1999 Pontiac Grand Am head gaskets and noises

SHONTE

MEMBER
1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM

Noises problem
1999 Pontiac Grand Am 4 cyl Four Wheel Drive Manual

well I took my car to this bootleg shop which I dont know what I was thinking. I had to get some head gaskets done. Before I took my car to the man it wasnt making any rattling noises. I got my car back they had put the head gaskets on so my car is not over heating or leaking but the problem NOW is that its making a rattling noise when the car is in motion and even when im not in motion. I want to know what did he do wrong and why is my car making that noise. I took my car back to him to fix it and he told me that its my lifters and he didnt do anything to make my car make that sound. He is trying to get more money out of me when I already gave him $890! Please I need your help im a 18 year old female and I dont know anything about cars. I just dont undersatnd how is it making that noise all of a sudden when I get my car back and it wasnt makin it before he even touched it. It would be nice if you can tell me the whole process of what you have to take apart in order to put head gaskets on. Please respond ASAP! Thanks

2 Replies

BILLYMAC

MECHANIC
2,204 POSTS

Hi shonte
well first thing I would do is get a oilchange.
I know it sounds silly but when you blow a head gasket a lot of coolant goes into the oil and all the way around the oil gallery. It takes a couple oilchanges to flush all this out.

The lifters most likely have air in them when you change head gaskets the lifters should be removed and stored in oil this keeps them from leaking down and getting air in them.

This noise if it is air will eventually go away 'and that is if we are talking about normal lifter rattle.
The processs is very long a lot of parts have to come off. So the only thing I can think of is to ask him when he had it apart where were the lifters stored. But this is very tough to prove you may need to go further with some legal action.