1st Jun 2003, 18:25
4000 rpm idle not uncommon in the Pontiac cars, easy fix is to disconnect the battery for thirty sec and problem solved, also make sure the earth lead is in good condition as any voltage drop across the circuit will throw the computer out and give you the same problem.
I own a 2l Pontiac and believe it to be the most reliable and cost effective car to maintain.
4th Feb 2004, 20:15
Why is that last comment in here? A '69 LeMans has about as much in common with an '88 LeMans as an Apple computer has with, well, an apple.
21st Mar 2008, 23:39
Really! What dope drives a vehicle they clearly hate - for TWELVE YEARS? I had an '87 Camaro that was such a lemon, I dumped it after 11 months - at a tremendous loss. C'mon!
What Pontiac was thinking? - They needed a new small car to introduce below the GrandAm series - and Daewoo made this car for them. It wasn't intended, nor marketed as a world-class car, as I remember (i actually looked at one to replace the Camaro!) they were cheap, tickedy-tackedy little sedans and coupes - but well marketed as "Entry-Level".
The fact that it marked 177K+ miles in itself is pretty impressive.. A more honest review would have been in order I think.
15th Mar 2009, 10:35
I bought mine new in 1988 when was 18 years old.
I was soo happy to be buying my first brand new car..
The sales man gave me the choice of a brand new LeMans or a used Sunbird... to this day I wish I would have picked the Sunbird.
My major issue was the car not starting when it was wet outside.
Whoever said let's put a plastic bag over the distributor cap was a brilliant man!
Seemed it kept more water in then out.
I kept mine from 1988 to 1990.
Funny it wasn't until years later I learned it was an import.
15th Jul 2010, 14:47
I owned one through college, and drove to my first day of my first job. The car did a wonderful job! Great on gas. At 60K it needed a new clutch. Soon after a coil. But with that said, I bet I could have treated it better.
It was a nice base car that served the purpose.
11th Dec 2002, 16:32
Gee. I was think the same thing, 177000 miles and 12 years of ownership. How bad could it have been? It would be very helpful if the miles at each major repair was part of the post.