$800 Cavalier

[93formulalt1]

If he's interested in parting some of it out, let me know.

Put a new jamb switch in the driver door last night...didn't expect it to be that easy. The old one was hilariously dysfunctional.

Anyone familiar with how I'd get a tune on this vehicle? Just out of curiosity.

Should be similar to tuning any other OBD2 vehicle, plug in the computer, flash the PCM, and call it done. Check with the folks at PCM4Less and the like, I'm sure they could get you a decent tune to get better economy for a reasonable price. I went through them for the tune on my '93, and I was very impressed with the improved throttle response, extra power, and better fuel economy, considering the cost and ease of install (had to pull ECM and install a PROM chip, around $150 total), and the "seat of the pants" dyno noticed immediate results.

[MP81]

Should be similar to tuning any other OBD2 vehicle, plug in the computer, flash the PCM, and call it done. Check with the folks at PCM4Less and the like, I'm sure they could get you a decent tune to get better economy for a reasonable price. I went through them for the tune on my '93, and I was very impressed with the improved throttle response, extra power, and better fuel economy, considering the cost and ease of install (had to pull ECM and install a PROM chip, around $150 total), and the "seat of the pants" dyno noticed immediate results.

Yeah, I guess I phrased it wrong haha. I loaded the tune many a time on my Cobalt. Should have asked for actual places that would tune it. I'll check and see if they do it, at a reasonable price. I'm looking for a fuel economy tune more so, just for shits and giggles.

[Darren]

Yeah, I guess I phrased it wrong haha. I loaded the tune many a time on my Cobalt. Should have asked for actual places that would tune it. I'll check and see if they do it, at a reasonable price. I'm looking for a fuel economy tune more so, just for shits and giggles.

Why would you waste your money? This is a $800 A to B car not some high efficient brand new car or anything. Drive the thing till it breaks or rusts out.

[meissen]

If a $150 tune nets him 1MPG more in gas each fill up, it won't take long to pay for itself.

[MP81]

Why would you waste your money? This is a $800 A to B car not some high efficient brand new car or anything. Drive the thing till it breaks or rusts out.

It's not really a waste, in my opinion - but only if it's cheap. I'm not going to spend $250 on a tune, which means it probably won't get one, I was just curious, if that's allowed.

Seafoam should be tonight, in the tank and in the engine. We'll see what that does. I think Megan needs to go a little lighter on the pedal too, haha.

Also, I brought my stock Cobalt muffler up from my house, I'm going to attempt to attach that this weekend. I've seen it done on other cavaliers so hopefully it'll work out

[Schuby87]

Yeah, I guess I phrased it wrong haha. I loaded the tune many a time on my Cobalt. Should have asked for actual places that would tune it. I'll check and see if they do it, at a reasonable price. I'm looking for a fuel economy tune more so, just for shits and giggles.

HP Tuners supports this car. Pick up a used HP Tuners and a LM-1 then have some fun.

[MP81]

HP Tuners supports this car. Pick up a used HP Tuners and a LM-1 then have some fun.

Oooh...tempting! Used stuff is nice and cheap

[WMCC Gary]

.....I think Megan needs to go a little lighter on the pedal too, haha....

A block of wood screwed to the bottom of the go pedal would fix that.

[MP81]

I block of wood screwed to the bottom of the go pedal would fix that.

It's actually a really tight pedal already. I drove it last night and definitely was able to give it less gas. But boy is it slow when you do that, haha. Makes a lot less noise though when you're not heavy-footing it!

[MP81]

Replaced the gas cap with a nice new Delco one to combat the P0440 evap code, going on what the previous owner had said about it coming back after dropping the gas cap. Well, it still throws the code, at least she has a tethered gas cap now. . It was a whole $12.

Seafoam made quite a lot of smoke, which was awesome - more came from under the hood actually, via the downpipe exhaust leak.

Didn't see an impact in gas mileage...actually was exactly the same as the fillup before, but with ~30% more city, and colder temperatures, so perhaps it actually did do better.

[Sleeper]

When does the 100 shot go on, followed by some epic woodward trolling?

[WMCC Gary]

Replaced the gas cap with a nice new Delco one to combat the P0440 evap code, going on what the previous owner had said about it coming back after dropping the gas cap. Well, it still throws the code, at least she has a tethered gas cap now. . It was a whole $12.
....

A code P0440 could mean one or more of the following is wrong. The gas cap is not installed or working properly, the purge solenoid is not working (failed, unplugged, cracked hoses, etc), or the canister is plugged and not working properly.


P0440 trouble code diagnosis can be tricky. Here are some things to try.
Remove and reinstall the gas cap, clear the code, and drive for a day and see if the codes come back. (sounds like you already did this.)
Inspect the EVAP system for cuts/holes in tubes/hoses, Inspect for damaged or disconnected hoses around the Evap purge solenoid, Check and/or replace the purge valve & Check and/or replace the canister.

[MP81]

Yep, will pretty much be looking at all the lines soon.

Friday night (well technically Saturday morning), in preparation of taking her car down to Chicago, I decided to stay up after we got back from a party, and install the head unit and speakers I got her. Ended up starting around 1AM and finishing around 5:30AM...only to wake up about 8:30, find out somehow I must have inadvertently disconnected the VSS feed to the cluster...so I ended up driving to Chicago on 2.5 hours of sleep. Both her and her sister fell asleep in the car to boot, but they felt bad. Anyhow, I'm rambling.

Pioneer DEH-150MP Head unit her parents got her for Christmas, got it early so I could put it in.
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I also got her a "lightly-used" set of Pioneer speakers for Christmas (cause her stock 4x6s sounded like shit), front and rear - saved about $30 over new, and hell, they even had the same factory connectors as the Cavalier!
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By about 1:20AM I had the top pad off the car.
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Driver trim panel removed...this all came apart way easier than I anticipated.
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Head unit installed
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Replacing passenger front speaker:

Stock:
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Comparing stock to the new one:
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Installed:
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Driver door, old then new:
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Onto the rear deck. The stock speakers did not function anymore, so that was a big reason I got her speakers.

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Stock vs the Pioneer...thank god they care more about stock audio nowadays...because this is pretty sad. The magnet was no bigger than the stock 4x6s magnet.

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The stock mounting brackets were nice, and reusable...super easy, and the fit right under the deck still.
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The car definitely sounds lightyears better than it did.

Now I have to find that hopefully I just unplugged something when working on it at 4AM.

[s.reef]

I enjoy your threads Kyle because it doesn't matter what it is there are tons of pics lol

[bri2203]

What a nice boyfriend! Are you keeping track on how much you time/money you have put into this $800 initial investment?
Sounds like it more of a $1300 Cavalier now