What's up with the Grand Am hate?
10-05-2007, 12:31 PM
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What'* up with the Grand Am hate?
Last year my brother had his Honda Civic totaled out by a guy who ran a stop sign. He had me choose a car to replace it. He liked my Bonneville but wanted something more sporty and available in a coupe. I found a nice 2000 Grand Am SE, with low miles and really taken care of. So, he went and bought it.
Well, we decided after we bought it we would look up reviews and common problems that the 3400 engine and this car had. I couldn't believe how many people were against it, and so many problems are known for this car, according to them. There was the failure of the intakes, head gaskets, abs problems, overheating issues, and those were all at low miles they claimed.
Today, 55,000 miles after we bought it, the only repair it'* had other than normal maintenance is an outer tie rod replacement. It'* also been running Dex since day one, and I just flushed out the Dex today. I really like the way the Grand Am looks and handles and wonder how do the other people how so many problems with this car that they would never buy a Pontiac again?
Have any of you owned one of the newer Grand Ams, like this one? Did you guys have any problems with them?
Well, we decided after we bought it we would look up reviews and common problems that the 3400 engine and this car had. I couldn't believe how many people were against it, and so many problems are known for this car, according to them. There was the failure of the intakes, head gaskets, abs problems, overheating issues, and those were all at low miles they claimed.
Today, 55,000 miles after we bought it, the only repair it'* had other than normal maintenance is an outer tie rod replacement. It'* also been running Dex since day one, and I just flushed out the Dex today. I really like the way the Grand Am looks and handles and wonder how do the other people how so many problems with this car that they would never buy a Pontiac again?
Have any of you owned one of the newer Grand Ams, like this one? Did you guys have any problems with them?
10-05-2007, 12:35 PM
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I have an Alero, which is the same car as the Grand Am.
Be on the lookout for transmission problems, the 4T45E doesnt like being behind the 3400 and I can vouch for that.
Be on the lookout for transmission problems, the 4T45E doesnt like being behind the 3400 and I can vouch for that.
10-05-2007, 12:38 PM
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Originally Posted by DarkShadow
I have an Alero, which is the same car as the Grand Am.
Be on the lookout for transmission problems, the 4T45E doesnt like being behind the 3400 and I can vouch for that.
Be on the lookout for transmission problems, the 4T45E doesnt like being behind the 3400 and I can vouch for that.
10-05-2007, 12:46 PM
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I had a 2000 GAGT and it had 120k on it when I traded it. It is a pain to do the Tstat and honestly up here it was a dog. Looks were Great loved it looks wise but other then the PIA the motor was did fine for me. I would get another one but one that had a blown engine and do a turbo 3800 swap
10-05-2007, 12:50 PM
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My cousin in Indiana has a '00 Alero with the 3400. I replaced the LIM gaskets, flushed the Dex out, and he had the trans rebuilt at 150k. Other than that, it'* still going strong at 170-175k. In fact he is replacing the water pump this weekend just to be safe.
10-05-2007, 12:56 PM
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Originally Posted by BIchselmnop
Originally Posted by DarkShadow
I have an Alero, which is the same car as the Grand Am.
Be on the lookout for transmission problems, the 4T45E doesnt like being behind the 3400 and I can vouch for that.
Be on the lookout for transmission problems, the 4T45E doesnt like being behind the 3400 and I can vouch for that.
10-05-2007, 12:56 PM
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The GA is not a bad car...
You will find a lot of people that do not take good care of the cars complain.. Never change the fluids... Drive 7000 miles on an oil change even tho its all city.... Run the cooling system low on coolant.. Overheat it badly....
You have to check the oil and coolant... If you never do it can become a disaster..
The 3400 has one big flaw and thats the lower intake gaskets.. Most people just drive and never notice the car is slowly eating coolant..
The 4T45-E was really to small to be behind the 3400... And its an adaptive type like the 4T65-E... I have seen them overheat, shift funky, and slip early on...
One day for a coworker I drove 3 Grand Ams.. 2 2005'* and 1 2004.... The First 05 had no miles on it and was junk from the word go.. Car was drop dead beautiful... But had a lot of powertrain issues for a new car
The next one just didn't run right.. And had that piston slap with only 15k on it... This trans had some issues too..
Then I drove a White 2004 SE it had 30k on it... We took the back roads... Tranny functioned awesome, no hiccups, no slips... Shifted on time every time.... Motor was very healthy, very smooth and very quiet... Thing didn't miss a beat, and would keep up with a 3800 L36... Car ran so good I told the coworker if she didn't buy it I would.. Its a couple of years later and the car still runs like brand new.. To date the car has had no issues at all.. And she says it gets great mileage...
Sometimes you just have to know what to look for... If you know what to look for you will find a good one..
I had told the Dealer and the Sales manager about the first car.... Told them it was a total POS and garbage and told them I'd be ashamed to sell such a car.... They asked me what was wrong with it and I told them everything was wrong with it.. They asked what it would take to fix it.. I told them you'll never get that car to run right... I told them I feel sorry for the next person that buys that car...
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You will find a lot of people that do not take good care of the cars complain.. Never change the fluids... Drive 7000 miles on an oil change even tho its all city.... Run the cooling system low on coolant.. Overheat it badly....
You have to check the oil and coolant... If you never do it can become a disaster..
The 3400 has one big flaw and thats the lower intake gaskets.. Most people just drive and never notice the car is slowly eating coolant..
The 4T45-E was really to small to be behind the 3400... And its an adaptive type like the 4T65-E... I have seen them overheat, shift funky, and slip early on...
One day for a coworker I drove 3 Grand Ams.. 2 2005'* and 1 2004.... The First 05 had no miles on it and was junk from the word go.. Car was drop dead beautiful... But had a lot of powertrain issues for a new car
The next one just didn't run right.. And had that piston slap with only 15k on it... This trans had some issues too..
Then I drove a White 2004 SE it had 30k on it... We took the back roads... Tranny functioned awesome, no hiccups, no slips... Shifted on time every time.... Motor was very healthy, very smooth and very quiet... Thing didn't miss a beat, and would keep up with a 3800 L36... Car ran so good I told the coworker if she didn't buy it I would.. Its a couple of years later and the car still runs like brand new.. To date the car has had no issues at all.. And she says it gets great mileage...
Sometimes you just have to know what to look for... If you know what to look for you will find a good one..
I had told the Dealer and the Sales manager about the first car.... Told them it was a total POS and garbage and told them I'd be ashamed to sell such a car.... They asked me what was wrong with it and I told them everything was wrong with it.. They asked what it would take to fix it.. I told them you'll never get that car to run right... I told them I feel sorry for the next person that buys that car...
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10-05-2007, 01:08 PM
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Just from what Ive seen over the years, the 3.4 is not a very efficient engine, especially given its smaller displacement, and being a smaller car.
Even the EPA ratings for them are quite a bit lower than you would think.
Even the EPA ratings for them are quite a bit lower than you would think.
