2001 Pontiac Grand Am GT from North America - Comments

To 16:27: It may possibly need only a recharge, though if it does it indicates a leak in the system that needs to be repaired. Try to find an HONEST shop to check it out. Many shops will tell you "It needs a compressor" and charge you $1000 when all you may need is a recharge and possibly a hose or connector replaced.

Hey everyone - Any input regarding this issue (THERMOSTAT DISPLAY/Gauge/SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT) would be greatly appreciated.

I bought my 2001 Pontiac Grand Am GT brand new from the dealer in 2000 when my old car finally gave up, and have had it ever since, approx 110,000 miles or so later. I can relate to a lot of the comments on here, because I had a lot of the same issues come up from time to time, which is why this one may not seem as serious.

I haven't seen 'Service Engine Soon' light steady for awhile until today. Drove to work this morning, was fine. Started up the car after work, noticed it was on, looked around on dash and saw that the temperature gauge was not moving. Started up again, no changes. I wasn't sure if this could be a fuse, thermostat, or gauge themselves, as it was moving around properly just fine till today. I know that this vehicle (and many like it) are notorious for having the 'SES' light go off for just about every issue.

I just recently had to change a fuse for the cigarette lighter, which I had used for an air pump, but that's the only recent maintenance I've needed to do.

I am also needing to find a Driver-Front Side Power Window Regulator Kit (Window/glass is still intact, just metal/plastic brackets broke apart, and now the window itself is held into place using duct tape and it's obvious I won't just be able to find just the one bracket that broke). I think PepBoys had it at $150, but I am hoping to find cheaper somewhere else I may not know about, then I could spare the 1 hour or so in labor to have a shop take the door panel off more quickly, then I could & just pop it back into place. This never prompted any lights to go off, but is just something else I'm working on. It's just the kind of part where a used one would suffice, but boneyards aren't exactly full of 2001 Grand Ams --- YET... :) Thanks again for anyone's help on this.

-J.

I think Auto Zone can order a window repair kit for the Grand Am and it is way less than $150. Check with them.

I need some help. Will the check engine light come on in a 2001 Grand AM GT if it needs an oil change?

No, the "change oil" light will come on. "Check engine" lights can come on for any number of reasons, usually very minor and no threat to the car's performance. AutoZone can check your codes in the computer and get a rough idea what the code indicates and they do it for free. It may be as minor as a loose gas cap or dirty air filter. If were a major issue your car's performance will change noticeably. I've driven one car over 50,000 with the "check engine" light on and it never caused any problems. The code was not correct, so I just ignored it. Even the quality of your gas can cause the light to come on.

Ignoring the check engine light cause you think it's a false alarm is not a good idea, cause if a serious problem does occur that would cause the light to come on, you won't know about it.

Then when your car breaks down you can complain on this site about what a lemon it is.

"Ignoring the check engine light cause you think it's a false alarm is not a good idea, cause if a serious problem does occur that would cause the light to come on, you won't know about it."

Actually, this is not totally correct. Dealer service departments tell everyone that ignoring a "check engine" light can cause "serious problems". That is highly unlikely. I'm a mechanic, and basically the check engine light is a notice that the car's computer has found something IT may regard as a problem. Usually it involves the pollution control system which rarely can cause ANY serious problems. If your car is running smoothly, not overheating, and does not have low oil pressure (very unusual in modern cars) you can pretty much ignore the light. Or, of course, you can go to your friendly dealer service department and pay them hundreds of dollars to reset it (rest assured they'll find SOMETHING that needs replacing, whether it does or not).

If you drive the car for three weeks and notice no difference in the way it runs after the light comes on, you can usually regard it as a quirky computer or one of the reset "ons" that the computer has built into it to come on at 40,000, 60,000, 80,000 etc. to get you to give the dealer some more of your money. My Dodge engine light came on religiously at 40,000, 80,000, 120,000, 160,000, 200,000 and 240,000. I simply reset it myself. I warned the guy I sold it to that it would come on at 280,000 and sure enough, it did.

"If you drive the car for three weeks and notice no difference in the way it runs after the light comes on, you can usually regard it as a quirky computer or one of the reset "ons" that the computer has built into it to come on at 40,000, 60,000, 80,000 etc. to get you to give the dealer some more of your money. My Dodge engine light came on religiously at 40,000, 80,000, 120,000, 160,000, 200,000 and 240,000. I simply reset it myself. I warned the guy I sold it to that it would come on at 280,000 and sure enough, it did."

How do you reset it? I have a 2005 Grand Prix and the check engine light came on and now the remote won't start the car. Everything else on the FOB works, but the car DIC states that the remote start is disabled. My husband changed the air filter days ago, after the light had been on a while, but the light is still on and the FOB won't start it... any advice?

"How do you reset it? I have a 2005 Grand Prix, and the check engine light came on and now the remote won't start the car. Everything else on the FOB works, but the car DIC states that the remote start is disabled. My husband changed the air filter days ago, after the light had been on a while, but the light is still on and the FOB won't start it... any advice?"

The procedure is different for different cars. On my Chrysler products there was certain on-off sequence you did with the ignition key. I'd go to AutoZone and the nice guys (or ladies) there will be happy to reset it for you as well as doing a free diagnostic to see why it came on in the first place.

I have a 2001 Grand Am GT, and when I put it in drive, I get a large bang that shakes the whole car. The dealer says it will be a motor mount, but they say anything to get money out of you.

Has anyone got any other ideas?

Engine mounts are easy to change have someone put it in drive and look and listen under the hood you should see it. usually the rubber in the mount is cracked.

Cheers.