Thread: Narrowed Down My Search - Seeking Final Opinions On 2004 Grand Prix - Buying For Son

2004 GT Silver. 135k miles, new tires, brakes about a year old, rear and front struts replaced within 3 years. Both front bearings are new. Interior looks clean.

The son owned the car for the last 3 years and stepped to a new truck. I spoke with the father who is a mechanic and bought it from the son to get him out from under it. He said his son was very anal about taking good care of it.

He said it has a small exhaust leak where the pipe hooks to muffler. Said if he would take it to Tuffy and have them replace it from the cat back. $4100.

Or, if I want to take it as is he would sell it for $3900.

I think I'm only a little eh because the engine looks dirty compared to the nice clean ones you see in a lot of pics but that's probably nothing but a bit of detailing right? I shouldn't let that sway my opinion.

All the other ones I've looked at and have been calling on are either scammers, mini dealers, lots have negative incidents on the carfax reports, some were big differences in miles compared to what they stated in the adds, etc.

It's about 1.5 hours away so I want to be pretty sure I want it before making the drive.

Thoughts?

http://lansing.craigslist.org/cto/4863286461.html

dirty engine bay doesn't bother me.. Nothing a 5 min quick detail can't take off. Interior itself looks good which is a better sign. Price is a tad bit high still I would think being a 10+ year old car with 135k. A few things to check for are obviously rust.. The typical previous gens sign like rockers/strut towers etc. check if the lim have been done if not use that to your advantage to get the price even lower. Bearings well those are common in our cars so I wouldn't let that justify the price especially because cheap bearings could have easily been installed. I say if you can get it around $3500 or so and everything drives and works fine then your good and leaves some wiggle room for any potential repairs.

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REDCOMPG,
For the LIM gasket, is that something I can easily see to check?

Not sure what you mean by "previous gens sign like rockers/strut towers"?

He said Tuffy quoted him $130 for the exhaust fix so I guess I should consider that. Before I knew that I was thinking of trying to get it for $3800-$3900. Anything that looks like I could get for $3500 in the area doesn't look so hot. G]From what I've seen anyway.

There's this one but it's got 13k more miles and isn't a GT. Not sure about how he had to replace the break lines either.

http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/cto/4819861428.html

look where the lower intake meets the heads, if you see a black gasket its still got plastic crap, if you see silver its the new upgraded gaskets.

That can be expensive, but also can be done at home. Found a decent (See LIM pull correction below) video on how to. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZjEKSqR5Qg

I would hedge a bet that the LIM has not been changed on the car. A mechanic would boast about this trying to sway the mind of a leery buyer. In a shop that will be pricey as all hell, however it would take a weekend for a first timer to do slowly and safely. Plenty of how to and step by step write ups on here this is where I learnt how to do my first LIM job!

I'd try to get the guy down to 3500.00 if the lim hasnt been done. As scotty says take the plastic engine cover off and look between where the lower intake meets the heads. a silver gasket will mean it has been done!

Good luck

Originally Posted by EJOUIE

That can be expensive, but also can be done at home. Found a good video on how to. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZjEKSqR5Qg

if you ff to 18:40 he shows how not to lift the lim off the engine. break the plastic elbow, then break it free like he showed, but lift that damn thing up and away as dead level as you can, or you'll have coolant dump right into the engine like seen in the vid.

^ lmao I noticed that too.


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My personal opinion is that someone who is "anal" about car maintenance will have a clean engine bay. They would also have the LIM changed already. I would question their maintenance abilities if they have the black plastic gasket in there still.

My 08 is showing some rust from between the 2 pieces of metal where they pinch welded and folder the rear quarter panels over the tires. Also, check along inside bottom of the doors - I have a bunch of rust on the rear passenger door where the metal was folded over and the door drain holes are.

I wouldn't say its a bad choice by any means, just cover all your bases. Check all the fluids right away and don't be afraid to walk away.

Originally Posted by Scottydoggs

if you ff to 18:40 he shows how not to lift the lim off the engine. break the plastic elbow, then break it free like he showed, but lift that damn thing up and away as dead level as you can, or you'll have coolant dump right into the engine like seen in the vid.

I always pull off the lower rad hose and shop vac the coolant out.

Originally Posted by bobc455

For what it's worth, I bought my current GT from a GM Mechanic, and although he had performed a lot of maintenance on the car (almost to the point I would consider anal), he had never changed the LIM gasket either.

That is definitely a worthy consideration.

I've been discussing the exhaust repair with the seller. His original quote from Tuffy ($130) was without replacing the resonator (which he says is good) and with only one muffler. It's $395 to replace cat back with 2 mufflers and resonator. Since the resonator is good it would be $80 less.

My thoughts on that is to have him knock the price down $400 and I have Tuffy replace the system from the CAT back.

Thoughts?

As far as replacing the LIM myself.... I've done some of my own repairs in the past like alternator, starter... little things like that. And that's been a while. I'm not saying I'm probably not capable but I don't have any special tools if needed and I've become the type to just hire stuff out. I'm 50 now, no longer have a pole barn and just don't like spending my time doing that stuff anymore.

With that being said, do you still recommend I tackle the LIM replacement job?

Also, is there any chance the original (assuming it does have the plastic one) could last for another 50-70k?

Man, I gotta be honest with you guys..... with the exhaust issue and all the talk about replacing the LIM..... I'm wondering if I shouldn't just buy my son a Taurus?!

NOOOOOO NOT A TAURUS!

The LIM is something I would want to tackle sooner rather than later. IF you see coolant "pooling" in the valley around the injectors it requires immediate attention. If it doesn't seem bad just make sure you keep an eye on that area. If it goes you will milkshake your oil and the motor will be shot 999 times out of 1000.

We will all recommend the LIM as mandatory maintenance as we are all anal about our vehicles. Otherwise we would not be on an extinct platforms forum debating 3000 dollars cars!

Aside from a torque wrench you wont need an extensive tool cabinet. Standard sockets and patience.

OK, more updates. I asked the seller if they had ever replaced the LIM from the plastic to metal one and his reponse was:

" Yes, metal. Has a new metal plentom as well. Head was done a year ago".

I take this to be good news?

My car went 130,000 mi before the LIM went. I switched to the green stuff at about 90,000 mi though. The metal ones are the better option, but GM did release a revised plastic one. Still not as good as the metal, but if he has done that with proof (receipts) then at least the maintenance confidence can be redeemed. Outside of the enthusiasts I doubt people would even check about having a metal gasket instead when getting the repair done.

Changing the LIM immediately isn't a necessity. We just passionately recommend them as most of us can do the job themselves. What is a necessity though is switching out the coolant to the green stuff. Then just keep an eye on things. Look for the coolant leaks, monitor the temp closely, etc.

Originally Posted by JCWarrior

OK, more updates. I asked the seller if they had ever replaced the LIM from the plastic to metal one and his reponse was:

" Yes, metal. Has a new metal plentom as well. Head was done a year ago".

I take this to be good news?

That's a good sign, if its true but the head bit is worrying. I hope it means that the head gasket was replaced just as a preventive item and not an actual head.

As EJOUIE states, find out what exactly was done to the heads....

Lim is over and done with. thats one thing off the worry list.