• The site migration is complete! Hopefully everything transferred properly from the multiple decades old software we were using before. If you notice any issues please let me know, thanks! Also, I'm still working on things like chatbox, etc so hopefully those will be working in the next week or two.

The 97-03 W-body buyers guide / Common problems

I had a 97 GTP and I would trade off my 01 in a heartbeat to have it back, it had tire a pressure monitor, no traction control, actual lights inside the doors, no stupid cat diagnostic. Only parts on a 97 Gtp that are 97 only is the pcm. The throttle body, mass airflow sensor, tranny cooler lines, lines are threaded instead of quick release, and the blower has a vac tree on it, all of which can be changed.

Sent from A Galaxy Far Far Away........
 


Slick2500 said:
I had a 97 GTP and I would trade off my 01 in a heartbeat to have it back, it had tire a pressure monitor, no traction control, actual lights inside the doors, no stupid cat diagnostic. Only parts on a 97 Gtp that are 97 only is the pcm. The throttle body, mass airflow sensor, tranny cooler lines, lines are threaded instead of quick release, and the blower has a vac tree on it, all of which can be changed.

Sent from A Galaxy Far Far Away........
Click to expand...

And the DIC. A 97 gtp is not a dealbreaker but I wouldn't get a GT. Plus here in michigan with rust the rockers would be nonexistent.
 
Oh I forgot the DIC. Yeah only 97 I would get is a gtp. And my 97 was from Phoenix so the underside of the car looked brand new still.

Sent from A Galaxy Far Far Away........
 
There are still a lot more w body common problems. Such as
LCA hockey puck bushings, known to go sometimes before 100k. In the salt belt I think the collar rusts apart causing it to fail prematurely
Motor mounts are hydraulic and known to fail earlier than solid mounts. Usually around 120k.
Start and stall condition. On n/a its often caused by a bad fpr. Pull the vacuum line and check for gas, anything present means it's bad. The throttle body gets dirty after 100k miles and needs a good cleaning. I've fixed a start and stall issue by just cleaning the tb and IAC valve many times.
On the n/a, if coolant is low, but there is no coolant in the oil, or any underneath; likely the uim is cracked between the coolant and egr port.
 
Last edited:


I would also add to inspect the pinch welds underneath the car. A lot shops out there don't use the correct jacking points when putting the car on a lift which will cause damage. They also tend to rot out and collapse over time if the car is from the salt belt.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top