Thread: My list of problems!

Hello, I'm new tot he boards, though I've been browsing for a while. I just bought a 2000 GTP, and its having a few problems:

1. Foot to the floor, and all that happens is the tach revs up, but doesn't get past 3000-3500 revs. From what I've read, it could be the pressure control solenoid or torque converter. I dont have enough cash to get them changed at a garage, so does anyone know the exact cause of the problem, and if I can change/replace it myself?

The supercharger squeals, but the pick-up seems slow to catch on for such a big engine, and the tach pretty much stays at 3000 revs, even if I floor it. I did read that adding some sort of fluid that makes the tranny oil more slippery and the shift's less rough. Is that a good idea?

Any help would be awesome!

2. The EGR valve was causing the SES light to come on, but I cleaned it and now the light's gone and the engine seems to respond better. However, I'm not sure if it is contributing to the GTP's slow pick-up speed. Any ideas?

3. My security light keeps flashing, though on the keyless remote, the alarm button still activates the alarm. Anything to worry about?

4. Does anyone have an idea about how to view the codes generated by the car, without buying an expensive scanner/computer? My friend has a 97 corvette c5, and he can view the codes generated by his car, so I reckon there has to be a way to get this done.

I know there are a lot of questions here, and maybe they aren't all in the right section of the forums, but seriously lads, any help would be appreciated.

Cheers!

problem number 1 if your doing it in nuetral or drive is the rev limiter , so you dont blow the motor up reving the snot out of it.

Yep, I thought that at first too, but it refuses to do it in any gear, even if I'm driving along a straight empty road, being gentle on the gas. That's why I figured it wasn't the rev limiter.

Cheers!

You need to scan so you can get the code that set the SES light. I got my Autotap awhile ago, before the tuners that are out now that can tune,scan, and all that good stuff. It sucked spending the money on the autotap because there was not an immediate payoff like doing a mod and feeling the car go faster or run better. But, I assure you, that Autotap has paid for itself many times over the last 3-4 years. You can find them on the classifieds all the time, either an Autotap or DHP Tuner or HP Tuner.
But anyway, how many miles are on the car, and do you know any history on the car? I am having trouble completely understanding what you are talking about with the shifts as well.

Go to autozone or something like that and get it scanned for free and let us know what the codes that they give you are.

Originally Posted by 98SilvermistGTP

You need to scan so you can get the code that set the SES light. I got my Autotap awhile ago, before the tuners that are out now that can tune,scan, and all that good stuff. It sucked spending the money on the autotap because there was not an immediate payoff like doing a mod and feeling the car go faster or run better. But, I assure you, that Autotap has paid for itself many times over the last 3-4 years. You can find them on the classifieds all the time, either an Autotap or DHP Tuner or HP Tuner.
But anyway, how many miles are on the car, and do you know any history on the car? I am having trouble completely understanding what you are talking about with the shifts as well.

I took my car to Autozone, but they said they didn't scan cars anymore, so after what you wrote, I'm thinking that I should buy the Equus 3030 Innova scanner, which I can get for 60$. I reckon I should buy it, but what do you think?

Umm, sorry for not giving full info on the car. Its done 76,000 miles, but it was sitting in the previous (second) owners garage for about a year, so its bound to have some problems. He's changed the stock 3.8" SC pulley to a 3.4". I had to get an engine oil change done, and I got the whole car checked out and the engine was ok. The mechanic told me there might be a problem with the torque converter, and that it could cause a problem later (though he said the transmission was fine). I checked out the car's history on CARFAX and it showed no problems there. That's about all I have on the history of the car. I did get an EGR code, but after reading some of the advice on this site, I cleaned it with brake cleaner and its working fine now.

I am an idiot, since I should have gotten the list of codes from the mechanic then, but I figured there must be a way to display the codes in the car itself (I can do that on my friend's 97 corvette.)

RE the shifts: What happens is that when I drive the car, I step on the gas pedal, and the engine pulls till about 2500 revs, but if I try and push it beyond that, the revs jump to over 3-4000 without any corresponding pull from the engine. I have to essentially shift gears under 2500 revs. I can never seem to get any response from the engine past 2500 revs despite being gentle on the accelerator pedals - the moment it crosses 2500, the number of revs jump without any corresponding pull on the engine (I believe the term 'free revving' may be applicable)

I hope that makes it clearer.

Thanks for your help!

Cheers.

That does not sound good. Look on all the classifieds of all the forums(clubgp.com, 3800pro.com,grandprixforums.net, ebay.com) for a scanner. I dont know anything about the scanner you mentioned, but you need one with GM enhanced perameters and can data log. Most of them can read codes and clear them. Some of the trans codes will not set the service engine soon light. Another thing that helps is the service manuals. I got the GM service manuals for a 1998 GTP and those have helped alot to.
Just do not go get a flush on the trans. I know I will get flamed for saying that, but I will never get a flush done to a car I own the rest of my life after what happened with mine. Does the trans shift through all the gears? You should be able to tell when the torque converter locks up, should be after the shift into third gear. Check your trans fluid level(Drive the car around for awhile to make sure the engine is warm, park on a level surface, take the shifter through all the gears a couple of times and put it back in park, leave the car running and check the fluid) It should have a pinkish red color, maybe a little darker if it has never been changed, smell it to see if it has a burnt smell, and of course make sure it is in the operating range. Some of these cars will react to being just 3/4 of a quart low. Make sure it is not overfilled as well. They deffinitely dont like that. If you have the means to drop the pan and change the filter you should do that as well. You will need a new filter(GM OE filter will run you 40-50$), you can reuse the gasket and you will need 7-8 quarts(manual says 7.4 on pan drop). Then you can bust open the old filter to see if you have any shiny goodies in there or an excessive amount of clutch material. You will see a dusting of clutch material, that is normal. That free-reving you are talking about is probably a sign of a rebuild in your future.
Something else I noticed was the 3.4 pulley. Are there any other mods done to the car? If not, you are really hurting that car running that pulley on a stock set up. If I had to guess, some jacka$$ had it and put that 3.4 pulley on there and drove the p1ss out of it and killed the trans in the process.

Thanks for the heads up on the scanner, and the manual.

You're right about the pulley. I've been looking for one, and I came across this:
Qwikchange Supercharger Pulley System - PFYC

I can get the stock size 3.8" one for about 80$. Sound good, or are there other options? The Pontiac dealer said he could only give me the whole supercharger, and not just the pulley. There are no other mods as far as he told me, and nothing else I've come across.

I'll definitely check out the tranny and let you know how that seems. I hope he didn't completely kill it. I probably wont be able to get a rebuild done until the end of February!

Thanks for your help dude.

Cheers!

If you are going to mod the car down the road, than a modular pulley system would be a good investment. That way you could put a 3.8 back on there until you do some supporting mods. If you are not going to do any mods, I am sure you can find somebody with an undamaged 3.8 they pulled off, and you can get a puller and put it back on.
You need to get that trans checked out. Where is Oxnard anyway? Edit: I looked it up....

I don't know if I'm going to do any mods down the road, because currently, my visa allows me to stay here for about a year. If I stay on here then I would probably mod it. Right now I'd settle for a car that runs fine!

Cheers!

Yeah, i read your other post about the coolant in the oil.....sh1tty