I found when Problems in My 97 Prix the Electrical started, Trac Lights, ABS Lights, Stalling, Dealer three times Thinking on Changing Alternator, Battery, Coils, Sensors, Relays The Thousand Dollar answer was ( (The ground at the transmission!) ) Found at a auto elect Shop, He said The ground almost fell off with corrosion. After Repair What Can I say, It probably needed a new alt, Battery Anyhow. 140.000 Now. Good Luck.
I've basically have had all the same problems as many of you. The headlamp lens foggy up, the driver's rocker panel rusting away, the inside rear view mirror leaking something down onto the console, one water pump, one alternator, one battery, one belt idler pulley, two low coolant level sensors and two heater blower resistors. I did notice that the last resistor looked to be a new design so hopefully it will last a long time.
As for someones question about how to tell if the bearing in the rack and pinion needs replacing after the recall was done, you can't tell by looking at the car from underneath. You have to remove the bearing cover and then inspect it. When the recall was done the dealer either installed a new style of bearing that had a metal cage that kept the ball bearings in place in the existing rack and pinion gear, or they replaced the complete rack and pinion with a new one that already had the new style bearing and metal cage. Either way the ball bearings can't fall out of place like the originals could, which is why the car got recalled in the first place.
For those of you with the radio display showing strange symbols or doesn't light up at all, the fix is easy. Remove the large bezel (frame) that goes around the radio and the rest of the instrument panel. It just snaps in with a dozen or so metal clips. Be carefully pulling it off so you don't break it. Then remove the radio screws and pull the radio straight out and disconnect it. If you have the cassette player there is a small bulb at the rear of the display. Can't remember if there was a cover over it or not. Whatever it took to access the bulb was easy. I bought a new bulb at a radio repair shop (that the local Pontiac dealers use) for less than $3.00. Once the new bulb was in the radio display lit up and there were no more funny symbols. If you take the radio into the radio shop and have them change the bulb there going to hit you up for at least #50.00.
As for the overall car, it's been one of the most fun cars I've ever had as a daily driver. The supercharger is great. 18-20 miles per gallon in the city and 30 on the highway. Even with 105,000 miles it still looks and runs great. Oil & filter changes every 3,500 miles and today it still doesn't use a drop between changes. Nobody believes it's a 1997 model. And yes it rides like a truck. Even with Monroe struts all around and BF Goodrich tires. I will say it rides a little bit better than it did with the Goodyear Eagle's. Would I get another one? Yes. The only problem is they don't make the supercharged 3800 engine any more and I wouldn't be happy with just the non-supercharged version.
I've had a lot of the same problems as all of you. I have a 97 Grand Prix GT with 195,000 miles on it. I got it with 94,000 about 4 years ago. Never gave me a single problem until about 140,000, aside from an alternator which is an easy fix. I've had to have the water pump replaced twice, new spark plug wires due to a misfire, Power window switch on the driver side, and the passenger side just went recently. Some how a spark happened in the switch and melted something because the switch won't move at all. The key got stuck in the ignition not too long ago and was in there for like 2 weeks, but it started up just fine, but got that fixed. It was related to the shift release solenoid which also no longer works. I have to use a small pointy object, like a pen to push the shift release button next to the shifter to get it out of park. And actually about an hour ago that no longer works either so its locked in park and I'm stuck at home : ( I called the mechanic I always go to because he gives me good deals and is a GM mechanic, and he said its probably an easy fix, though there is a possibility ill need a new shifter which is like $500.Have also needed a new fuel pump and pressure regulator. Also the transmission blew at around 194,500 miles. There was literally a gear in the road!! That's fixed now also. As you can see I've put a lot of work into this car. The thing is, almost none of this has anything to do with the engine running. I've had many little problems with this car and one major problem (tranny) but nothing with the engine yet. The 3800 V-6 must be indestructible. I'm really beginning to think that. Still runs like a dream and starts right up with no hassle what so ever. Also the car looks great, no one believes me when I tell them I'm almost up to 200k. Body is in perfect condition, love this car, just so many stupid problems...
Went to the dealer this morning with my '97 G.T.P. for the supercharger/fire start recall, and the mechanic found that the lower intake is leaking along with the rear valve cover gasket, resulting in a puddle of coolant constantly trying to make it's way into my motor oil. They say the engine will "hydro lock" if the repair is not done, so I'll sit the car, as paying the dealer $1100 to fix it is not an option at this time. Does anyone out there know exactly what parts/mfr./kit, etc. it takes to cure this problem I'm experiencing at 141k? Please email me at phinnious@msn.com in case I can't find this page again, thanks!
I love the Grand Prix look, and I always have. So I bought my first car; a 98 Grand Prix SE in March 07. It ran great for about 6 months.
The heat went out this winter. I was told it was a problem with the coolant, I had it flushed and my heat worked perfectly for a week, then we replaced the thermostat. To this day it fades in and out.
The AC was working when I bought it, sometime this winter it stopped working as well.
My rocker panels are so rusty that it is actually cutting into my son and I when we get in.
My wipers stand straight up; I can't find the part in any auto parts store around me, and the junk yards are sold out.
My windshield cracked.
My front drivers spring (on the strut) cracks every time I turn the wheel.
My window switch is stuck only working DOWN not up, so if I roll it down it stays down.
Yhe light on my CD player just went out.
My back struts were snapped.
So my dream car now looks like junk :( Time for a new dream.
Just bought a 2002 GTP 40th Anniversary Edition. 90,00 miles Had a '95 GTP before. I love these 97-03 Grand Prix models.
I have a great resource at hand... http://www.clubgp.com
That is the website for a National Grand Prix Club, and many local clubs exist. Many members of those local clubs are very nice people and may help with your efforts to keep your GP running.
In closing, my 2002 Grand Prix GTP is stellar. I don't look forward to any issues, but I know how to fix quite a few of them myself.
-RebelGTP.
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