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Pontiac Grand Prix Engine fires 3800 series II 1996-2003

317 messages,  Last post on Nov 11, 2009 at 3:42 PM

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#134 of 317 Re: 1999 Grand Prix GTP engine caught on fire [burghuin] by mkurz61 Jan 30, 2008 (7:40 am)
Replying to: burghuin (Jan 30, 2008 7:24 am) You should file a complaint with the NHTSA (link title). I did and the next day I got a call from a guy at the Federal DOT wanting more information for the ongoing investigation. The fire was caught very early so there's very little damage. He is driving up from DC tomorrow to look at it and has invited GM to send a rep also. All of these postings are scary. I'm pretty sure that, even if they fix it, my daughter won't be driving it anymore and it will never be parked close to my house!   Replies to this message: burghuin (Jan 30, 2008 1:24 pm)
#135 of 317 Re: 1999 Grand Prix GTP engine caught on fire [mkurz61] by burghuin Jan 30, 2008 (1:24 pm)
Replying to: mkurz61 (Jan 30, 2008 7:40 am) I filed a complaint with the NHTSA this morning. I doubt they'd bother to come visit because there isn't much left to see. Hopefully I get a call though, I'll give them any information they want. Good luck with you visit, I hope GM sends a rep. You might want to print a few of these posts for the rep to read.
#136 of 317 1998 GTP by kirk3800 Feb 09, 2008 (12:42 pm)
I have a 1998 GTP with 260,000Km on it.   2 Days ago we had a huge snow storm. I was trying to get my car unstuck. The car was idling and I was outside digging out the car, and my girlfriend was sitting in the car, she said it was smokey inside.   I just thought it was overheating, and it got worse and worse. I finanlly thought, OK this just isnt overheating, so I shut the car off and popped the hood.   The whole rear of the engine was on fire. I got the fire out and managed to save the car.   About 6 months ago I had a engine light come on and the code said Small EVAP Leak.   He said it was my Cold Air Intake and my Gas cap. So I replaced the gas cap and drove around with the engine light on, not knowing that there was a acutal EVAP leak.    So it was coincidental that the engine light came on 2 days after I put my Intake on. And also it was coincidental that it happened on the day with all the snow.   So my mechanic said, that I did have a pinhole leak, and that the sparks from the Altenator ignighted the vapors. Also the foam underneath the engine cover acted like a spunge sucking in the all fumes and then boom.   He said it was an engineering flaw.   What can I do about this? Replies to this message: mkurz61 (Feb 10, 2008 9:53 am) morewasabi (Feb 10, 2008 11:28 am) bedens (Feb 10, 2008 10:17 am)
#137 of 317 Re: 1998 GTP [kirk3800] by mkurz61 Feb 10, 2008 (9:53 am)
Replying to: kirk3800 (Feb 09, 2008 12:42 pm) First you should file a complaint online with the NHSTA (the link is in several of these posts, including my earlier one. Make sure you indicate in the check-box that you are ok with them notifying the manufacturer. The DOT is very actively investigating these fires, and GM was very cooperative in my experience. Both came to my house and looked at my car (I’m reasonably close to DC). They gave me the impression that they were close to figuring out a common cause. They wouldn’t say for sure what that conclusion was, but I think they’re leaning toward a leaky valve-cover gasket allowing oil to drip directly onto the exhaust manifold. That would allow for the fact that some of these happen in the front of the engine (like mine), and some are in the back like yours.   GM ended up buying my car so they could tear it down and study it. 10 year-old cars with 200,000+ miles on them aren’t worth much money except to a person who gets good use out of it, so don’t expect too much. Then again, they really don’t want to lose loyal customers, so maybe they will want to work with you – what have you got to lose?   Good luck!   MAK Replies to this message: morewasabi (Feb 10, 2008 11:28 am)
#138 of 317 Re: 1998 GTP [kirk3800] by bedens Feb 10, 2008 (10:17 am)
Replying to: kirk3800 (Feb 09, 2008 12:42 pm) You are lucky you got GM to do anything bout your car....When I reported my car fire in March, 2006, they sent some so-called expert to the local dealership where I HAD to have my car towed at MY expense, he never picked up a wrench and 3 weeks later they tell me that they cant determine the cause of the fire and they are not responsible. No one has done anything about my car.
#139 of 317 Re: 1998 GTP [mkurz61] by morewasabi Feb 10, 2008 (11:28 am)
Replying to: mkurz61 (Feb 10, 2008 9:53 am) My 2000 GTP had both valve covers leaking oil at 94000 miles. Had both gaskets replaced. I had noticed oil on my exhaust manifolds from the oil leaking from the valve covers.Then after that was fixed I notice the oil leaking and coolant pooling around the fuel injectors as they enter the engine around the valve covers. My intake manifold was leaking both oil and coolant at 96000 miles. Had that gasket replaced. No leaks now. So have my fingers crossed no fires....   Spoke with the service manager, about the engine fires. He was under the belief that the fires were being caused by a wiring harness that the supercharge engine uses that differs from the non-supercharge engine.
#140 of 317 Help!!! Starter problems??? by 86alfa Feb 11, 2008 (1:07 pm)
Ok i am having some serious problems with my 1997 Grand Prix GTP ... Lately the starter has been hesitating to turn the engine over and today, i was driving down the street and the car just died. so i coasted into a parking lot (the car is still sitting there) i tried to start it up and it ran for about 2 seconds.than i tried again and the starter could not turn the engine enough to fire up. the battery is good. also in the cold kansas weather my abs light comes in sometimes and the steering gets real tight until i turn the car off and back on. can these problems tie each other together somehow? please help me out   it feels almost as the the motor ceased up. Replies to this message: spanky628 (Feb 11, 2008 2:54 pm) cartermatt44 (Feb 12, 2008 3:56 pm) 86alfa (Feb 13, 2008 9:00 am)
#141 of 317 Re: Help!!! Starter problems??? [86alfa] by spanky628 Feb 11, 2008 (2:54 pm)
Replying to: 86alfa (Feb 11, 2008 1:07 pm) Sounds like two unrelated problems. First I'd say you just need a new starter. Secondly they have a system to where the faster you go the tighter the steering gets, to help with road feel. I'd say something in this system has mal-functioned. Get it checked, probably a rack & pinion failure.
#142 of 317 Re: Help!!! Starter problems??? [86alfa] by cartermatt44 Feb 12, 2008 (3:56 pm)
Replying to: 86alfa (Feb 11, 2008 1:07 pm) did you switch keys. i had one made at lowes and went to use it and it would only run for 2 sec and shut off. the security system would turn the fuel pump off. try a different key Replies to this message: 86alfa (Feb 13, 2008 9:00 am)
#143 of 317 battery dead by 86alfa Feb 13, 2008 (9:00 am)
i am having a problem with my car... i replaced the battery yesterday, and now the car starts up for a few seconds and dies... no check engine light or anything... is there anything i need to reset ?

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