1997 Pontiac Grand Am SE 2.4 DOHC 4 from North America

Summary:

Nice car for the money

Faults:

The water pump went out at 51000.

The battery went out when it had 84000.

Alternator went out at 91000.

My starter went out at 77000.

General Comments:

My car seem to run very good for a six year old car. Ya it has some stuff I consider to be normal repairs - the water pump, battery, starter, and the alternator. I've had Ford, Chevy and Dodge that had the same stuff.

The power locks work good.

The engine doesn't use or leak a drop of oil.

Transmission shifts good.

Them damn engineers are stupid though for making something that go's out commonly hard to change - the water pump was only $59.00 from Autozone.

Changed water pump myself since the dealer wanted $800 to change, but I can see why, it took 10 hours to change it.

I don't know about other people's cars, why they're noisy going 75-80 mph, but mine is probably cause I bought it smashed and fixed it up. The car has a salvage title, had to get it inspected before I could register the car here in Wisconsin, which doesn't say much they only inspect if you're registering branded salvage, that's the only time they inspect.

Don't by GM replacement parts, they suck. I had to buy a replacement mirror cause the one on the pasenger side was ripped off from the accident. That thing faded fast, so it was like grey. All I did was repaint it black and it looks good.

All in all a very good car for cheap, since I bought it, fixed it myself for $6000 dollars in 1999 when they were still getting $12000 for a used one from the dealer.

The car shook real bad, but the rotors were cheap aftermarket ones from China. Bought ones made in America, still shake a real little bit, but probably cause it was smashed once.

My car is actually pretty nice for the money.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 12th August, 2003

1997 Pontiac Grand Am SE 3.1 from North America

Summary:

Great if you have lots of time and money to put into it

Faults:

I bought the car in January of 2002. Everything was fine until June. My radiator had a crack, and then I had what I thought to be a major leak in my water pump. It turned out to be a huge leak in the radiator, right below the water pump. I still had a warranty, but the radiator wasn't covered. Take it in for service, it took them 1 1/2 months to get the radiator, and once they did my head gaskets and my water pump went out. They were covered under my warranty.

There is a major unidentifiable squeaking noise from my back right brake. It pulls and jerks the car, and in the rain it will slide. I have had it checked out many times and they say it's nothing.

The O2 sensor went out on the car in September of 2002.

My computer is messed up, and from time to time the ABS and ETS lights come on for no reason. This started happening after the O2 sensor.

My clock light is out and was told there's no way to fix it unless I buy another radio for the car.

The drivers side door will pop off, and I have to align it and pop it back on from time to time. This has caused a crack on the inside door handle. The windows (all of them) will get stuck every now and then, the drivers side being the worst.

I recently had an issue with my alternator. Thought it was the battery, had it checked, and all they told me was that it had a bad cell in it. Bought another one, and when it died I found out it was the alternator the entire time and had it reworked.

My air conditioning is messed up and will only blow out the air like it's supposed to if I let off the gas.

General Comments:

This car is great for interstate travel, and the gas mileage is better. City travel has poor gas mileage.

Tire ware is minimal, nothing like my last car.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 4th August, 2003

27th Nov 2004, 22:32

I completely agree with you. I own the same vehicle and I have the ABS light problem and fuses blow. It still drives, but it seems like the minute you fix one thing something else fails almost immediately. You really need to have a lot of money to maintain this vehicle.