1999 Chevrolet Cavalier

THE ANTILOCK BRAKES IN THE CONSUMER'S 1999 CAVALIER ACTIVATED AT LOW SPEEDS. *TS THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS PULLING IN AND OUT OF A DRIVEWAY, APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, WHILE DRIVING IN PARKING LOTS AND WHILE PARKING. THE ABS LIGHT BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONSUMER PULLS THE ABS FUSE TO DEACTIVATE THE SYSTEM. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT THE STEERING WHEEL SPUN AROUND FREELY WITHOUT THE VEHICLE MOVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE COUPLING WHERE THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT MEETS THE STEERING WHEEL SLID OUT, LEAVING THE BOLT IN THE STEERING COMPLETELY INTACT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED, BUT IS STILL AT THE SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT REFUSED TO ASSIST DUE TO THE NUMBER OF MILES ON THE VEHICLE. *AK

BRAKE LIGHT AND ABS LIGHTS ARE ON. THE ABS MOTOR PACK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, AND WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM. BAD MOTOR PACK DUE TO CORROSION IN GEARS IN MOTOR PACK. THIS CAUSES ABS TO "SHUT OFF" BUT ALSO FOR BRAKES TO DRAG, STICK, PREMATURE BREAK WEAR, AND WARPED ROTORS. MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS ISSUE. NEWER DESIGN OF MOTOR PACK CONSISTS OF ELECTRONIC SOLENOID. CHEVROLET NEEDS TO RECALL THIS. *NM

DT: THE CONSUMER WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS FOR 3 YEARS. THE CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ONCE AND TO A REPAIR SHOP 4 OR 5 TIMES FOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE DEALERSHIP INSTALLED A WIRING HARNESS KIT, AND THAT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY WOULD NOT REFUND HER ANY MONEY. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 04V036000 CONCERNING ELECTRICAL SWITCH. THE CONSUMER HAS HAD THE RECALL WORK DONE. THE VEHICLE IS A 1999, CHEVROLET CAVALIER. SPEED WAS NOT A FACTOR IN THE VEHICLE. *AK UPDATED 01/04/06. *JB UPDATED

TWO ISSUES LEFT CONSUMER STRANDED IN 1999 2.2L CHEVROLET CAVALIER CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF INPUT SHAFT/INPUT DRUM ASSEMBLY ON 3T40 TRANSMISSION, LEFT OPERATOR WITHOUT ANY FORWARD OR REVERSE DRIVE GEARS WHILE DRIVE WAS ENGAGED AND ROLLING. MANAGED TO AVOID CRASH. REMEDY WAS REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION WITH REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION. INCIPIENT WORSENING OF STARTING TIMES. POOR FACTORY ECM CALIBRATION IN ALL OR MOST 1999 2.2L CAVALIERS CAN LEAVE OPERATOR STRANDED IN WARM STARTING CONDITION. RESULTS IN POOR INITIAL RUNNING AND LARGE AMOUNT OF UNBURNED HYDROARBONS RELEASED TO ATMOSPHERE. A TECHNICAL BROCHURE EXISTS TO REMEDY THE SITUATION, BUT NO RECALL. DEALER WANTS $90 TO REPROGRAM ECM. *JB

WHEN EXITING THE FREEWAY AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES, THE CAVALIER QUIT RUNNING AT THE TOP OF THE RAMP. THIS WAS AT EVENING RUSH HOUR AND SEVERAL CARS WERE BEHIND, TRYING TO EXIT. I COULD NOT RESTART THE VEHICLE. CARS WERE HONKING AS I WAS IN THE LANE AND COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE WAY. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. WE HAD THE ENTIRE FUEL PUMP/SENDER UNIT REPLACED. VEHICLE THEN SEEMED TO OPERATE OKAY, BUT TWO DAYS LATER AFTER DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AGAIN, THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. THIS WAS MORNING RUSH HOUR AND THE EXIT LANE ON THE OFF-RAMP HAD NO SHOULDER... CARS WERE COMING QUICKLY UP THE RAMP AND I WAS NEARLY HIT MORE THAN ONCE, EVEN WITH MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON. TOWED VEHICLE AGAIN. TOLD THAT IT WAS A FUSE. REPLACED FUSE AND TOOK VEHICLE AGAIN. SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED A THIRD TIME. I REPLACED FUSE. TOOK TO DEALER WHO SAID THAT WIRE WAS LOOSE FROM FUEL PUMP REPLACEMENT. THEY SECURED WIRE. HAS NOW HAPPENED FIVE MORE TIMES. I HAVE FUSES IN CAR IN CASE OF PROBLEM. CAR IS NOW AT ELECTRICAL SHOP FOR REVIEW. LAST TIME IT HAPPENED ON JULY 1, I WAS ENTERING THE HOV LANE ON THE FREEWAY! LUCKILY THERE WAS A SMALL AREA IN WHICH TO STOP. REPLACED FUSE AND GET ON... THIS IS VERY SCARY AS IT JUST QUITS WITHOUT NOTICE (NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR ANYTHING!)