1996 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Z34 from North America - Comments

Replaced the water pump and alternator for a whopping costs of $575. There is over 6 hours of labor for this job due to the location of the alternator. You have to remove right side suspension and cross-member, then lower the engine to get to the alternator. Could have been designed better.

Had to replace ALL 3 coils after 109,000 miles along with new spark plug wires.

Replaced rear passenger rotor after caliper froze closed and the friction killed my rotor (it was red-hot when I got home one day).

Replaced timing belt and timing pulleys and tensioners at 105,000 miles.

Leather back seat is splitting in the middle.

Center console plastic door broke along with my ashtray door.

Passenger window doesn't roll down using the drivers side control, but works using passenger control.

This 3.4L DOHC V6 engine is the most expensive engine that I have owned!!!

Performance is very good!!! Fast car is you know how to drive it. Low RPM's produce limited power, but over 3200 RPM the motor starts to roar!!!

Handling is superb. Nice cornering and holds the road like glue on 16" wheels and good set of tires.

Interior is very ergonomic for a big guy like me, 6' tall, 250lbs. Comfortable even in the back. :)

Radio controls on the steering wheel make a very nice feature so you don't have to take your eyes off the road while changing channels or turning on your CD player.

I purchased a 96 monte in Dec 2000. It had 96000 km's on it at purchase time. In December of 2001 the transmission failed and cost $3600.00 to replace. Then in june of 2002 a loud banging came in the trunk, this was a bad strut bushing. The replacement cost was $350.00 at the dealer. The center console door hinge broke, the drivers side window regulator had to be replaced and that window still does not close tight. There is a snap every time I put it in gear, the brakes are compared to that of a hand sled. In December of 2002 I replaced the plug wires as a bad miss came in the engine, for the price of them they should have come self installed and replaced the plugs. That was an all day task. Good thing I am a bit mechanically inclined. The car I owned previous to this was a 91 Beretta GT, this was an excellent car. When the Monte runs it runs strong, fantastic torque. I have made a couple of V8 mustang owners hang their heads in shame and a guy with a Camaro refuses to talk to me know... hee hee. It is a pig on gas, but if you want to pass something, that's not a problem. A nice sporty car, but expensive to maintain in Canada eh.

I also own a 1996 Z34 Monte. It's expensive to run, but fun to drive. Center console broken also. Driver window does not close right. The rear leather seat is splitting in the middle at the top of the seat back also. I replaced the wires and plugs, 1 rear strut mount, both wheel hub assemblies, 2 tire-rods, 1 ball joint, 1 water pump, 1 0-2 censor, 2 front rotors, 2 mufflers, 1 signal switch, pads and shoes, all in the first 14 months of ownership, but it's good now! I picked up the car cheap and did all the work my self so it is not as bad as it sounds. I get about 550km to 60L of gas, so the fuel economy is not great. Body has one blemish under the fuel door, not bad for a 10 year old car with no bodywork done to it, ever. No problems passing people that's for sure, and I like its looks too. I'm happy with the car, but I'm sure if I had of paid more than $2000.00 Canadain for it I would be upset.

I own a 1997 montecarlo Z34 and I've put a lot of hours working on it I have replaced the water pump, timing belt, heater core, spark-plug wires, radiator, alternator, front and rear rotors, and of course a new center counsel. I do agree it is a fun car to drive, but I also hat fixing it because you have to take out and move so many other parts just to get to the part you really want to fix it is a real hassle. I love the car, but I'm always wondering what I'll have to replace next.

I own a 1997 montecarlo Z34 and I've put a lot of hours working on it I have replaced the water pump, timing belt, heater core, spark-plug wires, radiator, alternator, front and rear rotors, and of course a new center counsel all these things have coasted me nearlly $1,000. I do agree it is a fun car to drive, but I also hat fixing it because you have to take out and move so many other parts just to get to the part you really want to fix it is a real hassle. I love the car, but I'm always wondering what I'll have to replace next.

My First Sports Car

I love my 1996 Monte Carlo Z34 I've only had it for 6 months. it has been expensive to maintain. The car would be more enjoyable if I didn’t have to store my car months at a time to save money to get it repaired, but for some reason I don’t mind because its is very fast an have good handles when its driving with only the stock transmission I can only imagine how fast it would go with a super charged transmission a goal of mine.

the 3.4 DOHC Engine is a big a complicated engine. Not all mechanics fully understand its complexity so be careful of who you let work on your 3.4 engine.

Problems I've Hade:

I feel it’s only appropriate to say that the center console door broke in my Monte Carlo.

My driver side window is off track so I can't roll it all the way down.

The buttons on steering wheel don’t work an the passenger window button falls in the door when u push it so I have to open the door handle with a screw driver to push it back till the next person forgets an push it again.

ALL together $1300 (below)

*Replaced break pages

*Replaced all 4 calipers

*Replaced all 4 rooters

*Replaced spark Plugs

My tie Rod broke while I was going 15 mph turning a corner.

after so many repairs I forgot how much that was 2 repair but I do no they gave me a new axel.

*Timing belt replace $390 by a mechanic at a auto shop the same day I got my car back it stopped again so he told me that I needed a tensioned and idler pulleys (costing $500) so I order the pieces from the dealer he put on the idler pulleys an said I don’t need the tensioner so I got my car back it would making noise which was the opposite to when I brought my car in to him.

so I had to get the job done over by another shop for $740 where they replaced the timing belt because the last mechanics don’t time the timing belt.

I drove for a while about 3 weeks this the tensioner whet broke. yep the same tenstioner that the first mechanic said I didn’t need. I already had the piece from when the first mechanic told me to order it. Just for them to put the piece on was $700 but they decided to replace the timing chain since they had the engine out that was a extra $150.

But that’s all over NOW I HAVE A NEW PROBLEM!!! Transmission so now it’s just sitting in my garage again with a slow leak in the front passenger side wheel collecting dust.

another pending repair that I have been confronted with My last visit to the fire stone for an oil change the only thing they suggested was two front tires an wheel alignment for front two tires.

I have a 1996 Monte Carlo Z34 and I would not recommend this car to anyone! When its running yeah it's a great car, but when one thing goes wrong with my suggestion is to keep your check book out. This is the most trouble some car I have ever had. Just to put a new alternator on you have to go underneath the car. The battery is underneath the Washer Solvent container. In my opinion this car was just poorly designed. Unless you are the Dealer of course!!!

I have a 96 Monte Carlo z34 and have had it for about 3 to four years I would guess. I do enjoy driving the car and I like taking it on long trips b/c it is a comfortable ride, but I have put way to much money into it. The engine is designed horribly, you have to take apart fifty things just to get to what is wrong. To have spark plugs put on this car at a shop is crazy expensive sense it has that manifold over three of them. Had to get a new transmission luckily I knew somebody that rebuilt them and was good at it. Haven't had anymore problems since. Now I have a leaking water pump, and of course the center console is broke like everyone else. Do enjoy driving but need to find an easier car to work on.

I just bought a 97 Monte Z34. I have driven only 105 miles so far and already had to replace the steering rack and a pressure hose; 400 bones.

Plus I have a broken strut mount on the left rear tire, but I may just change that myself.

Question for all: Do I need a spring compressor to change strut mounts??

I own a 96 Montecarlo LTZ that has the 3.4 DOHC with 73,000 miles on it.

I had to replace the transmission. That cost 1,100 to have it taken out, rebuilt and re-installed.

My car also needs rear shock bushings.

I am thinking about flushing and refilling the cooling system using regular green antifreeze, because I work at a parts store and have heard numerous times about how the red dex-cool coolant that is in the car eats the intake gaskets.

Other than that the car runs good. Low-end power sucks, hit 60 and punch it, you're gone. Would not recommend this car to do-it-yourselfers because of how cramped the engine bay is. Make sure you have money set aside in case something does go wrong, because it will cost you.

I just got rid of mine... good riddance.

2 timing belts - leaves you dead in the middle of the road, $600 each time.

Cheap plastic idler pulleys, leaves you dead about 1 mile after they break 2x.

Same complaints about console, interior electric windows, but the car will run.

3 sets of plug wires (1 under recall).

Tranny cannot take output of engine. Engine was de-rated by GM.

Went to auto parts store to buy an alternator. Parts guy told me not to buy it; it was a major pain to put on. He was right - $600 bucks, and $400 bucks the second time.

Any doubts, look what you have to go through just to change the battery.

125k miles when I sold it.

I have a '96 Monte Carlo z34. I got lucky, I was a gift from my in-laws, but in the 2 years I have had it its had some minor, yet irritating problems.

Transmission was replaced before it was given to me ($3,500), windshield washer motor $89.00.

Intake gasket kit $105.00, dual exhaust replacement $275.00.

Glove box broken, ash tray broken.

Drivers side window switch $95.00.

I have done all the mechanical work myself to save on money, but now I have an oil leak that I refuse to fix. The 3.4 (BLOCK ONLY) was never changed from the earlier models that used to have a distributor type ignition system. All GM did was remove the distributor cap and put a plug on it. Now it leaks oil constantly, you can actually watch it seep out. You have to remove the head to fix it properly (not doing it).

Now the lower intake manifold is cracked and the dealer said the part is discontinued and can't be ordered. Other than that, I love the car. Put a cold air intake, and dual magniflow exhaust.

For a stock car it's pretty mean on the streets. If you have questions about minor engine repairs, I'm semi knowledgeable mmoss2006@live.com