Brakes every 2,000 miles or so, replaced calipers, hoses, rotors, and put ceramic pads on it. Have lasted for a year now and still look new.
One tie rod end at about 140,000 miles and another at about 155,000 miles.
Front right axle at about 130,000 miles (has gone bad again, but still haven't replaced it).
Both window regulators (driver's side went and was fixed before I got the car).
Power steering pump, water pump, one idler pulley.
Gas gage works until below 1/4 of a tank, then goes crazy and goes from full to empty.
I once put gas in it while it was running, and then for a couple months I had to take my gas cap off and drive around with it off before I went to the gas station or it wouldn't hold more than $1 of gas. It now works fine, but my service engine soon light stays on constantly.
Right rear brake cylinder.
Water reservoir.
I had a problem with the car idling very high, on about 3,000 to 4,000 RPMs in park, I put a $200 EGR valve on it and it fixed it for a while, but it messed up again so I put on a $25 idle air control valve and it fixed it for about 5 months. Now it idles high sometimes, but nowhere as bad as before. It will not idle higher than 1,500 now, but 600 is about normal. If I pull over and turn the car off and turn it back on, it will idle normally.
The sunroof will get stuck about 1 inch open sometimes and i have to wait for a while before it will open on up or close either one.
It has a crazy problem that I don't have any idea what to do about. Here's what it does: when the lights are on (parking or full lights), the left turn signal light stays on constantly and the left signal won't work at all. Right signal goes very fast (no bulbs are out).
The foglights won't come on at all, yet the fog light switch light is constantly on when lights are on.
Cruise won't work when lights are on, but the cruise light is constantly on when lights are on.
When lights are on the left, the parking light will not work at all.
The horn won't work at all, but when you push it every dashboard light comes on until you let it go, also the left turn signal light will get very bright when you push the horn, but it lights up the right signal only.
I let the lights come on their self (automatic), but when they come on, I can't get them to go off at all unless I get out and shut the doors, and push the lock button on the keyless entry. The parking lights will flash and the lights will go out.
Before I figured out that this would make the lights go off, I had to take my battery cable off every night I got home.
I have replaced the "multi-function" or "all purpose" switch 2 times, and it fixed the problem both times for about 3 weeks each, and now I can't afford to keep on buying a $70 (no warranty unless you pay $90) part every 3 weeks.
Does anyone have or have had a similar problem? If so could you email me at bubbah1708@aol.com or leave a comment on here and I will check regularly?
I have no idea what to do about this crazy problem, and I can't afford to take it to the shop. I fix most small repairs myself, and they usually turn out to work fine.
This car has never quit on me or never failed to start, except when the battery and starter went out.
It has been pretty good except for the crazy problem above.
It handles well and accelerates quickly.
I would buy another Pontiac, but ONLY a new one because I think that these cars will do well if you take care of them. I think the previous owners of my car didn't do this.
It does drink plenty of gas, about 15 to 20 MPG on highway or in town. If I fill up I can go 200 miles exactly before it hits empty (I consider empty to be when my hand starts to float all over the place). And when it's on empty it only holds 12 gallons. It's supposed to have a 15 gallon tank.
It wears out tires quick, my right front tire has been on there for 15,000 miles now (since new) and it is almost completely bald (I rotated it recently).
You mention that the lights stay on when you turn off the car. This is actually a feature and not a fault.
I purchased my Grand Am 9 yrs ago with 16,000 miles on it and I have just hit the 110,000 mile mark. I would like to say it's been the most reliable car I've ever owned, but the continuous problems over the past year make me re-think such a statement.
First was the Hazard Light/ Turn Signal Recall, which Pontiac replaced the part in 2001.
At 49,650 miles my fuel tank was replaced under Warranty (up to 50,000 miles - whew). Problem was a hole found near the top of the tank causing loss of power to car and such.
Driver's Seat switch to raise/lower the seat went out at 60,000 miles, I have never replaced.
Driver's side window works when it feels like it. Only began this at 80,000 miles.
My CD player is selective and does not read all discs inserted and I've frequently cleaned it. The volume knob on the radio works in reverse and the back passenger side speaker has worked maybe 1% of the time.
My dashboard has a huge crack around the dashboard vent as well as the interior vinyl lifting from below all the power windows.
My change oil light has been on permanently since 60,000 miles, everyone thinks they will be the one to 'put it out', but no luck so far.
My turn signals flash in double time even when they are not in use, which has caused weekly inspections where I hope to find a hidden burned out bulb that will fix the problem. After the Hazard light recall this problem stopped for about 20,000 miles then resumed.
The passenger side mirror completely ripped off the car. I actually fixed by remolding parts with a product called waterweld.
The trunk lining seems like it was cut too small or something as it has peeled down and away from trunk. Also, about half of the plastic clips used to secure down miscellaneous parts, broke in the removal or placing back in process.
The black flaps underneath the front of the car, have ripped halfway off due to catching on any curb or cement parking brick that it comes too close to.
I have always serviced my car for basic routine maintenance; oil changes, tires rotated, tune ups, battery replacement, brake jobs etc and has been pretty problem free until recently.
My battery won't hold a charge now, so is this the alternator? My ignition is messed up, the car will run with no keys in the ignition. The brakes were all just replaced again as well as the serpentine belt and tension pulley. My radiator has a couple of leak spots and along with the new oil leak, my driveway isn't looking too good. Neither is the car anymore.
I see a lot of problems, you just have to be a good mechanic to realize. But I'm just going to give this one to you for free since you are completely lost on it. But I gotta ask you this question and it might make you feel dumb. When a turn signal doesn't work, why wasn't the first thing you thought "my turn signal light is out"? Because in GMs, when the turn signal light is out and you turn your lights on, your turn signal is out. Nifty feature.
Just replace your turn signal lights on that side and I bet the problem goes away.
120,000 miles is really as far as that car was designed to go. Domestic vehicles are disposable around that mileage.
"120,000 miles is really as far as that car was designed to go. Domestic vehicles are disposable around that mileage."
I think you are confusing domestics with Honda and Toyota. Our Honda was sent to the junk yard after only 7 years and 99,000 miles. Our Ford was driven 17 years and 325,000 miles with less than $500 in total repairs. My Dodge was driven 240,000 miles with two brake jobs, two timing belts and one hose. The current owner now has over 300,000 miles on it. Our Buick was sold last year after 31 years and 277,000 miles. It never had ANY repairs except brake jobs (2).
We've owned both domestics and Japanese cars (or should I say go karts). We generally own 3 to 5 cars at any given time. Not a single domestic we ever owned had a single problem before 100,000 miles. Not a single import we ever had ever MADE 100,000 miles. We now stick totally with domestics. They are in warranty longer than any of our rice burners LASTED!!
To comment 13:16:
No, I meant domestics. My domestics usually lasted me about 120,000 miles before they became huge money pits. The highest mileage I ever got on a domestic was 140,000 miles, and it was a 2004 Ford Focus that needed brake pads and rotors every 25,000 miles or so. However, my Honda's have all made it to 200,000 miles or more with basic maintenance only. My first Honda I ever owned made 450,000 on the original engine and drivetrain.
I don't have any turn signals out... my turn signals work fine now, and I have never replaced any of the bulbs... I replaced the multi function switch again, and it seems to work fine now until I try and honk the horn, then my car has a stroke...
And I know that the lights stay on for 20 seconds after you turn the car off, but that wasn't my problem... they were staying on for hours at a time until I unhooked the battery cable, then they would go off... I'm not stupid on this car, I know all the features, and I don't have any blown bulbs and I'm not getting confused on how long my lights stay on...
By the way, I now have 185,000 and I still do most of the work on it myself...
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