99 Grand Prix GTP S/C Coupe - i was hopeful- now sad but not giving up

**kimpossibull** · 08-16-2022

hi- heres what happened. driving with AC on, slowing for red light and car suddenly "puttered" as if it were hoing to stall. The Service Engine Soon icon lit up. Turned off AC so i could listen. I couldnt give gas cuz of traffic & red light. Just waited til green, u turned for home. Four mins later i pulled into my driveway and called my friend who has always been my car guy and a good one. Scanner said PO301, (close to that) which was Cyl 1 misfire. Fixed asap and ran great for a week. Exact same thing happened as i accelerated on the freeway on ramp. I had to drive a mile to gas station where i exited, called friend again and waited. This time PO303, Cyl 3 misfire. Put new plug in on site and f[llowed me home. Did it again. Parked in driveway &there she still sits. We replaced all 6 spark plugs, put in a new set of spark plug wires and did compression check revealing Cyl 1 doesnt have any. He checked the fuel injectors and valve springs. Everything appears fine.
Heres the STRANGE thing: when plug 1 was removed the first day this happened, my friend said he had never seen a spark plug have this happen. He was referring to the spark plug gap was completely without a gap. The little arm on top had been pushed or bent or whatever down so that no gap existed. STRANGER is the exact same thing happened to cyl 3 plug. It has not occurred again.
MY QUESTIONs:
What the hell is wrong with my car? i ha e the car historg, came from 1 owner in Oregon, never in accident, did reg maintenance on it Ive owned for a year last month and i pay attention to my car and do maintenance and dont abuse her. im sad and at this point feel like i have nothi g to lose if i tear into her. Ill never get even half of what i already invested in her so id rather try to fix her instead of sending her to the junk yard. i have this need to know actually before i can say goodbye. Maybe i dont have to say goodbye. i want to find out.

**Scottydoggs** · 08-16-2022

this is a easy one. you chipped the pistons that have smashed plugs, the chip goes ping pong in the cylinder hit the plug, smashes it, and the exhaust valve chews it up. in short, you need a new engine.

**Scottydoggs** · 08-16-2022

looks like this now. https://hosting.photobucket.com/albu...=1660685744942

**kimpossibull** · 08-16-2022

Honestly, that's what I had theorized. Hoping I was wrong. Well I love my prix. I'll buy another engine. A re-built one of course. I can't afford to buy a new car.
I've never bought an engine before. Is this a practical solution as far as are there any rebuilt worthy engines for this 20+ years old car out there? Does it have to be exactly the same? (Prefer that actually) How much is one? Anybody in CA with one?

**Scottydoggs** · 08-16-2022

best to just try and find a used engine. most of the time they are 500 or less used. rebuilt can cost ya a couple grand, not really worth it.

**kimpossibull** · 08-18-2022

Thank you. I really do get useful and relevant info everytime I join a car forum. So, engines are not really overflowing the junkyards for my car. I am going a different route. I applied to retire my vehicle with the Bureau of Automotive Repair. It's the best way to part ways!! ($1500)

**idrivejunk** · 08-19-2022

Well that sucks. Happy trails to you. If you were closer I could have hooked you up with an engine or exact car, or took it off your hands. $1,500 with bad engine is astronomical. The secret to long 99 GP life is adequate neglect. They don't like fancy dinners and diamonds, they are more the value menu lots of tattoos type and need to be rode hard then put away wet. You just can't do anything for them and thats what they like best. They are like abused wives who stay.

Good luck.Hope you find something with comparable transportation value that fits you.

**FordMan77** · 08-19-2022

You should check car-part.com. Lots of engines on there in your area. Keep in mind that ANY S/C engine will work (GP, Regal, Park Avenue, Monte Carlo).