There is a constant whining under the hood. I thought the problem might be the power steering or alternator, but both have been checked and they are fine. The car has been making the noise since I have had it, but the noise has not affected performance. The engine has started leaking from the seal of the oil pan, but it still has plenty of horsepower.
I had to do one major brake job on the front, but otherwise this car has been very dependable. I am even considering putting some money into this car and keeping it!
Overall this has been the best car I have owned. Love the Prix!
The whining is your power steering pump as I have the same car and have thus changed the power steering pump eliminating the whining sound.
I just changed my power steering pump on a '97 Grand Prix. We have been living with noise for years. I was affraid it might have been the transmission, but realized it was worse on turns. Rebuilt pump from Autozone =$68. 4 hours of work to do the job. I'm a good mechanic with a full set of tools. It wasn't a pleasant job. Pay someone to do it if you don't qualify. Car sounds better than new now. Wish I'd have changed it back in 2000. Of course the Pontiac dealer said everything was fine when I took in in back then. They didn't want to do the job either.
If you guys with the whining power steering pumps had just put some tranny fluid into your resevoir, that whining would have gone away. Ask me how I know :)
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