1988 Pontiac Grand Prix from North America - Comments

I had to have the fuel pump replaced at 110,000 miles, and then again at 128,000 miles.

The car is stalling now at 130,000 and the mechanics can't figure out why.

The biggest problem I have been having is after the factory stereo went bad. The tape player plays without sound coming out. I cleaned the stereo with a tape head cleaner numerous times and it didn't help at all.

I decided to go ahead and put my own car stereo in the Grand Prix. I had to obtain a mounting kit first. I went to about 4 car stereo dealers and no one had it in stock. When I asked about ordering it, they said no one had it to order from either. I decided that I didn't care about the mounting kit so much as just getting the radio in the car. So now I had to get a wire harness kit. Well, I had the same exact problem with the wire harness. I fell as though the car was made so that you can't put anything in it other than factory equipment.

I have had the exact same problem with my Grand Prix stalling all the time. The worst was when it stalled in the middle of an intersection. I went and had a diagnostic check done and it came back as the fuel pump (already replaced) and the fuel regulator (not replaced yet). Those are the two main reasons the car was stalling on me.

As for the stereo, I plan to install my CD player in my car and I have a feeling it is going to be harder than I thought it would be. The stereo is all one unit with the rest of the console so that worries me a bit. If you haven't had a diagnostic check done, it might be a good idea!

I also had the same problem with my 88 Grand Prix (stalling). We had taken it into a repair shop and they told us that the fuel injectors were plugged. I had trouble believing this, so I changed the fuel pump and fuel filter, after doing this I found the fuel pressure and flow to be adequate. The only thing really left was the fuel injectors; it seems that the small size of these fuel injectors (15 lbs. per hour.) makes them more likely to plug up. This is also seems to be quite common with other 2.8 liter Chevrolet V6's at around 130,000 miles. The cost for new fuel injectors is generally between $250.00 and $300.00 not including the labor, also this type of fuel injector is impossible to be cleaned completely. So your best bet is to have new fuel injectors installed.

The stereo is probably a busted or loose rubber band in the tape player, though I wouldn't bet my life.

Change your oil when it starts to stall, and it should perk up. I know that the ONLY time our Prix does that is when it needs new oil. EVERY SINGLE MECHANIC said it was crazy, but it has never failed to be the problem. This and our Prix has been beaten within an inch of its life on dirt roads and back alleys in CA for the last eight years, so it SHOULD be having problems by now.

I own a 1988 Grand Prix LE. I had stalling problems also I was however able to have the Pontiac dealer trace the problem to a faulty ground wire from the temperature sensor in the radiator. This new blue ground wire runs to the computer and has solved the stalling problem. However I now have a tachometer that gives me false high readings, but the car doesn't stall any longer.

Hope this may help some of you.

I don't get what you all are saying my 1988 grand prix runs fine and never stalls. and I put an after market cd player in it and it only took me 45 minutes I also put in neon lights and some subwoofers in it with 18 inch rims. this car is perfect for accessories.