1997 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Z34 from North America - Comments

I have a 1997 Z34 Monte Carlo. About a year ago my water pump bearing went so I replaced it with a re manufactured water pump from Car Quest.

The water pump was different looking because it had a fan blades (6 blades) on it that looked close to like a house fan, and the old one looked more like a spiral blades (10 blades). The Car Quest pump came with a picture saying it's a new design and will work just as good. My car started overheating about after 5 miles, and my thermostat would pop and suck the radiator hose closed. Every time the engine was over heating, I could stop and open the bleeder screws, and just let the air leak out.

I finally found that Napa carries a brand new water pump with the spiral blades (like ten blades), which makes the water pump faster. My car is running great again; wish I found that out sooner since I drove it for a year with it over heating.

It is also recommended you change your timing belt around 50,000 to 60,000 miles. Wish I would have known that before mine went.

I was driving down the and my car just died, I tried to start it again and I crashed all my valves and had to buy a new engine. It's worth having it changed before it breaks!!

Mine broke at 109,000 miles.

I am on my 2nd Monte in 5 years, the 1st being a 95 LS and nothing but money dumped into it constantly. It had 'ghost' issues that only happened to me and wouldn't do it for anyone else. After dumping about 4 grand into it, I heard a tap tap under the hood so I traded it in where I purchased it. Needless to say, the bottom of the motor went. The ONLY part of the motor not rebuilt, mind you.

Now I have a 98 Z34. I looooooove my Montes because they are nice looking rides and when all is good, they ride like a Caddy.

At this very moment, my baby will not start every time. Nothing when the key is on but when I turn it backwards, my radio works and I get dash lights, so it is def. not the battery. It is jumpy when sitting still. There is also a humming type of noise by my E. brake pedal, which I am told could be my fuel line? Also, my security light keeps flashing when I put my key in the ignition and then it quits. *sigh* But I am still a faithful lover of the Monte Carlos!

I recently got my mothers 97 Monte Carlo Z34 with 58,000 on it. She bought it new and babied it and it looks great. It's black on black with the moon-roof, tilt, cruise the works. She never drove it over 60 mph. I drove it up to San Francisco from L.A. and was going to buy it for $3,000.

When I got home, the moon roof stopped working. She hardly ever drove it and yet it was always breaking down. $600.00 for an alternator. $900.00 for the A/C.

Last Sunday the engine started revving up and down in rpm while the car was sitting, and I heard a loud pop and saw that a PVC tube had come loose. There is no room to reach your hands down behind the engine to plug it back in. I had to use a SALAD grabber to reach down between the engine and firewall to plug it back in.

I came in and Googled 97 Monte Carlo and got this Car Survey web site with all its bad news about this car and this 3.4 engine. I called moms mechanic in L.A., who's maintained this car since she bought it new, and told him I had the car and he said, and I quote "the 3.4 engine is garbage, get rid of that thing as fast as you can before something else goes wrong.

I'm bummed, the thing looks like the Batmobile but is indeed a piece of crap. It's like finding out your new puppy has rabies.

I am so glad that I found this site. I had found a 97 monte carlo Z34 3.4 litre car that I was going to purchase for my 17 year old. Thanks for saving me $2k and the headache.

I have a 1999 Chevy Monte Carlo Z34 Limited Edition with the aftermarket rims (they came with it). Its been very good with me. It has 111,000 miles.

I left it sit for about 6 months, and it screwed the engine up. My son goes out and starts it everyday. Sometimes he has a hard time but he loves that car.

The clear coat on the bumpers chipped. But it's lasted us a very long time. I would recommend this car to anybody.

I have a 97 z34 3.4L and the engine has stopped running on lots of occasions but it always starts back up. It's a strong running engine, on the way home I kept up with a brand new mustang GT. After I got it I put on new rear struts and it needs a new wheel bearing. It also needs new gaskets. For awhile I idled rough until I put seafoam in the gas tank. I got it for $2300 and put almost $1000 into it. After I get a new wheel bearing and the stalling fixed it should run great.

I have a 97 monte with a 3.1. I've had it for a little over a year. Not that many problems. My radiator cracked, but that is a minor problem. it drives well. The only thing that bothers me is that the lights don't cut off. I hate that. Nice car.

97 Z34 Fuel system is garbage. I've had nothing but problems with my fuel pump since I bought the car. I wouldn't recommend the car to anyone unless they wanted a car that goes fast for about 10 minutes before it needs powertrain work.

I had/have for now a 1999 Z34 Monte. I've had the car for about 8 years now, and last week the engine just quit on me. I was driving home from work, it was fine. Then the next time I got in the low coolant light came on, ABS, and then engine light started flashing, car was shaking pretty bad. I pulled and over shut it off. Went to restart it, it started to turn, then heard a loud whack.. I had to have it towed home about 3 minutes away and a $60 tow charge.

Until now I would say the car handled like a champion. I had the thermostat and water hose just replaced, the car didn't even over heat. Anyone think it may be something else? I'm gonna have it looked at...

Well, now I have a GTO and would be ashamed to feel the speed of the Monte Carlo to that. Oh and the Monte only had 143,000 miles on it.

I'm rather disappointed, though I did get my money's worth out of it. Over 100,000 miles, do not buy! Nothing but problems from there on.

I bought a 97 Monte Carlo Z34 after my 96 Mont was totalled - What a mistake. I had not trouble with the 96, but the 97 with that 3.4l engine is a disaster. In talking to my mechanic, he took the VIN, and immediately told me to get rid of it. Unfortunately, I could not afford to do so. Replacing ball joints every couple of years is the BEST part of it. If it gets below 1,000RPM it dies. It always starts back up, however this is a problem. Just for variety, when it is about to die and revving down, it sometimes surges forward instead of just dying. Although the car is a beauty, that old saying "beauty is skin deep" truly applies to this vehicle.

Thanks guys! I was about to make a large mistake and buy a beautiful white 1997 Monte Carlo z-34 with the moon roof and rear spoiler. I am sure the moonroof would stop working as soon as I bought it and it sounds like the spoiler might even stop working if it did anything in the first place! Thanks guys!