1998 Chevrolet Lumina Sedan 3.1

Summary:

Awsome Car

Faults:

Not that much, Simple things

Dashboard lights dim on Speedomoter

Air Bag Light not a problem

Fuel Injectors.

General Comments:

I Loved my lumina. It was my first car. It never gave me any huge problems sometimes the Fuel injectors would miss, but I corrected that problem. The AC died, but where I lived it did not matter. I had to sell the car because we moved to AZ and I needed AC. It never failed me. Very comfortable and easy to drive. Evey one said it was an old mans car, but I got the job done and was very very reliable.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 24th November, 2006

1998 Chevrolet Lumina Base Sedan 3.1L (191cid) SFI V6

Summary:

A to B without prejudice

Faults:

Replaced tires.

Driver's seat has gone flat.

Driver's power window failed.

Passenger side power door lock button inoperative.

Glovebox door does not close without doing a yoga excercise (latch is non-adjustable I guess).

Seat fabric with gray base model cloth stains too easily.

Oil change shops like Wal-Mart, KwikKar, Goodyear-Gemini don't know how to reset the "CHG OIL SOON" light, it's been on since we've had the car and has lasted through three oil changes.

General Comments:

We bought the car from a tote-the-note lot to replace my wife's nearly 200K 1996 Intrepid. Great car. We've driven it all over the south, from Texas to Arkansas to Mississippi to Louisiana. Great road car and it does deliver the EPA rated 29mpg on the open highway. Averages closer to 22-24mpg in town and during mixed driving.

The interior is very comfortable, but the driver's seat has worn down to the point where you can feel the metal support brackets inside. I think I will just buy a pillow from Wal-Mart and live with it. Same problem exists in my 1997 with 169K on it, as well as both Lumina taxicabs I used to drive, a 2000 with 54K and a 1999 with 108K.

I feel the car will not have any additional problems over the next year. It's a great basic transportation car for anyone who doesn't care to create an expensive self-image.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 30th August, 2006

12th Nov 2006, 14:21

Update at 135K miles, we have had to replace both short heater hoses behind the intake manifold at 130K or so. Found that the coolant had been changed from orange to green. So we had the hoses replaced and the coolant flushed out and changed back to orange (Dex-Cool). The panel immediately above the driver's knees has broken off completely and I'll have to find a replacement. One of our children drew on the back seat with a marker and I can't get it to come off. And we had a problem with the SERVICE ENGINE SOON light coming on and a rough idle. Fixed that by replacing the gas cap, whose rubber gasket had dried out and was allowing too many fumes to escape. $7 for the gas cap, $200 for the heater hoses and complete flush, and I'll probably spend $10-$20 on that plastic dash panel. Not bad so far. I'm still waiting for the intake gaskets to fail and leave us with a boat anchor for a motor.

4th Dec 2006, 04:43

Hello.

I don't have a strict 'review', just a question or two. Sorry about that. I am learning. I appreciate the comments that I've read so far.

I purchased a 1998 Chevy Lumina (119,000 miles) in September of this year from a dealer. I'm was and still am paranoid. Just two days ago I took the car to Walmart for an oil change, and as was mentioned in one of the comments, the "change oil soon" light still lingers. I currently have approximately 122,500 miles.

I bought the base model, with wind-up windows, manual doors. Is there another way to open the trunk besides the key? I am now thinking there wouldn't be.

I've noticed the Dex-Cool looks bad. I wish I had saw it be before the purchase, I would have insisted the dealer take care of it. Of course it stands out to be now. I am going to get that flushed out, hope that nothing else to that.

Any response would be appreciated. Thank you.

4th Dec 2006, 11:15

Well, for starters, if you really want to keep this car more than a year I would strongly advise you to take it to an independent mechanic for work rather than WalMart. WalMart does things the cheapest way possible and they are not interested in your car as much as your money.

12th Jan 2007, 16:02

This dummy light just needs reset after the oil change. With the key in the ignition, turn it forward just enough to turn the check engine light on, then press the gas pedal approx 3 times. Turn the car off and the light should reset.

5th Apr 2008, 21:21

The car can take dextron or the green antifreeze. Dextron is just General Motors expensive antifreeze and there is no difference.