what is going on with my car?

[Vette73]

Because someone said well if it was american it would be worse. well thats not true. American and Jap. cars are so close that most problems now are caused by the owner, not the car.
So I prefer GM cars as they are cheap to work on and if taken care of they will be very reliable.

 

[Vette73]

As for you car. Is your stanza the one that had dual plugs??

But if it does it long enough, not starting. Check to see if it is fuel or spark. Sounds more like a fuel problem. BUT don't start replacing parts unless they are needed. So do maintaince stuff first like fuel filter, cap, rotor, plug wires if needed. If that does not fix it then start tracing it back until you find the problem.

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Because someone said well if it was american it would be worse. well thats not true. American and Jap. cars are so close that most problems now are caused by the owner, not the car.
So I prefer GM cars as they are cheap to work on and if taken care of they will be very reliable.

I would agree that domestic cars in some cases are equal to as reliable... but you aren't going to beat a camry or corolla in a cavalier or lumina.. sorry... it's jut not going to happen. My friends' dad has a 1998 Camry with 360,000 kms and i swear it runs totally fine... like brand new, and it has very little maintenance (other than scheduled)
mind you, the car is still new.. but that's impressive.. it obviously has lots of life left. I don't like Toyota cars, but they are (arguably perhaps) the most reliable cars on the planet.

 

[Hammer]

lots of good suggestions so far.

 

Keep those guesses coming

 

[LAUST]

So when he did do the plugs did that help? how long ago was that?

If so what did your mechanic say about the plugs.. were they in good shape? were they foweled from rich or lean conditions?

 

[Graphicd00d]

In Soviet Russia, your car kills you.

 

[cressida]

hahah.

 

[LAUST]

Originally posted by: AdamSnow
Me too...

GM is junk... I'm a Dodge boy tho 🙂 so of course I have to say GM sucks, as well as Ford, nissan, toyota, etc. etc. etc. 🙂

I almost feel sorry for brand biased people, they are so limited and are not open minded 🙁 While I own and would only buy a GM truck or a Vette, I would never get a current GM car. Outside of the F series and the Mustang I would never get a Ford... while I would own a Camry or Corolla I would not own the current 4.7 in the Tundra.... why cause I am not a brand zealot, I would rather have whats best, loyalty is just dumb (Man made mind trick), those CEO's at Dodge don't give a rats azz about you. 😉

Boy I sure hope you are not a Cyrix boy 😉

 

[bentwookie]

Don't forget to top off your blinkerlight fluid.

 

[Bluefront]

Look...guessing at stuff will just cost you a bunch of money. This Stanza is a 4-plug model. The distributor is on the driver side if the cyl head. They are subject to heat-soak failures. It normally starts in the summer...it won't start when it is stopped for a short time, then restarted. If it sits for a long time, then it starts. After a while, this may occur in cooler temps....finally one day it won't start at all.

If you check the codes, you may find a crank-angle sensor code (this is the distributor). Also if you check it when it won't start, the spark plugs won't be sparking at all, or they'll have a weak spark. In any case you want to be darn certain the distributor is actually to blame....they're expensive.

 

[thomsbrain]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975

Originally posted by: Yield

Originally posted by: eakers
thanks for the suggestions, i have no idea about the fuel filter or pump. seems like thats the only thing that hasn't been fixed lately. :|

i am starting to think i should maybe not get an import for my next car, at least then the repairs will be a lot cheaper.

But you'll have to do them more often. 😀
Stick with Nissan.. they're great overall.. your car is aging.. it's a the time where it becomes slightly pricey to maintain.. I'm told after a stage like this, it becomes reliable again afterwards... :Q

WRONG. jap and american cars have around the same reliability, depends on the owner. Gm was 2nd and 3rd in a couple of JD Powers reports on reliability.

I have been a mechanic for about 8-9years and i drive GM cars, my parents drive GM, grandmother GM, etc.... GM makes the best all round cars for the price and reliability.

yeah cause when the interior molding rattles or the shift knob comes off in your hand, it doesn't affect how the car runs. 😉

i think you better read up on JD Powers again. Their results for 2002 vehicle dependibilty go as follows: Lexus, Infiniti, Acura, Honda, Toyota, Porsche, Buick, Cadillac, Jaguar, BMW, Lincoln, Mercury, Subaru, Nissan, Mazda...
dammmmn, GM even got beat by Porsche. And their top score was 7th, not 2nd.

the most reliable GM car is probably the Pontiac Vibe. oops, that's a toyota.

 

[LAUST]

Originally posted by: thomsbrain

Originally posted by: Marlin1975

Originally posted by: Yield

Originally posted by: eakers
thanks for the suggestions, i have no idea about the fuel filter or pump. seems like thats the only thing that hasn't been fixed lately. :|

i am starting to think i should maybe not get an import for my next car, at least then the repairs will be a lot cheaper.

But you'll have to do them more often. 😀
Stick with Nissan.. they're great overall.. your car is aging.. it's a the time where it becomes slightly pricey to maintain.. I'm told after a stage like this, it becomes reliable again afterwards... :Q

WRONG. jap and american cars have around the same reliability, depends on the owner. Gm was 2nd and 3rd in a couple of JD Powers reports on reliability.

I have been a mechanic for about 8-9years and i drive GM cars, my parents drive GM, grandmother GM, etc.... GM makes the best all round cars for the price and reliability.

yeah cause when the interior molding rattles or the shift knob comes off in your hand, it doesn't affect how the car runs. 😉

i think you better read up on JD Powers again. Their results for 2002 vehicle dependibilty go as follows: Lexus, Infiniti, Acura, Honda, Toyota, Porsche, Buick, Cadillac, Jaguar, BMW, Lincoln, Mercury, Subaru, Nissan, Mazda...
dammmmn, GM even got beat by Porsche. And their top score was 7th, not 2nd.

the most reliable GM car is probably the Pontiac Vibe. oops, that's a toyota.

I hope those are just passanger car ratings

 

[Shantanu]

yeah cause when the interior molding rattles or the shift knob comes off in your hand, it doesn't affect how the car runs.

i think you better read up on JD Powers again. Their results for 2002 vehicle dependibilty go as follows: Lexus, Infiniti, Acura, Honda, Toyota, Porsche, Buick, Cadillac, Jaguar, BMW, Lincoln, Mercury, Subaru, Nissan, Mazda...
dammmmn, GM even got beat by Porsche. And their top score was 7th, not 2nd.

the most reliable GM car is probably the Pontiac Vibe. oops, that's a toyota.

Vehicle Dependability study is for car's made 5 years ago (i.e. 1997). A lot has changed since then.

In the JD Power's 2002 Initial Quality survey, GM was ranked 3rd highest, after Toyota and Honda. Volkswagen and Nissan were both ranked dead last.

When it comes to midsize cars, the highest rated one was the Buick Century, which had 82 problems per 100 vehicles, compared to 100+ on the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.

What was that you said about build quality problems? I guess you should be avoiding Japanese cars then, unless all these squeeks, rattles, and decomposing door panels somehow fix themselves.

Link

 

[Ryan]

Originally posted by: LAUST

Originally posted by: thomsbrain

Originally posted by: Marlin1975

Originally posted by: Yield

Originally posted by: eakers thanks for the suggestions, i have no idea about the fuel filter or pump. seems like thats the only thing that hasn't been fixed lately. :| i am starting to think i should maybe not get an import for my next car, at least then the repairs will be a lot cheaper.

But you'll have to do them more often. 😀 Stick with Nissan.. they're great overall.. your car is aging.. it's a the time where it becomes slightly pricey to maintain.. I'm told after a stage like this, it becomes reliable again afterwards... :Q

WRONG. jap and american cars have around the same reliability, depends on the owner. Gm was 2nd and 3rd in a couple of JD Powers reports on reliability. I have been a mechanic for about 8-9years and i drive GM cars, my parents drive GM, grandmother GM, etc.... GM makes the best all round cars for the price and reliability.

yeah cause when the interior molding rattles or the shift knob comes off in your hand, it doesn't affect how the car runs. 😉 i think you better read up on JD Powers again. Their results for 2002 vehicle dependibilty go as follows: Lexus, Infiniti, Acura, Honda, Toyota, Porsche, Buick, Cadillac, Jaguar, BMW, Lincoln, Mercury, Subaru, Nissan, Mazda... dammmmn, GM even got beat by Porsche. And their top score was 7th, not 2nd. the most reliable GM car is probably the Pontiac Vibe. oops, that's a toyota.

I hope those are just passanger car ratings

Nope. In my reply, I posted a link to the survey 😉

 

[LAUST]

Originally posted by: rbloedow

Originally posted by: LAUST

Originally posted by: thomsbrain

Originally posted by: Marlin1975

Originally posted by: Yield

Originally posted by: eakers thanks for the suggestions, i have no idea about the fuel filter or pump. seems like thats the only thing that hasn't been fixed lately. :| i am starting to think i should maybe not get an import for my next car, at least then the repairs will be a lot cheaper.

But you'll have to do them more often. 😀 Stick with Nissan.. they're great overall.. your car is aging.. it's a the time where it becomes slightly pricey to maintain.. I'm told after a stage like this, it becomes reliable again afterwards... :Q

WRONG. jap and american cars have around the same reliability, depends on the owner. Gm was 2nd and 3rd in a couple of JD Powers reports on reliability. I have been a mechanic for about 8-9years and i drive GM cars, my parents drive GM, grandmother GM, etc.... GM makes the best all round cars for the price and reliability.

yeah cause when the interior molding rattles or the shift knob comes off in your hand, it doesn't affect how the car runs. 😉 i think you better read up on JD Powers again. Their results for 2002 vehicle dependibilty go as follows: Lexus, Infiniti, Acura, Honda, Toyota, Porsche, Buick, Cadillac, Jaguar, BMW, Lincoln, Mercury, Subaru, Nissan, Mazda... dammmmn, GM even got beat by Porsche. And their top score was 7th, not 2nd. the most reliable GM car is probably the Pontiac Vibe. oops, that's a toyota.

I hope those are just passanger car ratings

Nope. In my reply, I posted a link to the survey 😉

I would pay cash to see a Lexus tow a 16,000lb gooseneck... cars don't put up with Sh!t for punishment, whats the comparison, driving down a street

I can go down the street on my Chevra-Legs, this is like grading on a curve, all the retarded kids still get to pass while the champs get the shaft 😉


Edit BTW as long as we are all of a sudden trusting magizene company's with editors that can't even find a hood latch

 

[eakers]

thanks so much for your responses. i am going to take my car to my mechanic and get a tune up (i am more than due anyways) and ask him if can check some more things that could be causing this problem.


((edit: im going to mention that my car has over 300,000kms on it and i think im going to let her retire in the spring.))

 

[Ryan]

Originally posted by: LAUST

Originally posted by: rbloedow

Originally posted by: LAUST

Originally posted by: thomsbrain

Originally posted by: Marlin1975

Originally posted by: Yield

Originally posted by: eakers thanks for the suggestions, i have no idea about the fuel filter or pump. seems like thats the only thing that hasn't been fixed lately. :| i am starting to think i should maybe not get an import for my next car, at least then the repairs will be a lot cheaper.

But you'll have to do them more often. 😀 Stick with Nissan.. they're great overall.. your car is aging.. it's a the time where it becomes slightly pricey to maintain.. I'm told after a stage like this, it becomes reliable again afterwards... :Q

WRONG. jap and american cars have around the same reliability, depends on the owner. Gm was 2nd and 3rd in a couple of JD Powers reports on reliability. I have been a mechanic for about 8-9years and i drive GM cars, my parents drive GM, grandmother GM, etc.... GM makes the best all round cars for the price and reliability.

yeah cause when the interior molding rattles or the shift knob comes off in your hand, it doesn't affect how the car runs. 😉 i think you better read up on JD Powers again. Their results for 2002 vehicle dependibilty go as follows: Lexus, Infiniti, Acura, Honda, Toyota, Porsche, Buick, Cadillac, Jaguar, BMW, Lincoln, Mercury, Subaru, Nissan, Mazda... dammmmn, GM even got beat by Porsche. And their top score was 7th, not 2nd. the most reliable GM car is probably the Pontiac Vibe. oops, that's a toyota.

I hope those are just passanger car ratings

Nope. In my reply, I posted a link to the survey 😉

I would pay cash to see a Lexus tow a 16,000lb gooseneck... cars don't put up with Sh!t for punishment, whats the comparison, driving down a street

I can go down the street on my Chevra-Legs, this is like grading on a curve, all the retarded kids still get to pass while the champs get the shaft 😉

I would pay cash to see a truck with a 16,000lb gooseneck go from zero to 60 in 5.8 seconds... trucks don't put up with Sh!t for punishment, whats the comparison, driving down a street

I can go down the street on my Chevra-Legs, this is like grading on a curve, all the retarded kids still get to pass while the champs get the shaft 😉

Wow - the sides can be flipped so easily 😉

 

[LAUST]

Originally posted by: rbloedow

I would pay cash to see a truck with a 16,000lb gooseneck go from zero to 60 in 5.8 seconds... trucks don't put up with Sh!t for punishment, whats the comparison, driving down a street

I can go down the street on my Chevra-Legs, this is like grading on a curve, all the retarded kids still get to pass while the champs get the shaft 😉

Wow - the sides can be flipped so easily 😉

Thats pretty good

The difference is I used real world example vs your struggle to prove a invalid point 😉

 

[Cyberian]

Originally posted by: Roger
Keep those guesses coming

Sounds like vapor lock to me.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: Cyberian

Originally posted by: Roger
Keep those guesses coming

Sounds like vapor lock to me.

Please, you guys are so stupid, its the tire pressure, left rear to be exact 🙂

Just needs 2 more pounds