Faults:
-repairs at 17600 miles-
Replaced leaky valve cover gasket.
Replaced starter with junkyard starter.
Replaced both front caliper piston halves/pads and rear shoes/springs.
Replaced all dashboard lights at 189000 miles.
Replaced shift boot at 189600 miles with aftermarket boot.
Replaced broken passenger seat adjuster knob at 190000 miles with junkyard part.
Replaced Air conditioner compressor hoses and recharged system with R-134 at 192000 miles.
Replaced fuel pump at 192330 miles (it was 14 years old for God's sake!). Fuel pump to tank gasket is only $10 but very hard to find-Pontiac ONLY has them
(Neoprene)
Replacing camshaft (Advance Auto Parts-$160.00 U.S, rockers (Only Pontiac has them again-$100.00), and valve lifters ($88.00-Advance Auto Parts) at 234000 miles.
General Comments:
I didn't have to spend much on it for the first year I owned it (bought it used with 176000 miles on it for a couple hundred bucks).
Now just replacing the things that wear out at 100000 miles or more.
This car is peppy for a small four cylinder and although it has lived two lifetimes already, after restoring the above components, it should last at least another lifetime. AND it gets 45 MPG.
Parts are cheap, but not available all in the same place- ya gotta hunt for 'em sometimes.
The car is also an Opel Kadett, so parts for much of that car work on the Lemans as well.
26th Aug 2004, 09:54
You called this thing a "little street fighter" but your entire review is complaining about all the problems you have had with it.
Do you mean it was fighting with you?