Thread: Need Advice on 97 GTP

Originally Posted by Toasty

sitting that long shouldnt be too much of an issue... but take some seafoam or heet with you for the gas...

Thats a good point, could be some water or moisture in the fuel. As for your maintenance it seems like you're on point. However, with regards to the coolant flush, it is far better to do a complete flush. If you have the funds to take it a tire shop or someplace like that that offers cooling system flushes, I would recommend doing that. The reason for this is that if you just drain whats in the radiator and replace it, you are essentially mixing perfectly good coolant with some that may be depleted (and there are additives and inhibitors in coolant that need to be replenished) and you just dont do yourself or the cooling system any favors by doing that.

With regards to the transmission flush. Its really the same thing. You're pouring in new fluid with worn out fluid. There is a lot of fluid in left in the torque converter if you just do a pan drop and filter change. I have never had any problems flushing transmissions but I respect your concerns. So to that end I would recommend just doing a pan drop and filter change with basic Dexron ATF. Drive that around for a while and make sure everything works properly and once you are happy with that, then do a full flush.

Maybe Trannyman will step in here and give his comments on flushing the tranny, he would be a much more respected source of information than I as he is probably one of if not the top builder of 4T65E's in the nation.

Originally Posted by GTPluv

My car sits all summer And, my supercharger has always crackled. It seems to be Fine! Everyone had told me that it was normal.
Can't wait for pictures!!!!

I dont think its supposed to crackle there Lori. It will run, as mine has for a good long time, but its not good for it overall.

Just for comparision. I bought my current GTP 2.5 years ago. It had 130k miles on it then. It had the 3.4 pulley, lowered, 18s, tint, and some other mods. 2 door, blk on blk, no HUD or sunroof. Maintenance records with the car. I paid $3200. So I would not pay over $3000 for that car. Not many people will buy that with that many miles on it. So I would offer him $2800 and let him think about it. It he takes it good. If not, go for $3000. But I would not pay more than that. Don't get over anxious about getting a GTP. There will be more out there.

Originally Posted by Zef_66

Don't get over anxious about getting a GTP. There will be more out there.

Very good point Zef. There are a couple here in town on car lots waiting to be sold. If I had more money I would be on top of one of them for sure.

Thanks guys - your quick and helpful responses are appreciated!

I already have an appt today at the dealership for a supercharger oil ($125 - why so expensive?) and engine oil ($26) change... and I'm also going to have them look it over.

I'm also going to check over the tranny fluid - but I think I will just first do a change, with fear that if I do a flush it will start leaking and take a poop on me. As for coolant - I'm nervous that the flush will conclude in the same result in leaks... but we'll see. I can do the coolant change myself... but I dont want to mess with the tranny fluid change in this crappy weather.

Your comparisson in price makes me a little uneasy. I did offer him $2800 cash, but he quickly said he can't take any lower than $3000 for it (and said he got 3 other phone calls about the car). I suppose $3000 cash is good - the interior is pretty much mint, and the only aging on the exterior is the rust and some paint chips off the front bumper.

I still am very convinced on getting it though! I'm going to pick it up today at 2:00pm and have a 3:00pm appt at the dealership! Wish me luck!

Alright well the guy just called me and said that its not the window motor.... its the window switch. He said something about changing the polarity and it went up and down fine... so how hard is it to replace a switch?

Can I just buy a new switch panel on ebay for like $20 bucks and just pop it in there? That easy? Let me know ASAP! thanks.

There was a how to on here about fixing just that issue. Its in the How To section, but you could also contact Ed Morad (Grand Prix used parts dealer) and probably get one from him.

Furthermore, $126 is outrageous to change out the supercharger oil. The oil itself is only $8/bottle and you only need two. I would pass on that.

Allow me to say, if you are uneasy about it, then wait for another deal. Depending on how bad you need a ride I would see if I could find something else. Im not saying there is or you will have issues with the car, what I am saying is that if you yourself are having second thoughts, its time to pass and see what else you can find.

I agree with Scotty, if you feel uneasy now, you will surely feel even worse when something breaks. I got caught up in the buzz of my first GTP and paid probably more than I should have. Luckily I got all that back and more from the insurance company when it was wrecked. Then I looked around a lot and waited for a good deal before I decided to buy this.

$3k isn't bad if everything is really nice. Not a great price. But I don't think you are getting ripped off. But I would be more worried about the condition of the trans more than anything. First thing I would do (and have done with every used car I bought) was changed the trans fluid and filter. Our engines are strong as oxes. But our tranny...well, they suck. Get the tranny fluid and filter changed would be first on my list.

And yea, that SC fluid change is WAY overpriced. It takes maybe 20 minutes and $15 in parts (including the turkey baster from wal-mart or local grocery store). Pass on that ****...

Well I'm pretty sure I'm still gonna roll with it and buy it. I'm from Wisconsin - and unfortunatley nobody here wants to sell their GTP's. I've been looking for about 2 months and this is the best deal I have found. The only reason why I was uneasy about it is the price - not the quality of the car.

I drove it pretty hard yesterday and the tranny showed no signs or issues with it. Also - the guy called again and said he found a switch and is going to replace it for me before I buy it - so that's nice too.

As for the supercharger oil - $125 is a lot. I looked for a write-up on here, but couldn't find one. Anyone want to help me out and throw me a quick write up? If so, I'll pass on the dealership service and do it myself tomorrow. I'm no pro technician - but I know my basics, so a write-up would definitley help.

Thanks again to everyone! I'm glad to finally become a true member of this community!

Pass on the supercharger oil, if I have to I'll make up a How To myself for you. Thats ridiculous to want that for such a simple service. Either myself or someone here will come up with some instructions for you. Go to the dealership and buy two (2) bottles of GM Supercharger oil and take it home. You'll need at least that and a way to suck out the fluid. That and some nose clips because that stuff stinks like no other.

Originally Posted by GreenNirvana101

I drove it pretty hard yesterday and the tranny showed no signs or issues with it. Also - the guy called again and said he found a switch and is going to replace it for me before I buy it - so that's nice too.

As for the supercharger oil - $125 is a lot. I looked for a write-up on here, but couldn't find one. Anyone want to help me out and throw me a quick write up? If so, I'll pass on the dealership service and do it myself tomorrow. I'm no pro technician - but I know my basics, so a write-up would definitley help.

Thanks again to everyone! I'm glad to finally become a true member of this community!

With the tranny, as others have said, one of the best ways to tell is by checking the tranny fluid. I would definitely check that before completing the deal. If it smells like it is burnt, or looks anything more than red, stay away. So many people have problems with their trannys with half the miles that this car has. Don't want to buy the car and find out you have to dump another $1500 in it.

With the SC fluid, I am at work, and can't do a write up now. But there is an oil plug on the snout (pass side of the SC) that uses a 5/16 (I think) allen wrench. Remove that. You have to suck all the fluid out through that hole. I went to walmart and bought a turkey baster from the kitchen section. I then used a piece of rubber hose about 6-8" long and slid it over the end. I used this to suck the fluid out of the snout. Try to get as much as possible out. I would suck it up into the baster, then squirt it into a Mt dew bottle or whatever I had. But like Scotty said, it really smells. Then just put in the new bottles of fluid. It should take almost, if not all of the 2 bottle of SC fluid. It should bring it right up to the bottom of the threads on the fill hole. Then just replace the oil plug, and you are good to go.

And here is a good writeup on how to do it with some pictures. I don't like the squirter bottle method. But it shows you where everything is at. Also, you can read this writeup if it helps.

Alright everyone - here is the final verdict!

..........

I bought the car for $3000 with the fixed window switch.

I drove it directly to a dealership to have it looked at.... and they said everything was up to top shape on it. I had them do a regular oil change, and I decided to do the supercharger fluid myself.

However, there is a minor oil leak coming from the intake manifold which they quoted me at $900. Luckily, right after that, I went over to my buddy's house and his stepdad has worked on the 3.8L and has already had to replace the intake manifold on his Impala. He said he would do the job for me when it warms up for the cost of parts and $20 an hour as long as I helped him. He said it should only take about 4 hours to get the job done because you have to take a lot of parts off. Sounds great to me because I could use the experience!

Otherwise the car has been driving great all day long with NO issues what-so-ever. I'm very happy with the car so far, and will clean it up tomorrow and take some pictures.

Thanks everyone for your quick, yet helpful input and I'm very happy to finally be a GTP owner!

Originally Posted by GTPluv

We changed our own SC oil. Easy. You can't smell it if you are outside(no garage) I used a medicine dropper.

Dont be mean to the new member and play such horrible tricks on him.