This isn't a Camaro/Firebird question but I need whatever advice you can give me about this problem. My brother purchased a 2000 Cavalier last summer, it now has roughly 8000 miles on it and the engine has developed a loud knock when started cold which disappears about five minutes later after the motor has warmed up. The car was taken to G.M. two weeks ago and it has been one hell of a fight with them to acknowledge the knock is there. The service rep after numerous conversations finally agreed it was piston slap, however, the area service rep who have to look at the car before the engine could be opened up. The area service rep after looking at the car said the noise was within limits, which I think is a pile of crap since the car only just started making the knocking sound. The dealership flushed the injectors saying the knock could be carbon buildup, however, such a new engine shouldn't be carboned up, and the flush didn't correct the problem. The car was at the dealership for 10 days, and the service department sort of acknowledges there is a problem, but don't know exactly what it is and what to do about it. They told my brother to take the car and drive it until it gets worse, now that's not much of a fix to the problem. Since you work for G.M., do you have any suggestions on what to do to get the car fixed. We live in Canada, but I suspect the process to deal with problems getting a car fixed by the dealership must be the same as in the U.S.

Thanks

Gary

 

Let me guess, you have the 3100 with a "J" as the 8th digit of your VIN? If so, then you need to keep on them until they put some pistons in. We have been putting pistons in for a while now. Its real stupid, they put "teflon" on the skirts of cylinders 5 & 6, but left them off of 1-4. GM knows about it, and that is the "approved" fix. They are probably just trying to keep their warranty claims below the "peer group". DON'T SETTLE!!!!

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[This message has been edited by GMTech (edited January 15, 2001).]

 

My brother's Cavalier has the 2.2L four banger, what do you suggest?

Thanks

gary

 

top

 

Oh, let me look into that. Sorry if I got your hopes up! We have had alot of problems with the 2000 3100's. But I will look into the 2.2L.

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If you live in Southeastern US, check us out!
South East Thirdgen


ASE Master Tech + L1
Savannah, GA

'87 Trans Am
S/D TPI retrofit including functional PassKey, 22# injectors,
JET AFPR, Ported Plenum,
TB Coolant Bypass, Custom Cold Air,
SSM SFC, KYB Shocks, Boxed LCAs, Wonder Bar,
8mm Accel wires,
Flowmaster Exhaust,
16" GTA rims,
Corvette Servo,
--&gt;14.97 @ 94.9 MPH&lt;--

'97 Bonneville SSE

 

The 2.2 has the same problem. I don't have the TSB I got from the dealer anymore, but it didn't have 2000 stuff listed anyway. My wifes 2.2L sonoma(same engine) had a bad knock when cold. Before I met her, she took in a bunch of times, and they said(It sounded fine to them, and didn't know what she was talking about). Of course when I met her, it had too many miles on it to have a warantee claim. I had a dealer friend do a check, and he found the TSB that showed the problem and how the dealer should check for it. Another thing that really pissed me off is that the TSB was issued a few years after the pick-up was produced and the mileage was over the limit when the TSB was issued. Previous documentation was required, and the dealer never wrote anything down and my wife never got a receipt.
Let it sit overnight, start it in the morning an listen. If it knocks for a while, then stops--fix it. The fix involved replacing the pistons with a piston that had longer skirts. Some models(depending on a code on the engine) also required the rods be replaced. If they don't have a TSB for it yet, hopefully they will before your mileage is too high.
My advice--keep complaining and document everything.
After 92000 miles, that sonoma would knock until the engine got completely warmed up(195),and when pulling it hard you could still hear it. It also started using alot of antifreeze. I put in some super sealer and traded it back to that dealer(when it was warmed up and not knocking of course).


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82 camaro--original steering wheel, brake/gas pedals, seats--everything else modified
82camaro

 

When I was working at the Chevy dealer, I remember several late 80's Cavalier 2.2's coming in for the piston replacement. This may very well be the problem, although you'd think they'd be getting it right by now!

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Thats would you would think JP84. That sonoma I was talking about was a 94 and the TSB covered all 'to date' 2.2L engines I think(that was a year ago).


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82 camaro--original steering wheel, brake/gas pedals, seats--everything else modified
82camaro

 

Thats it weird it must just ahppen to the newer ones. I have a 1993 that has 130,000 on it and doesnt knock. I would have it checked out. I also believe the was a silent recall in the early 90's for head gaskets.Kevin