Cavalier - Chevrolet :: 2003 - Front End Squeaks Repetitively
Aug 16, 2013
I recently bought an 2003 manual transmission Cavalier which looks and drives great, albeit for one (hopefully minor) issue:
The front end repetitively squeaks like a squeaky toy (does not sound like metal-on-metal) when driving. The squeaking is not constant ("Squeak....") but has a rhythm (Squeak....Squeak...Squeak...Squeak...Squeak). The tempo of the squeaking increases the faster I go and appears to be loudest (or most annoying) around 30 mph. In addition, some bumps will cause the squeaking to occur, but the squeaking will return to its original rhythm immediately afterward. The squeaking sounds similar/equal distance whether I'm driving or riding in the passenger seat.
View 7 Replies
Advertisement
I have recently made some repairs to my 2007 Chevy Cavalier LT AT/FWD/ABS/TRACTION CONTROL, has 60,000 miles. I replaced the stabilizer bar bushings, tie rod ends, control arms and sway bar end links then got an alignment. Later on a week later I changed the front brakes. The car felt good for 2 weeks after the suspension parts were replaced and a week after the brake job, then all of the sudden the car began squeaking and creaking on the front end.
Sometimes, the creaking and squeaking come when I turn, some times when I slow done and sometimes when I go from a stop to slowly speeding up (in forward drive or in reverse). I am puzzled as to what it could be. I just this evening sprayed some Blaster! Silicon Lubricant on the stabilizer bar bushings and control arm pivot rear pivot bushing.
The sounds seems not so loud now, but the squeaking and creaking are still there. Could be that where I sprayed was only where some of the noise was coming from. I suspect that the other squeaking and creaking could be coming from the strut bushings and/or strut bearing.
View 9 Replies
My 1997 cavalier convertible left side front bounces like crazy on bumps and uneven pavement. Installed new strut, and a new tire and balanced. Still does same thing. Rides great on smooth road. All suspension bushings look good and there is no play anywhere.
View 4 Replies
we have a 2002 and 2003 trailblazer.
both of the trucks have a 'squeak' in the front end when traveling over a bumpy road.. any fixes.
View 14 Replies
was wondering when I hook my fog lights up to my 03 cavalier do I need to install a switch or do they come on automatically with the headlights.
View 11 Replies
I have a 2003 Cavalier. It has started to shake and pull to the right when driving. It feels like the car is swaying. Is this the symptoms of a bad ball joint, tie rod or something else.
View 5 Replies
i was driving my car back home after a short drive to the store and my car stalled and i started it back up and it continued to stall (no check engine light was coming on or oil light if there is one). I finally got it back home and it will not start now, I asked a friend to come look at it and he said it could be the starter, as he was checking on that he said there was a hole in my oil pan, which of course i did not see.
I replaced the starter just in case and it did not start and he also replaced the oil pan and put oil in as it was completely dry(4 quarts). it still makes the same noise when i try to start it with a jump and a new battery, when i turn the key all of the dash lights go dead, so i am unsure what to do next if my engine is seized or maybe something else i can hopefully check or replace for cheaper...
View 16 Replies
I have a 2003 Chevy Cavalier. When I'm going at some speed (not from a stop) to the left (like on a curve), I hear a high-pitch squeaky/squealing noise. It's not one long continuous noise, but more like chk, chk, chk, etc. and high in pitch. It doesn't happen when I'm going to the right. And I don't hear it if I'm going very slowly, such as turning left from a complete stop.
What this might be?
View 4 Replies
When I turn on the a/c I feel/hear vibrations from the dash. Almost like a subwoofer - a solid note though. Shut the a/c off, the fans in front of the engine shut off and it sounds fine. Cooling fluid is fine. No noticeable shakes under hood. Any clue?
View 5 Replies
I drive a 2003 Chevy Cavalier with approximately 75,000 miles on it, and it has always run exceptionally well. However, during the last couple of months it has developed what I would consider a lower-pitched "whine" or "groan" emanating from the front of the car when making a turn. Here are a few specifics:
-The noise is more pronounced on tighter turns and/or when moving at a faster speed. For example, doing a U-turn causes the noise to be very pronounced; turning into a parking space at a very low speed barely creates any noticeable noise at all.-The noise seems to be worse when making a left turn than when making a right turn, however turning either direction can create the noise.-The noise seems to have gotten slightly more pronounced over time--that is, it doesn't seem to have been triggered by a single event such as running over a pothole.
I am not particularly well-versed in diagnosing car problems, particularly when it involves anything to do with the drive train (which is what I suspect here). Some rudimentary internet research seems to point towards a damaged or failing CV joint in one of the front wheels, although this has not been properly diagnosed. Thus, my questions are as follows:
-What is the likely source of the noise? Is a damaged CV joint the most likely explanation, or is this explainable in other ways?-How serious of a problem is this? If indeed it is the CV joint, my understanding is that this is an issue that needs to be addressed promptly as it could quickly become a dangerous situation (some reports indicate that the wheel(s) might come off while driving).
View 7 Replies
I have a 2003 cavalier ls, The tire size that is on it is 195-70r-14 I am thinking about getting tires which are 175-70r-14 because I was told that the smaller sidewall size would give better bottom end performance (0-40, 0-60, Which is what i'm looking for) However He also said that it would alter my speedometer rating, and the amount of mileage that is put on the car, That it would read that there are more miles on the car that I would actually be putting on. Is there a way to correct the sensor or device which reads the tire revolutions?
View 9 Replies
I have a 2003 Chevy Cavalier that I have owned since new. It has 340,000 miles and I want to get to at least half-a-million. My wife was driving it last week and it started with a very rough idle and ran rough for 5-10 minutes until it quit running for her in the bank line. I came to get her and the car and started it by giving it some gas, but the idle was rough and jagged. Feels like it missing and gasping for air. Running on the road home at 30mph it seems almost normal, until i slow to a stop. Went to have the codes read at Advance and Auto Zone only coming up with PO440 woe the EVAP system, which has been showing for 200K miles. Have a clean K&N filter but no other modifications. I've done a lot of work myself and also have a good mechanic, but I don't want to drop if off blindly. I'm thinking maybe the Fuel Pressure Regulator or the IAC Valve. Haven't looked at the throttle body yet. Where should I go from here?
View 19 Replies
I have been driving a 2003 Chevrolet cavalier and the automatic shift is stuck and can only shift to neutral and drive since Thursday morning. It wont go up to reverse and parking and down to the other 3 shifts.
This first happened last April but somehow with the right grip or pressure was able to get back to all the other shifts. Since then it happened 2-3 times as I can remember and now could be getting worse.
View 1 Replies
My car dies when I come to a stop unless I gently press on the gas pedal while holding done the brake. What can cause this?
View 4 Replies
Car won't start after filling up with gas. I have tried a new fuel filter, new gas tank cap, checked for pressure on fuel pump. We have gottenit to start (but barely) when either hit gas tank with hammer or shake the back of the car, otherwise you have to set and wait 15-30 minutes before it will start and when it does it smells very weird (like it's flooded but an extra strange smell with it). I have seen a similar posting on here and someone suggested it might be a purge value problem. In talking with someone at auto store they didn't think this was the issue. I do have my check engine light on all the time and when checked the code , it said oxygen sensor. My two other Cavaliers have also had the oxygen sensor problem but it never did this with that code.
View 9 Replies
Had a directional bulb go out recently and replaced it without any problem. About 3 days ago it went again, I bought a 2 pack of bulbs - replaced it and drove on. Almost instantly right after I turned and signaled the right directional bulb blew again, I grabbed the extra bulb put it into plug and started car - first right turn with directional bulb blows again. I'm at a loss as to where this can be happening. Is this in the steering column or elsewhere, where do I even begin to look.
View 3 Replies
My daughter says that the AC on her 2001 Chevy Cavalier cuts off when she is idling.
View 4 Replies
I have a 2004 Chevy Cavalier. I am having some issues with it.
When it first starts it idles really hard. The RPMs are up and if will try to accelerate without hitting the gas. This stops after the first minute.
The second part is that when stopped, but in drive, it idles hard. It does it though when the AC is turned off. You can see the RPM gauge go above and below the normal 500 RPM. If you turn the AC on then it levels out. It will occasionally idle hard with the AC on, but rarely and not as much.
The car drives well and is not overheating.
View 3 Replies
The cold air box is a black plastic box that sits forward of the engine/valve cover. It connects via black plastic tube to the air filter box on one end and to the engine on the other. I took it off it. 'Lo and behold it was full of oil.
View 1 Replies
2003 Cavalier auto 116K miles - Car is sputtering and stalling at stoplights with a/c on. What can I check?
View 6 Replies
So I'm driving to work this morning, 35 miles one way, and I get to my destination, or almost. 1999 Cavalier, automatic transmission, 215,000 miles.
As I get to the red light where I need to turn, it seemed as if it was not upshifting on its own. It is an automatic. I made the turn, then made another turn and as I pressed the gas, it seemed to do the same, not wanting to shift into second.
As I turned to go up to the second level of the parking lot, it gave up about 3/4 of the way up to level 2. Pressing the gas just revved the engine. I tried switching into 1, 2, back to D, even to R, but nothing worked. It is like it just gave up and decided the only thing that would work is neutral.
When I switch into gear normally, you hear that slight thud as it falls into gear, but when I try it now, nothing happens.
View 6 Replies
