2004 Chevrolet Cavalier: check engine light

Filed Apr 22, 2015 · Electrical, Fuel system · AL

At times, during the past several months this vehicle has been hard to start. Had the fuel pump and ignition switch replaced, but did not seem to solve the problem. Recently, the car stalled out while driving and took 15 minutes to finally re-start. I have read online where this has been a problem for other owners of chevy cavaliers- hard to start and stalls out sometimes. Not sure what is causing the problem, because the check engine light does not come on and there is no code to diagnosis/read.

Filed Mar 4, 2015 · Acceleration, Electrical · 58,000 miles · IL

While driving down the road my speedometer for stuck. I know I was going 60 when it happened because that's what it is stuck at.it isn't the first time this has happened. My car has had multiple problems with the windshield wipers, windows, and engine light.

Filed Jan 31, 2015 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 104,000 miles · GA

The instrument cluster board has stopped, working and appears to be an ongoing issue with gm on several models (car and truck) between 1998-2009. Also the ABS, traction control, service engine lights will not go off. Window doors are not working and appears to all related to the cluster panel. I have replaced all ABS sensors, new brakes pads, rotors, and even front bearings. The engine itself works great and is fine and appears that gm has done a great job in this part. The cluster panel and wiring is a serious safety issue and needs to be reviewed in these models. Poor ground wiring an cluster panels can cause consumers to spend thousands of dollars in repairs and still resulting in the same problem. Cluster panel replacement can be from $300 to $800 depending on your local mechanic. This is a serious issue since ABS and traction control are not working due to the long list of issues. I recommend a recall on cluster panels for all cavaliers and modules, wiring as well.

Filed Sep 11, 2013 · Electrical · 40,000 miles · IN

2004 chevrolet cavalier instrument cluster; at first the temperature gauge showed hot causing us to pull over to the shoulder of the road and investigate, 27 years as an automotive technician kinda helped me come to the conclusion real quick it was not overheating, then the tachometer would go completely around and peg from the underside and that's where it is and has stayed, the speedometer ceased to work shortly after the tachometer went haywire and the fuel gauge also has its moments, sometimes it works and sometimes it don't and all of the check engine lights and service soon indicators have a mind of there own, the car has no trouble codes and there is no reason gm hasn't recalled these and other vehicles with the same instrument cluster problems, funny they sent me a letter on my 03 silverado cluster and I haven't had any problems with it but I look at all the complaints on the cavaliers and no such recalls, you might ask why I haven't fixed it myself with all my experience and I will tell you right now, why should I have too? Gm should step up to the plate and fix its faulty clusters it is dangerous for any of these informational items of the cluster to be faulty or inaccurate it can cause a motorist to travel at an unsafe speed causing an accident or to pull over onto the shoulder of the road and be at risk of being struck by another motorist from behind these are very dangerous situations, ask yourself how many people have been hurt or fatally injured because of the faulty clusters, who knows; but one would be one too many don't you think?

Filed Jan 19, 2010 · Engine · 51,000 miles · KY

Idle miss while auto is in gear (automatic). Initial occurrence 15000-20000 miles. Started when at a stop light you could feel the miss it was every 30-45 seconds. No check engine light associated with problem. Has gotten worse, still no check engine light. Now it stalls and you can watch the tachometer drop 25-50 RPM. Took it to the dealership under extended warranty @ 512010 miles. Dealership said it was #2 cylinder misfire. Changed ignition module & coil pack. I picked it up and drive it 1.5 miles and it was the same. Took it back and they swapped injectors with another cylinder and spark plugs, changed fuel filter. Picked it up again. Same problem. Dealership said they cannot fix it until there is a check engine light, even though problem could be duplicated every time car was taken back to the dealership. I had the service writer and the actual mechanic in the car with me each time and they agreed there was a problem. As of this date 1-18-10 problem still exists.

Filed May 29, 2008 · Electrical · 117,000 miles · VA

The tachometer is failing to work, the speedometer is failing to work, the drivers side window went out, and the service engine light stays on with the ABS and track off lights stay on. This is constant. Now, I am worried that the speedometer will have a problem when I am driving my children. There doesn't seem to be a clear cut fix for this when talking to the chevy dealer.

Filed Nov 7, 2007 · Electrical · NY · fire

Electrical fire in a 2004 chevy cavalier. Always had electrical problems, check engine light has come on and speedometer sticks everytime it rains. The air bag light had come on and we were afraid that it was going to deploy and if it did we would have gotten into an accident. When it was continued to drive, all that was smelled was smoke and all of a sudden the interior lights all went out and the smoke became heavier and all the wires were dangling down and melted. The car was towed and needs to be rewired and that will cost about $1100.00. Good thing no one was hurt and it didn't all the way catch fire. I now don't have a vehicle and I am afraid to drive it when it gets fixed because I don't want it to happen again. I have heard from others that they have problems with the same car and how the speedometer sticks and other electrical problems.

Filed Nov 2, 2007 · Electrical, Engine · MD

2004 chevy cavalier with safety issues dealing with the engine. Customer states that there are some safety issues with their vehicle but the dealer needs a light to be on to find out. Dealer said it was the injectors and it was not the injectors. *kb the consumer stated when she traveled on trips over 100 miles long, the trac off light illuminated., followed by the rpms going up, followed by the check engine light illuminating. The vehicle also burned a lot of oil, but only when the lights illuminated.

Filed Aug 6, 2006 · Electrical, Engine · SC

While driving my car, the engine would completely shut off. At first it would happen when I was at a complete stop. However it began to happen while the car was in movement. I tried to crank the car to take it to the shop and it wouldn't crank at all. The problem couldn't be identified on a diagnostic test and it wasn't the spark plugs. I was told to replace the computer to see if that was the problem. The auto shop was not even sure that it was the problem. This computer cost $650 not including labor. Now my engine light continually flashes and the car jerks. However when I take it to the auto shop they say that I have gotten bad gas. They can't find another problem. I've changed where I get my gas and it still happens daily. Out of 3 hours of driving it may run normally about 1- 1.5 hour.

Filed Jun 4, 2006 · Brakes, Electrical · 40,000 miles · MI

I have had problems with brake grinding since I bought my 04 cavalier. It has been into the dealership 3 times and each time I was told there was only rust build up and it was sanded off only to reccur. The last time in the dealership, I was told my car was no longer under warranty and if I wanted a brake job done it would be in excess of $140.00...this...was for the same problem the car was in for the previous 2 times and no new brakes installed..only the rust ground off. My check engine light periodically goes off and on and the dealership cannot determine why. I no longer have any lights on my radio/cd player..I can play cd's and use the radio but have no idea what station etc I am on. Shortly after this occurred in like 2 weeks, I lost my speedometer...it works briefly and then sticks at 90 MPH ( the odometer works however) the dealership checked fuses and said all was fine. They said it appeared to be a cluster module and even though the part was not that expensive, the labor would be the most because it entailed them removing the dash board. The cost factor of over $400 was verbally given to me. I live on a fixed income and cannot afford this. They said there were no recalls and given my car is off warranty, I would need to absorb this cost myself. I bought this car brand new and feel that after less than 2 years of owning it, these problems should not have happened. I gave an estimated account of dates of incident been they have been on going and can be verified through the dealership I bought it from as I have taken it no where else for service. I am registered with carstats and there have been several complaints of the same things I am experiencing.

Filed Mar 6, 2006 · Brakes, Electrical · MI

Bought a brand new 2004 cavalier approximately april 2004. Since purchase date,car has been into dealership due to loud grinding noises in brakes 3 times. First time to best of my knowledge within 6 months of ownership. Every time I have been the noises are rust buildup on shoes and pads. The remedy was to sand the rust, it worked but temporarily. I had the car in again november 2005 for this same thing & my check engine light stayed on. My car was still under warranty. The tech told me I had rust & the rotors were " a little out of round". He told me the car had 30,000 miles on & they couldn't do new brakes as warranty it would cost me about $140.00. The check engine light was attributed it to having some floats in tank from gas that affected a sensor. Wouldn't cause problems they said & it still happens. The 2nd visit to the dealer they fix a side mirror & defroster..didn't work. 1 week ago, I have use of radio & cd player only no lights/radio now. The next day I started car up my & speedometer says 35 MPH idling. Going with traffic flow it registered 105 & is now stopped there. Mileage gauge, gas and other lights still work as does gas gauge. I called a local chevy dealership near me & inquired as to an aprox. Cost to have radio & speedometer fixed/looked at. Warranty now is off. I was told labor be the expensive part..looking at $400 or more. I live on a fixed income & can't afford this. Brakes/radio/speedometer are nothing I caused. I was never offered to have brakes replaced. Speedometer issue is very dangerous. I have checked websites to see if there were complaints like mine& there are. I have guessed the incident date I cannot recall exact date I took car in for the 1st brake issue.