Found a NICE 1999 Grand Am today with 109K. How reliable are they? It has the 3.4L V6 Ram Air. Cousin has a Grand Prix with a 3800 thats very reliable. How about the Am's? TIA
Reliability of Pontiac Grand Am's?
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3.4s blow intake gaskets but are otherwise pretty nice. I had one in a 7 passenger minivan and thought it was pretty peppy but still great on gas.
Let the trans warm up HOT and see if the shifts get firm. Not a dealbreaker, but something they do.
Look underneath for rusty rocker panels.
Let the trans warm up HOT and see if the shifts get firm. Not a dealbreaker, but something they do.
Look underneath for rusty rocker panels.
Originally Posted By: eljefino
3.4s blow intake gaskets but are otherwise pretty nice. I had one in a 7 passenger minivan and thought it was pretty peppy but still great on gas.
Let the trans warm up HOT and see if the shifts get firm. Not a dealbreaker, but something they do.
Look underneath for rusty rocker panels.
I believe all of the GMs V6s have the intake problem. A friend has a 2000 Grand Am and his had to be replaced recently. Outside that it has been a good car.
3.4s blow intake gaskets but are otherwise pretty nice. I had one in a 7 passenger minivan and thought it was pretty peppy but still great on gas.
Let the trans warm up HOT and see if the shifts get firm. Not a dealbreaker, but something they do.
Look underneath for rusty rocker panels.
I believe all of the GMs V6s have the intake problem. A friend has a 2000 Grand Am and his had to be replaced recently. Outside that it has been a good car.
Does it have any piston slap? The 3x00's were nice motors as long as the intake gaskets held up. They sound real nice when they exhale through a performance exhaust system.
Very reliable cars, the 3.4's will have an issue with the gaskets but are easily fixed. Other than that there might be some clatter(which is normal for the 3.4). Solid trans and engine and a solid interior(no rattles). Wife had a 03 Grand AM GT Ram Air. She loved it but needed to grab something more family oriented as hers was a coupe.
I tend to replace more alternators in the Pontiac GA than most. Not a big deal to replace... Just don't be cheap. I never see more than 2 years life from a cheap alternator in a GM car.
Keep up to date on the coolant, and be sure the previous owner did as well. A 2.8/3.1/3.4 GM head gasket is one of the most sensitive I see.
Interiors on those cars was a huge problem. There were very few cars more prone to warped and cracked interiors than that car.
Shake the front end and check for play. I replace the outer tierod ends on such cars very often. Also, if there is a creaking noise from the frontend while turning, replace the front struts with quick-struts.
Keep up to date on the coolant, and be sure the previous owner did as well. A 2.8/3.1/3.4 GM head gasket is one of the most sensitive I see.
Interiors on those cars was a huge problem. There were very few cars more prone to warped and cracked interiors than that car.
Shake the front end and check for play. I replace the outer tierod ends on such cars very often. Also, if there is a creaking noise from the frontend while turning, replace the front struts with quick-struts.
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at 109,000 K, I bet the intake gasket has been done. Just ask.
IF the gasket went, and it wasn't fixed right away, coolant will have mioxed with the oil for an unknown number of miles. Over time, this will destry the bearings.
So, even if the gaskets have been done, this engine might lunch itself at some point w/o warning.
How lucky do you feel???
So, even if the gaskets have been done, this engine might lunch itself at some point w/o warning.
How lucky do you feel???
Originally Posted By: artificialist
I tend to replace more alternators in the Pontiac GA than most. Not a big deal to replace... Just don't be cheap. I never see more than 2 years life from a cheap alternator in a GM car.
Keep up to date on the coolant, and be sure the previous owner did as well. A 2.8/3.1/3.4 GM head gasket is one of the most sensitive I see.
Interiors on those cars was a huge problem. There were very few cars more prone to warped and cracked interiors than that car.
Shake the front end and check for play. I replace the outer tierod ends on such cars very often. Also, if there is a creaking noise from the frontend while turning, replace the front struts with quick-struts.
I've seen my fair share of the post 2000 grand am's and they were very solid interior wise. Pre 2000 might have been something else(I believe 99 was the refresh).
I agree with the use of quick struts, 5 bolts and basically a 5 minute change per strut when you have the wheels off the car. Wife's were leaking around the 60k mark.
I tend to replace more alternators in the Pontiac GA than most. Not a big deal to replace... Just don't be cheap. I never see more than 2 years life from a cheap alternator in a GM car.
Keep up to date on the coolant, and be sure the previous owner did as well. A 2.8/3.1/3.4 GM head gasket is one of the most sensitive I see.
Interiors on those cars was a huge problem. There were very few cars more prone to warped and cracked interiors than that car.
Shake the front end and check for play. I replace the outer tierod ends on such cars very often. Also, if there is a creaking noise from the frontend while turning, replace the front struts with quick-struts.
I've seen my fair share of the post 2000 grand am's and they were very solid interior wise. Pre 2000 might have been something else(I believe 99 was the refresh).
I agree with the use of quick struts, 5 bolts and basically a 5 minute change per strut when you have the wheels off the car. Wife's were leaking around the 60k mark.
Originally Posted By: Anies
I've seen my fair share of the post 2000 grand am's and they were very solid interior wise. Pre 2000 might have been something else(I believe 99 was the refresh).
I don't know that I would use the word "solid"...it was kind of a mess and lots of little things break. The vinyl will start to peel and crack by the vents...etc...It's not uncommon on GM cars from that era. Don't get me wrong. Interior controls tend to keep working but the paint peels off of them very easily.
My favorite interior of the N-chassis cars was probably the Olds Achieva with the round gauges. The Grandammit would be 2nd. The Malibu always looked to me like someone at GM gave a designer an N-chassis and said, "Make a Camry out of this..." The Buick Skylark and Olds Alero were similar.
Make certain that it will start when cold. Some need a shot of ether for some reason. I have several clients with those cars. I call them "Ether Bunnies". From what I understand, it's a PCM problem related to the A/C compressor clutch of all things. Which doesn't make a bit of sense to me. But I do know that the cars will start and run just fine once they are warm, but will just turn over when cold. No start.
I've seen my fair share of the post 2000 grand am's and they were very solid interior wise. Pre 2000 might have been something else(I believe 99 was the refresh).
I don't know that I would use the word "solid"...it was kind of a mess and lots of little things break. The vinyl will start to peel and crack by the vents...etc...It's not uncommon on GM cars from that era. Don't get me wrong. Interior controls tend to keep working but the paint peels off of them very easily.
My favorite interior of the N-chassis cars was probably the Olds Achieva with the round gauges. The Grandammit would be 2nd. The Malibu always looked to me like someone at GM gave a designer an N-chassis and said, "Make a Camry out of this..." The Buick Skylark and Olds Alero were similar.
Make certain that it will start when cold. Some need a shot of ether for some reason. I have several clients with those cars. I call them "Ether Bunnies". From what I understand, it's a PCM problem related to the A/C compressor clutch of all things. Which doesn't make a bit of sense to me. But I do know that the cars will start and run just fine once they are warm, but will just turn over when cold. No start.
My wife's 2003 runs great even though I abuse it with old oil. She did replace the auto trans. at around 50,000 miles and it tends to eat the chit out of front wheel bearings. I've replaced them five... count them 5 times in two years!! Cheap China parts!! Really sad parts aren't made here any more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Originally Posted By: ridgerunner
Cheap China parts!! Really sad parts aren't made here any more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Can you get Timken bearings for this car? I've yet to see Timkens from China... Although I'm probably jinxing myself by saying that.
Cheap China parts!! Really sad parts aren't made here any more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Can you get Timken bearings for this car? I've yet to see Timkens from China... Although I'm probably jinxing myself by saying that.
I would get one with the 4 cylinder motor also. The ecotech 2.2L is a very good engine.
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Originally Posted By: ridgerunner
My wife's 2003 runs great even though I abuse it with old oil. She did replace the auto trans. at around 50,000 miles and it tends to eat the chit out of front wheel bearings. I've replaced them five... count them 5 times in two years!! Cheap China parts!! Really sad parts aren't made here any more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Have you tried to source non-China parts for it?
My wife's 2003 runs great even though I abuse it with old oil. She did replace the auto trans. at around 50,000 miles and it tends to eat the chit out of front wheel bearings. I've replaced them five... count them 5 times in two years!! Cheap China parts!! Really sad parts aren't made here any more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Have you tried to source non-China parts for it?
Originally Posted By: css9450
Originally Posted By: ridgerunner
Cheap China parts!! Really sad parts aren't made here any more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Can you get Timken bearings for this car? I've yet to see Timkens from China... Although I'm probably jinxing myself by saying that.
Don't know. We only have 2-3 auto parts stores within a 50 mile radius and they all carry the [censored] China parts. Doesn't seem to matter what brand or grade of bearing they all are from China and they all suck donkey balls! Just replaced the drivers side 4 days ago AGAIN!
Originally Posted By: ridgerunner
Cheap China parts!! Really sad parts aren't made here any more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Can you get Timken bearings for this car? I've yet to see Timkens from China... Although I'm probably jinxing myself by saying that.
Don't know. We only have 2-3 auto parts stores within a 50 mile radius and they all carry the [censored] China parts. Doesn't seem to matter what brand or grade of bearing they all are from China and they all suck donkey balls! Just replaced the drivers side 4 days ago AGAIN!
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