Ask the Car People.SM


Pontiac Grand Am

2589 messages,  Last post on May 21, 2013 at 9:27 PM

You are in the Pontiac Grand Am Forum.

What is this discussion about? Pontiac Grand Am, Sedan

Messages Page 226 of 260

#2242 of 2589 Re: Brake Noises after backing up 2000 Pontiac Grand Am [2kgrandam_sev6] by burdawg

Dec 09, 2005 (3:19 pm)

Replying to: 2kgrandam_sev6 (Dec 09, 2005 2:47 pm)
I always thought the noise was due to the pads being forced all the way to the back stops in the caliper and then forward again the next time you brake moving forward. There has to be some clearance or they would lock up in the caliper. I've never checked but I'm sure that from pad to pad the overall length of the backing plate varies somewhat, within some tolerance. On the 99 I had the noise would come and go along with front pad changes. On the 04 I have now they're very quiet, but the brakes on the 04 are noticably better.

#2243 of 2589 Re: 1997 Pontiac Bonneville winter blues [bamber4711] by grandamman1

Dec 10, 2005 (6:13 am)

Replying to: bamber4711 (Nov 30, 2005 7:56 pm)
HI a friend of mine had same problem he had to replace the heater fan motor that fixed it. When it would not come on I tapped it with a hammer and it started but only on high no lower speeds would work I think there is some type of resitor in the motor itself that controls the fan speed when this starts to go it has same symtoms you describe. You should first check the wiring to the fan when it won't come on test the plug to see if there is current to it.
regards
rod

#2244 of 2589 Re: Headlight Replacement [stroke] by covah23

Dec 13, 2005 (5:41 pm)

Replying to: stroke (Nov 26, 2005 4:36 pm)
When you open the hood, there are two rods running left and right at the top of the headlight housing. they're near where the Torx adjusting screws are. they pull them outwards, towards you, releasing then from the clip that holds them in place. then you pull them straight up. once those are pulled up, the headlight assembly comes right out.

#2245 of 2589 Re: 2003 Grand Am disc brake replacement [dejoey] by ajsolice

Dec 15, 2005 (12:56 pm)

Replying to: dejoey (Dec 03, 2005 9:03 am)
Dejoey,
 
I have a 2003 grandam and I bought it new with 3 miles on it. Exactly one year later in 2004 at 20,000 miles I was replacing my brakes and my driver side rotor. Then appx nine months later still in the same year of 2004 the dealership told me that I need to replace my brakes again, so i did. Now this past August 2005 i had to replace both front rotors and then past November 2005 they are telling me that I need to replace my front brakes again for the third time. The car will be 3 years old in January. So you are not the only one having problems with brakes. I have not replaced my brakes again as of yet, but b/c of safety issues i am going to do and also to avoid them cutting into my rotors. This will be the last time that i replace brakes on this car..

#2246 of 2589 Re: Headlight Replacement [covah23] by covah23

Dec 16, 2005 (7:00 pm)

Replying to: covah23 (Dec 13, 2005 5:41 pm)
Correction to the headlight question; they are not rods...thinking of my other vehicles. They are actually flat shanks of metal and they pull straight up. there's two per liget, both sitting at the very top.

#2247 of 2589 Re: Grand Am recall/upgrade [tworrall] by badgebffr

Dec 16, 2005 (11:02 pm)

Replying to: tworrall (Oct 13, 2005 1:01 am)
What's the recall notice number and what is it reportedly affecting???? More information would truly be helpful. I'm apparently another victim of this passlock nonsense. I have had my first full blown "won't start" episode this evening.

#2248 of 2589 Brake Lockup in 2002 Grand Am SE by badgebffr

Dec 16, 2005 (11:17 pm)

I've finally had to replace a full caliper assembly and brake lines, and that's in addition to the two full sets of rotors and pads. I resorted to taking the car to a non-Pontiac repair shop after increasing frustrations with the dealership techs not being able to resolve the problem.
 
This brake issue was first detected during a high speed highway evasive maneuver (after driving for 2+ hours.) On normal stop and start driving, this problem was NOT noticable. Brakes were applied at 65 mph, and the car had a hard jackhammer feeling to the front end, nore noticable to the passengers in the left side of the car. After that, every time the brakes were applied, even gently, this heavy vibration was felt. There was no overtly noticable pulsing in the pedal, perhaps because the jumping in the handling was so profound! When the car was parked and cooled down, the braking problem seemed to go away until another heavy braking incident would bring it out again.
 
In defense of the dealership techs, it took this garage two shots to get it fixed as well. They finally discovered that one of the calipers was freezing in position. They knocked it free, lubed it considerably, and the slider seemed to be working without issue. That worked for about 6 months, until the problem came back. On returning to them, their terrifying discovery was that the caliper was not getting adequate brake fluid, therefore the caliper was locking up. Enough damage was done by this time that the entire caliper assembly, plus another set of rotors and the lines had to be replaced. (The garage was embarassed enough that they gave me the pads and rotors at no charge. I guess my yelling that I could have killed or been killed by a catastrophic brake failure might have had something to do with it.)
 
Just wanted other owners to be aware of this issue if they experience it. I've owned Grand Ams since the ones in the old boxy late 80s. I'm on #5. This one is my first "lemon" that's had multiple issues with the computer, leaks, and other technical maladies.

#2249 of 2589 Re: Another Pontiac Grand Am Starting Problem. [blorac] by badgebffr

Dec 16, 2005 (11:27 pm)

Replying to: blorac (Nov 22, 2005 7:39 pm)
When you had the problem, did the car even crank like it was trying to turn over or dead/nothing?
 
The lights come on, the stereo and windows work, but when the key is turned, I get absolutely zilch. Hotshotting and jumping, and neutral starting did nothing.
 
I do not have the persistent security light, however, I've had the security light come on while driving two or three times in the past year. (I've got just over 60K on the car now.) I've also had intermittent engine codes that fail to clear -- a misfire code that despite replacing everything but the computer, it keeps coming back.
 
I'd hate to tow it thinking it was a starter and it's something idiotic like a GM screwup.
 
ade anyone????

#2250 of 2589 idling issues??? by chipper8891

Dec 17, 2005 (8:22 pm)

I hope that someone can help me out. Over the last few days I have noticed that my RPM's drop from 700 to 400 for a brief second or two when I am stopped at a red light. It feels like the car...2001 Grand AM SE 2.4L 68,000...wants to stall. I consistantly put fuel injector cleaner and fuel detergents in the gas, just to maintain the vehicle. I have taken it to my mechanic, whom I have know and trusted for many years. He has kept the car for several days, and it's not doing it for him.
 
Any idea's????
 
Just a side note, from reading posts on this board, apparently I am having a problem with the Passlock system, as the car WILL NOT START...different issue for a different time, Thanks for your time!!

Messages Page 226 of 260

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement