this forum are either lucky or fooling themselves


Ive given up on trying to fix all the things that go wrong on my car at an almost exponential rate. I just ignore all the rattles and malfunctions, its not hard when your exhaust is deafening and your car runs mid 13s with a 5 speed

 

Problems are to be expected on old cars. Its just a simple fact of life. With probably close to 240k on mine (odo. stopped working properly) I expect things to go wrong. Same with any other car that I buy with that much milage, no matter who makes it. Stuff just doesnt last, nor is designed to last, forever.

 

hey your too huh. glad to hear im not ht only one niether the odo or the speedo work for osme reason jsut quit recently all the other guages work, includint the off tach .


the thing about tbi is i find it a bit easier to fix yourself as save that 65 per hr.

 

even the brand new cars have alot to be desired of them. they still have recalls coming out on them, at least with our cars TSB and recalls are all but old.

 

we can send shuttles to the moon and build spacestations, but they can't design a heater core that will last 12 years... lol

 

I have not complaints about either of my thirdgens. They were both 10 yrs old or older when I got them. I expected some thing would have to be replaced. The nature of the business.

 

I don't have a TBI, but people I know that do say its pretty reliable, although a bit underpowered in stock form.

 

We all know that we could drive some *other* kinda Asian car but that's just a cop out and we know it. I also believe that NONE of us thinks for a second that any other car could hold a candle to ours and that F-bodies are the best looking GD cars on the road. Nevermind that when it's "on" it's a performer.

I rest my case.

 

The TBI based motors have been proven to be very reliable compared to other types of injection systems out there. 150K. . . 200K. . . 250K. . . I've seen them all. Sure they weren't performers, but so what.

I'm curious to see how these new LS1 type cars will last. Based on a little experience, the LT1's aren't holding up too well. But that could just be me.

 

The LT1 shortblock is just like any other SBC shortblock. The only real bad thing I think was the opticrap.

 

I've had my 88 since it was new. I haven't replaced anything unless it wore out. My car has been very reliable. It is just a 305 TBI. Only options were T-Tops and V8.

I believe the camaro/firebird are considered unreliable because cars that are driven hard break sooner.

I noticed long ago while reading consumer reports that a V8 in a camaro was less reliable than one in a caprice. That's because granpa drives a caprice and younger more aggressive drivers drive camaros.

 

I agree!

 

From what I've read and heard, our cars are some of the best that GM ever built. And there is a thread on these boards, with 3G owners talking about longevity with many, many cars having 200+K on them, still running great.

I drive mine sometimes 100 miles a day for work, and it runs better now than when I got it, almost a year and 15,000 miles later. I've got 155,000 miles, and in the last year all I've replaced is the battery. Doesn't burn a drop of oil, and still gets up and goes. Sure, there are minor things that need attention, like my highbeam switch that quit one day, but that stuff happens on brand new cars.

Usually, performance cars require more attention and tuning to keep them running right. Third Gens offer supercar performance and daily driver reliability, a combination rarely found. Not to mention, the items MSN listed are hardly expensive to fix. I've read about brand new German cars needing entire transmissions, etc. in the first few hundred miles. How about the Lexus IS300 and its famous clunking rearend and spooky gear slamming auto transmission? For that matter, try fixing a BMW with the "VANOS" valve timing system! Or better yet, you could wake up and see a Ford Focus in your driveway!

Third Gens Forever:rockon:

 

*Rimshot!* no stop.. really.. you're killin' me here

I think the upholstered cardboard is what really puts em in a class of their own

 

I think you got it wrong Pablo, this was the punchline of the post...

Supercar performance? Lemme see, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, Camaro...which one does not belong?