Thread: Felicitations and questions about vehicle

Results 1 to 3 of 3
  1. #1 Felicitations and questions about vehicle 
    SE Level Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    AL
    Posts
    2
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    0
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    I'm new here and it's a pleasure to be amidst the Pontiac GP family. I love my car, but like so many here, it also comes with a few mechanical/technical issues that it has picked up with age (and lack of quality service). I wanted to look for some solutions to some of the problems I have had, so I wanted to compile a brief history of the car while I have owned it.
    I purchased a used 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix 3800 V6L Series III about a year and a half ago at just over 100k miles on it, previous owner seems to have neglected much of its service. I had to put new brakes on it, turn the rotors, replace plugs + wires, oil change & filters when I got it. Regular service and oil changes during my ownership of the vehicle.

    It overheated in December, after it has been consuming an unusually high amount of oil, when an elbow feeding coolant into system burst and spilled the coolant fluid out over the motor and highway. In march (three months later) it began overheating again. I was told by my mechanic that it was a faulty thermostat. I replaced the thermostat. Three months later, in June, it began overheating when idle, but would cool down when returned to motion. Dealership held car for two days, and when I came back to seek the answer for why it was over heating again, I was told that I had either cracked the engine block, or blown a head gasket, in either case would amount to a significant cost - translation: get a new motor (car has about 135k mi on it at this point). So I put a used motor in with 92k miles in it about 8 weeks ago. It was never explained to me why it was overheating in the first place to have even caused the supposed engine damage initially, or why it was able to be driven in its condition (in excess of 150 mi) supposedly with a broken motor, or a motor with no lubricant (blown head gasket). My check engine light has remained on, and a message "Check Gas Cap" comes on once motor has been running for approx. 3 minutes. I replaced the gas cap, and the message still displays, check engine indicator still illuminates.

    One issue, prevalent since I've owned the car, with Air conditioner is that it only cools when on recirculate mode, and then the compressor seems to turn itself off, and then back on during operation. Is this normal? I took it to a new mechanic shop 4 weeks ago to check on what I suppose (correctly) is a wheel bearing that has worn out. I have the bearing assembly replaced, and while it is elevated on the rack, new mechanic points out several issues that the dealership and other mechanic shop did not inform me of: it is slowly losing some of its trans-axle fluid from the pan gasket, and radiator fluid looks like muddy water (indicating significant amount of rust in radiator). So, my question is, whether the radiator condition could have been the source of the overheating (and still pose that risk even now) and that I needlessly purchased another motor, and that a matter so simple could be overlooked by two sets of mechanics? And what could be causing the check engine indicator to illuminate?

    I look forward to meeting everyone and of course some thoughts on what may be going wrong with my car.
    Reply With Quote  
     

  2. #2  
    Awaiting Confirmation
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    aowdnawi
    Posts
    23,292
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    1
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    Rads are aluminum with plastic end caps, I highly doubt the rad is rusting.

    Also doubt the head gasket has failed and the block is cracked.

    I would ask them to bring you into the shop and show you the crack.

    But it might be too late for that.

    On coolant, do a rad flush and fill with g-05.

    Pan seepage I wouldnt worry about. The only proper course of action would be to drop the pan, change the filter and insert a new gm pan gasket and fill with dex VI.

    Perhaps a pan drop would be a good idea at this point.

    Only way to know what is the cause of the cel is to scan it.
    Last edited by matt5112; 10-14-2012 at 07:36 AM.
    Reply With Quote  
     

  3. #3 Re: Felicitations and questions about vehicle 
    Moderator dsmuts's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Coldwater, OH
    Posts
    15,758
    Thanks (Received)
    1
    Likes (Received)
    1
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    These motors almost never blow head gaskets. Flush your radiator. You're probably low on R134a in your ac system.
    98 GTP modded 1.9's, sd headers, 3.4", zzp 1.0 230K miles scrapped.
    04 Comp G zzp stb's, UMI ta's, Speedbuilt sways, bully flo heads, XP, zzp headers, fsic, thrasher shift kit, 60#, 2.6" corsa 2.5", Inferno hood
    01 gt z7 turbo tep trans zzp motor
    08 g8 gt cam exhaust 11.87@118
    Reply With Quote  
     

Similar Threads

  1. vehicle options
    By tod1d in forum The Rant Forum
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 07-02-2012, 01:20 AM
  2. tiny tuner bin file to vehicle pcm questions
    By 98grannyprix in forum PCM Tuning
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 09-03-2011, 12:19 PM
  3. vehicle running hot.
    By cwaite2 in forum General Tech Discussion
    Replies: 15
    Last Post: 12-26-2010, 09:58 PM
  4. Vehicle chugging
    By m1sterb0b in forum 1997-2007 4 speed Automatic (4T65E) (4T65E-HD)
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 12-17-2009, 12:07 PM
  5. 3.69's(what vehicle's have them stock)
    By PWNED in forum 1997-2007 4 speed Automatic (4T65E) (4T65E-HD)
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 12-12-2009, 08:42 AM
Tags for this Thread

View Tag Cloud

Bookmarks
Bookmarks
Posting Permissions
  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •