Thread: NEWBIE HERE,NEED HELP! 97 pontiac grand prix 3.8Pont

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  1. #1 NEWBIE HERE,NEED HELP! 97 pontiac grand prix 3.8Pont 
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    Hello After researching on this forum for years every time my car has problems, im finally stumped and have to actually ask as i cant locate a solution here! Any advice HELPS! Quick background, I was given this GP seven years ago and up until last year, i had a live in mechanic. We broke up,now im screwed when something goes wrong! Car just hit 200K last week. I live in FL where it gets flooded pretty often. Last night i was attempting to get to my moms when the rain let up. The roads had standing water in some parts, but other cars where going just fine. I started going through the first large area of water, about a foot or less deep. I kept under 10 mph. Everything was fine. Next body of water, i did the same thing, but right towards the end, i felt the damn belt come off. All the signs, dimmed int lights, no power steering, etc. Well i babied it home,as i was only about half a mile away luckily. The belt does this often when i have to go through rain,even though the pulley is brand new? Anyhow, got it home, let it dry in garage for a few hours, then put belt back on. Left it in the driveway over night. Got in it this morning noticed my check engine light was on,and started on my way to the store (as i got screwed on din din the night before!) Got maybe half a mile, go to slow down to turn, and car SHUTS OFF! No warning,nothing. All lights inside stayed on, obviously not a battery issue. So i checked the belt, not it. It cranked right back up and i headed for home. It shut off and cranked back up almost four times before i made it home. So i got it in the garage ans started checking things. I took the MAP sensor off and let it run, it idled BAD and and when i pressed the gas,then slowly let off, it shuts off. So i tried with the MAF sensor too, same! So where im at right now, the car sounds pretty bad while idling, but isint dying when left alone. Give it a little gas in park, and as soon as you let off the gas, thats when she is dying. I have heard it could be my IACV, my o2 sensor, MAF sensor, MAP sensor, or last but not least, my crank shaft sensor. I was hoping with all the details i listed that someone could advise on a more exact solution. I live quite a ways from EVERYTHING....Autozone is about three miles away,(to have it hooked up to a computer because the CEL is now on!) which i guess isint horribly far, but this car is my first car and im terrified of screwing it up worse. I dont have a lot of money to waste as im a newly single young "kid" (24,thats young,right?!lol) paying my own ways these days! Please, anything you can come up with, i will listen! I dont know what every part under the hood is, but i know a good deal since this poor beast has had to have repairs at home quite a few times! THANKS SO MUCH IN ADVANCE!!! -Kate (southernones@gmail.com)
    ****Pontiac grand prix GT 3.8 (1997)
    ****Up to date on oil change
    ****Recent full tune up done
    ****Just hit 200K
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  2. #2 Re: NEWBIE HERE,NEED HELP! 97 pontiac grand prix 3.8Pont 
    Killa Bee Scottydoggs's Avatar
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    you need to get the code read. it will tell you whats wrong 99% of the time. or point you in the right direction.

    98 Buick Regal GS, F body brakes, Caddy STS wheels, tinted tails L36 bottom end, lightly ported heads, 1.95 roller rockers, headers, gen 5 N* 3.0 pulley, FSIC, 42 lb injectors, a BrandonHall rebuilt trans, DHP tuned and AEM water/Meth injection https://goo.gl/gpV5kW
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  3. #3 Re: NEWBIE HERE,NEED HELP! 97 pontiac grand prix 3.8Pont 
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    I know...but driving it like that sounds HORRIBLE! Im worried i will take this one little problem and end up making it so much worse by driving it! The RPM are shooting around in idle-_- We have a tropical depression over us until Wednesday, so its pouring and flooded here just like it was yesterday. I dont want to drive through it, I will end up stranded again! Sigh...the woes of Florida living i suppose :/ lol
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  4. #4 Re: NEWBIE HERE,NEED HELP! 97 pontiac grand prix 3.8Pont 
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    and thank you for your response, btw!
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  5. #5 Re: NEWBIE HERE,NEED HELP! 97 pontiac grand prix 3.8Pont 
    Killa Bee Scottydoggs's Avatar
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    if the rpm's are surging that could be a vac leak. is the map and maf hooked back up?

    if you have some carb cleaner you can spray it around the engine while its at idle, if the rpm's jump up you found the leak area.


    if you cant find a vacuum leak, you can try unhooking the battery for 30 minutes, that will clear the code and maybe make it run better till the code trips the cel again. with any luck you make it to a parts store with a code reader. you'll have to hope the light comes back on by that time really so it can be read.

    98 Buick Regal GS, F body brakes, Caddy STS wheels, tinted tails L36 bottom end, lightly ported heads, 1.95 roller rockers, headers, gen 5 N* 3.0 pulley, FSIC, 42 lb injectors, a BrandonHall rebuilt trans, DHP tuned and AEM water/Meth injection https://goo.gl/gpV5kW
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  6. #6 Re: NEWBIE HERE,NEED HELP! 97 pontiac grand prix 3.8Pont 
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    I dont have carb cleaner,used the last of it changing the pulley,but you can bet i will be picking some up when i get to the parts store! I will try un-hooking the battery like you suggested just as soon as there is a break in the rain! Thanks for the ideas! Do you think the belt slipping off and or the water had part in this, or just a funny coincidence? Getting old having one thing after another go wrong!
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  7. #7 Re: NEWBIE HERE,NEED HELP! 97 pontiac grand prix 3.8Pont 
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    Not sure if it matters but i just got the IAC valve out, it is noticeably dirty (old car ya know) and the little piece sticking out, doesnt move in or out freely.... might make no difference, but thought i would share...
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  8. #8 Re: NEWBIE HERE,NEED HELP! 97 pontiac grand prix 3.8Pont 
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    wet belts can come off. you may have a bad pulley or tensioner tho.

    what engine do you have, n/a or supercharged?

    98 Buick Regal GS, F body brakes, Caddy STS wheels, tinted tails L36 bottom end, lightly ported heads, 1.95 roller rockers, headers, gen 5 N* 3.0 pulley, FSIC, 42 lb injectors, a BrandonHall rebuilt trans, DHP tuned and AEM water/Meth injection https://goo.gl/gpV5kW
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  9. #9 Re: NEWBIE HERE,NEED HELP! 97 pontiac grand prix 3.8Pont 
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    i have a 3.8, series 2, non supercharged. The whole pulley system and belt where replaced three months ago. Belt only comes off when wet, but the belt is on fine now, these other problems started as soon as i went to drive it this morning after it sat in the driveway through strong storms last night :/
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  10. #10 Re: NEWBIE HERE,NEED HELP! 97 pontiac grand prix 3.8Pont 
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    is the splash shield still there under the balancer? if thats missing i could see it tossing a belt in deep water maybe.

    thing is when the belt comes off if it got wrapped up behind the balancer ( the big pulley at the bottom) it can damage the crank sensor harness, or the crank sensor itsself. happened to another member.

    98 Buick Regal GS, F body brakes, Caddy STS wheels, tinted tails L36 bottom end, lightly ported heads, 1.95 roller rockers, headers, gen 5 N* 3.0 pulley, FSIC, 42 lb injectors, a BrandonHall rebuilt trans, DHP tuned and AEM water/Meth injection https://goo.gl/gpV5kW
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  11. #11 Re: NEWBIE HERE,NEED HELP! 97 pontiac grand prix 3.8Pont 
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    Splash shield is there... Crazy! I had that idea about the crank sensor, but after i searched around online i was lead more towards IAC because of the symptoms. I was also informed that the crank sensor is some hard work to replace. And the needed tools are expensive! Is there any way to check that part exclusively? Or is getting this bad boy to Autozone to be hooked up my only good option? Thanks again!!!!
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  12. #12 Re: NEWBIE HERE,NEED HELP! 97 pontiac grand prix 3.8Pont 
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    getting the code read is the first thing to do. go from there. everything is a guess till the code is read.

    if you have a smart phone you can buy a obd2 blue tooth adapter and buy the torque app for your phone. about 20 bucks all together.

    or buy a cheap code reader on line, cheap-o's are 20 bucks. ( or less) <<<<<real cheap-o lol

    98 Buick Regal GS, F body brakes, Caddy STS wheels, tinted tails L36 bottom end, lightly ported heads, 1.95 roller rockers, headers, gen 5 N* 3.0 pulley, FSIC, 42 lb injectors, a BrandonHall rebuilt trans, DHP tuned and AEM water/Meth injection https://goo.gl/gpV5kW
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  13. #13 Re: NEWBIE HERE,NEED HELP! 97 pontiac grand prix 3.8Pont 
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    ...........I went to un-plug the battery to see if that helps just enough to get it to a computer....while i was doing that, i took the IAC out, leaving it plugged in. I kicked the car to "on" but didnt start it. As soon as i did, the piston looking thing in the middle of the IAC shot right the heck out! So, im sending my roommate to grab me another one since thats def broke. Im waiting on him to get back to put it in....hopefully that fixes everything. If not, im crossing my fingers and trying to head to Autozone! I will re-post when i find out, and thank you so much for all the ideas!!!!!
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  14. #14 Re: NEWBIE HERE,NEED HELP! 97 pontiac grand prix 3.8Pont 
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    stop tinkering till the code is read........i give ya credit for trying things out, but the code holds the key to your issue.

    why run in circles when the code will point you in the right direction?

    98 Buick Regal GS, F body brakes, Caddy STS wheels, tinted tails L36 bottom end, lightly ported heads, 1.95 roller rockers, headers, gen 5 N* 3.0 pulley, FSIC, 42 lb injectors, a BrandonHall rebuilt trans, DHP tuned and AEM water/Meth injection https://goo.gl/gpV5kW
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  15. #15 Re: NEWBIE HERE,NEED HELP! 97 pontiac grand prix 3.8Pont 
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    Possible tension pulley problem. If the tensioner pulley is not putting enough pressure on the belt it could slip off when excessive amounts of water get to it .
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