99 chev cavalier engine problems

1999 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
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DAVYBOY
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there are a few things wrong and i'm wondering if it is worth trying to save this car. first off when it idols, the entire engine block vibrates about 2 or 3 inches forward and back. second from what appears to be the connector for spark plug 4 (4 cylinders) there is a slight crack in the metal and it is continually making a click click click sound and occasionally i can see a blue spark arching from it to a small bolt between the connectors for plug 3 and 4. i was told a while ago that the spark plug head for cylindar 1 was cracked and that coolent was leaking into it but i do not know how credible that is, as my family has had many a dispute with the mechanics that said that. it allready has 215,000 kilometers on it and i don't know if it is worth trying to save this engine, or if in the long run a rebuilt or new engine would be better.

could someone please give me some non biased advice.
yours truely
~david
May 28, 2007 at 5:19 PM
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E40WATER12
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Just to let you know all 2.2L and 2.4 cavalier engines shake like that, Its the way they are designed, Also you motor mounts could be wornout, If u can see a blue spark from the spark plug hole, You got to make a choice what u want to do, A cavalier 215,000 kilometers, I still not to bad for km's, But if the car has been abused with over due oil changes, It could be better off doing a complete rebuild on the motor, It would save u a big head ache, Down the road, If the oil has been maintianed, Just get a new remanifactured cyl head, Hd Gasket kit, Then youre set, Cavaliers are great cars, Ive own 3 already,
May 30, 2007 at 4:43 AM
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DAVYBOY
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Thanx for the advice, i am getting the motor mounts tightened/replaced, and replaicing some of the wiring, as for the remanifactured cyl head, and Hd Gasket kit do you have an aproximate price???
May 30, 2007 at 5:40 PM
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E40WATER12
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For a ball park figure, Its what I paided before, to do a H/G job, It was $350 for Remanifactured cyl HD, Plus HD gasket $15-$30 dollars, Head bolt kit $35 / then I did the HD gasket job my self, I saved my self $850, Youre looking around $1200, For complete job, for a shop to do it. Could be cheaper,
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Jun 5, 2007 at 3:28 AM