8th Dec 2003, 12:19

I own a 95 Olds Achieva S with the Quad 4 engine - anyone have a problem with these engines sounding like diesel engines? I had it checked out and I was told it was the timing chain that was loose and rattling, eventually it is supposed to break and cause major damage. The garage said I needed to replace the chain and gears at about $800.00 or so... they said what happens is the timing chain is automatically adjusted by the computer, and that is is adjusted all the way out so it can't be adjusted any more. Other than that, I haven't any other major problem with it (I only use it for back & forth to work - 5-6 miles a day). I did get the recall on the ignition switch problem and had that fixed. I had the rotors replaced with real ones - not the factory pieces of crap they sell. Just thought I'd put my 2 cents in...

15th Dec 2004, 07:23

I never owned an Achieva; however, I will agree that it is hideous! What has happened to that awesome, tight GM styling? As far as quality is concerned, it's not like high tech gadgets are going bad. The things you describe that have gone wrong are items that cars have had for decades. You would think that they can get a radiator hose right.

5th Jan 2006, 20:03

What the heck are you all talking about!!! my achieva is great! its my first car and I still have it! after 6 years, it still runs great and it is a real tank (to me at least.) especially the fact that it has 163,000 miles on it without have to replace the motor. I have the v6 in it and it is the best car ever, for a first car.

9th Jun 2006, 20:24

I own a 1995, Oldsmobile Achieva. I think that it is a wonderful, safe, reliable car. It has almost 200,000 miles on it and it still runs incredibly smooth. It gets good gas mileage, especially having a V6 in it, and I would definitely call it a good buy. It has a good air conditioner, and stereo system in it. I have absolutely no complaints, it is a really good vehicle.

Sarah.

14th Jul 2006, 22:53

July 14,2006.

We bought our daughter a 94 Olds Achieva. She had it a few months, it broke down, it needs a new engine. So we called around and talked to a lot of people. Every phone call to mechanics or junk yard or new parts sales people, they all said I would not bother putting an engine in that car it will just go bad again. That is a shame that they let people continue to buy these cars if that is the case. I am a terminally laid off American auto worker. Now you see why the foreign car companies have WON!!!

26th Jul 2006, 21:18

I have been driving a 96 Achieva for 3 years and it has been a pretty good car with 136,000 miles. There's been just the usual problems you see in an older, high mileage car. Until yesterday, that is, when the driver side airbag deployed for NO reason when I was driving 50 miles an hour on a four lane highway!! I was assured by a local GM dealer that the car was safe to drive. The passenger airbag then deployed, smashing the windshield. I now have some huge concerns about this car!!

1st Dec 2006, 09:54

I bought my second Achieva a week ago. The first one I had to replace and engine in and then it got stolen and totaled. I figured it was just a bad luck car and found another one for really cheap and it is in good condition. I have been driving it for 3 days now and it is overheating just like my last one did before I blew a head gasket. I am not going to make the same mistake again and drive it after it has overheated, but I am going to fix whatever I can then sell it as soon as possible. I hate to screw someone else over, but I can't afford to always be the one buying these junk cars. I have to get to my part time job and school somehow and I absolutely cannot afford to buy another car if this one dies. I think Oldsmobile owes me something for replacing 2 engines in their cars and now I am on a third. I guess I should have learned my lesson.

21st Feb 2007, 11:45

I have owned my 95 olds achieva for a year now, it has a quad 4 engine and 112,000 miles on it. everything was great until three months ago, when I tried to turn it on and wouldn't. I tried pushing on the gas and it worked. after a while the gas thing wasn't working anymore and I had to take it to a mechanic. he told me that there was no thermostat in the car and that the fuel pump regulator had gone bad. I got those fixed, but after putting a new thermostat in it my car started overheating and spilling coolant everywhere. now I know why the previous owner took the thermostat out. and if I want to keep the car alive I have to keep replacing the cooling every three days and this stuff is not cheap either. but over all the car does its job, it gets me where I need to be and its wicked fast too.

29th Mar 2007, 15:08

Hi.

I bought mine like 8 months ago, seriously it's alive, this one even got a name :O! She's an angel :)

My friend, who the car belonged before, had only the head gasket to change. Other than that, there was only the 2 back speakers that had died. I think it was the other owner before him, cause his 35 year old son like to have high sound. I took 2 others from another Achieva when I bought it. Good sound quality, but I prefer to buy Clarion ones as they are much better, but cost a lot for the ones I want :O!

I've got the 2 front wheel bearings to change on it, plus 1 calliper, cause I ran no brakepads for a while LOL. Also for that reason, 2 rotors LOL.

Never had any starter problems, and the electric door works like a charm. I don't have electric seats or windows, happily, because it sucks when electric windows go slow.

There's also a weird gauge. The oil one is always ticking all around. It goes crazy, even weird, LOL. It's like the car doesn't like to drive in big cities, but remember she's alive ;) hehe!

Oh yeah, it's a 1995 Olds Achieva S 3.1 v6. Quite a nice car, people are experiencing a lot the rotors and the brakes... First of all when you get cheap pieces, you get a cheap job too... Canadian tire pieces ain't worth crap. Guys, it's normal that your brakes go out fast... Get high quality and you'll get enjoyable results.

I also change the windshield on that beauty cause for some reason I don't know why, but it was all grained outside and inside had a lot of scratches... hard to see in the night with the reflection of the light from other cars.

Overall this car is a really nice thing. It has now almost 157000 miles. I just pray to let it continue to go as good as now, cause you know in 2007-1995 = 12 year old car, it's normal that someday it goes in heaven, but seriously this car is going to tough one and a half more years :0 I just need to take care of it as now :)!

SébasssT.