Chevy Longevity

Greg · October 18, 2003

My friend at work asked me about the voltage light that just turned on in his '96 Lumina. I told him with that age vehicle, it may be his alternator and he should stop a good auto parts store down the street and have them check it out. He said he didn't know much about what was under the hood because he hasn't had any problems with the vehicle except one minor electrical component in the transmission once. He bought it new in 1995 and it now has 241K on it!

He ended up going to a different and further away auto parts place that mis-diagnosed the problem as a bad cell in his battery. The car would no longer start so he spent all evening in their parking lot trying to get at the buried battery in the Lumina. He eventually gave up due to darkness and returned the battery. He had the car towed to the Chevy dealer and they correctly diagnosed the problem as a bad alternator. He was a bit of a celebrity when he went to the dealership and everyone wanted to talk about his 241K Lumina still running strong with the original 3.1 engine, trans, water pump, etc, etc.

Truckman031 · October 18, 2003

simple · October 18, 2003

I have a 1991 Chevy Cavalier that has 212,200 miles on it. Engine and tranny are still original. I bought it back in 1995 with 54,000 miles. This just shows that if you take care of your car, and change your fluids often, your car/truck will last probably whatever the make or model.

Shaners · October 18, 2003

My In-Laws just totalled their G20 Conversion Van. The tranny was replaced but the 350 was never touched and the van was pushing 200K miles.

CMNTMXR81 · October 19, 2003

I had a 95 Lumina also. d**n good car. It of course had the optional "X" motor which was monumentally more difficult to work on, but nonetheless. The alternators are a 15 minute job on 3.1's.

I still have a 96 Monte Carlo (the Lumina's sister car) with the same dreaded "X" motor that just turned 120k which is the equivalent of the 3.1 hitting 241k due in part to it's "tempermental" personality.

SnakeEyeSS · October 19, 2003

Truck is over 173K and runs like [better] than when we got it with 140K. no problems whatsoever, I think only repalced a EGR.

We used to have a 90 Grand Prix 3.1L with 210K, ran so good my dad regretted selling it for months

GM's Rule! Simplicity and longlivity, while staying competitive!

MCourson · October 19, 2003

Just pushed over 174,000 here.

Greg · October 19, 2003

I had a 95 Lumina also. d**n good car. It of course had the optional "X" motor which was monumentally more difficult to work on, but nonetheless. The alternators are a 15 minute job on 3.1's.

I still have a 96 Monte Carlo (the Lumina's sister car) with the same dreaded "X" motor that just turned 120k which is the equivalent of the 3.1 hitting 241k due in part to it's "tempermental" personality.

If he had gone to the other auto parts place, they probably would have correctly diagnosed the problem as the alternator and he'd have been on his way after a quick change. However, he wasted the whole evening trying to get at the Lumina's battery that's buried under the cross brace, and the washer solvent tank, and the fuse box, and the airbox... He had it towed to the Chevy dealer and it cost him $275 for a new alternator! The total bill was $800 which also included a new serpentine belt, idler, and headlight switch (that had been acting up also).

I feel for you with the X engine. My son was looking for a Monte and saw lots of them with the DOHC 3.4 that looked nice. I said run, don't walk, away from those cars.