My Lumina doesnt suck

[Jonn]

Why? because as with any car, i take care of it, take care of problems that pop up and not let it get run down. Its a 91 with 209,000 miles on it. The engine has never been apart except for a new timing chain and gears this month. They actually only failed because they had worn out as well.
It has had one axle finally replaced this year because it wore out. Only other "big" thing was a rack and pinion replacement because the seals had worn out. Sure i had calipers/rotors replaced once at 150.000 miles. Some exaust work, but any car will need this stuff in time.
It has also only had one altanator replacement its whole life. Just about everything else is original including transmission. My only complaint is GM made these things so much different than most all other GM's , you cant get used parts for them except from, i think, 3 other GM models. Not saying everything, but most things. Oh, i did replace rear struts because it wouldnt pass state inspection because they were weeping oil a bit.
All in all, at least mine has had a great track record of not being a money pit.
Only nagging problem i ever had was trying to find out why it wanted to lag when accelarating hard, simple, a 6.99 clogged fuel filter. DUH....
Honestly? i have a 89 Z24 in great shape, no rust, nice inside, all i needed to do was slap a new set of head gaskets on it, transfer my tags to it and run it and park the lumi.. The Z is a nicer looking car than my 4 dr lumi, it is faster too...
BUT... Guess what i am still running, yes the Lumi.
Why? i dunno, probably the track record it has of being dependable. Sorta the old "if it isnt broke, dont fix it" saying. SO now the Z sits in the garage waiting on me to get around to fixing it, which i will, eventually.
I am the 3rd owner of this Lumi, bought it at 125,000 miles for 100.00. Just cant see as good as its been, trading off for another. Sure there were times i wanted to set it on fire, and times i wouldnt trade it for anything, but that all comes with owing a car..

[96Lumina3point1]

I agree with you 100% Jonn. I have a '96 Lumina 3.1 and have owned it since '99. I've also owned a '71 Triumph Spitfire, '74 Celica, '71 Vega, '73 Charger/440, '83 Taurus, '84 Mazda GLC, '84 S10 Blazer, and a few cycles. (Damn, I never realized just how many cars I've owned over the years!)

And guess which one comes out on top of the heap? Yep! My Lumina. Most dependable, easiest to fix, and least-expensive-to-maintain car I've ever owned. I'll be sad to let go of it, when that time comes. And I may never do it!

Also, I think this car is one of the best basic car designs there has been since the late '60s. Everything (with the exception of the rearward spark plugs) is relatively easy to reach and replace. Kudos to Chevy for such a fantastic machine!

BTW, mine has 148,000 miles on it...

~Annah

[VBall17]

I've got 230,000 miles on my 92 Lumina Eurosport. Besides replacing a head gasket at 125,000 miles, it has been great to me.
I bought it for $1300 when it had 112,000 miles. I really like the center console and shifter, this was special ordered for this car by the previous owner. The body style and these features really sold me on this car. I have never seen another Lumina with this console feature. I don't care for bench seats or column shifters.

[BNaylor]

I had a '96 Lumina 3.1 that I traded in back in 2001 for a Buick Regal GS. I had over 80K miles on it and the only problems on it were a battery and alternator. It was a good workhorse but I decided I needed more power and beeps and bells. But I definitely got my monies worth out of it.

[quteasabutton]

i agree that as far as a longlasting engine goes, i've never seen a car that has done better. mine is a 97 with 168,000 on it and it still goes vroom~vroom. other than that tho, i hate it. maybe it's cuz my parents just didn't maintain it well enough *we got it new so it's all their fault*, but every time i get in there something is broken or malfunctioning. since i got it 1 year ago, i've had to:
fully replace the brakes
replace the battery
oil the rusty door
new tires
new headlights
still haven't gotten around to fixing the lights on the cd/radio thing, ALL of them are burnt out.
replace the thermostat
the front defroster stopped working completely
replace the door speakers
the coolant completely leaks out every 2-3 weeks, haven't figured out why that's doing that either
my gas gage fluctuates by 1/4 tank

is this normal for cars to have this much stuff go wrong in just one year? no one else i know has to do this much maintainence on their cars..so thank you chevy, you've made a lumina-hater out of me.

[maxwedge]

You better pay attention to that coolant leak first, or you could risk ruining the engine.

[96Lumina3point1]

quteasabutten,

To answer your question, "is this normal for cars to have this much stuff go wrong in just one year?"...

It depends on how well maintained and cared-for the car was since it was new. If a car is driven reasonably (not abused by harsh driving), and the maintenance schedule is followed properly, and the car is kept clean inside and out, AND... if things are fixed when they need to be, then I would have to say no, it isn't normal for cars to have that much go wrong with them in one year.

Also, I think it's worth pointing out that until you fix all the mechanical problems with your car, then you can't possibly maintain it well or drive it reasonably because those unfixed problems will just lead to more problems. It's very important to take care of them all as soon as you possibly can because in most cases one thing really does lead to another. Besides, it's no fun to have a car that is constantly poking you in the side with problems.

I'm sorry to hear that you got stuck with so many car probs with your Lumina, and I would like to say that I don't think it's your car as much as it is the people who owned it before you, who caused the problems with it.

[Jonn]

fully replace the brakes
replace the battery
oil the rusty door
new tires

Well all these things happen to any car, matainance items, exp if they have been neglected

new headlights?
you mean bulbs or whole assemblies?

still haven't gotten around to fixing the lights on the cd/radio thing, ALL of them are burnt out.
Light bulbs burn out, what can i say, the ones in my heater control have been out for ages, but i cant hate a car for such a trivial thing as that.

replace the thermostat? another neglected thing, or has been replaced with a elcheapo.Antifreeze replaced on a regular basis? it wears out too..

the front defroster stopped working completely, Again, usually a easy fix, usually a vac. switch or vac. motor went bad.

replace the door speakers? Hmmm, wonder how loud those cheap originals have been?

the coolant completely leaks out every 2-3 weeks, haven't figured out why that's doing that either..
Well a coolant leak is from neglect or age, things wear out, things go bad, hoses, gaskets, water pumps, all easy to fix unless its a head gasket, then still not that bad or expensive.Buy a starter, water pump, or timing belt for a VW or a Sub.$$$$$$$$$$$
((BTW) if yours has the steel pipe that runs along the bottom of the belt end of the engine, along the cars frame rail, runs from water pump to heater, check that pipe for leaks, mine rusted thru at the bottom and leakage hit the ground and was had to find. I replaced with a length of good quality rubber hose all the way for 6.00))

my gas gage fluctuates by 1/4 tank, when driving? most all GM's do that.

I have known my Lumi since it was new, i am 3rd owner, neither abused it, both gave it minimum care before i got it. I think tho mainly i dont go nuts when something little goes wrong, and i dont expect it to be like a new car either. Sure it has quirks, just adds to its personality!
It left me stranded once when the timing chain broke, but that is my fault cause i heard it slapping weeks before and didnt take the time to fix it right then. It always starts, drives straight, doesnt viberate on the hiway, has the best "hottest" heater of any car i have ever owned, its amazing in snow with good snow tires, one of the only cars i have had that does not want to swap ends decending a steep snow packed hill.
Oh, i forgot one other thing, i did have to put a new radiator on it a couple months ago because the plastic tanks on it started leaking. But in its defense, i have replaced many a radiator for the same problem on other makes of cars with way less age and mileage/ cost- 200.00
The only other car i ever had that was this good was a Japan made, 85 toyota Corolla, its in anothers hands now, almost 300,000 miles on original engine and tranny, and still going...and going... and going.....

[Katterinablu]

My 3.1 98 Lumina also has a coolant leak it has 148k on it. I had already replaced the hoses as one was cracked which caused the engine to overheat once. Because of the overheating I think that is why its leaking coolant. It only happens when I'm driving and I dont see any visible external leak. I'm sure I've blown a head gasket but the car drives absolutely fine with no problems at all. I just have to top up the coolant everyweek.

My question is though will my car last just as long if I just top off the coolant when it needs to be? Or if I leave it will it turn into a bigger problem later?

[quteasabutton]

Originally Posted by Jonn

the front defroster stopped working completely, Again, usually a easy fix, usually a vac. switch or vac. motor went bad.
i took it in to have one thing fixed and they somehow jammed some plastic down in the fan or w/e is down there and i hear this loud plastic-y crackling noise and it doesn't work

replace the door speakers? Hmmm, wonder how loud those cheap originals have been?
oh hush you. so i replaced them with these $120 aftermarket speakers but my speaker guy couldn't get the door panel off so he used some sort of rotary saw and cut them out of my door..i hope no one ever takes the grills off, they sound great but look horrid

so..anyone interested in buying a lumina with nice speakers

[richtazz]

Not fixing the coolant leak is going to bite you in the butt sooner or later. If it's an intake leak, coolant will get into the engine oil and will seize the crank. If it's a hose or quick-connect fitting o-ring leaking, then it will only get worse, eventually stranding you.

[Jonn]

Originally Posted by quteasabutten

so..anyone interested in buying a lumina with nice speakers

A speaker guy couldnt get the door panels off??
Me thinks you need a new speaker guy LoL, they arent that difficult really. I guess my old time rock and roll isnt that hard on speakers, mine are all still original and work fine, or maybe its because i still have all my hearing just joking...

[quteasabutton]

he searched for hours on where the last few screws in the door panel were to get it off so he could get them off but they just weren't there and since it isn't his car or mine (my parents) we didn't want to do something that would noticeably break it.
i was inside his house studying physics and every so often would go out to the garage to check on him and make sure he wasn't getting too angry and he peeks his head up above the door with a crazy grin on his face and a cutting tool and i was like oh no..what did you do.. good thing is, my parents haven't noticed a bunch of the door missing and new speakers in it.
hopefully they wo'nt notice until after i move out and then it's no longer my problem.

[Jonn]

[quote=quteasabutten]he searched for hours on where the last few screws in the door panel were to get it off so he could get them off

LOL, like is said, i still think you need a new speaker guy
Everything isnt held by screws, there are hidden snap in fasteners on the back of the panels, but... yes unless you are careful and or, have the proper "fastener tool" to pop them, they can and do break off, but you can find new ones in the "HELP" section rack at most auto parts stores that will work as replacements

[quteasabutton]

Originally Posted by Jonn

LOL, like is said, i still think you need a new speaker guy
Everything isnt held by screws, there are hidden snap in fasteners on the back of the panels, but... yes unless you are careful and or, have the proper "fastener tool" to pop them, they can and do break off, but you can find new ones in the "HELP" section rack at most auto parts stores that will work as replacements

my speaker guy is my best friend/sorta bf i think i'll keep him anyways his stuff sounds/looks amazing, so he definetely knows what he's doing