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#1
How to Make the Most of my 2004 Grand Prix GT
SE Level Member
04-30-2019
Hello,
I picked up a 2004 Grand Prix GT in 2014. She was kept in a garage by a grandma who drove it to church and to the grocery store, and had less than 65,000 miles and was kept very nice.
In the intervening years she has been a reliable daily runner for my 70 mile round trip commute. I'm pushing 140,000 miles and only major issue I had was a troubling stalling situation on the freeway when the MAP sensor suddenly failed. (I replaced the PCV valve at the time just for good measure)
She needs some TLC now that the winter is (mostly) over in Wisconsin. So I have some planned maintenance and things I want to do.
-Struts and Links
-Fuel Sending unit (currently shows full all the time)
-Noisy wheel bearing
-Brakes - Rotors and Pads
-Coolant Flush
-New Battery cables as mine are rather messed up.
-Detailing. The winter was brutal and the mess is real.
-Replace DS sideview mirror. The one I had was damaged in a parking lot, so I got a gray (my car is silver) one to get through the winter, but I've found a silver one.
I would love to hear suggestions of things I can do to make her really her best for the next few years. This all started because a lot of maintenance came up at once and I started car shopping and honestly, i'm not ready for the expense or the change of life of a new car, I really like my Pontiac and for a few monthly payments that would go to a used G8, SS or Challenger, I could really put some TLC and maybe even improvements to her, but I don't really know where to start in terms of performance. She has a small oil leak but I stay on top of it and I do my changes very regularly. Otherwise she has no major issues but if I can get a bit more growl out of her without too much modification, that would be cool too.
I'm handy enough to do all the above work myself with a bit of help from my dad for the two-person jobs, but I know very little about tuning or modifying a car.
Last edited by reenact12321; 04-30-2019 at 12:07 PM.
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#2
Re: How to Make the Most of my 2008 Grand Prix GT
04-30-2019
Welcome to the forum. Check out the "Safely Modding" thread linked below. Sounds like that's what you're looking for. It was a great help to me back in the day.
Safely Modding Your 3800 Powered Car!!
Originally Posted by
reenact12321
...and for a few monthly payments that would go to a used G8, SS or Challenger, I could really put some TLC and maybe even improvements to her...
Smart!
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#3
How to Make the Most of my 2004 Grand Prix GT
SE Level Member
04-30-2019
Apparently I can't type today. To clarify it is a 2004. Title edited.
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#4
Re: How to Make the Most of my 2008 Grand Prix GT
SE Level Member
04-30-2019
A lot of great information Brandon. I'm looking through it now. It looks like the challenge will be to figure out what is pertinent to a non-super-charged 3800, and if it will still pass SE Wisconsin emissions after. lol. Thanks!
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#5
Re: How to Make the Most of my 2004 Grand Prix GT
GT Level Member
04-30-2019
on the detailing-how far ya want to go? polishing up paint isnt that bad with the right products and buffer. underhood detailing isnt bad either. a bit time consuming but not bad to make em purdy with the right products.
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#6
Re: How to Make the Most of my 2004 Grand Prix GT
SE Level Member
04-30-2019
It could definitely use the full-clean. I've heard of people clay-barring paint, I should look into that. As for the engine compartment, blasting grease off might not be a bad idea. The oil seepage has definitely left some grunge.
I don't know if I'll be able to get to pulling down the intakes to get at all the leaks but might as well clean what's there. Any info you have on doing up the paint would be appreciated 
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#7
Re: How to Make the Most of my 2004 Grand Prix GT
GT Level Member
05-01-2019
ive done paint correction/buffing for about 14 years now. always start with a thorough wash. when im going to be buffing i use dawn dish soap in my wash bucket. hit the wheel wells,rockers, and under the bumpers good with water to get any grit off the car. clean the jambs real good,too. i do that to get any grit that could come out when running the buffer-grit on the pad can wreak havoc.
then onto clay bar. i dont bother with the spray lubes that can come in a kit- i just put a few drops of dawn dishsoap in a buck and use that as the lube. do the entire car-even the glass.
i have a porter cable 7424- its a dual action buffer/polisher. impossible to screw up paint with it. doesnt build up heat. takes longer than a rotary. theres other brands on the market like it but i bought this 14 years ago and its still running strong.
pads- i use lake country CCS orange pads
Lake Country CCS Pads, lake country polishing pads, ccs buffing pads
for both cut and polish.
for products, ive been using meguiars since i started. i like to keep the same manufacturer for all detailing products as....welp....its quite overwhelming the amount of manufacturers and their detailing products. plus, meguiars has been working for me pretty good.
for the first pass i use meguiars M100
Meguiars M100 Pro Speed Compound
its designed for a will pad and rotary but it works great with the DA,too.
when im happy with the results i switch to megs m205 and the orange pads. m205 is a polish and pretty nice to work with.
Meguiars Mirror Glaze #205 Ultra Finishing Polish, final polish, Meguiars polishes, car polish, 205 FP
after that-especially on darker paints- i use megs #7 glaze
Meguiars #7 Show Car Glaze is a final step auto glaze to enhanced the gloss prior to wax application. Get a show car shine with Meguiars #7 Show Car
if i wasnt right there seeing the depth it adds i dont think id see it.
but i like it.
then this wax
Meguiars #21 Synthetic Sealant 2.0
theres some good videos on the YT on using a DA polisher. heres one showing how safe they are
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XAqpOe9Zt4
junkman has some good videos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KP-eAddv2sk
