Faults:
Torque Converter Clutch (TCC) in the transmission began sticking at about 60000 miles. Just unplugged it, and the car runs pretty good without it, but your gas mileage goes down considerably on the highway.
Air Conditioning quit at 40000 miles. Would probably still work, just has a leak in a hose, but I never bothered to fix it, then the coolant it uses was taken off the market, so I still haven't fixed it.
When it was new it really had some power. I got it with only 4004 miles on it, so it was still brand new, today, May 2002, it has 89000 miles on it and still goes pretty good, but nowhere near as powerful as it used to be. It's hard to pass someone at 65mph, and nearly impossible to pass someone going up a hill above 55mph.
Rust: It's had quite a few holes in it. Every 2 to 3 year I have to go over the whole car and patch rust holes with bondo. You have to keep up with the rust or it will fall apart, mainly the doors, but if you can do it yourself, you can save lots of money. Keep in mind that I live in Erie, PA, and they use insane amounts of salt on the roads 6 months out of the year.
It's been in a few accidents, none too major, but it held up well in all of them.
At 88000 miles it needed a major tune up. A total of $500 for new brakes and lines, spark plugs and wires, valve cover gasket, most of the sensors (oxygen, ect), belts.
When I first got the car, I was learning to drive and I broke the engine mount on the bottom TWICE, while learning to parallel park.
It sucks oil into the air cleaner from the valve cover.
The oil filter is difficult to reach to change it with out removing the wheel.
I have to use premium gas so that it runs good. If I use regular it stalls.
You have to remove the whole dashboard to get the radio out to replace it.
Its good for riding around town, but not great on long trips. I drive it an hour each way to work and back, and it get uncomfortable. Seats are soft, but they don't offer too much back support. The steering wheel is fixed in position, no tilt.
Overall I have to say that's its not that bad for a nearly 20 year old GM car.
General Comments:
Great car for little money, Kelly blue book says it's worth about $450. This is my first car, and I love it overall. I have removed all the trim and smoothed out the holes. The hood trim and hood ornament are gone too. No luggage rack. I tinted the windows, re-painted it, same color as original, then sanded it so the paint is smooth as glass all over. The trunk lock has been removed and I filled it in. I added after-market power locks, keyless entry and trunk release (very handy). Got rid of the wheel covers, painted the factory steel wheels silver, and put trim rings and rally center caps on the wheels. Replaced the gold striping with silver to match the wheels. And I replace the factory stereo with aftermarket, CD changer, and 600 Watt 10 speaker stereo system. And I actually think it looks kinda cool, even though my friends don't think so.
4th Aug 2002, 00:14
We've had three Olds Cieras ('85, '86, '89) and never had any problems at all. 158k on our '85 and it had the same amount of power as new. It had the original starter, tranny and engine, didn't burn oil or anything. Even the original CV axles. No torque converter problems and only have to remove the front face of the dash to change the radio, not the whole dash. The rust is right on though, the doors seem to breed it! Great car... if a little boring...