1995 Pontiac Grand Am GT from North America - Comments

Replaced wheel bearing at 127k.

Serpentine belt at 130k.

Stabalizer arms, rotors, shoes, pads at 139k.

Radiator at 140k.

I need to re-wire my speakers.

And now this:

My car overheats like mad (260+) when driving for the first few minutes, then the temperature drops down to a little over 100. Then it will continue to randomly spike for, oh, 15 or so minutes. After that it will only heat up while idling. When I am at stoplights, sitting in my driveway, or what have you, it will heat up to 220, but when I rev the engine, or continue driving, it will fall back down to normal range. I am pretty sure that when it heats up that water is not circulating (heat goes cold). I have replaced the thermostat (replaced twice, just for good measure, as it didn't work after the first one), and I am pretty sure that it is neither the water pump nor the head gasket. Any ideas?

The seats are comfy.

It handles really well in the winter (Minnesotan winters).

It is insanely nice on the interstate, cruises well at 85-90 mph while still getting great gas mileage. I can make it from Minneapolis, MN to Lincoln, NE on one tank of gas, and that's over 430 miles.

I'm having the exact problem with my '95 am. Not sure what to do yet.

DOH, you guys are overlooking the basics. Come on Guys you simply need to flush your Radiator.

Yep, sounds like debris cycling through and plugging things up. When the engine gets warm the debris gets thinner and moves through, like wise when you increase the circulation rate (revving) it moves the blockage through. All the other time it is running debris builds up and plugs the coolant system. Flush it, check the core coolant valve and it should be fine.

I am having the same problem with my 95 grand-am SE. I was told it is most likely the head gasket leaking as I am losing a bit of coolant somehow... If anyone finds the solution to this problem please e-mail me at mbcampbell@wisc.edu

Thanks!

I have a big problem with my radiator... in my 95 grand am gt coupe, the overflow is towards the back of the engine block with lines running to the radiator obviously in the front of my car.. now on the side of the radiator, there is a long plastic tube the length of the radiator, there is about a 4'' crack in it, I used jb weld on it one time, and it fixed the crack except 1 little crack that I missed under 1 of the ridges, this is on the right side of the radiator if you are looking from the front of the car, now today I wasn't leaking that much, I am able to drive it w/o overheating, but today it overheated to about 220-240, but it is half full of coolant.., and I took off the cap and released the pressure, and it was simmering... like almost bubbling... steam coming out of that long plastic piece, and out of the fill cap, I don't know why this was steaming like this... any suggestions on what I can do besides get a new radiator??

I'm not sure if you can purchase the damaged piece that your talking about. However it is never a good idea to open the rad cap when the car is hot. Your lucky that you didn't burn yourself severely. You can take the cap off on the overflow, but never on the rad itself.

Good luck.

95 Grand Am overheating... still!!!

I have a 95 Grand Am that overheats when idling in town after highway driving. I have replaced the thermostat, water pump, radiator, and hoses, as well as the overflow cap... still overheating. Pressure test came back good, and had the system flushed.

Any suggestions?

Are you guy sure your fan is coming on when it gets hot. Its electric and only comes on when the motor gets hot I had similar problems and that was what was wrong.

Hello.

I have had all of the problems and more with my 1995 GE SE. I have replaced the engine, radiator, water pump, fuel pump, and on. Finally, my new mechanic found out that there is an electrical short which keeps the relays from coming/staying on and sending the message to the fan to turn on. The mechanic has "straight wired" the relays to the fan, so now the fan comes on as soon as the car is started, keeping it from overheating.

Although I have had other minor problems, I felt I could live with the car as long as it didn't run hot. I finally grew sick of it and sold it to my mechanic. Hope he makes his money back...