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Pontiac Grand Am Repair Questions and Answers

Answer:  It sounds like you have either replaced the wires incorrectly to the starter or you have a faulty starter.

Question:  1990 Pontiac Grand Am quad 4 mileage: 100,000.  Hi, I live in Moscow, Russia.  I have Grand Am quad 4 1990.  How difficult to own such a car here...No spare parts, quality mechanics, so I do everything by my own hands.  My problem is a noise when the engine runs at 2500-3000 rpm.  I’m sure it’s timing chain & sprockets, but it’s almost new (about 5000 km).  Maybe you know how can I solve the problem?  I heard that quads run with a big noise, isn’t it?

Answer:  Your noise could be caused by the timing chain guides and tensioner if they were not changed with the new timing chain.

Question:  1989 Pontiac Grand Am 2.5 Liter mileage: 120,000.  I need help! I have been working on this car on and off for one month.  This is what I have done:  Symptoms: The car intermittingly raises the idle on its own to 2500 rpm.   I have code scanned and code 35 comes up.   This means a problem with the IAC control valve.  I have replaced the IAC and the throttle position sensor and the 02 sensor and the code still comes up.   (service soon light on).  I have recently invested in an Actron Tech Tool, which has been helpful, but I am not sure with my conclusion.  I have replaced the battery also because it was leaking acid at the terminal connections which I thought could cause the computer to not function correctly, hence problem solved.  Battery did not solve the problem.  (I did clean all the acid from the terminals)  I have checked the battery when the car is running with the tech tool and the voltage is dropping to 6 to 7 volts on the tech tool screen.  I checked the voltage from the battery to the ECM and it is 12.5 volts on both orange wires running to the ECM.  As soon as the car drops to the 6 volts the IAC reading goes up to 255 on the tech tool.  Then all by itself the car will start to idle normal at 1025 RPM and the voltage will read 13.5 volts (running).  At this point, the IAC will be at 28.  (Which I believe is normal).  I will shut the car off and start it again and the voltage on the tech tool will be back at 6 volts.  I think that the ECM itself is intermittingly showing the wrong voltage, which is causing the IAC to go out of control limits, and causing the idle to rise to 2500 RPM.  I even double-checked over and over to make sure that the voltage going into the ECM is staying at 12.6 volts.  Please help me.   I am thinking of getting another ECM but they are expensive.  I would like to hear from you before I make this purchase.

Answer:    From what you describe and have checked, we would think the ECM is the problem.  Additionally, if you replace the ECM, also replace the prom.

Question:  1991 Pontiac Grand Am 2.3 mileage 65,000.  The temperature gauge needle rises and falls back about every 7 seconds while driving down the highway.  While sitting in traffic it rises very quickly but cools upon normal driving, once in awhile I will notice a small puddle of coolant under the car after shutting the car off.  Is it possible the water pump is going?

Answer:    A partially plugged radiator may be causing your problem.  Have the radiator “boiled” out at a radiator service center.  Also, have the cooling system checked for leaks.

Question:  1996 Pontiac Grand Am 2.4l mileage: 52,000.  How do I align the headlamps?  I know how to remove the assembly to change the bulbs but they are out of alignment.

Answer:   Aiming headlights correctly requires special equipment.   You can try shining them on the garage door and try to align them that way, but we would have them done by a professional.

Question:  1993 Pontiac Grand Am 2.3L Quad 4 mileage: 129,000.  My car steering wheel is shaking at 55-60 mph and sometimes when I put on the brakes at 50 mph. Could my car need the wheels aligned?  Never have had done yet.  Just got 4 new tires on car and was inspected but shaking has been going on 2-3 months prior to changing the tires.  Thank you.  Lisa

Answer:   Possibly a front end alignment would help but first check the lower ball joints and the rod ends for wear.  Also, recheck the tire balance.

Question:  1994 Pontiac Grand Am mileage: 94,000.  If the clutch is found to be bad, how much (ballpark) would it cost to get a new one w/ labor and is it worth it to do this to such an aged car?

Answer:   New parts and labor to replace your clutch should be approximately $385.00.

Question:  1989 Pontiac Grand Am 2.3 DOHC mileage: 82,000 mi.  This car is driving me crazy!  It's been on a scope and gives no error codes. Let me fill you in: In below freezing temperatures, the "check engine" light glows.  After it runs for a while, it can be restarted without the light glowing.   It gets pathetic mileage, regardless of temperature.  It appears the torque converter doesn't lock up at highway speeds.  In below freezing weather, the heater has poor heat output.  Despite not warming up properly, it will overheat, apparently out the radiator overflow tank when idling in traffic. Help!

Answer:   Check for a blown head gasket.  The “check engine” light will “light” when there is a malfunction in the engine management system.  The fault code is then stored in the computer.  The computer must be scanned to retrieve these stored faults to pinpoint the malfunctioning component.  Because the check engine light indicates something is wrong, a trip to you neighborhood automobile service center sooner rather than later is recommended.

Question:  1993 Pontiac Grand Am quad 4 mileage: 97,000.  Oxygen sensor shorted out.  Replaced sensor. The car will start and run. Kill engine and car will not restart. Can unhook ground from battery for about 30 seconds and car will restart. Kill engine again and car will not restart. What do I do?

Answer:   Your car is equipped with a computer controlled engine management system.  An independent auto service center can scan your computer for fault or error codes.  The information should pinpoint the malfunctioning components.

Question:  1989 Pontiac Grand Am  mileage: 90,000.  When in stop & start traffic, motor temperature continues to rise to point where compression is lost and valves tap etc. If I turn on the air-conditioner the temperature begins to drop.  Could the belts be reversed in some way?  I just had new belts put on not long ago, because they were squeaking.  Incidentally the belts still squeak when I first start the engine.... the garage keeps saying they fixed the problem when I take it back...but in a few days the squeaking begins again.  I use belt dressing repeatedly but that only works temporarily.  Is there some secret fix?

Answer:  A partially plugged radiator may be causing your problem.   Replacing a plugged radiator with a new one always make sense to us, they are very inexpensive and easy to install.  Check for coolant leaks.  We cannot see how “reversed” belt could cause your car to overheat.  Your new belt may be squeaking because of improper size or poor quality.

Question: 1991 Pontiac Grand AM 4 cyl mileage: 139,000. When the car idles in neutral it idles high then low it's not steady. What is causing this? Also when I'm driving once the car goes into second gear it seems to lose power what is causing this?

Answer: If a major tune-up has not been done recently, this could be the cause of your problem. Replace the spark plugs, plug wires, fuel and air filters, etc. Also, replace the oxygen sensor. In addition, service the fuel injection system. Clean the carbon deposits from the throttle bore and idle passages.

Question (follow-up):  Thanks I'll try that this weekend.  Also the heater core on my car is gone. I took it to a mechanic he said he isolated it.  Now my car overheats very quickly, I took it back to him he said he thinks the gauge is broken.  I don't agree with him can the heater core have anything to do with this?

Answer:   If the mechanic plugged off the heater hoses then you may have a coolant circulation problem.  “Looping” the hoses should fix that.  In addition, make sure the cooling system full. After opening the system, it takes a while to get all the air out. 

Question:  1995 Pontiac Grand Am  mileage: 56,000: My car is in good running condition; no previous problems and now all of a sudden my lighter went out then my power locks will not open when I shut off the car or when I hit the door lock switch they won’t open or close. Now my headlights will not turn on only the high beams. I put new lamps in but no success. Any response would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

Answer: Check the fuses for a "blown" fuse.

Question:  1991 Pontiac Grand AM 2.5L mileage: 93,000. My '91 Grand Am has a 3 speed automatic transmission with overdrive. The overdrive kicks in above 45 or 50 mph automatically. When traveling in overdrive for a long period (1/2 hour or greater), the transmission will not shift out of overdrive when slowing down or coming to a stop and the car stalls. Upon restarting the car, (in neutral or park) the transmission is still in overdrive. In order to get the car out of overdrive, I have to rev the engine and drop it into drive (not good). Do you have any idea what might be causing this?

Answer:  Your car has a lock-up torque converter in the transmission. It locks-up only in high gear. It is supposed to disengage at lower speeds. Yours is not disengaging. There is probably a valve in the transmission "hanging up". Having the transmission serviced with new fluid may help the problem. The cost is approximately $75.00 (Southern California Prices). Next step, the valve body will have to be removed and cleaned. The cost is approximately $200.00.

Question:  1991 Pontiac Grand Am, 70,000 miles. I have a 91 Pontiac Grand Am. Just recently, when pushing down on the brake pedal, the lights on the radio display will dim and flash. When the brake is release, all lighting appears normal. Sometimes, as well as the radio display problem, there will be a popping sound. I was told that it could be the module housing for the headlights, parking lights, etc. Is this correct? Any other ideas that I need to check before I start buying and replacing parts?

Answer:  Check rear tail\brake light bulbs (sounds like you have the wrong bulbs installed.)

Question:  1995 Pontiac Grand Am mileage: 125,000  We have a ‘95 Pontiac Grand Am that overheats when driving slow or sitting at a stoplight, yet temp gauge is cool when driving 60+. It has the quad 4 engine. Since January different mechanics have replaced three thermostats, two radiator caps, flushed radiator and put new tanks on the side of radiator, and the timing chain. We are at a loss. Every time we take it to a repair shop, and explain what we have done to it, they assure us they can find the problem and lo and behold, we pick up the car to find another new thermostat put in. No one is solving this problem. I am wondering if it is a cracked head gasket or heater core--but my main concern is how do I get a mechanic to find out what is wrong so we can fix it. I would be thrilled to have an honest answer. Thanks in advance.

Answer:  I do not think you have a cracked head or blown head gasket. Your car is equipped with an electric radiator fan. A sensor on the motor and a relay controls it. One or both may have failed. With the car parked and the engine idling, the fan should cycle on and off as the engine temperature rises. (Keep fingers clear.) Another possibility is the water pump. We have seen the veins on the impeller rot off. This causes very low coolant circulation at low speed.

Question (follow-up):  Thanks for responding so quickly. I forgot to mention that we did replace the water pump 3 months ago and when it overheats, the fan does run. Maybe I should check if the fan runs when it is not overheating.

Answer:  Did your overheating start right after this water pump was replaced? If yes, maybe the fault is the replacement water pump. Also, the temperature gauge or temperature sending unit maybe malfunctioning. Have the coolant temperature in the radiator checked with a dial type temperature gauge showing actual degrees. Compare this to the gauge on the dash.

Question: I have a 1988 Grand Am Turbo SE. I find when I turn my lights on the digital odometer and digital message board in the car goes off, they sometimes come on again but not always. As soon as I turn the lights off, they come back on.

Answer:  The instrument cluster or lighting module is going bad. To fix the problem, which ever one is bad, needs to be replaced.

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