warning light on panel

yeah some light turned on, on my instrument panel. it looks like a radiator with the water level low and an arrow pointing down. i looked in the coolent resevoir and it was full. whats wrong wiht it? is a pipe clogged? i took the cap off and pressed the gass and fluid came out of the resevoir. i thought it was supposed to suck down when gas was applied. i need help!

how full was your resevoir and what type of coolant do you use
have you changed the coolant ?
Please get back t me with these answers and I might be able to help

i havent changed it. its a 97 and it says use dex coolant, i assume thats what is still in it.

I have the same car....same problems. The warning light on your dash indicates low levels of coolant. More than likely you've checked this and KNOW that your coolant level is fine. You are probably using the DEX-COOL coolant as specified by the dealer....right? I'll elaborate on THAT in a sec.

It's not gonna go out by YOU doing anything. Mine came on and stayed on since 99! I change out the engine coolant sensor. No change. More problems with the 2.2 L engine (allot more...allot of knocking....timing went-plastic idler broke off; threw timing-rebuilt top half of engine...kinda problems) prompted me to drop it out and replace with another (used) 2.2 L. This engine is used also in the Pontiac Sunfire and I believe the Chevy Corsica as well. I went to the dealer...and they were at a loss. ...needless to say...so was I.

I notice here lately, if its on and I am going uphill, causing the engine to strain...it will go out!! I get on the expressway....hit 75 and boom it's on again! WHY that happens,......I have NO IDEA.

Here's the bad news...as if it could get worse right?

GMs 2.2 L engine used in the Cav used the Dex-Cool coolant. Dex-Cool is made by Texaco. These two MAJOR players have admitted that DEXCOOL engine coolant severely damages the internal engines of the cars the coolant was used in....severely with caps!

I learned this after completely tearing down the top half of the first engine and replacement of that with this second one. If I knew then what I know now....I would have retained an attorney instead of speding a dime. I replaced: push rods(bent), intake and exhaust valves, valve springs/seals, lifters, pistons, timing chain, idler..the list goes on and it wasn't cheap. The knocking went away...ONLY to return.

I've replaced every interanl component I can think of....sensors, belts, chain, pulley, pumps, seals, hoses....the 2.2 L engine is a piece of crap.
Pull off your oil pan, start to drain it and take a look inside! drain into something you can place a screen over....walmart, 4.99 for one of those plastic slide under the bed storage things. You WILL find pieces of metal chunks in it, every shapes and size. If ya do...get ya camera out.

I found out when replacing 1st w/ 2nd engine...I wanted my old pan instead of the one on the 2nd engine...it was damaged. I ttok it off and drained it....I sat there for at least 45 minutes in awe!! I was so pissed off, I cried...literally. I'm a girl....so it's okay to do that!! Piece after piece came out.....at the bottom it looked like someone poured metal flake into the pan and swirled it around with rust!

Yet more bad news....the companies are playing games...they refuse to recall and replace. If they do...it's under certain circumstances/conditions. It's gonna be a fight. Get proof ....take pictures, get written statement, keep your receipts and records...get a lawyer.

GO to google and type in DEX-COOL add lawsuit if ya want...the sites and complaints are endless. Here's a few to look at now.

Sorry... to be the one to sit this on ya. Good luck

See Flyer GM sent to customers:
http://www.geocities.com/b_gillie/DexCoolFlyer.pdf

Article regarding DEXCOOL
http://www.imcool.com/articles/antifreeze-coolant/dexcool-macs2001.htm

More DEXCOOL Info
http://www.geocities.com/b_gillie/dexcool_problems3.html

:crying: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:
you have got to be kidding me!!!!!!!!!! what if i bought this from a used car dealership. could i still get this thing fixed for free from gm? i know the used car dealership wont fix anything, they've already told me that. and i did notice some rust like things in the coolent resevoir. :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: i cant afford any more crap. i'm 18 going into college for the first year, and i havent even paid this car completely off! i'm so screwed. am i better off selling it and buying a new car?

from the sounds of it you r better off selling it...

18....god I feel old. I just turned 30. http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

If you bought it from a used dealer...YES, GM/Chevrolet will still make recalled repairs on the Cavalier. Meaning...unless the company or the fedz force them to recall a vehicle for a manufacturer defect...you are on your own. The Dexcool problems are NOT being recalled by GM/ Chevy or the fedz. Hundreds of thousands of complaints are piling up and certified mechanics are backing this complaint by the consumers. They also say it's Dexcool coolant that is causing the problems.

You need to go to the Fedaral website to discover what the recalls are, take them in to the dealer for repair.

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration

Click the recall button in the blue pin stripe NAV bar. Note you are looking for recalls, not service bulletins. These are two whole different things. Although, stop and take a look at the service bulletins listed for the Cavalier! All you have to do is enter your vehicle year, make, model and engine size. (85% own the 2.2L OHV engine in the 4 door sedan)

Also, two major concerns here that I'm pretty sure you have not heard of...these ARE recalls and repiared by GM/Chevrolet....

1997 Chev Cavalier 2.2 L OHV

#1) Ignition Relay Switch - Relay in steering column is faulty. It produces a continual current that could cause a fire, even if the car is switched in the OFF position.

Basically, you could be driving and it could ignite or you could leave the car and two hours later, it could catch on fire. Since I bought my husband a 1963 Step-side Chevy Truck....a fire extinguisher is a must in ANY vehicle I own. Keep one handy at all times....the aren't expensive.

#2) Rack and Pinion - You can lose control of the vehicle while in motion. If this screws up ....you will have NO way to steer the car. GM/ Chevy will check and replace as neccessary.

When you take thelist and the car to the dealer....make sure you demand that the dealer provide you with a courtesy vehicle. It's not your fault the car was manufactured improperly. You are being inconvenienced. You have to get around and it's thier responsibility to provide you with transportation. If the little ass behind the counter gives you some excuse.....immediate demand to speak to the manager of the dealership. Walk into the main building and vent politely but loud enough that potential buyers around you can hear you. They will promptly see that you accomadated. The last thing they want is for a customer to come in unsatisfied with the vehicle. The sale guys work off commission!
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/images/smilies/lol2.gif

I also suggest you research the dexcool problem thoroughly. If you know your way around the car....take a peek at some of the internals yourself. The oil pan is relatively easy....but messy and time consuming. It's a handful of bolts to remove. Also look at the sectio between your exhaust manifold and block. See any seepage or leaking form there? Severe deterioration of the gasket has been found and caused by the coolant. Head gaskets have also been another pricey item to give way to the effect of the coolant.

I will soon join the masses in a lawsuit. I have spent allot of money and time in overhauling the engine. I am on number two as we speak. Tonight....I lost my power steering and had fluid blow all over the engine! How this happened, I do not have a clue....but looking into it all night. The hoses to the resevoir came off. Yes...popped off! I used a flathead screw driver to pluck them back into reach and resecured the clamp. I had to refill the resevior with fluid and bleed the air out of the system. This at 1 AM on a Friday night in Atlanta, being female with two kids in the back....if I didn't know what to look for...I would have been stuck with my kids in the street.

If you need any info on the car ...let me know. I'll try to help out. I have allot of resources here...lots of stuff. Several knowledgeable Chevy techs at my disposal as well.

Again....good luck.


PS flood the BBB and governors office of consumer affairs with complaints regading the car if you run into them. It will add one more complaint to the long list of complaints from the masses! Mabey somebody will get the ball rolling on the REFUNDS. I'd settle for some cash and a spit shined ECOTECH crate engine! Seen those things!? http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/images/smilies/eek.gif WOW- modified...everthing in the block shortened....Horse power is unbelieveable...rubber everywhere! I saw the clip... http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/images/smilies/naughty.gif It's a very sick thing! It could smoke ANY of those Ultra ugly Hondas ya see on the street. (they are in Atlanta anyway)

thanks, but i didnt find any recalls on the cooling system. and i dont think i can get any of the recalls on my car done for free. seeing that they are a few years past date. any suggestions? I talked to my step bro who has a 97 or 96 rally sport cavalier, and he said that his light just turned on recently too. but he has a different coolent in it.oh and how do i file for this lawsuit? also i am getting my radiator flushed what coolent should i put in it and will this help at all?

PUT In what ever the dealership tell you to I THINK that it is dex-coolant sometimes when you mix the coolants they willl clog up the rad and in time overheat your car you dont want that to happen

i think they r trying to get away from the dexcool stuff.... so flush it all out nad use something different

Thats odd, the 3.4 V6 in my dad's Chevy Venture van has over 215,000 miles on it running Dex-Cool. Of course, its been changed more often than recommended.

ok i had everything checked out and flusehd today at a garage. and i was talking to the mechanic and he was telling me that i need to change it out every 30k not the 150 it states. he made a whole lot of sence. and my car turns out to be alright i guess. who knows. i'm a relieved though. thanks for all your help.

yea I did not think that you needed to change he coolant that often but hey its your car