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?
