Numerous squeaks and rattles since day 1
Intake manifold gasket at 35,000km, engine running hot, losing coolant.
Car completely repainted at 35,000km, missing paint, clear coat peeling.
Head and gasket replaced at 38,000km, losing coolant.
Thermostat replaced at 40,000km. No heat.
Thermostat replaced again at 43,000km, engine overheating.
Intake manifold gasket replaced again at 45,000km, losing coolant again.
Thermostat replaced again at 52,000km, engine overheating again.
The car has great styling, lots of get up and go, a blast to drive.
Runs OK on regular, but really performs better and also get far better gas mileage on super no lead.
For long trips, an added seat cushion is needed as the seats are very uncomfortable.
I paid over $33,000 for it, not including taxes, fully loaded, only thing missing is the GTP motor. I called GM to see about a buy back to which I was told "this is the best car we make and we have had no recalls on it" I said, "funny I have had 2 now for it".
Every time I take this car in for more service the service tech says."not his car again" They are as fed up with my car as I am.
My first car which was a Vega was more reliable than this overpriced piece of JUNK! And to add to my validation of this piece of junk, my boss has a 98 GP, GT to which he also had to replace the head and intake manifold gasket.
Another friend of mine had a 97 to which he has had to do the same work to his. I ONLY WISH I HAD DONE MY HOMEWORK BEFORE I BOUGHT THIS CAR.
It sounds like you've got it in for Pontiac for some reason, or you need to find another shop to repair and diagnose your car. After ten years in the service business, I have yet to see one head gasket failure with a 3.8. The gasket kits aren't even stocked anywhere, including the dealers. It just doesn't happen.
I agree with the previous post. I have owned several cars with 3800's and sold them with over 200,000 miles on them. I have also known many people with Series II 3800's and have never heard of a 3800 of any year experiencing a head gasket failure.
In regards to the the over heating problems on all 3 series motors...3.1/3.4/3.8, GM now has 3 class action law suits against them for this problem.
GM said "this problem" only goes back to the 2000 model year, consumer reports has it going back to 1995, to which I beleive, I had a 97 bonneville, a friend a 97 grand am, both had to have the intake manifold gaskets replaced.
8/7/06 2002 G. Prix SE 59,000 miles... oil in coolant, intake manifold gasket blown... fyi.
I agree with the se blowing heads or intake gaskets failing the 3.1's suck SUCK SUCK I have a 95' monte carlo that blew an intake gasket I bought my car and when the gasket blew at 88'000 miles I took it to the dealer and he said you really gotta watch those intakes gm should have put a disclaimer on almost every vehicle with a 3.1.
Your gasket problem is caused by the orange antifreeze. This is also what the lawsuit is about. There is a simple fix for this problem, just flush out all of the orange antifreeze and replace it with green. The orange is very corrosive to gaskets. GM has since changed to pink.
Our family owned a 1998 Pontiac Bonneville with the venerable 3800 Series II engine in it. It was a great engine that required little maintenance, but it did blow a gasket once.
I want to buy a Grand Prix, so this doesn't bother me as the build quality of that Bonneville was amazing. I love the 3800 engine - strongest car I've ever owned. Finally sold it due to an electrical malfunction (plus it had too many miles on it for our tastes). But I say that to say this - they are indeed reliable, but the head/intake gaskets have been known to blow.
For the post above: The Bonneville used the orange coolant, so you might be right.
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