cooling system problem
10.0
really awfulTypical Repair Cost:
$3,375.00
Average Mileage:
105,478 miles
Number of complaints:
2 complaints
Most common solutions:
- replace engine (2 reports)
Helpful Websites About 1997 Pontiac Grand Am coolant leaks into engine oil
2007Mar 30
(reported on)Grand Am
- Automatic transmission
- 100,000 miles
Car started hesitating, coolant light kept coming on. Got it checked at least three times. No result. Finally took to Pontiac dealer. Cause was faulty manifold. Needed replaced. $750 later, driving home car seemed to be blowing cool air. On a night with nearly 0 temperatures. Stopped to be sure all was ok, heat came on, continued home. Next morning, coolant all over driveway. They towed it back in. Fixed again. On way home, light back on, overheated. Fixed again. Got home. Next day, overheated. Fixed again. There might have been another time thrown in there. Last two times rocker arm cited as cause. After a couple weeks of no problems, finally started to think maybe there was hope. Now only month & 1/2 later (maybe a little more), car hesitated a couple times over last week, no coolant light on. Last night it hesitated a couple times, started losing power, coolant light came on, then engine light, barely made it to shoulder, car died. Towed back to dealer. Rocker arm again. Research online after first episode nearly made me sick. GM knew manifold gasket was faulty, never recalled but would replace if car brought in for other repairs. Problems that arose from gunky oil caused by gasket letting coolant in weren't covered unless it happened under warranty. Generally they didn't. Gasket was made of material that the prescribed coolant ate away. Stuck between a rock and a hard place. Use other coolant, no coverage under warranty. Use prescribed, gunk up your engine, possibly forever. Totally unconscionable. I'm resigned to problems for the life of the car. Heater, ac and interior lights also somehow related. They've all been messed up for a long time, but never related to this. Turns out, they're all related. New car isn't an option for us. Sure, '97 is old, but under normal circumstances, it could/should be able to go for another 60,000 miles or so if maintained. Yet another case of disposable product for the disposable mentality we've somehow come to. It's exhausting!
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2007Sep 21
(reported on)Grand Am SE 3.1L V6
i had just bought my car this summer. i had had some problems with the coolant level being low on occasion and having to refill it. i brought my car in for some body and brake work and they told me i needed a new intake manifold because mine was leaking fluid. i had the work done and got a new water pump. i left to drive from saskatoon to victoria and about two hours down the highway my engine starting making a horrible noise. my gasket heads had leaked, coolant had got into my oil and it had dried out my engine, wrecked my bearings and now i need a new engine. what gives? Apparently this is a common problem among grand ams. is their some sort of upkeep or special attention that can help prevent this problem from occurring and potentially wrecking your engine
Kegan M.
Saskatoon, Sask, Canada
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