92 chevy cavalier.look here.

[littlehurley]

I have a 92 chevy cavalier,rs, 87000 miles.When i start the car after about ten seconds i can hear a ticking noise.then exactly when i finish turning the key a loud noise comes from underneath the car.sometimes it happens sometimes it does not.When i shifted the other day to drive,i drove a little and put my foot on the brake to leave the parking lot and when i did thet it felt like the brakes jumpes a little.they felt soft, and then with that the back of the car felt like it lifted.

Also im having trouble switching gears.ill put it to drive but the shifter indicates its in beteen drive and neutral.als when i shift the transmissionfeels lik its dry underneath.i put fresh new automatic trans fluid in,but maye..its just needs to be lubricated.

Im pretty educated on how my car works,and i even got a repair manal..i just thought maybe id gt someone elses opinion..on what thesee probs could be.

[rex1one]

The Trans I don't know about. Best take it somewhere for that.

The brakes sounds like it could be related to your master cylinder.

[BlazerLT]

Ticking when starting is piston slap.

Noise when finish turning the key is probably you holding the stater too long or the starter bendix is slow on disengaging.

Also, the tranny linkage needs to be tightened up.

[richtazz]

the soft brakes/lifting rear indicates a leaking wheel cylinder causing loss of fluid and grabby brakes. I agree with blazer that the ticking is piston slap. The trans shifting problem is an out of adjustment shifter cable that sounds like it needs lubrication also.

[4dr92cavi4cyl]

OK, off subject here, what is piston slap?

[BlazerLT]

Piston slap is when the cylinder rings are not perfectly tight against the piston wall when the engine is cold. When the engine warms up, the rings expand tight against the cylinder wall and the noise goes away.

Also, the break locking up in the rear is normal for the cavalier. Mine only does it when it is cold or wet outside and it grabs.

[4dr92cavi4cyl]

My RR will lock up occasionally at low speeds just before I stop, but I think my drum has a "spot" in it from all the "power slides" I've done

[littlehurley]

hey guys, thanks for all of the advice.turns out it is piston slap,when it's cold the car seems like its a little off to me,when its warm the car feels fine.like today, i was puzzled cause here i am thinking that there alot wrong wit this cavalier, and when im driving home..its warm outside,and the car feels fine, and is driving like a new car...but now, i know what it is....And i got a ? ..is it necassary to get the piston fixed immediately???..is there anything..that can go wrong..like will it cause major damage???

and....


does anyone know how much it will cost to get the psiton fixed..i know its prolly gng to be a hefty dollar..cause they hav to take the engine apart...

Also..does anyone know what pep boys charges to look at your car..and do a diagnostics test???..im gng to get the stuff fixed(i dont know how to take the engine apart..and not gng to try and mess things up..)..to prepare my precsious cavvy for this harsh winter we are gnng to have...

[BlazerLT]

Ok, first of all piston slap will not harm your vehicle, it may sound a little weird, but it does no harm.

so relax and don't do anything.

Do a tuneup and put your money to good use:

Plugs (AC Delco Platinums are nice)
Fuel Filter
Air Filter
Plug Wires

You will be good to go with that.

Also, use only 5w30 oil (Castrol GTX works nice) and a AC Delco oil filter.

don't use Frams because they make the piston slap louder.