Should I sell or should I keep?

idahoeeboy · 12-01-2005, 06:23 PM

Ok, so I'm a bit frustrated with the Grand Am right now. It's a 2002 Grand Am GT 4 door (with leather, sunroof, rims, and sound not that I see how that would affect anything) that I bought in August 2002 and which currently has 55000 miles on it. I've done all the maintenance either on time or early and in general treated it really well. It had 2 warranty issues: 1) the turn signal would click erratically 2) a solenoid in the transmission was sticky causing the transmission to hesitate around 2000 RPMs.

Now, I see small chunks floating in the coolant (they're still there after I did a 2 coolant flushes at 50K). There's a brown fudge like residue on the bottom of the surge tank cap. I'm worried its the dreaded LIM gasket problem. Also, less than one year after the warranty issue, I'm having the same problem with the transmission. Its just irritating to me that I have these problems after taking good care of the vehicle-honestly I don't know if I want to buy another GM. However, upon looking for replacement cars, I haven't found one that my wife likes even close to the Grand AM as far as interior and exterior styling and performance are concerned.

So my dilemma: I don't mind fixing these two problems provided that they aren't a signal of more problems to come.
1) So should I fix the problems or would it be better to ditch the car and start shopping?
2) How much am I looking at for the above to repairs? And would I be better going to the dealer or to a normal mechanic?

Thanks in advance, sorry for being so long-winded, just trying to give as much info as possible.

GrahamKracka · 12-01-2005, 06:26 PM

interior styling = old
exterior styling = gaudy
performance = crap

yea....

anyways to answer your queston

start shopping...my car was at 40somthingK before i traded it in..and it had way worse recurring problems than yours....get rid of it before it bites you in the ass

idahoeeboy · 12-01-2005, 06:27 PM

No need to be rude. Its just what she likes. I'm just comparing it against what we can afford to get (like ford focus, scion xa, toyota corolla,etc.)

12-01-2005, 06:36 PM

get a chevy cobalt,stay away from the jap crap

GrahamKracka · 12-01-2005, 06:37 PM

maybe shed like the TC...its not much more than the xa and its a nice car

GrahamKracka · 12-01-2005, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by canuck

get a chevy cobalt,stay away from the jap crap

...

congrats you make yourself look stupid

GrahamKracka · 12-01-2005, 06:39 PM

unless you see coolant in your oil its not really a problem

idahoeeboy · 12-01-2005, 06:54 PM

Thanks GrahamKracka....I didn't know it wasn't really a problem unless you had coolant in your oil. I just hate to trade it in. I owe 10.5K on it. NADA says trade in is equal to that, KBB says trade is $8K. I don't think I have a snowballs chance in hell of finding a dealer that would give me over $8500....which would mean a $2000 hit. Ouch. Problem is my wife plans on a kid in a year, and it would be the family car and I think the TC is a coupe?

AznGA · 12-01-2005, 07:12 PM

Try getting a tranny flush. Mine used to stick, but after the flush, it's gone.

hova82 · 12-01-2005, 07:19 PM

Yes, Grand am's are garbage. Infact GM is crap. I don't know why your wife likes the GM interior, it's awful. Go sit in an Acura. I owned an 04 TSX, nicest car I ever had. Even shutting the dorr and listening to how tight it sounds makes you happy you bought the car. I hate my grand am and it was a stupid choice to buy one.

GrahamKracka · 12-01-2005, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hova82

Yes, Grand am's are garbage. Infact GM is crap. I don't know why your wife likes the GM interior, it's awful. Go sit in an Acura. I owned an 04 TSX, nicest car I ever had. Even shutting the dorr and listening to how tight it sounds makes you happy you bought the car. I hate my grand am and it was a stupid choice to buy one.

WHY DID you buy one after owning an acura?

GrahamKracka · 12-01-2005, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by idahoeeboy

Thanks GrahamKracka....I didn't know it wasn't really a problem unless you had coolant in your oil. I just hate to trade it in. I owe 10.5K on it. NADA says trade in is equal to that, KBB says trade is $8K. I don't think I have a snowballs chance in hell of finding a dealer that would give me over $8500....which would mean a $2000 hit. Ouch. Problem is my wife plans on a kid in a year, and it would be the family car and I think the TC is a coupe?

good point

bigbenSC · 12-01-2005, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrahamKracka

WHY DID you buy one after owning an acura?

Drug dealer and he got caught? I have no idea why you'd go from an 04 TSX to a 01 GA.

hova82 · 12-01-2005, 08:26 PM

, you guys will love the fact that I had it on 19inch niche rims.. yes it was nice. and the reason for selling? I drive 5000kms a month and I put over 60kms on it by the end of 2004 I year after I bought it. So I thought I would sell it before I owed way more than it was worth..

GrahamKracka · 12-01-2005, 08:29 PM

...so you bought a GA?

im gonna slap you

hova82 · 12-01-2005, 08:39 PM

I needed something in a 4 door, powerful, and I didn't care how many km's I put on it.

idahoeeboy · 12-01-2005, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hova82

Yes, Grand am's are garbage. Infact GM is crap. I don't know why your wife likes the GM interior, it's awful. Go sit in an Acura. I owned an 04 TSX, nicest car I ever had. Even shutting the dorr and listening to how tight it sounds makes you happy you bought the car. I hate my grand am and it was a stupid choice to buy one.

I hate to point out the obvious, but comparing a luxury car to a GM budget compact hardly makes sense. If I was in the price range for an Acura, I'd obviously take it over a Grand Am. Unfortunately that may take a few years.

hova82 · 12-01-2005, 10:17 PM

I fully loaded grand am GT version is around 28k in Canada, The acura TSX is 36k. For 8 grand you get more than double the quality.

atc3434 · 12-01-2005, 10:48 PM

Wow, this thread is crazy one sided. You've got an 02 with 50k miles, and you've got one or two isolated problems. Doesn't matter WHAT car you buy, from a Hundyia to a BMW, you're going to have problems. Selling a car because it hasn't been problem free is a dumb idea, finding a car with zero problems is next to impossible. There are a couple sore guys on here that have had bad luck with the Grand Am, don't let them fool you though, there are plenty that have had really good luck.

I've got 116k on my 99, and its been a pretty good car, but its had its issues. I've done a LIM gasket, blower motor resistor, window regulator, wheel bearings, broken spring (I deserved that from auto-xing), tranny seal, rear door latch, brakes, and I'm sure a few other things I've forgotten. All in all, its been a good car, the payment isn't much, and its a lot of fun. Get your tranny fixed right and it'll be decent, I've put plenty of power through mine over and over and its still working tip top. The 3400 is a really strong, long running motor as long as the LIM doesn't fail without you catching it. The revised gaskets are much better. Keep your car, spend a little money to get it up to par, and you'll be good to go. I'm sure for every bad Grand Am story you can find a bad this or that story as well.

BTW, my coolant tank is gross even after flushing. All the junk tends to settle in the tank, not a major concern.

hova82 · 12-01-2005, 11:05 PM

Yes you are right that all cars have problems. But imports have them at 300k's and domestic have them at 100k's.

12-01-2005, 06:23 PM	#1
idahoeeboy GAGT - Newbie Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Logan, UT Age: 41 Posts: 27 Vehicle: 2002 Grand Am GT Sedan	Should I sell or should I keep? Ok, so I'm a bit frustrated with the Grand Am right now. It's a 2002 Grand Am GT 4 door (with leather, sunroof, rims, and sound not that I see how that would affect anything) that I bought in August 2002 and which currently has 55000 miles on it. I've done all the maintenance either on time or early and in general treated it really well. It had 2 warranty issues: 1) the turn signal would click erratically 2) a solenoid in the transmission was sticky causing the transmission to hesitate around 2000 RPMs. Now, I see small chunks floating in the coolant (they're still there after I did a 2 coolant flushes at 50K). There's a brown fudge like residue on the bottom of the surge tank cap. I'm worried its the dreaded LIM gasket problem. Also, less than one year after the warranty issue, I'm having the same problem with the transmission. Its just irritating to me that I have these problems after taking good care of the vehicle-honestly I don't know if I want to buy another GM. However, upon looking for replacement cars, I haven't found one that my wife likes even close to the Grand AM as far as interior and exterior styling and performance are concerned. So my dilemma: I don't mind fixing these two problems provided that they aren't a signal of more problems to come. 1) So should I fix the problems or would it be better to ditch the car and start shopping? 2) How much am I looking at for the above to repairs? And would I be better going to the dealer or to a normal mechanic? Thanks in advance, sorry for being so long-winded, just trying to give as much info as possible.

12-01-2005, 10:48 PM	#19
atc3434 Grand Am Again AKA: Andrew Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Auburn, NY Age: 38 Posts: 1,999 Vehicle: 1999 Grand Am SE	Wow, this thread is crazy one sided. You've got an 02 with 50k miles, and you've got one or two isolated problems. Doesn't matter WHAT car you buy, from a Hundyia to a BMW, you're going to have problems. Selling a car because it hasn't been problem free is a dumb idea, finding a car with zero problems is next to impossible. There are a couple sore guys on here that have had bad luck with the Grand Am, don't let them fool you though, there are plenty that have had really good luck. I've got 116k on my 99, and its been a pretty good car, but its had its issues. I've done a LIM gasket, blower motor resistor, window regulator, wheel bearings, broken spring (I deserved that from auto-xing), tranny seal, rear door latch, brakes, and I'm sure a few other things I've forgotten. All in all, its been a good car, the payment isn't much, and its a lot of fun. Get your tranny fixed right and it'll be decent, I've put plenty of power through mine over and over and its still working tip top. The 3400 is a really strong, long running motor as long as the LIM doesn't fail without you catching it. The revised gaskets are much better. Keep your car, spend a little money to get it up to par, and you'll be good to go. I'm sure for every bad Grand Am story you can find a bad this or that story as well. BTW, my coolant tank is gross even after flushing. All the junk tends to settle in the tank, not a major concern. __________________ 1999 Grand Am SE2 - Blue, TOG Headers, SLP Exhaust, DHP - SOLD 1996 Vert' Z-28 - M6, magnaflow muffler-back, K&N FIPK, Hurst Short-throw - 13.6 @ 103mph. 2006 Dodge Charger R/T Daytona - Go Mango Orange #2832 of 4000. Tune/exhaust. 14.009@97mph. 2002 Saab 9 5 Aero Wagon - 3" turboback/tune. 17psi of sleeper fun just waiting to surprise you. Last edited by atc3434; 12-01-2005 at 10:50 PM.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

12-01-2005, 06:26 PM	#2
GrahamKracka WannaBe Fat Kid AKA: Richard Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: San Antonio, Texas Age: 36 Posts: 1,517 Vehicle: 2005 Nissan Titan	interior styling = old exterior styling = gaudy performance = crap yea.... anyways to answer your queston start shopping...my car was at 40somthingK before i traded it in..and it had way worse recurring problems than yours....get rid of it before it bites you in the ass

12-01-2005, 06:27 PM	#3
idahoeeboy GAGT - Newbie Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Logan, UT Age: 41 Posts: 27 Vehicle: 2002 Grand Am GT Sedan	No need to be rude. Its just what she likes. I'm just comparing it against what we can afford to get (like ford focus, scion xa, toyota corolla,etc.)

12-01-2005, 06:36 PM	#4
canuck Guest Posts: n/a	get a chevy cobalt,stay away from the jap crap

12-01-2005, 06:37 PM	#5
GrahamKracka WannaBe Fat Kid AKA: Richard Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: San Antonio, Texas Age: 36 Posts: 1,517 Vehicle: 2005 Nissan Titan	maybe shed like the TC...its not much more than the xa and its a nice car

12-01-2005, 06:39 PM	#7
GrahamKracka WannaBe Fat Kid AKA: Richard Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: San Antonio, Texas Age: 36 Posts: 1,517 Vehicle: 2005 Nissan Titan	unless you see coolant in your oil its not really a problem

12-01-2005, 06:54 PM	#8
idahoeeboy GAGT - Newbie Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Logan, UT Age: 41 Posts: 27 Vehicle: 2002 Grand Am GT Sedan	Thanks GrahamKracka....I didn't know it wasn't really a problem unless you had coolant in your oil. I just hate to trade it in. I owe 10.5K on it. NADA says trade in is equal to that, KBB says trade is $8K. I don't think I have a snowballs chance in hell of finding a dealer that would give me over $8500....which would mean a $2000 hit. Ouch. Problem is my wife plans on a kid in a year, and it would be the family car and I think the TC is a coupe?

12-01-2005, 07:12 PM	#9
AznGA GAGT - Junkie AKA: YJ Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Midwest Posts: 4,440 Vehicle: GAGT	Try getting a tranny flush. Mine used to stick, but after the flush, it's gone.

12-01-2005, 07:19 PM	#10
hova82 GAGT - Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Surrey, BC Age: 38 Posts: 60 Vehicle: 2001 Grand am	Yes, Grand am's are garbage. Infact GM is crap. I don't know why your wife likes the GM interior, it's awful. Go sit in an Acura. I owned an 04 TSX, nicest car I ever had. Even shutting the dorr and listening to how tight it sounds makes you happy you bought the car. I hate my grand am and it was a stupid choice to buy one.

12-01-2005, 08:26 PM	#14
hova82 GAGT - Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Surrey, BC Age: 38 Posts: 60 Vehicle: 2001 Grand am	, you guys will love the fact that I had it on 19inch niche rims.. yes it was nice. and the reason for selling? I drive 5000kms a month and I put over 60kms on it by the end of 2004 I year after I bought it. So I thought I would sell it before I owed way more than it was worth..

12-01-2005, 08:29 PM	#15
GrahamKracka WannaBe Fat Kid AKA: Richard Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: San Antonio, Texas Age: 36 Posts: 1,517 Vehicle: 2005 Nissan Titan	...so you bought a GA? im gonna slap you

12-01-2005, 08:39 PM	#16
hova82 GAGT - Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Surrey, BC Age: 38 Posts: 60 Vehicle: 2001 Grand am	I needed something in a 4 door, powerful, and I didn't care how many km's I put on it.

12-01-2005, 10:17 PM	#18
hova82 GAGT - Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Surrey, BC Age: 38 Posts: 60 Vehicle: 2001 Grand am	I fully loaded grand am GT version is around 28k in Canada, The acura TSX is 36k. For 8 grand you get more than double the quality.

12-01-2005, 11:05 PM	#20
hova82 GAGT - Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Surrey, BC Age: 38 Posts: 60 Vehicle: 2001 Grand am	Yes you are right that all cars have problems. But imports have them at 300k's and domestic have them at 100k's.