Early ecotec motor issues

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My '03 Park Avenue with the 3.8, non-supercharged, was sturdy, comfortable, swift, and reliable. And I got 21-22 during my mostly city driving during the week, and 30-31 at 65 on highway runs. All on regular gas; though usually I had E0 in the tank then. Now, with E10, I'd probably see lower numbers.

And you're not likely to find one that's been blinged or riced out. Pontiacs and Chevies, maybe, but the PAs and LeSabres are usually stock and well maintained. (For some reason all the PAs I see around here look tired and unkempt, though, like a longhaired cat whose family doesn't bother to groom him. But they run and sound fine.)
 
Looked at dozens of poor to marginally maintained cars with bald tires and a dealer or seller unwilling to budge on price.
Finally found a 2002 Cavalier sedan for $1700, settled on $1600. Way below my max of $5000 but it's in pretty good shape for having 156k on the odometer. The couple I bought it from had some deal with a shop where they got free oil changes for life...I didn't ask how that came about but overall it appeared to be well kept cosmetically and mechanically. They basically did everything the shop told them to do. They also had just put new tires on it this last summer and it came with a set of studded winter tires that were only used last winter. I figure I could sell those.
 
Pretty good choice. Boring, but good.
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Just keep fresh fluid, and it should be fine. Engine and trans combo will do well if actually cared for.

My neighbor down my street has a 2001 coupe, and is holding up quite well at 232k. Same trans and engine too...


Of course, both of my Js are doing well...
 
Good job. I don't let tires sway me from a car purchase as I can get 'em cheap enough and any idiot can immediately judge their condition and wear level and cost to replace. In fact someone who's "had it" and doesn't want to shell out $300 for a minor repair is just my kind of seller.
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So being an 02 did you get the last of the OHVs or the first of the Ecos?
 
My family has had rotten luck with these engines. I got 90,000 miles before cylinder #3 failed the compression test, now my dad says the same thing is happening to his 2007 Pontiac G6 at 110,000 miles.
 
A known weakness of 2.2s without individual coils is the coil pack (two wasted-spark coils in one assembly). The one on mine failed, the one on Mom's VUE failed, and the one on the junkyard 2.2 I got recently was bad also.

We'll see how long the BWD replacements last.

The 2.0s, 2.4s, and late-model 2.2s with COP don't have this problem.
 
Originally Posted By: daves87rs
Pretty good choice. Boring, but good.
smile.gif



Just keep fresh fluid, and it should be fine. Engine and trans combo will do well if actually cared for.

My neighbor down my street has a 2001 coupe, and is holding up quite well at 232k. Same trans and engine too...


Of course, both of my Js are doing well...

Yeah it's been maintained and the seller had the proof. Clean inside and out as well.

Originally Posted By: eljefino
Good job. I don't let tires sway me from a car purchase as I can get 'em cheap enough and any idiot can immediately judge their condition and wear level and cost to replace. In fact someone who's "had it" and doesn't want to shell out $300 for a minor repair is just my kind of seller. wink

So being an 02 did you get the last of the OHVs or the first of the Ecos?


I wasn't letting tires sway me from purchasing anything, I was just trying to be shrewd with the seller and suggest that it should be reflected in the price
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It's got the last of the OHVs, same motor as in my old S10; it's much more appropriate power wise in this vehicle though
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Originally Posted By: MinamiKotaro
A known weakness of 2.2s without individual coils is the coil pack (two wasted-spark coils in one assembly). The one on mine failed, the one on Mom's VUE failed, and the one on the junkyard 2.2 I got recently was bad also.

We'll see how long the BWD replacements last.

The 2.0s, 2.4s, and late-model 2.2s with COP don't have this problem.


I'm hoping this 2.2 is just as durable as the 2.2 I had in the S10. I haven't had a good shot to check out what shape the plugs are in but once it stops raining and I've got some time off for the holidays I'm going to pick it over thoroughly. Only thing obvious while driving so far is a steering clunk....which apparently there is a TSB out to lubricate the intermediate shaft of the steering column... Time to lube the shaft...
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Originally Posted By: MinamiKotaro
A known weakness of 2.2s without individual coils is the coil pack (two wasted-spark coils in one assembly). The one on mine failed, the one on Mom's VUE failed, and the one on the junkyard 2.2 I got recently was bad also.

We'll see how long the BWD replacements last.

The 2.0s, 2.4s, and late-model 2.2s with COP don't have this problem.


GM changed the spark plug specification because of this. Original spec was single platinum plug... too much gap erosion, coils cooked themselves trying to jump the huge plug gaps. Revised spec was double platinum plugs, still had problems controlling gap. Final (current) specification is iridium, this specification essentially ended coil pack failures. Get ACDelco 41-105 iridium plugs and it is almost certain you will never have a coil pack failure. The 41-105 is around $5/plug online ($7 in stores) and they work incredibly well in this engine. I wouldn't recommend "knowing" more than GM about the Ecotec and getting another brand or style of plug. There is no magic $25 plug that will boost fuel economy 12% with it's patented tri-deca-septos (37) ground strap technology, and saving $3 per plug on some clearance single platinum or copper plug may feel like a deal at the time but it's going to cost you more than $12 to replace the coil pack.
 
Originally Posted By: linksep
Originally Posted By: MinamiKotaro
A known weakness of 2.2s without individual coils is the coil pack (two wasted-spark coils in one assembly). The one on mine failed, the one on Mom's VUE failed, and the one on the junkyard 2.2 I got recently was bad also.

We'll see how long the BWD replacements last.

The 2.0s, 2.4s, and late-model 2.2s with COP don't have this problem.


GM changed the spark plug specification because of this. Original spec was single platinum plug... too much gap erosion, coils cooked themselves trying to jump the huge plug gaps. Revised spec was double platinum plugs, still had problems controlling gap. Final (current) specification is iridium, this specification essentially ended coil pack failures. Get ACDelco 41-105 iridium plugs and it is almost certain you will never have a coil pack failure. The 41-105 is around $5/plug online ($7 in stores) and they work incredibly well in this engine. I wouldn't recommend "knowing" more than GM about the Ecotec and getting another brand or style of plug. There is no magic $25 plug that will boost fuel economy 12% with it's patented tri-deca-septos (37) ground strap technology, and saving $3 per plug on some clearance single platinum or copper plug may feel like a deal at the time but it's going to cost you more than $12 to replace the coil pack.

Wow. I didn't know the double platinum plugs were discontinued due to ignition coil failures. I just figured GM wanted to use only 1 spark plug in all Ecotec engines.
 
You're on the right track. That old 2.2 will serve you well for your remaining time in school. Boring is good! Don't let that bother you at all. FWIW, I really think you have your priorities in line, putting some of your insurance money in the bank and buying an old, boring car. This is the time in your life where you need to concentrate on your education. Going in debt to buy a car is something I will never understand. Your parents taught you well!
 
Originally Posted By: artificialist
Wow. I didn't know the double platinum plugs were discontinued due to ignition coil failures. I just figured GM wanted to use only 1 spark plug in all Ecotec engines.


When I changed the plugs on my Ecotec for the first time (around 50k miles) the #2 plug was missing the platinum pad on the ground strap, the gap on that plug was .054" IIRC. Closing in on 150k miles now and still running the factory coil pack (I just installed a fresh set of 41-105 iridium plugs 2-3k miles ago, I temporarily misplaced my gap checking tool (and my feeler gauge set) but 100k old plugs look like 1k old plugs. Other than the beginnings of an exhaust leak and a slight COLD idle stumble (single digit or negative coolant temperatures) you'd never know there is nearly 150k on the engine.
 
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