Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!

Chevrolet Prizm Maintenance and Repair

2

Comments

  • dumpmandumpman Member Posts: 1
    When i strart my 2001 prism up in the morning it has a fast idle , what could cause that?
  • wolfdragonwolfdragon Member Posts: 5
    i can tell you that any tires you put on a prism will not help in the snow our cars are so light it's pathetic.but if you can look for some 14" rims you can run a slightly wider tire for more traction you can go from a P175/70R13 to a P185/65R14 and it will not affect your speedometer.
  • Karen_SKaren_S Member Posts: 5,092
  • wolfdragonwolfdragon Member Posts: 5
    it idles fast to warm up does it kick down after a bit?
  • wwestwwest Member Posts: 10,706
    Many of us, me included, disable the ABS except during the winter months.

    I have been involved in 2 rear-enders, me as the "offender", in the past 10 year dues to ABS activation during "panic" braking when short stopping distance was more important than directional control. First was in a 92 Jeep in ~'01 and the second was just weeks ago.

    IMMHO ABS should NEVER activate when the vehicle has VSC, Stability Control, and VSC doesn't activate.
  • dutchbartdutchbart Member Posts: 2
  • jp407jp407 Member Posts: 1
    Just wondering if you ever fixed the problem with your acceleration issue as I am having the same problem with a 94 prizm
  • hamster65hamster65 Member Posts: 6
    There is no fuse for the fuel pump that I'm aware of. There is however, a fuel pump relay which should be in the fuse block under the hood on the drivers side.
  • jlash1987jlash1987 Member Posts: 2
    I am having an issue with my 2002 Chevy Prizm. After driving home from work the other day my wife went to start the car and it wouldnt turn over. There is one click and then nothin else. Originally I thought it was probably the starter, but after replacin it I get the same thing...

    The battery is brand new and the alternator is good. The crank shaft pully isnt locked up either.... I am at a loss here. The only other thing I can think of is the ignition switch, but if it may be something else I dont want to waste the money on the ignition switch when I can put it twords the problem. Any ideas?
  • jlrittenjlritten Member Posts: 2
    Hi,

    Have a 2001 Chevy Prizm... Starting yesterday it would not shift out of park and the brake lights stopped working. I thought it was the Stop Light Sensor so I replaced that, still not working. I was able to use the saftey override next to the shifter to get it out of Park and drive it home but now I need to fix it. Any ideas of what to check next?

    thanks!
  • epoch8519epoch8519 Member Posts: 2
    Ok... heres the deal. I have 95' Geo Prism 1.6L 5 speed manual 249k. Recently, a couple months ago i noticed a knocking noise coming from the front right of my car. Incidently I replaced my front right CV joint and the noise is still there. Its not a shake that is associated with the brakes from what I can tell. The noise is associated with speed.... faster i got the more noise.... brakes applied noise stops.... it doesnt shake the steering rack. It seems to be happening at a pretty specific angle too.... about 5 to 10 degrees steering left from straight. ITS THE ONLY TIME IT HAPPENS... brake pads are a little uneven. does anyone have any ideas Is my steering rack going? Suggestions... similar problems?
  • crebelocrebelo Member Posts: 3
    Had this problem for 2 years now
    on the freeway when doing a sharp turn (45 mph sign ) the car will shudder or pulsate forward as soon as i straighten out its fine.
    this only happens when im accelerating i can coast these corners just fine no shudder but put gas and i feel like im on the log ride going up just faster.
  • crebelocrebelo Member Posts: 3
    Turned out it was a badly torn control arm bushing (horizontal one towards the back)
    I couldnt see this when jacking up from the regular spot was actually checking the ball joint and jacked it up from the control arm (my service manual says not to do but i was desperate) didnt see anything so i climbed under to look at steering components and saw it was torn. felt it and i could almolst stick my index finger inside.
    Ordered the replacement and will be seeing after thats in if im going to have to replace the cv halfshaft on that side.
    who knows maybe this will help someone else.
    i have been checking this for over a year and could never see into the top of this bushing but it seemed fine the rest of the way around.
    and to think i replaced the opposite side for cracking all the while ive got a complete tear on this side. :)
  • crebelocrebelo Member Posts: 3
  • epoch8519epoch8519 Member Posts: 2
  • hamster65hamster65 Member Posts: 6
    Could be a wheel bearing, I've had that happen before. Also check all the ball joints for excess play.
  • jlrittenjlritten Member Posts: 2
  • hamster65hamster65 Member Posts: 6
    I'm not sure what you mean by "Stop Light Sensor" but, if you're referring to the "Brake Light Switch" on the brake pedal arm and you've already replaced that, check your fuses. I believe the brake light fuse is in the under dash fuse block. If that's good then it's time to start checking the wires going to the brake light switch and make sure the connector is seated properly.
  • hamster65hamster65 Member Posts: 6
    I can't say for sure about the "chevy" models because I have no experience with them. With the older "geo" models though, it's basically a Toyota Corolla with a Toyota ignition system. One main flaw the ignition system suffers from is that age will cause the electrical contacts to weaken. One way you can isolate this as the cause is to bypass the ignition switch using the starter relay under the hood. Unless you have good mechanical experience, I suggest getting a mechanic to do this because doing it wrong can not only zap you pretty hard, it can also short out the system.
  • qadirtokhiqadirtokhi Member Posts: 2
    hi, i have a 95 geo prizm lsi, 5 speed. and i failed the smog?

    idk why, but my car burns engine oil too. and alittle bit of blue smoke comes out. please help. much appreciated.
    oh and if this helps here u go
    Smog Check Results:
    RPM = 0
    HC = 385 PPM
    NO = 222PPM
    CO = 0.20%
    CO2 = 5.3%
    O2 = 10.65
  • qadirtokhiqadirtokhi Member Posts: 2
  • Kirstie_HKirstie_H Administrator Posts: 11,146
    This question might be more suitable for our answers section:
    http://answers.edmunds.com

    MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
    Need help navigating? kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
    Share your vehicle reviews

  • pheebiepheebie Member Posts: 2
    what is considered normal parasitic drain 2005 park ave
  • tazman139tazman139 Member Posts: 5
  • Kirstie_HKirstie_H Administrator Posts: 11,146
    This discussion is specific to the Prizm. You might have better luck in our Buick Park Avenue discussions.

    MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
    Need help navigating? kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
    Share your vehicle reviews

  • ucfknight1ucfknight1 Member Posts: 6
    I have a 1995 Geo Prizm. It has run 99K miles. The car is vibrating now and different mechanics suspect different problems about the car. I got one mechanic who asked me to replace the following parts

    1. Rack and pinion.
    2. Struts.
    3. Lower Control Arms.

    The estimated cost was around 1000 bucks. is it worth getting it fixed with a uncertified mechanic for 1000 bucks, from a dealer for 2300 bucks or is it worth selling it off and buying a new one?
  • ucfknight1ucfknight1 Member Posts: 6
    Can anyone post some suggestions please? I am looking forward to here from some of the experts out there.
  • Kirstie_HKirstie_H Administrator Posts: 11,146
    You're almost always better off posting in an existing discussion. Single-question discussions often get overlooked.

    The regular Geo Prizm discussion is a good place to start. You might drop by the answers section too - http://answers.edmunds.com

    MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
    Need help navigating? kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
    Share your vehicle reviews

  • krogers4krogers4 Member Posts: 2
    I just bought a '95 Geo Prizm, manual transmission. I had the transmission replaced and something else replaced closely related to the transmission, like a fan, cylinder, spindle, something along the lines of that. (I obviously don't know anything about cars) I went to pick it up and on the drive back it was doing this terrible bucking so I turned it around and brought it back. They replaced the fuel injector pump and an air filter. It's significantly better than it was the first time, but it is still bucking. The mechanic can't find anything wrong with it. It bucks right around when it needs to be shifted, like 2000 rpm and up. It also does it all the time in 4th and 5th even though it doesn't need to be shifted. The bucking almost feels like it's going to stall like when you take the clutch out too fast. It also has a fairly new clutch in it, if that makes any difference. My dad knows a bit about cars and he can't see anything wrong and said the engine sounds good and it runs great beside the bucking. It had been sitting in the parking lot where I had bought it for awhile so the mechanic said it could have something to do with the gas, I filled the tank with premium and put a gas additive in it to help clean it. Not sure if this has anything to do with the problem but it also has a pretty steady power steering fluid leak, I have to fill it up once a week. If anyone can help that would be great, just remember I don't know anything about cars.
    Thanks.
  • method1method1 Member Posts: 1
    I had a similar problem with my 94 Prizm - it idled great but started bucking and hesitating when I started driving down the street.

    Now here's the odd thing - it stopped after replacing the thermostat.

    After reading up on this problem, the coil in the distributor tends to fail with heat build-up (if the plastic fill is cracked on the coil - the coil should be replaced).

    Even though the car never showed that it was overheating, it was still causing these problems.

    I would also suggest cleaning the throttle body with throttle body cleaner. Don't mess with the TPS if it's running good at idle, I had a hell of a time trying to get that adjusted properly after removing it.
  • bradridinerbradridiner Member Posts: 2
  • bradridinerbradridiner Member Posts: 2
    i need to find the ecu pinout for my 1994 geo prizm and cant find one anywhere i would greatly appreciate some help.
  • ucfknight1ucfknight1 Member Posts: 6
  • krogers4krogers4 Member Posts: 2
  • jappleseedjappleseed Member Posts: 2
    Hi Scott, we also have a 94 Prizm with the acceleration problems described. Did you ever find a solution?
  • jappleseedjappleseed Member Posts: 2
    Hi, we also have a 94 Prizm with the acceleration problems described. Did you ever find a solution?
  • nwdpuppynwdpuppy Member Posts: 2
  • dmoreno901dmoreno901 Member Posts: 2
  • dmoreno901dmoreno901 Member Posts: 2
    I have a 94 geo prizm lsi and this past november 2010 I ruptured the gas tank and it was a steady stream of leakage so i got it replaced for $600 at a mechanic. My car has smelt strongly of gas for a while but no gas leakage on the floor. today as i pulled into a store the car shut off. when i tried to start it, it wouldnt start and the oil lamp was on in the car. when i checked the gas tank, its now leaking but not severely only in drops. my question: is it the tank again and is it possible to have another gas tank replacement in less than a year?

    When it ruptured last time it would still run even though it was leaking. not this time though. any help?
  • jlash1987jlash1987 Member Posts: 2
  • jenn89jenn89 Member Posts: 1
    I'm a little frustrated w/ my car because this is the second time this happends that everytime i turn on the headlights the car automatically turns off.....CAN SOMONE HELP ME on how to fix this problem...: (
  • yevgeny1yevgeny1 Member Posts: 2
    I've just got my Geo Prizm 1997, 1.6, A/T. I got C.E.Ll and code showed P0401. I did clean every components and chek them. Looks like everything is OK. Than clear the code and it does not present at this time. But after 25-30 minutes traveling it come back........ Again and again.... Any ideas? Thank you.
  • yevgeny1yevgeny1 Member Posts: 2
  • nickruschenickrusche Member Posts: 3
    In August of 2008, I inherited my grandma's 1999 Chevrolet Prizm with only 28,000+ miles on it, now it has 64,000+ miles on it. Recently, whenever it rains, the engine at times would beginning a sort of "rattle sound." It only does it when it's in "Drive" and does not do it all the time. Tonight for example on the way to dinner it did it, and it was raining. When I would start back up after a red light, and reach about 15-20 mph, the noise would start. We live about 25-30 minutes from the restaurant and the noise did not start till we were about 5 minutes from the restaurant. On the way home from dinner, it did not make the noise at all. A friend of mine thinks the serpentine belt may be getting wet and slipping, or may be the belt tensioner going bad.
    Again, it only does it when it is raining, does not do it all the time while it is raining, only does when is in "Drive" and not in "Park", and when it does do it, it starts and stops.
    Does anybody know what could be causing it, and if it something that should be fixed?

    Thanks!
  • shopdog97shopdog97 Member Posts: 160
    My daughter-in-law's sister has a '99 Prism. The engine light came on quite a while ago and the garage she took it to told her they needed to replace the cannister which they did at a very high cost, something like 800 bucks! The light is STILL on and now they tell her that she needs the Purge Solenoid Valve at a cost of nearly 400 bucks. I wish she'd have call me before she took the car to this place. They did show her on the car this valve and I'm going to take a look at it myself to see just what and where it is. She needs to have this fixed in order to pass our state's emission test. Is it true that this model of Prism is in reality a Toyota that GM just put the Chevy logo on, and if so, what model? A Corolla or a Tercel maybe? If I have to go to a junkyard to find this part, perhaps I can get one from the Toyota if there is no Prism there. This woman really doesn't have a lot of money to spend on this thing, so if anyone can help me with this I'd really appreciate it. Thanks and have a Blessed day!
  • shopdog97shopdog97 Member Posts: 160
    I had a chance to look at my friend's '99 Prism yesterday and see that the garage she took the car to did in fact replace evaporator cannister at the rear of the car. Then they said she also needed the cannister purge solenoid valve as well to get the check engine light off. This thing is supposed to be another $300 dollars and the guy told her he had the part at his shop ready to install when she had the money. I didn't know this until today because yesterday I went to a local Chevy dealer's parts dept. and they printed out some info for me that from the way I see it, it looks like you have to remove the gas tank to replace this solenoid valve. Is this true? This mechanic told my friend that it only takes a few minutes to replace this part. I just don't want her to be ripped off by this guy. Another thing I was told at the dealership is that this part has been discontinued. If that's true, where did this mechanic get the one he has? I know he had to go to the dealer to get the cannister he replaced. That part cost $550 dollars and the mechanic jacked it up a hundred bucks to make some money off the part. That's standard proceedure to make money off parts, I get that. So if anyone can tell me that this Purge Solenoid valve is in fact on top of the fuel tank, I'd appreciate it a lot. I'm going to go see this mechanic(his shop is only a few blocks from us)and ask him to let me see this valve he says he has and we'll go from there. Thanks again for any help.
  • jeclosejeclose Member Posts: 1
    I just changed the oil on my 2002 Prizm, and noticed leaking oil adjacent to the oil pan - between the two halves of what appears to be the engine block. It's where two large pieces of metal come together, and are sealed together with a gasket. Is this the proverbial head gasket, and what does that leaking oil portend? It does not appear to be severe, but there is noticeable oil wetness at the bottom part of where these pieces join.

    More importantly, what am I looking at in terms of repair costs, if that is warranted at this time? I have never had a head gasket repaired/replaced, but have always heard it is expensive.

    Would appreciate any feedback.
  • ddbpackddbpack Member Posts: 1
    have you checked the heat shiled for the converter? i had an escort with the same problem and was a loose heat shield
  • fingerlakesfingerlakes Member Posts: 3
    1996 Geo Prizm Base 1.6L

    Recently replaced turn signal, side marker and parking light pigtails driver side after small fire.

    Problem now is Hi-Beams and DRLs not working. The hibeams were working after I rewired pigtails, etc. Every bulb is new. Tried alternate 9005 HiBeam bulbs so not bulbs.

    Headlight/Turn Signal switch still turns on lo-beams, operates turn signals and the Flash Lights works but no HiBeam (dashboard) indicator. The DRL dash indicator still lights up but no DRLs. Prior to this HL/TS switch was operating perfectly.

    All fuses checked and two replaced. Awaiting one last side marker pigtail and side marker assembly.

    Any thoughts or suggestions appreciated.......could it be the DRL relay?

    Is there a method to bypass/jump the hibeams and work my way back to switch to eliminate and discover what's causing problem?

    Thank you so very much for any help
  • Kirstie_HKirstie_H Administrator Posts: 11,146
    You might have better luck getting a response in Edmunds Answers: http://answers.edmunds.com.

    If you post there and want to return to check for feedback, just go to that URL and click the "my answers profile" link.

    MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
    Need help navigating? kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
    Share your vehicle reviews

Sign In or Register to comment.