1997 Pontiac Grand Prix SE from North America - Comments

I bought a used Pontiac Grand Prix SE about 3 months ago with 135,000 miles on it. The low coolant light was flashing so my husband added coolant. However, the low coolant light is still flashing. I took it to a mechanic to evaluate the flashing low coolant light and he said he can't help me because it is an electrical problem. The guys at work told me to just ignore it, if coolant has been added. I don't feel comfortable with a flashing low coolant light on the dashboard. Any suggestions, besides taking it to a electrical specialist that will cost me at least $200 plus.

I have a 1997 Grand Prix GT and it has been a rather good car, however about 3 months ago, the bolt that holds the windshield wipers on under the hood came loose and the motor would run but the wipers wouldn't move. I got down to the wiper motor, which wasn't easy, to discover the bolt laying on top of the wiper motor, so I screwed it back on and put the wipers back on. Now the wipers work but they stop in the upright position instead of at the bottom like they are supposed to. So the delay is at the top instead of the bottom. I was told it may be a timing mechanism??? But no one seems to be able to tell me for sure. Can anyone help me with this?

Thanks.

I have owned a 1997 GP GT since buying it new. Overall, it has been a good dependable car. It now has about 170,000 miles and over the years I have had to change the water pump, rear and front struts, driver's side window controls (x2, heater blower controls, and the radio works but the display is a crap shoot. The latest thing to go is the alternator. Oh well, I guess nothing is perfect.

Just bought a used 97 GP SE for $1600. It has 115,000 k miles on it. Took it to the dealers and three major things need to be fixed for a grand total of $1800// Stabilizer bar and links are trashed, HUB needs to be replaced, and the head gasket needs to be replaced also.

Couple small things were wrong like the air control knob was broken off (only comes through defrost, but AC doesn't seem to be cold), front driver and back driverside windows are both scratched on the outside (I think the things on the inside are scratching the window). Stabilizer bar makes the car rattle.

The mechanic said it's not an urgent thing to replace, just more of an annoyance. Wondering if you guys think it's worth another 1800??? Please tell me soon.. Thanks.

I have owned two 97 Pontiac Grand Prixs. I have been lucky I guess because I have not have to change anything major on either of the cars. Yeah the heater switch lost 1 2 and 3, but for $10 I can get a new switch. And like I said, anything I've fixed was low cost, but the 3 liter has got to be one of the most aggressive motors I've seen. So in a couple of weeks I am going to rebuild and go for another 180,000 miles. Sorry so many people have had so many problems.

I have a 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix SE with the 3.1L motor with 100,000 miles and have had numerous issues like explained above, but overall the car has been reliable and good.

1. Replaced both the passenger side window regulators, front and rear.

2. Recently, had issues with the 4T65E transmission shifting hard once the fluid gets very hot. I have NOT replaced the PCS solenoid like shops recommend for $700-800 but solved the problem by adding 2 18,000 GVW double stack coolers after the fluid leaves the radiator. Problem solved and much better for the transmission overall! Should have done this change years ago. All these cars should have an external transmission cooler. Put one on. 1 28,000 GVW cooler should suffice.

3. Replaced the blower motor resistor attempting to cure the intermittent blower operation and after much research, as mentioned before, the issue is the ignition switch module-burned contacts. I am going to take the ignition switch module apart, clean the contacts with sand paper-problem solved!

4. Nothing else outside of normal maintenance has been required.

Pretty good car!