9.1
really awfulTypical Repair Cost:
$998.00
Average Mileage:
76,314 miles
Total Complaints:
16 complaints
Most common solutions:
- replace the entire intake manifold (12 reports)
- not sure (3 reports)
- replace the whole engine (1 reports)
cooling system problem
Helpful Websites About 2002 Pontiac Grand Am intake manifold gasket failure
2008Jul 01
Grand Am GT 3.4L
- Automatic transmission
- 130,000 miles
So we all know about this issue but here's one more. My '02 GA has the dreaded leaking intake gasket. I owned a 2000 before this and it had it too, but I traded for this one before fixing it. I am going to start the tear down tomorrow to replace the upper & lower gaskets and bolts, hopefully it will only take me a couple of days barring any problems. I have always owned American cars, since I was 16 is have owned 8 cars (1 Ford, 7 GM). Some have been real troopers ('80 Grand Prix, '90 Camaro 5.0, '99 Cavalier, '85 1500) and some have been mechanical nightmares ('86 Cougar, '88 Camaro 2.8, 2000 Grand Am, '02 Grand Am). Now I understand the saying "fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me", but I was told by a GM (Good"bad"wrench) mechanic that it was a fluke in the 2000. What makes this even worse is the fact that there have been multiple issues with both GA's that are the same. Not only the intake gasket, but the window regulators are junk, can change one now in less than 15 min. including tear down and reassembly, the ignition locks fell apart on both as well as both radios had problems and were replaced. I have to some extent kept buying GM because I can work on them and save the money on repairs, but I have noticed that members of my family that own Toyota's don't have to worry about working on their cars because they haven't had these types of problems. Now I don't want to act like GM is the only car with problems but its does seem to have a systemic issue with ignoring their problems. When GM finally offered money to GA owners for intake repairs it was not even enough to pay for the gasket kit, much less the $1000 to have a shop do it. The letter I received from them blames the gasket maker and the maker of DEX cool, not GM. I am NOT a customer of either of them GM is, I am a customer of GM therefore they should have taken care of me, then worked with the other companies to pay them. I hate to say it but my wife and I have decided that our next vehicle will be an Asian brand (would buy German too but can't afford them). The sad part is my Cavalier ( half the price of the GA)which has just as many miles as the GA (around 150K) takes a beating and keeps on going, only needs a little tlc every couple years and its happy.
2007Feb 01
Grand Am GT 3.6L
- Automatic transmission
- 85,000 miles
I was told by the Technician & the GM dealers that all of the 2002 - 3.6 cylinder engines had this problem. I had it fixed in Feb 2007, which they have not updated the part yet from plastic to metal. Had it replaced again in Feb 2009! They really need to do something about this! I love the car but this is unreal! You would think these idiots who design these parts would try to improve them! The more people complain the more apt these car dealers are to do something.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2009Jan 15
Grand Am Ram Air V 6 3.2L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 72,210 miles
have read about this from an expose'' about the GM automaker. it basically said that GM is aware of this problem and has no plans to correct it.... or make good on the repair. so, figure I am out the money I am going to have to pay to fix it. when I am back to working full hours (reduced right now) and the economy is better for my husbands work............ plan on getting rid of my GM product and switch possibly to a Ford.............. ooooh, thought I would never say those words....
2008Apr 16
Grand Am GT 3.5L
- Automatic transmission
- 50,000 miles
the intake is so bad. i have to put antifreze in almost every day. and i don't have $700.00 dollars to fix it and it is getting unreal. i hate this car.
2006Jun 27
Grand Am GT 3.4L, V6
- Automatic transmission
- 75,000 miles
My low coolant light kept coming on, which usually means there's some sort of problem. I didn't have the opportunity to take it to the shop right away, so I kept filling it up myself. Finally, on my way to work one day, my car wouldn't start. My husband tried to jump start my car with no luck. Call the tow company to tow my car to a service place. Find out, my coolant system has been spraying coolant onto my alternator which fried my battery. So, had to get the battery replaced (no big deal), but also had to replace the intake manifold gasket, which was NOT cheap. They told me this was a common problem in the Grand Am. Those of you who paid less than a grand were lucky. That's still not the end to my coolant problems. The light kept coming on, so I took it back to the service place, who told me there must've been an air bubble in the system. Right.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2007Dec 19
Grand Am 3.2L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 62,500 miles
I started having problems with my low coolant light popping up all the time at the end of 2007, so I would fill it, and a week later it would be bone dry again. I took it into the dealer thinking it had to be a simple issue with a leaky hose or a cracked reservoir, but they told me it was my intake manifold gasket and it was going to cost me $1200.00 (after I negotiated it down from $1400.00) and that this was a common problem amongst these type of cars. So, I had the repairs done and it's now 4 months later and the light just started to pop up again. Back it goes to the dealership since that work is still under warranty. They better fix it this time. When this car finally dies, I WILL NOT be buying another Pontiac, that's for sure!!
2007Nov 16
Grand Am SE! 3.4L Lt.
- Automatic transmission
- 68,261 miles
Overheated before I could pull over. By the time i got it repaired, $500.00 cash, found out my head gasket went so now i have to replace my engine. Rebuilt installed for $2800. plus tax. Thanks GM Keep up the good work. By the way, for your info out there people. GM knows that the intake gaskets are faulty and will cover the cost of the repair as long as you don't exceed the 100,000 km period. By the way I had 109,856.
2008Mar 22
Grand Am SE 3.4L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 96,000 miles
I just bought a 2002 Pontiac Grand Am with 96000 mi less than a month ago I don�t even have the title yet. The low coolant light came I didn�t think much of it, then all of a sudden there was this huge leak below my car. I took it to the dealer and they said it would cost $700+ to fix. I don�t even think I can give them the car back. I thought this car would last though college�I guess I was freaking wrong. Im just mad because they tried to sell me a lemon.
2006Aug 15
Grand Am GT 3.4L
- Automatic transmission
- 60,000 miles
In reality I had to replace the gasket three times within a year and at the price they charge it gets expensive. The first two times I did the job myself. Have done this type of work for quite sometime now. By the third time I was fed up and sent it to the repair shop. The car ran fine and didn't leak up until the warranty on the repair job went out. I noticed it leaking again just last month and have been babying it ever since. This seems to be an ongoing problem with the car. My sister had the same car but a 99 model and she replaced the gasket twice. It could be that the gaskets they are using are made cheap.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2008Feb 18
Grand Am SE V6
- Automatic transmission
- 106,000 miles
I've been reading on here ever since I've realized that there is something wrong with my car. I can't believe how many people have the same problem as me. My cars low coolant light keeps coming on so I refill it, well now its getting to where I have to refill it every other da. It's getting really bad. I brought it to a mechanic and they said its the intake manifold gasket. Whatever that is! I bought this car this summer hoping it would last me through college. Being a senior in High school, I know for sure that I'm not going to be able to afford this. I worked three jobs this summer to pay for this car. I thought it would be more reliable. I'm hoping my brother can replace this for me so I can save from paying for the labor. Today I left school and my service engine soon light was blinking and it sounded like my car wasn't running on all the cylinders according to my friend. I'm hoping this is from the same problem. If anyone knows anything about this problem please let me know. I'm just a poor high school student who doesn't know anything about cars. :(
2008Feb 23
Grand Am 3.4 V6
- Automatic transmission
- 51,000 miles
WAY TO GO GM! I had accumulated GM credits thought their credit card and had bought four GM cars since. NEVER AGAIN! After the way they are treating us...FORGET IT GM - Next one will be a Toyota or a Ford
2007May 15
(reported on)Grand Am SE1 3.4LV6
- Automatic transmission
- 62,758 miles
GM should be calling recalls if this is a real problem in the cooling system in the Pontiac Grand Ams
2007May 29
(reported on)Grand Am SE 3.2L
- Automatic transmission
- 38,000 miles
I have an 02 grand am, and it's been one problem after the next. I had the car not starting problem, had the passlock system replaced, ($600.00), that works fine now. My new problem, it is overheating. I had the radiator flush and filled, the thermostat changed, and still overheating. I took it to a different place, and they told me it could be the waterpump, or that there is 'gunk' stuck in the bottom of the radiator that the flush didn't get out. So, I decided to have the waterpump replaced, and all the sudden she changes her mind, and says my intake manifold is cracked and the gaskets are bad. Has anybody else had an overheating problem? If so, what was the problem? Has anybody had the intake manifold replaced because the car as overheating? I don't know anything about cars, so they could be bullshiting me, and I don't know. Any help would be great! Thanks
2007Sep 06
(reported on)Grand Am 3.2L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 75,000 miles
I first noticed my low coolant light was on and immediately refilled the tank. It wasn't 2 weeks later that I noticed the light back on again. I again replaced the coolant but began to suspect that something was wrong since I had just replaced the coolant. Only 3 days later it was low once again. That was when I had it taken in and had a coolant system diagnostic ran on it. I was told that the intake manifold gasket was cracked and it would require the entire intake manifold to be replaced. I was initially quoted around $850.00 bucks. I then was told that the part would take 2 weeks to get in since they didn't keep it in stock and the part itself would be about $250 bucks. I was pretty upset seeing I had only bought the car 3 months prior to this breaking. Sadly however, I bought the car used and it came with no warranty left. I was told by the repair man that until I had the funds to fix it all I needed to do to keep it running was always keep coolant in it and check it as often as I could. I've had to put coolant in my car about twice a week every week since I found the problem. I surely wish I had known about this default before buying such a car. I certainly will NEVER buy another Pontiac again. I've had MANY things go wrong with the car and haven't even had it a year and the car is only 5 years old. I can't imagine needing such major repairs on such a young car. My 1999 Mazada didn't even need this much work done on it before buying the pontiac. Thanks GM for another sh*tty car.
2007Aug 22
(reported on)Grand Am GT 3.4L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 107,000 miles
I stumbled across this website while trying to figure out the best solution to fixing a cracked intake manifold on my Pontiac Grand Am. I was shocked to see just how many people are experiencing the same problems that I am. I just found out today that I have a cracked intake manifold and that it is going to cost quite a bit. I have not got the full estimate yet and I am sure that I am going to be in shock when I do. This makes the third Grand Am that I have owned over the past 15 yrs and always felt very passionate towards Pontiacs, but since I just purchased this one less than 2 yrs ago I am considering changing how I feel about Pontiac. If so many people are having the same complaints and the complaints are being posted daily instead of yearly, then why isn't anything being done about this? I like everyone else on this website would like to have some answers and would also be more than happy to have someone tell me where I can get help in taking care of this matter. It is not funny when you're a single mother struggling day by day just to get by in life and then have a problem such as this erupt. I, like everyone else, want answers to this matter instead of feeling like this is just a complaint board. It should be getting some results. I encourage everyone who reads this to not just stop at leaving a complaint on this message board, but to also go the step further and do something about the way Pontiac is treating its customers. If anyone has any information on what to do please let us know!!!
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2009Aug 24
Grand Am GT 3.4L V6
Buyer Beware -- I have seen many problems with GM products and I have been a loyal GM buyer for 19 years, but this problem with the Intake Manifold Gasket on my Grand Am GT took me over the edge.
I noticed two months ago a sweet smell when I got out of the car. Two weeks later the 'Low coolant' light came on and I had to get a gallon of DEX COOL at $14.00 per gallon. After 82,000 miles I just thought that a little coolant is normal. Little did I know that this was the path to self-destruction.
Three weeks later the 'Low Coolant' light came on a second time then I thought to myself that there must be a leak. So I went under the hood with 9 years of rebuilding of engines under my belt. What I found was a pool of coolant under the air intake system. The coolant was (what I thought) leaking out of the temperature sensor that is at the top right front of the motor. A call to the dealer informed me of the possibility of the problem being the Intake Manifold Gasket was leaking due to DEX COOL eating the manufactures infused plastic gasket. This was unbelievable that a car product installed in an American car company was destroying a vital part of an engine. That if not taken care of would find its way into the oil. I took the car to the shop and 5 hours later the tag writer calls me and said that the pressures test, of 20 lbs, had coolant running out the Intake Manifold and all over the top front and back (left and right) of the engine. He later told me that the Mobil 1 oil was not contaminated and we noticed the leak in time. To make a long story short I learned that GM knew about the DEX COOL and the fact that it eats the infused plastic gasket and did not write a bulletin about the problem. A law suit was filled and settled with ridicules terms. So $840.00 later, I got a 12 month 12 thousand mile warranty for my troubles on the work and parts.
I have had nine GM products in my lifetime and discovering GM's business plan to design and build cars that feed dealers money and parts, build them so that the public has to buy new cars every 6 years, and hide the facts from the public, I am done with buying GM products. I have another GM product that has DEX COOL, now I am concerned about that vehicle developing the same problem.
So if you are thinking about letting that little leak go, or smell the sweet smell of burning coolant, get it to the dealer now and pay a little, or wait a couple of months the and car will destroy itself.
By the way Prestone coolant reacted with aluminum causing aluminum to dissolve, which is why DEX COOL was adopted.
The responsible thing to do is to fix the problem with the plastic and DEX COOL, but you know that is not going to happen. The aftermarket parts do however, if installed with the new oil pump shield, one gasket, three seals, one thermostat, and two gallons of DEX COOL.
Good luck to all those people that have a Grand AM. I will be getting rid of mine as soon as the warranty runs out.
Steven M.
Liberty Lake, WA, USA
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