1995 Pontiac Grand Am SE review from North America
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Engine overheated when I first got the car. I changed the thermostat, rodded out the radiator, and checked all other relevant items. Still overheated.
I took it to a dealer and he plugged his OB1 readout device in and told me the engine heat was within acceptable range. It was showing 215° at the time while idling on a 75° day. I figured this dealer wouldn't be much help, so I proceeded to find the cause and fix it myself.
It turned out to be a badly restricted heater core that would not allow the proper circulation in order to expel the air that gets trapped in the system. A new heater core fixed the problem. It's a shame the dealer didn't know this.
General comments?
The car has been very reliable and trouble free since getting past the initial overheating problem.
Recommended reviews
| It has served impressively! |
|
| A high maintenance subtle speed demon |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1995 |
| Year of manufacture | 1995 |
| First year of ownership | 2002 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2008 |
| Engine and transmission | Quad 4 Automatic |
| Performance marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 9 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 7 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 5 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 54000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 136000 miles |
| Date of Entry | 3rd September, 2008 |