Hello-
We have owned our '99 Grand Prix GT since we bought it as a theft recovery in 2005 that my buddy who worked for a local Pontiac dealer rebuilt and drove personally for a while.
We had a baby on the way and discovered our LeBaron convertible's trunk was too small for the stroller.
In any case, six years later and 200,000 miles, it's been a good car. Had to replace an AC compressor and a trans solenoid at 150k, some alignment issues (no matter what, it cups up the inner edges of tires) and a steering rack leak. OE cat came apart inside, replaced with a Magnaflow. No rust as it's a GA car, I keep the silver paint waxed.
Lately, she's showing her age. Water pump shaft sheared a month ago, first time on the "stretcher" as it was on a down town city street and I did not want to lay on the curb fixing it. A power window motor or two.
Here is the latest- it occasionally idles really rough on start up. Wife reports the tach needle bounces and it lurches once in awhile. On monday after dropping the kid off at her first day of first grade, it jerked, made a belt squeel, and shutoff at about 40mph on an on ramp. Luckily she was able to wrench it over to a side BEFORE she was in the gaurdrailed part in traffic..... she said the check engine AND Traction Control lights flickered.
Car restarted, she drove on in to work. I followed her home after work. Did some checking, leaning towards crank sensor. Took the car to the shop of a former co worker of the tech I bought the car from (he moved out of state) and explained it all to him. He acted like he had never heard of this issue before, but I figured he has a Tech II scan tool and all I have is a code reader....
Next day he calls, says I have a bad oxy sensor, which I already figured out as I had a PO141 and the fuel economy isn't what it used to be. I asked again if there was ANYTHING stored and he said no. So I paid him to install the sensor. Oh yeah and I have a small crack in the radiator...more good news.
We pick up the car and I drive it on home the few miles, no problems.
I have done enough research before posting here to see that the CKPS is a common cause of these symptoms. I do deal with electronically controlled diesels at work all day long, and am therefore skeptical of the "just throw expensive sensors at it" school of mechanics...too often I see a circuit problem. Which is why I am posting this. Is there a way to "test" this sensor or it's circuitry path, or should I just put a new one in?
Is there a learn proceedure to be done?
Money is tight right now in the household, and I want to be sure I am repairing the right thing. I'm sure y'all can indentify with that thought.
Eric
