had it with pontiac

[MrPoopyButthole]

some of the maintenance that u guys talk about is just not gonna happen on some people income unless u do the work urself which most people dont do now days. think im just used to the older cars like my ta.196000 has been driven in salt snow, anything else u can think of and never anyprobs with things breaking due to rust but i have seen this with many newer cars.imo i think it has to do with the cheap steel we get from china now days.you never saw this with the older cars.i dont know of anyone that had to replace a whole front end within 10 or15 years on an older car.i dont care what brand u talk about thier all cheaper made now days.

Then you should ride a bus...

[rampage]

yeah that does suck was it a 3.8 because the valve train on those is usally bullit proof.

[TLSheff]

yeah that does suck was it a 3.8 because the valve train on those is usally bullit proof.

99 GTP 3.8L SC motor... spun crank bearing on cyl 1, 2 was loose enough we think it was close to spinning, 3 & 4 was movable, 5 & 6 was tight like it should be

[TCO]

I don't know about anyone else but the stuff you mentioned isn't that hard to replace. Quit complaining about a 8/9 year old car. It's not brand new. Parts will wear away over time, even without having a bunch of miles on it. Get rid of it and buy a bicycle. They are usually pretty easy to maintain.

[MrPoopyButthole]

Things happen, not everything can last forever.

[Pepino]

meh....
-bought car with 6.4 miles
-128K now
-original Alt/water&fuel pumps/etc
-besides normal maintenance (oil/brakes/tranny/etc.) this has been the best car I've ever owned. I also have a tendency to take car of the stuff I own, so I guess to each their own. Don't get me wrong, I know in the future stuff is going to start breaking eventually. My steering feels a little looser then before and hearing some different noises from odd places.

[TLSheff]

Thats why we call it Preventative Maintenance... but some things you can't help. I had to put in a new engine but now if something goes wrong with it, its probably due to my right foot. Not the previous owner, and I have a rebuildable engine still that will be my project this spring and hopefully going back in fall with a lot more power than my current setup *crosses fingers*
I love my GTP, won't be getting rid of her for a while,

[codyAK]

I'm in the process of doing 1000's in maintenance.. I want 200k out of the car.
And alt at 75k?
Two grand prixs in my driveway one around 115k other nearing 130k, stock alts.. Only changed the battery two months ago.

[rampage]

i dont care how old the car is ill ***** all day long when u cant make a car any better than all the problems im having at 70000.this is why car companys contiue to make s--t because people keep sayin its acceptable.

[TLSheff]

i dont care how old the car is ill ***** all day long when u cant make a car any better than all the problems im having at 70000.this is why car companys contiue to make s--t because people keep sayin its acceptable.

Granted, it sux, we feel for you, the rant forum is for griping for this exact reason. But when you come into a forum completely new and all 12 postings are just griping and not how to SAVE money, or suggestions on what to do, or how to help you with them... just woe is me GM sux... your gonna get a slight bashing

and for the record, maybe 5% of the cars made have a good amount problems when properly maintained... less than 1% are just straight lemons that are unfixable... most are built well, alot of people that come here only have small problems and we help get them straight, you just had bad luck my friend

[SnowDrift]

Yeah, better just sell it

[trickytransam]

Buy an Impala if you want GM. Impala is the service vehicle for GM and from what I have heard is that they hold up a whole lot better than the rest (If you never want to wrench)

GM as of the early 90s got the corporate greed. It continued through the 90s and blew up in their face around 2003. The numerous class action lawsuits for Dexcool and the intake leaks started flooding in from all models. Reliability and dealership service quality tanked.
2004-2007 was damage control with more crap vehicles and poopy designs. Enter the 5 year 100,000 mile warranty to try and attract buyers back.
Enter the introduction of the Camaro because they dropped the only affordable sports car GM made (Which became unaffordable).
Now, theyre "The NEW" Gm.. but yet...same poop designs.

If it's giving you that many problems and you don't have the capability to fix it yourself, then you need to sell it and cut your losses and buy something reliable and dependable. If you really like the car, and want to keep it for fun - let it sit somewhere dry until you get the funds to keep it as a toy.

All GM vehicles need to have the following done:
1. Remove the Dexcool Immediately.
2. If had Dexcool, Replace Lower Intake gaskets Immediately. (Its not if but when)
3. Keep an eye on Belts and tensioners so you don't wipe out alternator bearings
4. Replace Plugs every 75,000 miles.
5. Replace Fuel Filter every 15,000 miles.
6. Do your tune up with plugs, wires, PCV, fuel filter, check/replace fluids, belts, thermostat.
7. Lube your chassis points every oil change.
8. Rotate your tires every 8K miles (Which allows you to spin your hubs and check for noise)
9. 95-03 3800 Owners replace upper intake manifold, and lower intake seals.
10. any 3.1, 3.4, 3.5, 3.9L will need dexcool flushed and intake gaskets replaced.
11. 3.4L's are just about a guaranteed Head Gasket Job every 50K, so use the HD fel pro plastic/metal gaskets.
12. Fuel Pumps go out because most people don't change the fuel filter.
13. O2 sensors replace with ACDelcos every 100K.
14. Transmission flush and filter at 75K miles.
15. 4T60/4T65E transmissions are only good for about 150K miles before they need to be rebuilt. Rebuild at first sign of slippage to reduce chance of further damage.
16. 4L60/4L65E transmissions are close to the same.
17. Eaton Superchargers need to be rebuilt just like turbos at 100K miles. (Yea...you can get more out of them, but why chance your engine)
18. Every 2 years, flush your cooling system (That includes your heater core) with a good flush and replace with Prestone All Make All Model.
19. Get an alignment every 2-3 years or as needed. An Out of alignment suspention will eat up bearings, tires, ball joints and tie rod ends, and put extra stress on the sway bar and end links.
20. Don't pound the piss out of it. It's a V6. Unless it's got a turbo and says Grand National in the name somewhere, it ain't a racecar.

I too had a lemon Pontiac. A 1998 Bonneville. What a total Piece of garbage.
It may have been a nice car, but this one was a rolling lemon. 4 Engines later, it was totalled out by a kid texting on his phone and rear ended me. Thanks alot A-hole.
I don't think there was a part on that car I didn't replace. It was good when I was done, but spent more than the car was worth to do it. The main issue with that car was the dealership F-ups. They "Only fix whats broke" destroyed 2 engines.

On average I fix about 3-4 GM intakes for family and friends a year. Imagine if I was a real service shop how many I'd be doing.
The key is to catch it in time. You've gotta watch fluid levels, you've gotta turn the radio off at least one day a week, and enjoy the sound of the engine and exhaust.

Listen to the car. Listen closely. It's talking to you. How will you respond?

[01gpgt01]

first off i would like to say im a big fan of buying american products.its all ive ever had.im a pontiac fan always have been but this 2002 gp has been a nightmare.first my o2 sensor goes then my abs trac control cuts on ,thats still not fixed.now ive got this jerking the car is doin at different speeds.and i know at around 75000 miles my alt will go bc it always does on these cars.all this at 70000 miles from a car that has been well maintained.you cant beat the 3.8 but the rest of this car is crap!any one else having these same problems?

you have had it because 2 sensors went? You're saying you know the Alt's gonna fail? LOL My car has 80K miles and my alts still fine.

[99prixgt]

Buy an Impala if you want GM. Impala is the service vehicle for GM and from what I have heard is that they hold up a whole lot better than the rest (If you never want to wrench)

w-body impala? there the same

All GM vehicles need to have the following done:
1. Remove the Dexcool Immediately.

water pump failure

15. 4T60/4T65E transmissions are only good for about 150K miles before they need to be rebuilt. Rebuild at first sign of slippage to reduce chance of further damage.

LOL! my 97 gt parts car has 300k, transmission is perfectly fine

17. Eaton Superchargers need to be rebuilt just like turbos at 100K miles. (Yea...you can get more out of them, but why chance your engine)

what? all they really need is a coupler change if its making a gawdy rattling noise

20. Don't pound the piss out of it. It's a V6. Unless it's got a turbo and says Grand National in the name somewhere, it ain't a racecar.

what was i thinking... these cars and grand nationals have nothing in common what so ever no one makes these cars fast...GNers would never use our **** 3800's...ever

I too had a lemon Pontiac. A 1998 Bonneville. What a total Piece of garbage.
It may have been a nice car, but this one was a rolling lemon. 4 Engines later, it was totalled out by a kid texting on his phone and rear ended me. Thanks alot A-hole.
I don't think there was a part on that car I didn't replace. It was good when I was done, but spent more than the car was worth to do it. The main issue with that car was the dealership F-ups. They "Only fix whats broke" destroyed 2 engines.

sounds like you had a bad batch of junk yard motors

On average I fix about 3-4 GM intakes for family and friends a year. Imagine if I was a real service shop how many I'd be doing.
The key is to catch it in time. You've gotta watch fluid levels, you've gotta turn the radio off at least one day a week, and enjoy the sound of the engine and exhaust.

not that many? because once you do them, they're done.

I love how their is an exact mileage limit of all these parts mentioned in this thread with alternators and what not.

my 99 gt- stock alternator 150k: status- working
my 97 gtp- 132k stock alternator: status- working
my 97 gt- 300k stock alternator: status- working
my (when i owned it) 95 buick riviera 125k- stock alternator: status- was working

[shawngtp]

I loved my gp dearly.

[rynoman03]

Jebus somebody's got some sand in their Va-Jay-Jay. Fix the car and quit whining. Cars parts break! The end!

[trickytransam]

w-body impala? there the same

Built better and hold up on the test track better.

LOL! my 97 gt parts car has 300k, transmission is perfectly fine

That puppy must slip like nobodys tomorrow or it has been rebuilt already.

what? all they really need is a coupler change if its making a gawdy rattling noise

That came from Eaton, not me. Its not only the coupler but the rotors can become pitted (Cavitate) and wear abnormally fast showering your engine with rotor shavings.

what was i thinking... these cars and grand nationals have nothing in common what so ever no one makes these cars fast...GNers would never use our **** 3800's...ever

Completely different design.
You can have your series II. I'll take the old GN 3.8 for durability and performance.

sounds like you had a bad batch of junk yard motors

Bad Dealership. Bad Design, Bad Engine remanufacturing company

not that many? because once you do them, they're done.

You can't fix a bad design on the 60 degree V6's. From what I have been told, they average 1-2 per week only to return a few years later. It doesn't suprise me either as after the dealer fixed mine under warranty, I had to do it again in a couple of years. Odd sealing surfaces that move under expansion and contraction, what do you expect? 3.1's usually have the intake leaks only, and 3.4's just about guaranteed head gaskets. Most places replace them with the cheap gaskets and that's why they fail again. If you do it right, you shouldnt have to re-do head gaskets, but Intake...probably a repeat. 3.8's, the heads are flat, nothing special, cast iron in most cases to an aluminum manifold - gasket design has improved so you have better luck.

I love how their is an exact mileage limit of all these parts mentioned in this thread with alternators and what not.

It's merely a guide. You can't take it as bible. Sure, you can get more miles out of them, but your in the grey area of part durability. Some cars run forever with nothing. Some are lemons off the line.

My point was to keep an eye on the vehicle and do preventative maintenance so you don't end up with a laundry basket worth of issues.

[matt5112]

All I've gotta ask is why then do GN's break down at the track so much?

[Paul79UF]

I still love my '01 GTP, but I'll also be buying a different brand in a few years.

I drove an '89 Grand Prix through high school and college. Got the '01 GP after graduation.

Nearly two decades of Pontiac cars is enough for me. The car still looks almost new and drives great due to my meticulous maintenance.
______________
Problems (in order)

battery replaced under warranty at 2nd year

fuse block replaced just after warranty $200

transmission rebuild at 68k by AAMCO $2,800 - I blame the crappy local shop that did the 60k service and didn't refill the trans fluid all the way. That experience led me to do all my own maintenance.

replaced both front wheel bearings, one/both new abs sensors failed shortly after and left me with the ABS and TCS Off lights.

replaced alternator at 85k

driver window motor/regulator replaced twice (all other windows motor/reg replaced once) (learned that proper lubrication prevents them from breaking)

"coolant low" flashing - sensor dirty/faulty, temp stays stable so I'll be disconnecting it

power steering developed very slow leak, refilled with "stop leak" fluid and it seems to have stopped
____________

Other than that, the car has been awesome and has never left me stranded in ten years and 98,000 miles.

I'll really miss the HUD (heads up display). I wish more cars had them.

My next car is going to be a 2011 Kia Optima SX with the 2.0 liter turbo engine that makes 274 HP, 269 torque and gets 34 mpg hwy.

All four seats are heated (don't care) and the two front seats are heated and air cooled . That is going to be so nice in the South Florida heat.

[deathjunior]

From my experience with my grand prix and and buick regal.

The 02 sensor is pretty common. Its a regular issue in alot of them and it ticks the check engine light randomly in my car on a monthly basis, but i havent had the time to actually break out the tools so ill be fixing that when i go home for christmas.

Another common problem is the fuel sensor on the fuel pump which fails regularly on gm products between 97-03 not just 3800's i judge my gas based entirely on my fuel used gauge now since my actual gauge bobbles from fully empty to full to the brim randomly. That stupid pump isnt cheap either

As for the alt my 98 buick regal was still running its stock alternator when i sold it 4 months ago. It had 198,000 miles on it. Ran like a champ, great car.

My grand prix also is still running the stock alt and its sitting at 125,000 miles. The previous owner didn't do crap when it came to parts maintenance the little car was still running the original factory fuel filter at 113,000 miles when i bought it. Ive had to replace the tie rods. And the trailing arms were bent to hell from some idiot jacking the car up with them so those had to get replaced to.

Even the tires it was running were useless. Ever heard of geostar? Those tires gripped so badly that i did a full burnout, smoke in all in my grand prix stock

The transmission had to have a new overdrive gear put in right after i bought it since that was toast.

All im saying here is that there are many problems that could be worse. Dont get discouraged its car its going to have some issues even the best cars and the most expensive cars, hell especially the most expensive cars do.