I'm too cheap to buy a Hanes(sp) right now... have a ? about my '02 Cavalier
 

K.... on and off for about the last week my emergency brake like and my ABS light have been coming on.....

I can personally only imagine it being two things...
A: I need brake fluid
B: I need my front brakes changed....

Tonight is the first time they actually came on after I had been driving for a while and stayed on for about 15 minutes.... when I first noticed the lights were coming on originally it was late at night when I would start my car at work and the lights would just stay on after I'd start my car and then go away after about 10 minutes.

I have never owned a cavalier before and don't know if this is some sort of advanced feature for telling me I need a brake job or what.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated... thanks!

Check your brake fluid, if it's not low, then take it in immediately.

You'll have better luck with answers at http://www.j-body.org

How about taking it to the dealer for warranty work? A 2002 has a 3 year, 36,000 mile warranty, so by time, you're OK...how many miles does it have?

Deal would be my choice to.

the main brake light could be due to low fluid, but the ABS light is not. neither of them indicate a need for new pads, and unless you have realy high mileage on it already (>50-60k) it should not need a brake job yet (unless you are one of those people who rides the brake constantly). as mentioned by others, check and top off the fluid if needed and get it to the dealer. anti-lock brake systems (ABS) are NOT something for the untrained to mess with.

There are two lights on your dahs that you are not capable of dealing with. ("You" being defined as 99%+ of the population, myself included, that does not have the certifications, diagnostic equipment, specs, and specialized tools) They are the ABS light and the SRS/AirBag light. The first tells you there may be something wrong with that happy little system that stops your car, you know, the single most important system in the entire vehicle. The second merely controls explosives pointed at your face. I'm sure that you get my point.

In either case, suck it up and take it to properly certified and equipped mechanic to get it checked. And, though it absolutely chokes me to say this, your dealer might be your best bet, especially with the oddball cars.

Now, on to the more important question - how can you be too cheap to buy a Haynes manual? Don't you realize how much moeny those things can save you? Bad monkey, no banana.

haha.. thanks for the responses.

I don't have a warranty on my car. It was used previously and sold at auction (police auction) for whatever reason.... I have it financed but there is no warranty on the car unless I wanna pay an extra $40 a month on my already too high payment.

I am gonna take it in to a brake place tomorrow just down the street from home before I head off to school to see if they might be able to diagnose the issue.. if not, I will take it to a chevy dealership though I bought it at a Nissan Dealership.

It's all a weird situation.. but I love my car anyway.

Thanks for the advice. :)

And I will get a haines manual when I can afford it.... I have to be as thrify as possible through the end of the year.

Honestly, the Haynes manual shouldn't be too expensive. I found on the Haynes UK site the manual for the 95-00 Cavaliers (couldn't find '02) for £15, or about US $25. It's definitely worth picking up if you can afford it.

http://e-toolbox.com/ads/

When its not being slow or completely ignoring my request to go there this site is awesome. Has the Haynes manual or equivelant manual for all sorts of different cars online. Years 2002-1954. Might want to take a look and save some of the stuff for your car to your Hard drive.

As for ABS lights....definately take it to a dealer if you are not a brake technician. That is not something to mess with yourself if you are untrained. If it is under warranty still, then this should be simple, as they will most likely cover the cost. You can check the fluid, but unless you know well what you are doing, stop there.

Cool link, Peryn.

damn.. and here I thought you weren't willing to buy underwear....

thanks peryn... great site!

ah, a boy can only dream. :D

well Cynthetiq, it might interest you to know that I dont wear Haines, or any other kind of underwear.

haynes and chiltons manuals are available free,at the library. to borrow only of coarse.

err, depends on the library, of course mazak.

http://www.cybrrpartspro.com/Manual%...delLookup.html

here is an online version of chiltons.good luck.