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Pontiac Grand Prix - 2000-2005
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So sometimes people flash me or beep me, or move to another lane, but with that supercharger at full boost, I am up to speed and moving further away from them than before..ha!!
One ticket repellant is my Valentine One. I've been saved several times. Having a hud does help with speed regulation as well...
Yesterday, I took off from a stop and I thought my gear selector was in the 2 position. When I was going 10-15 km/h, I shifted it up 2 notches, thinking it would go to D. Unfortunately, the selector was already in D, which means that I shifted into R. Oops! There was kind of like a thud, at which point I realized my mistake and immediately brought it back down to N before going to D.
According to the manual (and common sense), this is very bad for the tranny (the manual says damage may result from shifting into R while moving). I drove back all the way home yesterday and in this morning, looking for anything odd, but it still seems to function like normal. However, I am worried about what that mistake may have done. I am taking the car in on Saturday for an oil change; should I ask them to take a look at the tranny?
In short, I guess what I'm asking is how bulletproof is GM's 4T-40 tranny? What is the likelihood that I damaged something, and how can I tell if I did?
Thanks in advance
Not to rain on your parade, but you did probably the worst thing you could do to your tranny short of running it with no fluid.
That said, if it seems to be running OK, you may have lucked out. The GP transmissions are some of the best in the biz.
Though, the next time:
- do not use automatic transmissions in manual mode, except when driving down a long mountain;
- but, if you need shifting, do not push the safety botton on the shift lever, when switching from 2 or 3 to D.
Anybody input as to when the 3800 starts to run short of breath? Just curious. I'm not interested in trying to find out myself. Someone did post earlier on bumping the 110 speed limiter but did not characterize engine performance in that range.
The 3800 reaches its power peak (200/240hp) at 5200rpm. The redline is at 6000rpm, I have a orange line starting at 5500rpm. Revving the engine faster than 5200rpm is fruitless, as power begins to drop off and the engine really undergoes stress. Your engine will rev all the way to redline if pushed really hard, but it really is pointless, unless you like noise. The fastest I ever get mine is about 5000rpm. I have before hit redline while being way to aggressive with the throttle. I know the engine can handle it, but it still makes me feel uncomfortable. BTW, I have a friend with a '99 SVT Contour. His redline is at 6750rpm. He accidentally downshifted to first gear when he wanted to shift into third coming from fith gear. His tachometer jumped all the way to over 8000rpm for just a split second. Needless to say he wasn't happy. Man, this turned out to be a long post!
As to shifting around, there's this one part where I go everyday that's full of sharp bumps spaced out in 5 metre intervals, followed by stop signs spaced out in 15 metre intervals. I just set the shifter in 2, so that it won't shift to 3rd, which holds my speed down, so that I don't have to keep jumping from accelerator to brake. After I clear that part, the road becomes normal, and I usually shift back to D once I get rolling after the last stop. There is usually no problem, but I was uh, distracted that day and put it in D instead of the usual 2, and stupidly didn't look down at my dash before shifting (problem resulting from having an auto).
yurakm: What is this safety button you're talking about? Is it only on the GP?
96gs: There probably is a computer that is smart enough to stop idiots like me. I'm sure that it exists on the GP tranny, but I wouldn't try it. However, that function doesn't exist for me because my car is a Sunfire (read cheap) and you only get nicer things if you pay more.
This is for tranny safety. You have to press the button by thumb, when shifting from park to rear, then neutral, then D and so on. But it cames into habit very soon, and nobody thinks about the button any more.
Though, when returning the shift from 2 or 3 to D, there is no need to press the button. Without pressing it, the tranny will never jump from D to neutral. Just move the lever forward, till it stops.
Of course, you must check it first with your car, when it does not move.
Do not remember, if ever shifted to 2 our new Regal. Most probably, yes - when tested it on delivery.
The only automatics that I have driven for the last 15 years have been large V8s,so the shifting may just be typical of V6s and nothing to be concerned about??
I guess what I am asking--Should I just leave it in drive? TIA for any response. Gary
The button must be pressed when shifting from the park. Then the lever can be moved, without pressing the button, through R, N, and to D. A potential problem with shifting to D, while still backing-up, but who backs-up fast?
The button must be pressed again to move the lever to 3. Then it can be moved to 2 and even to 1 without pressing the button. At least on Malibu - I need to recheck this again with Regal, to be sure.
In the opposite direction the lever can be moved freely from 1-2-3-D-N. I was wrong in this point: the cars can be put on neutral without pressing the button.
Though, switching from N to R requires the button to be pressed. The same with putting the cars on Park.
I am selling my Grand Prix, or trading it in if it doesn't sell, when my new Wrangler comes in. (I ordered a new Jeep Wrangler Sport Tuesday)
Yeah, Maureen, it's true. I'm getting out of the Grand Prix and into a Wrangler.
I have not one single complaint about the Grand Prix GT. I couldn't have asked more from this car: great looks, good fuel economy, peppy engine, roomy interior, large trunk, and no mechanical problems of any kind in 19,0000 miles.
I just got this urge to have a Jeep, and I hope I don't regret this later.
I would recommend a Grand Prix GT to anyone. For the money spent, you could never begin to get as much value with any other car.
I'll stop by this group once in a while to talk to my buddies. Come on over to Wrangler IV (I think that's the name of the current group) and visit once in a while you guys.
tsjay
heng- That totally depends on how you drive. If you floor it from a dead stop it will rev way past 5200 in a hurry, meaning you're probably only going 25mph or less. Of course if you floor it on the highway, the speed would be much higher. As far as the top speed at 5200rpm, I don't know. I took my car up to the speed limiter once (around 115mph), my car was still only tached at 3600rpm!
yurakm- Thanks for the info.
tsjay- Good luck with the Wrangler. Those are pretty nice vehicles.
Dude, what got into you????
Don't mean to rain in your parade as they say, but I wonder if you'll be a happy camper 6 months down the road driving one of these things?
To each his own!
Good luck with that Wrangler. I would have kept the GP GT in my garage, just in case ;-)
I definitely wish I could afford to keep the Grand Prix and still have a Jeep to play with, but I don't make that kind of lettuce.
I have traded way too often in the past and gotten myself way in the hole. I will HAVE to keep this Jeep for several years, so I'm hoping it will be a vehicle I can be satisfied with.
You guys keep those Grand Prix's all cleaned up and looking good. Take care of them. They are GREAT cars! Mine has never been back to the dealer for any kind of problem in its first 19,000 miles.
I may regret this whole deal, but I sure hope not.
I'll stop by this group pretty often and let you guys know how things are going.
tsjay
I was seriously considering a Regal GS, but at the time I was ordering a GM PEP car they had about 130 GTP coupes available and about 20 GS Regals, so I figured my odds of drawing a car quick were alot better with the Grand Prix.
They called me back in a week and I couldn't be happier than with the one they came up with.
A very well equiped black GTP coupe.
I've hade it for six months and it has been an absolutely perfect car. I think I'll keep it awhile. 8^)
Now that I know my days are numbered with the GP, I am really appreciating her more than ever. This car has been letter perfect since day one: no trips back to the dealer for any kind of warranty work, not even any minor adjustments!
I get great gas mileage, she's really peppy, and she is beautiful!
I wish someone I know would buy her, and not just so I would get more money for her. I would like to know that she would go to someone who would really appreciate her and take good care of her.
Oh well, I hope I enjoy that Jeep. It will have a tough act to follow.
tsjay
Just curious...do you do a lot of serious off-roading? That's really the only reason to have a Jeep. If you like the fact that it can be turned into a convertible, there are better alternatives like a Miata, or the the ChryCo Sebring. The Jeep's top is a bear to put on and take off.
Just be prepared for a terrible ride and woeful handling with the Jeep. On the road, the jeep will beat you to death. It's not very fast and it's loud.
That said, if you do a lot of serious (and I do mean serious) back woods, bolder climbing off-roading, the Jeep is the one to have.
If you do just some unpaved, gravel driving, any of the mini SUVs will please you more (Escape, Rav4, any of the Subarus).
You'll miss the GP more than you think if none of these scenarios is intended for the jeep.
I think a big part of my problem is the fact that I ordered a Jeep rather than just buying one off a dealer's lot. I have never ordered from the factory before, and I would normally be driving that new vehicle at this stage of the game instead of wondering if I had done the right thing.
I still think I want that Jeep, despite the disadvantages. I know I'm giving up a great car.
And, no, graphicguy, I don't plan on any real severe off roading. I just think that a Jeep would be really, really fun to have.
Call me crazy. I will always be a big fan of the Grand Prix after owning this one. You guys take care of your babies. Keep 'em clean and drive them with pride!
tsjay
A friend of mine has a Jeep (2nd one). He loves it. He does zero off-roading.
I'll never downplay what anyone else chooses to drive.
If you don't mind me asking, what do those run these days cost wise?
Oh well dude, enjoy and I sincerely hope you don't regret this Wrangler deal later on.
Besides, since when have Hondas and Nissans been especially fun-to-drive? They are definitely more on the conservative side of the market; Accord is a joke when it comes to performance. And GP being not sporty with an auto? Try the GTP; it's no slower than a Maxima with 5 speed
BTW: when I bought my GP, it was either a Maxima or a GP GT, but the premium gas prices for me were killer. I do wish I could have the GP GT with a 5 speed-that could be the perfect car.
Anyway, my controls do what they say. I have had absolutely no problem. I can't remember the color of the wire; however, there were two(blue, i think) that were similiar. I had it wired to the wrong one initially, and the volume just continued to increase when I pushed the volume button. Check that and if not, call 'em. They seem to be really helpful. Let me know!
I love 5 speeds (6 speeds too). However, they are slowly being phased out.
Now, Grand Prix interiors looking cheap? I never saw that. Wanna see cheap, look at an Intrepid.
Matt Drake I.S.M.
Front wheel drive handles better in poor weather, but with the advent of traction control and active suspensions - we see all the luxury, large and performance sedans all use rear wheel drive.
Look, the Lincoln LS is the first Lincoln ever to have a rear wheel drive manual shift system. Notice how it garnished much praise - because all the good cars (mercedes, bmw) are rear wheel drive.
GM is going to shift some of the larger cars (i.e. Bonneville) to a rear wheel drive chasis in a few years.
If anything, rear wheel drive auto's are becoming more prevelant. And 5 speeds will be in demand by enthusiasts driving the more performance oriented cars.
One thought I had was to get the GT, then swap out the LS tires for RS-A's. Am I right in assuming that there are no suspension differences between the two cars, just tires?
Please give me your input and experiences! Thanks!
1. The supercharged engine drinks about 10% more gas;
2. The 93 premium gas costs about 10% more than the regular 87.
3. The insurance is somewhat higher too. Do not remember the quote exactly, but something like $100 more per year.
4. The property tax also will be somewhat higher.
Total about $300-$350 difference per year.
If you can afford a GP GT on the first place, most probably you also can afford the extra ownership costs of GP GTP. The question is: does it pay or not? Is this the best use of the $300?
Personally, I am sure it does pay for my wife and me. We enjoy the extra power. Much more than, for example, the cable TV. And the enjoyment costs us only about $1 per day, less than the cable.
As to you, it depends on your tastes.
Does anyone have any information as to the reliability of this vehicle?
Also owned older cars with the 3.8 and never had a problem.
website.
Sounds like you saw my birth announcement in Wrangler IV.
Yep, her name is Thelma Jane. The latest generation of Jeep Wranglers are called TJ's, so I needed a name with the initials "TJ," which are, by the way, my initials (Tom Johnson). I told my wife that that was a sign from above that I was supposed to get a new Jeep, but I don't think she bought it.
Did you see my poem in Wrangler IV about getting a Jeep?
I'm hoping for Friday or Saturday for getting my Thelma Jane home. Might be next week though. I think she's still in Toledo right now.
Nice of you to visit over in Wrangler IV. Come visit any time!
tsjay (Thelma's Dad)
Momma don't understand,
And I could just strangle 'er.
Daddy's gotta have,
A brand new Wrangler.
I toss and I turn,
And can't go to sleep.
I'm thinkin' about,
That brand new Jeep.
She's shiny and white,
With a top that is black.
Thirty inch tires,
A spare on the back.
Mortgage the house,
Rob the 401 K.
Get a down payment,
On that new TJ.
Some way some how,
She's gonna be mine.
I'll buy that Jeep,
And Momma can whine!
You guys be good and take care of those Prix's.
Come visit in the Jeep Wrangler IV topic and holler at me.
I'll stop by here once in a while too.
tsjay
Anyway, it was nice to hear from you.
I'll miss all of my Grand Prix buddies, so I hope all of you will come over to Wrangler IV once in a while.
tsjay
http://pm8.ps.photoworks.com/SfwOnline/albums/displayalbum.asp?AlbID=303361
tsjay
My Jeep came in today!!!!
I love it, love it, love it!
tsjay