1995 Pontiac Grand Am engine problems

Filed Apr 8, 2007 · Engine · 96,801 miles · OH

While driving the overheat light illuminated, and engine died. The mechanic said it is a cracked head gaskets. I have always followed the maintenance schedule in owner manual. Oil changes every three months etc.

Filed Dec 2, 2005 · Body, Brakes · 165 miles · MD

1995 pontiac grand am overheating. Replaced the thermostat four times and finally the head gaskets warped. Paid for the head gasket replacement. Continued to overheat and called general motors. Mediator was of very little help. Took it back under the repair warranty, then the radiator blew because they had replaced the radiator cap with a higher pressure rating. We took it back and they replaced the radiator, hoses, heater core and numerous other things. It continued to overheat. In general we have spent about $2500.00 and still have this issue. Additionally, we now have the ABS warning light coming on occasionally and I found some engine wires twisted up over the manifold. I have since moved them back to their original location and had to use electrical tape on another wire connection that the lock (snap) was broke off. Since doing this I have not had the car overheating as often. Additionally since repairs were made, we now have heavy condensation on the interior windshield, (window wipers on the inside could be a solution...) along with puddles of water on the passenger floor and in the trunk....god only knows what they did to my car after I called general motors, everything just seemed to get worse from there.. Coincidence, I think not. They are now bankrupt so there is no recourse in my case of retrieving money needlessly spent on repairs they should have fixed properly in the first place. And while I'm at it, I wonder if they ever took car of that ignition recall? I am still driving the car when it is behaving but I have been having to hold the ignition switch to get the car to start which I hadn't had to do before... Are they waiting for my car to catch on fire due to this ignition problem? The smartest thing would be to take it to someone else but no one wants to touch the car after finding out it was at the other dealership so where do I go now? And a reply on that sure would be a big help!

Filed Jul 23, 2004 · Engine · 87,000 miles · PA · fire

I bought my 1995 pontiac grand am se, used in 2001, not even a month after having it, I had to replace the radiator. From there went my coolant line, a dealer part I had to pay a fortune for. Then I also have significant water damage that somehow gets into my carand I end up with puddles of water on the floor. My heater core went, replaced that. Then ball joints, replaced that. Then the recall on my ignition that I failed to recieve, was out with my husband and son for the day, got in to start my car and it wouldnt turn over. Took the key out, then all of a sudden the car started to turn over repeditily. Needless to say if my husband wasnt there my son and I could have died, I wouldnt have know what to do. My son was strapped in his car seat and I popped the hood, next thing I know smoke starts pouring into my car from the dash. So I grab my son out quickly as my husband popped the hood, and seen sparks and ripped the power cord off of the battery which stopped the sparks which was in the process of starting a fire. After replacing that, my power steering went, had to replace those lines. Then my coolant was low for no reason at all, the next week, two weeks after an oil change, oil light comes on. No oil in the engine. Put oil in and was fine for about an hour until car suddenly lost power and I had to pull of to the side of the road to find out that I have a blown head gasket plus other problems caused by this that caused my motor to no longer be in running order. I still owe $2000 on my car and was told today by numerous specialists that this car with the blown head gaskets is a known problem in these cars, and for some reason gm fails to acknowledge this and lets these cars remain on the road. You need to do something. So now I have no car with a baby, and a major problem. Like I said you need to fix this problem.

Filed Jun 23, 2004 · Engine · 115,000 miles · FL

Intake manifold gaskets deteriorated, causing fuel air mixture fumes to enter into the cab. *ak the intake manifold allowed oil and antifreeze to leak out of the engine. At certain points of acceleration and deceleration the fuel air mixture would expel into the engine compartment and into the passenger compartment. The odor had become stronger. *sc

Filed Mar 29, 2004 · Engine · MO

1995 pontiac grand am se overheating problems since I got this car. Has been in the shop 10 times. Over $4500 worth of replaced part- intake manifold gaskets, bearings, head gaskets, thermostats, water pumps etc. Yet once again it has overheated and is again in the shop. I have had several people I know have the same problem. Also have checked out several complaint web sites and low and behold it seems the rest of the pontiac world has the same problem. My suggestion to pontiac is to stop production of all production of new vehicles and work on fixing the problem before spreading it even more like a virus.

Filed Feb 7, 2004 · Engine · 110,000 miles · MI

About a year ago I purchased a 95 pontiac grand am se from price point used car super center. When I bought the car I was told by the person selling it to me that it would be good for a kid going to college that it was reliable and such... Well I got the car, not only is it not reliable it keeps breaking down on me. For the entire year of owning the car it has overheated too many times to count... I contacted the dealer but they told me there was nothing they could do because of being bought as is... So I took it to an a place called auto lab... They said they fixed the problem of it overheating said it was a head gasket blown... So after it was fixed it worked for about a week then started overheating again... I promptly took it back they said that I had blown the water pump and fixed it a week later after getting it back it overheated again... They finally did a fine inspection of it and said I needed a new radiator I figured fine got one and it still over heats the engine is a 2.5 liter quad 4.. Its been a year now and I have yet been able to get the car to stop overheating even in winter... As a last ditch effort I am writting to you wondering if there is anything that you might be able to do for me... I would like to add that my parents have put in well over $3,000 into this car in vehicle repairs alone and it still has failed to work. Each time I took it back to auto lab they had it for a least a week, and over a month straight during the summer. I am still paying on this vehicle and it is bleeding me dry.

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Brakes, Engine · 185,000 miles · LA

We have had the crank shaft sensor replaced ,and that cost us two trips to a mechanic to figure that problem out. The timing belt changed twice, another motor put in this year, new altenator, new radiator, fuel pump, water pump,and a new throttle position sensor. We still have an oil leak, we need new struts and we continually have problems with the brakes. Not to leave out that when we bought the car we had to have the heater coil replaced. The door lock does not work on the passenger side and the motor mount is broke. I am sure there are other things I have left out but I can not think of everything right now. What got me to the point of sending a complaint is that we just replaced the radiator 08/02/03, and we seem to have to replace something every month or so, and there does not seem to be one part on this car that does not cost a bundle. Is there anyway to get any of my money back for all of this? I'm sure not but there ought to be a way to let other people know about pontiac grand-am quad 4 (2.3) it's a piece of _ _ _ _ !!!!!

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Brakes, Engine · TN

I have replaced these items or had them replaced. 1.heater core 2.belt tensioner 3.alternator twice 4.fulepump 5.breaks back breaks are never right. Causes right back to stope rolling 6.gas hand does not work 7.car loses power than regains power and surges 8.after starting car there is a loud knocking under car, possibly torq converter 9.starter sounds bad when car is getting started 10.right front axel is bad wobbles and ruins tire 11. Clear coat paint is chipping 12.power locks do not work 13.window track on driverside bad 14.seal in trunck is bad leaks

Filed Dec 27, 2003 · Engine · 20 miles · IL

Car bought in 1995. Has been in the shop over 10 times for major repairs. Car is again in the shop due to not being able to accelerate over 30 miles per hour. Entire engine shakes very badly.

Filed Dec 22, 2003 · Engine · 118,000 miles · WI

Consumer noticed smoke coming from under the hood. Took the vehicle to the dealer. The dealer determined that intake manifold gasket leaked antifreeze into the engine, and the engine had to be replaced.