1996 geo metro//should I keep it???

Hello, I have a geo metro lsi 1.3 1996. After recently working on the ac system I have found out that there seems to be not much of an after market for parts which means I would have to deal with chevolet dealers who are thieves.

Just changing out an ac compressor I found out I have to special order the o rings from chevolet not to mention that the bolts that connect the ac hoses to compressor are of soft grade metal and are easily rounded off even by a high grade wrench. I dont like buying parts from a dealer.

I cannot believe the amount of plastic that holds this car together , even the hinge pins for the glove compartment is cheap plastic and now I wonder if Chevy used plastic that is bio-degradable ???, that is to say will I wake up one morning to find the car melting down into the soil? lol

Any way I have 102,000 miles on the car. What can i expect in the future concerning engine failure. I thought I read somewhere that the head bolts on this engine are almost guaranteed to break off when you try to remove them?? Is this true. Any one else have a 96 1.3 geo metro lsi 1,3?? If so whats up with your car?? So far I have had to replace water pump, ac compressor and alternator which i beleive is about normal for 102,000 miles. All hoses have been changed as well as all belts every 50,000 miles and the engine oil is "mobil 1" with the best filter advailable. Thanks for your responses, the chevy parts man at the dealership laughed concerning this car and said they all call it a "million dollar car" meaning if you had to replace all the parts of this car via a dealership it would cost you a million bucks.!! That is not very funny to me nor the fact that there seems to be no choice in getting parts except thru the dealership.

Anyway, let me know what you think and what you have experinced with this car, engine and if I should keep it. Thanks again.

Is yours an auto or 5 speed? You should be able to get another 50K miles out of your ride easily, especially jusding by the maintainence you've done to it. Next time that parts guy laughs at you, ask him how much he spends on fuel a week, then you can laugh at him for a change. The headbolts are most likely the torque-to-yield type, which means when they're torqued down, they stretch a bit, don't know why. These type of bolts should be replaced whenever you have the head off for whatever reason. 3techperformance (http://www.teamswift.net/3tech/) sells reusable head bolts for the 3 banger, if you email him, he might be able to get you a set for the 4 cylinder engine. If you're looking for any motor or transmission parts, check eBay first. Two other places you can check are TeamSwift.net (www.teamswift.net) and Partsdinosaur (http://partsdinosaur.com/). Partsdinosaur is highly rated among the Geo community, and he ships your stuff out fast, I hear in most cases no more than 2 days from order to the parts in your hands. TeamSwift.net is a website devoted to enthusiasts for the Metro and related cars. It's a good group of people there who are always ready to help people with anything that comes up with these little cars. There's a nice Buy/Sell/Trade section on the website, so if you're looking for specific parts you can make a thread there and see if anyone has what you need, or can help you locate your needed parts. If I were you, I'd hold onto the car as long as economically possible, I'd just drive it right into the ground. Fix whatever problems come along, until the time comes when you determine that the repairs are costing you too much, then sell it, and buy yourself another Geo.

Ok well I don't own a Geo, but I've been driving my ex-girlfriends dads 1995 Geo Metro for about two years now, since my 16th Birthday. It has 67,000 miles on it, and its doing well, all things considered. I don't know a whole lot about the Metro's A/C System, but I do know quite a bit about the engine, and considering the way I have driven this car, you would think the engine would have gone out by now.... Geo's where never meant to rev 8,000RPM :loser: or meant to travel at speeds in excess of 120MPH, but this one has, and no, not downhill. It actually suprises me that it has no valve noise, no weak spots in the motor, it doesn't smoke, and the clutch isn't bad, but its holding together rather well, considering every day since it was new its been driven 20 Miles one way to work, at 70mph, and the same back, plus around town work, etc. The owners were told at the dealership that the car wasn't going to hold out very well at highway speeds, and would wear out before it even reached 50,000mi, but I think it has exceeded all expectation, and still runs flawlessly, as I drove it 45 miles to Springfield yesterday, at 80mph most of the way, and it couldn't have cared less.....

These 3-cylinder motors are astoundingly strong in my opinion, and I wouldn't be too worried about it just "up and dying" on ya. So long as its taken care of, and not smoking nor rattling, it should hold out rather well I'd imagine.

Good luck with your LSI, and feel free to ask me any GEO questions you may have...I'm a Chrysler mechanic, but I do know quite a bit about Geos since I have maintaned a few for people.

William

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1977 BMW 320i **FOR SALE**
1978 Chevrolet Scottsdale 3+3, 4X4 1 ton auto 400
1979 Ford Grenada (Tourqe, The Other White Meat! *Ford 250*)
1982 Chrysler LeBaron Prototype Convertable
1984 Chrysler LeBaron SE2.6
1986 Pontiac Fiero GT/SE V6
1989 Lincoln Town Car
1989 GMC Suburban SLE 1GKGR26N4KF509600
1990 Dodge Grand Caravan :loser:
COMING SOON 1996 Saab Turbo; 2003 Chrysler Town and Country

I like my 96 Lsi 4 cyl. Auto. It is a good little car and I have 165,000 on mine. I just got it at 155,000 but really like the mileage I get with it. I changed the timing belt when I got it....(it was the original belt :screwy:) I charged the AC system (blows 34 chilly degrees) I did a trans flush and change the oil every 3000 and it has served me well.

yeah, i bought a 96 metro with 35,000 miles on it, the car now has 91,250! had to do some general maintnence, timing belt, water pump, plugs, wires, tires, and all filters + regular oil changes, and this car has served me VERY WELL, has never broken down on me and i <3 my lil geo. not to mention i spend less money on gas in a month than most in one trip to he gas station! 41/mpg yeeah!!!