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Pontiac Grand Am: Fix or Trade???
dianna52092
Member Posts: 4
I currently own a 2000 Pontiac GrandAm GT - scheduled to be paid off in September 06'. My dilemma is this:
Over the past few months the car has developed several problems, with the main problem right now being the head gasket needing replaced. I have had problems for a little while with having to add coolant regularly and not sure why. The pontiac garage says that they pressure tested it and the head gasket needs changed - Cost $400. Ok, how nice to add on top of the $600 I'm putting out to replace the "Quickshock" assembley because the springs broke and the $200 for - yet - another bearing.
Anyway, I am being told that I shouldn't have anything to worry about because it seems it's just the gasket - they didn't take the cap off to check the oil, told me to check when I get home and check for white discoloration. When I checked it at home - it's has a whitish "film" to it???? They told me as long as the oil doesn't have water in it the gasket replacement would fix the problem; Otherwise it could be worse - whatever that means!
HISTORY: The car does have 155,000 miles on it - Yes, I run A LOT!! So guess I should be thankful for the first motor repair not happening sooner. I have had every other problem that is listed on this forum regarding the grand am - from the "wont start" to the "head gasket" (all fixed, some multiple times).
Do I fix it or trade it. Can anyone give me a little insight on how long they think this car will last. The garage says the motors are not know to go - if maintained, they could run forever. I really had NO INTENTION of taking on another car payment, just looking forward to paying this one off!!!!
Over the past few months the car has developed several problems, with the main problem right now being the head gasket needing replaced. I have had problems for a little while with having to add coolant regularly and not sure why. The pontiac garage says that they pressure tested it and the head gasket needs changed - Cost $400. Ok, how nice to add on top of the $600 I'm putting out to replace the "Quickshock" assembley because the springs broke and the $200 for - yet - another bearing.
Anyway, I am being told that I shouldn't have anything to worry about because it seems it's just the gasket - they didn't take the cap off to check the oil, told me to check when I get home and check for white discoloration. When I checked it at home - it's has a whitish "film" to it???? They told me as long as the oil doesn't have water in it the gasket replacement would fix the problem; Otherwise it could be worse - whatever that means!
HISTORY: The car does have 155,000 miles on it - Yes, I run A LOT!! So guess I should be thankful for the first motor repair not happening sooner. I have had every other problem that is listed on this forum regarding the grand am - from the "wont start" to the "head gasket" (all fixed, some multiple times).
Do I fix it or trade it. Can anyone give me a little insight on how long they think this car will last. The garage says the motors are not know to go - if maintained, they could run forever. I really had NO INTENTION of taking on another car payment, just looking forward to paying this one off!!!!
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Comments
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The security system prevents me from starting the car. Has left me stranded on several occasions. Needs to be towed in and have the computer 'reset'.
Very simple fix, just turn your key to the on postion, wait for the security light to stop flashing (approx:10 min.) then start your car.
Remember if you lock your car with the remote do not unlock your doors with the key the car will never start it's a safety feature.
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I too have a 2002 pontiac grand am...the first time I had this problem I thought it was a sensor of some sort, had the car towed. My mechanic pointed out that while the key was turned to the on position the security blinked.. manual instructs that you leave the key in the on position for 10 min and it should stop blinking then it once it stops turn the key to the off position and with out taking the key out turn it to crank the car on, for me it was more like 15 min, So if you have the problem leave the key in the on position an just wait. Solution:Also replaced the tumbler. Pontiac should recall the tumbler the thing cost me $250 to replace.
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I found that the only way to solve this problem is to take it to a dealership. I went to 7 mechanics who "reset" the computer. This is only a short-term solution and will actually end up costing you more. I just got my 2002 Pontiac Grand Am fixed. They had to replace the cylinder and a switch. Total cost? Roughly $600.00.
Over the past few months the car has developed several problems, with the main problem right now being the head gasket needing replaced. I have had problems for a little while with having to add coolant regularly and not sure why. The pontiac garage says that they pressure tested it and the head gasket needs changed - Cost $400. Ok, how nice to add on top of the $600 I'm putting out to replace the "Quickshock" assembley because the springs broke and the $200 for - yet - another bearing.
Anyway, I am being told that I shouldn't have anything to worry about because it seems it's just the gasket - they didn't take the cap off to check the oil, told me to check when I get home and check for white discoloration. When I checked it at home - it's has a whitish "film" to it???? They told me as long as the oil doesn't have water in it the gasket replacement would fix the problem; Otherwise it could be worse - whatever that means!
HISTORY: Bought the car in 2002 - The car does have 155,000 miles on it - bought at 36,000 Yes, I run A LOT!! So guess I should be thankful for the first motor repair not happening sooner. I have had every other problem that is listed on this forum regarding the grand am - from the "wont start" to the "head gasket" (all fixed, some multiple times).
Do I fix it or trade it. Can anyone give me a little insight on how long they think this car will last. The garage says the motors are not know to go - if maintained, they could run forever. I really had NO INTENTION of taking on another car payment, just looking forward to paying this one off!!!! :sick: :sick:
We tried changing the bulb but it didn't solve the problem. I also notice the radio light blinks in conjuction with the left turn signal.
What needs to be done to fix this problem?
1. my seat motor thing that adjust the seat hight went out..
2. my turn signals/ hazard light switch has a mind of its own it goes crazy on me... clicks when ever the hell it fells like.. very annoying.. but not major yet
3. Driver side window broke... the piece the connects the pulley to the window that pulls the window up or down or something broke off along with several other plastic pieces that broke too.. the cables inside are all tangled up i dont know know if " I " can fix that myself or not since all that crap is hard to get too inside the door... i have notice a number of grand ams with window problems too though.. should of got the manual windows...
4. ABS lights comes on alot... i need new struts and shocks but i dont know if i can tackle that one by myself( i live in an apartment which makes it kinda difficult to work on your car ) i mean it rides rough like i got 20in rims or something but i dont... u fell every bump... i think i'm looking at about $600 dollars or more to get my suspension back to a "semi smooth" ride
5. my passenger side window broke just like my driver side did dammit... so in the summer time u know i got the ac on all the time lol... now i have two broken windows that dont wanna stay up.. i managed to shuve a blanket inside both my door 4 when the window falls it dont fall all the way and i can pull it back up. Now i just hope that my back windows dont break also.. so now i gotta get both of them fixed... i wonder if it would b cheaper to find a 2 doors off another grand am in a salvage yard but i dont know
6. my brakes or abs have somthing wrong with them... its like when i go to stop sometimes i have to roll though stop signs... its like the pedal gives out but not really and it seems like the brakes delay a few seconds b4 it stops almost like the car goes into nuetral but not really... i dont know
7. no hard turns 4 my grand am anymore.. when i turn not TOO fast but kinda fast or hard or even when im pressing the back to turn into a parking spot the suspension? or auto arm? or power steering or something i really dont know... but it makes a "buzzing" sound or a "heeellpp me dont turn so hard cry" but i mean i dont turn that hard though
8. my transmission is goin out... well i think it is... it is now making a hard banging noise inbtween shifts and has been getting worst latly.... yes the car has 95,000miles but damn is it time 4 a new engine already or whats next the head gasket blowing and whats that another $1000-$2000 int the future...
:sick:
9. Oh and my keys comes out when the car is in acc or on or running... b4 it would only come out on off... i guess its a good thing that i can take my keys out and leave the radio on lol... but its not suspose to do that...
if i were to add up all the cost of the repairs i might as well trade it in 4 something newer but should i just try to fix it and it may not b as expensize as i think... i dont know??...does any one have any comments or suggustions
However, I will say that the body is solid. I got rear-ended by a flatbed on I-10. The car took a hit and did equally costly damage to a brand new Peterbilt cab. As a result, I will drive the car into the ground as my haul crap from Lowes/IKEA/Home Depot car. I won't trade it in ever since it's only worth $500 according to Blue Book.
I agree with the above--no motor will last forever. However, IMHO, a GM (not a necessarily a Ford or Audi) motor properly maintained should last to at least 200k. Everything else around the motor will probably break first.
I wonder if your belt was improperly installed. I had that problem once. The mechanic (again in the Bay Area) improperly installed my belt. I drove the darn thing for nearly 3000 miles wondering what on earth that strange noise was. I had a mechanic in Baton Rouge (Don't ask!) look at it. I spent another $90 in labor charges getting the belt installed properly. (They have to lift the engine off the mount to do this, so it's not a DIY thing.)
I'm not a mechanic. I've never had my 1993 break down on me. It didn't start three times on me for the entire time I've owned the car. The battery was dead once in 1997. The alternator (first time) went out in 1998 (probably related). I had to get the car towed to my mechanic for the alternator. I had a battery go dead earlier this year. I've had no problems with the starter (knock on hard GM dash plastics) or timing chair ever.
Thanks
Anyway, I first started noticing something wans't right when I drove it one day a few months back and it started making this rattle like sound when I would push on the gas pedel. It started out faint but the more I'd push down and the faster I'd go the louder the rattle would get. After awhile it started acting even weirder. I would be pulling out of somewhere and it would act like it wasn't getting any gas into the engine. I would push all the way down on the pedel and nothing.. then a second later it would jerk back into excelorating again.
There were also a few times it would just die when I had to stop at a stop sign and then id put it in park and start it up again and it would start just fine but then it would start reving itself like someone had their foot on the gas pedel but I didn't. I took it to a shop here in my town and they said they couldn't find what it was. So I left and it started doing that thing where id push on the gas and it'd act like nothing was being pumped into the engine then I heard a :ting: kinda noise and it started back excelorating again. I didn't have a problem with it agian till like a 3 months later. Now its making that horrid rattling noise when i push on the gas and it dies again when I slow down or come to a complete stop. I've also noticed when i start it up and put it in park it acts like it struggles to keep a steddy idle sound. it keeps acting making sounds like its about to die when its idle.
I really don't know what is going on and the people at the shop here have no answers. Hopefully someone can help me? Could it be the fuel pump?