cooling system problem
8.9
pretty badTypical Repair Cost:
$651.00
Average Mileage:
124,643 miles
Number of complaints:
7 complaints
Most common solutions:
- not sure (6 reports)
- replace gaskets (1 reports)
Helpful Websites About 1997 Pontiac Grand Am intake manifold gasket failure
2008Apr 01
Grand Am SE 3.1L
- Automatic transmission
- 125,000 miles
I have had this car since 1999 motor has had a tick/knock that no dealer states that they can hear since day i bought , electrical issues, radiator issues ,many coolant issues since i bought car and dealership one time stated i had internal transmission failure then when i inq abt fixing they said it was mis diag. ? really is anyone trustworthy.
Now again i have bigger coolant leak/ intake gasket
and this stuff has been an issue from day i bought car...
what can be done i read that GM was handling widespread intake manifold gasket problem on a case by case basis.
I GM they really suck when it comes to service ..
2005Aug 20
Grand Am SE 3.1L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 147,000 miles
Well, It all started with the water pump. The car kept over heating for a few days and I kept loosing all my coolant. I thought It was coming from the overflow, but it was shooting out of the water pump. So I put a new water pump on it. Drove it not even for 3 days and then It started overheating again. This time I had water coming out of my defrost vent in the form of steam, and water coming out onto the floor board. That was my heater core. I had a new one of those put on. Drove for about 3 days and then started loosing water again. This time it was coming out of what someone said was the head gasket. Im not sure cause I haven't had a mechanic look at it yet, but one mechanic did say that alot of people think its the head either warped or cracked, but like 97% of the time it's the intake valve gasket or something like that. I'm pretty sure thats what it's called. I gave 6 grand for the car when I bought it. It only had 60,000 miles on it. My problems all started at about 147,000. It would probably be cheaper to sell it and get something else than it would be to fix it. I really loved that car before it started having all the problems. Well, everyone knows they are bad about that, and it should have beena recall. GM can take all of that lovely coolant that they say we are "required" to use and stick it up their ass. What a waste of some really nice cars. Should've been all taken back to the factory and fixed. Now, no one wants to buy them and you sure as hell can't sell one to anyone thats got any brains. Thought about fixin mine, but I think I'll just hauk it in for scrap. To the president of General piece of sh*t Motors, I hope I never meet you cause you're gettin one hell of a shiner.
2007Jul 26
(reported on)Grand Am 3.2L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 100,000 miles
I am soooooooo aggravated with this car and i see that other people are having the same problem!!!!!!!!!! Now I need a new engine and am having some difficulty with this. What to do?
2007Feb 09
(reported on)Grand Am SE 3.1
- Automatic transmission
- 201,500 miles
I have been told that GM knows about this and is doing nothing. I also own a Grand Prix and have been told to expect the same repair bill for it in the near future
2007Feb 14
(reported on)Grand Am XS 3.2
- Automatic transmission
- 90,000 miles
1000 mile later the gasket is leaking again. It started with the timing chain gasket, intake gasket, water pump, lifters and now a CAN P305 Cyl. #5 cold start intermittent missfire.
2007Jan 13
(reported on)Grand Am SE 3.1
- Automatic transmission
- 88,000 miles
I purchased my 1997 grand am with 88000 miles, after about 8000 more I found water in my oil, I found out that the intake manifold gaskets were common in that car to go bad. After I changed them I found out the water going into the engine damaged the engine seriously, I had to replace the engine with one that just had the intake manifold gaskets replaced, I got about another 9000 out of that, and now I am having an overheating problem and water in my oil again, I now have it apart again and the intake manifold gaskets are bad again. I also took off the heads to check the head gaskets. So I will be putting it back together again and see what happens. I also have a low anti freeze light on that will not go out even when it is full. So I will see if this fixes the problem. This engine is by far the worst one I have ever dealt with. And it is no easy chore to take it apart and replace the gaskets just to see if it works. Pontiac you stink with this engine
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2008Mar 20
Grand Am GT 3.4L
So I went for an oil change sometime in March and I had about 121k miles on my Pontiac Grand Am GT. After the mechanic finished with the oil change he advises me that there is a coolant leak into my oil and that I need to replace my gaskets. He told me it cost about 700, but that is just an estimation (like mechanics always like to say). Its funny how mechanic pretend as if they don't know or are estimating things when in reality they know how much things cost.
Anyway, I was doing research and trying to figure out way on how to take care of the problem myself. I came to the conclusion that I needed to have a mechanic fix it because it would be too risky if I did it myself. For my next oil change I went to a different mechanic and he told me the same thing, only this time he told me that the repair would cost between 400-500 dollars. Right then and there I decided to take the bait and have it fixed. I know for sure that the problem will return so I just wanted to get it fixed and sell it to someone and hope that the problem does not return.
I made the mistake in not doing enough research before buying this pontiac. The advice I have for people is to make sure you open your hood every weekend and check for leaks. Also, while you are driving if you turn the heat on if you smell antifreeze that is a clear sign that the coolant is leaking so have that repaired pronto. Anyway, good luck to other Pontiac Grand Am owners.
Felipe G.
Islip, NY, USA
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