Did not realize that leaking antifreeze would get worse, or that it was even leaking when I bought it, otherwise I would not have bought it or would have replaced the intake manifold right away. Very upset how much trouble it has caused me. I will probably never buy a Pontiac ever again. Nobody will even buy it to fix it, because I don't have the money. The car may be awful but is not junk, the auto sales people buying it for parts can kiss my ass. They're obviously just a bunch of RIP off assholes.

Once it's fixed it will run fine and be worth around $2000. I wish I had the money or I'd get it fixed and sell it myself. If you test drive an older car especially Pontiac, that is leaking antifreeze, DO NOT BUY IT. The problem will get worse and you'll spend a lot of money filling the antifreeze continuously. Watch out for mid 2000 Pontiac Grand Am or earlier. Get the Carfax and make sure that the manifold is new! Wish someone would buy it to fix it!

It's nearly impossible to label this in every category. Let me try to identify what happened. Noticed ac wouldn't blow cold air and heat would be cold or lightly below warm. Several other issues with this suck fest of a car. I took my car to Firestone for a check up of my issue. In their findings, they discovered a leak in the manifold gasket intake saying it need to be replaced as it was cracked or had a leak. They said it was nearly $800 but that sounds more like a recall issue. F*cking GM crooks like the rest of the world! So it will not get fixed by me because while it has been pissing me off, it hasn't made too big of a difference to need replacement.

Update from Mar 26, 2013: Meineke has fixed my gasket intake for a cheap -$600 using the rubber material. Haven't noticed any issues but wasn't able to tell honestly before. Was told if not taken care of could cause more engine failure or combustion. Don't want neither. Grand Am 2000 GT1 still goes strong and only because of maintenance. If you by this car from someone, do a THOROUGH check or you will invest more into maintenance than the price you bought it.

Ok look after reading this site, I realized, im not the only one with the problem here. I am certified mechanic, and I would just like to say that this is very reliable car. Yes it has coolant problems, but to be honest its better than replacing a tranny right? I know im a mechanic, but most of the day to day problems with the car can be dealt with for under $100 in your garage. The intake manifold gasket in the main problem here. It will cost you $30 and 2 hours to fix this problem. then take it to a dealer or mechanic to flush the coolant system for around $60. Also make sure that you use dexacool and dont add water to the system (excess that is), this will cause the stock gasket to deteriorate. I replaced mine after the system started having hiccups, it was simple, I did it at about 95k miles. And at about 104K I added a supercharger, and plenty of other mods, for high performance. Im running 12lbs of boost, and hitting speeds of 175 mph easy, and I haven't had any problems after that. Do your homework and make sure you know the problem before you spend money on a mech ( cause some of us will rip you off ), make sure you know the price. Or learn how to do it from online, or ask a mech that you might know...it really is a simple fix.

My biggest complaint is that this is the second time that I need to replace my intake manifold. I did it first at 83,404 miles and it needs it again less than 10000 miles later at 92,394 miles. I do not drive it that often and the repair costs $946.90. 17 months later, I am faced with replacing it again. The biggest concern is that it will totally break and ruin my engine which could be as much as another $3000. Why do I have to pay for a part that is obviously defective and risk running into a problem that I cannot afford to solve? They really need to recall this product.

My girlfriend has a 2000 Pontiac Grand AM GT. What a piece of crap! She has had the worst problem with her cooling system. I've been filling her car with coolant every two days and it just vanishes! Nothing leaking on the ground either. She had her manifold replaced last year. I replaced her top radiator hose a couple of weeks later. Then it was still running hot. Just took it to the mechanic last week and had the heater hose by the fire wall replaced, because it was smoking. and today, Thanksgiving day, the reservoir bottle is empty again and it's running hot. Not to mention the security light that comes on and prevents her from driving. That car and company are a pure piece of crap! I have a 99 corolla with 184,000 miles and still have not changed the radiator hoses. Stay with Hondas and Toyotas! Pontiacs are garbage!

First of all i never would of thought that there would be so many people experienceing the same problem. After repairing the breaks, rotars, stabilizing bar, tires, and rims of the car the dam intake manifold gives ass. I had to replace the gaskets as well as the coolant tank. Then my air conditioner decided to give out as well as my passenger window motor so forget the window i had to recharge the AC but of course it still dont work. As far as the manifold its held up so far but thats because my dam car wont start now not even the lights will turn on or anything i thought it was the battery but its not. Here we go again, with all the money ive been spending on having this car run i could have bought me a new one by now. I say just recall all these cheaply made cars and give me my money back. Foreign cars for me are way better. Whats wrong with america? Money hungry maybe...

would some one please take dexcool of the market a good friend of mine Eric from the metal music band CSDO has a 2000 grand am GT. as of last year we put 1 new head on his car and replaced the intake and gasket once again it's back to over heating and running low on anti freeze this time is going to be a complete engine rebuild do to the overheating has warped and cracked another head not more of this orange fungis antifreeze every one in America is talking about going green with every thing well people it time to go back to GREEN anti freeze (PRESTONE) with all the problems with dexcool and the loss of time money and time out of work when your car is dead do you think GM is going to do any thing if you call your local dealer and complain they give you an 800 number to call that just about said 'we can't do anything for you cause your car is out of warranty I've been a master certified mechanic for some time now and to be honest with you i am sick of working on the same related problems due to dexcool don't get me wrong i need broken cars to to stay afloat in this field but PLEASE something other than a over heated grand am 3.4 v6 some one needs to consult with a legal rep about this matter

Damn GM.. Got The "Intake Gasket Blues" coming home from work Wednesday night .. started a tear down same night after some helpful information found out here in the cyber world and a couple of phone calls to good friends.. I'm sure the beer didnt help with all the cussing I was partaking in while dismantling the equipment. stayed home Thursday from work and finished dismantling the intake.. and replacing the Old worn out plastic piece of $#!* gasket GM installed on the factory floor.. Granted Unlike Some Grand Am Owners... My Gasket Happened To Manage to Live for 154753 Miles before Blowing and Scaring The Holy Poopy Doo's Right Out Of Me...

Friday I Came Home From Work and "Tinkerd" with it for a few hours putting some of the mundane parts back in working order, But I just didn't have it in me to "finish" the job after working all day.... Saturday I got up at 6:00am and finished the job at 2:30pm.. all in all not Bad.. The Car started right up... no problems.. I Love My "Lil Red Grand Am".. parts for it are very reasonable and working on it wasn't "The Nightmare" everyone made it out to be... I would Like to Thank the Guys Over At Advanced Auto Parts In Harvest Ala... and also the Wonderful Crew At "O O O O'riely's" Auto Parts In Hazelgreen Ala.. who sat down with me and explained a few key pointers to me that helped out on the project... BUT GM Customer Service SUCKED BIG DONKEY &@(($ and I will never Buy another GM Product again.

I started having problems last year (2007). I brought it to a mechanic and he couldn't find a problem. Took it to another mechanic and he couldn't find the leak. Last week, coming out of a store and antifreeze all over the ground. I took it to another mechanic and thats when I found out that it was the intake manifold gasket and to cost me 600.00. I was told this is a common problem with GM motors. THANKS A LOT GM, I am now broke! And it ticks me off even more when I find out you knew about this problem.

I bought this car for my birthday less than a month ago. I've had other little standard Grand AM problems and a shuddering in the front end that turned out to be a warped rotor.

The REAL problem is the fact that some buttmunch decided to design a plastic [Duh] intake manifold gasket for the 3.4 L engine. While driving the car started to stink and burning coolant smell flooded the interior. Opened up the hood and heard a hissing sound as the coolant burned. The dealer tried to argue about it with me but I eventually got him to replace it. It's going in tomorrow morning and hopefully this will be my first and last post. PROBABLY NOT!!

These cars are a joke and there is a reason why the big 3 dont rule the market anymore...I want a TOYOTA :D