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Sold my 02 Grand AM GT

4 messages,  Last post on Sep 25, 2008 at 1:07 PM

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#1 of 4 Sold my 02 Grand AM GT by gtx Sep 17, 2007 (5:52 pm)
Well, I took our car to the dealership and had them diagnose what the problem was. For the low price of $160.00 they gave me the news I thought would be the solution to my problems. All it would cost would be an additional $1137.00. They would change the leaking intake manifold gasket, flush the coolant system, and clean the injectors.   I brought my car home, bought the new fel-pro gaskets from Napa and changed them myself. I flushed the coolant system and replaced the DEX Cool with Preston extended life, It all cost me around $200 dollars not including the time it took.   What the dealership didn't tell me was that the head gasket was leaking too. I thought that was my problem in the first place but since I could see the evidence of the leaking intake, I mistakenly put all my faith in that solution.   I put the car all together and after a week realized that the problem still existed. This would have been at least another $1137. and probably more since it involved even more of an engine tear down. Since I didn't have another 30 hours to work on the car, and since I/we needed our family car, we traded that POS off for an 06 Mazda 3   In conclusion, I find the coincidence of the head gasket and the intake manifold gasket both leaking at the same time to be highly unlikely, that is if they hadn't had both been in contact with the very suspect Dex-Cool. The dealerships unwillingness to acknowledge or support their customers with these expensive repairs is unforgivable. The guy at the dealership even admitted to me that GM was using defective parts in their cars, but then I'm sure he would have said anything to get me out of there. I will never, NEVER buy another GM product. I take no satisfaction in that since I try, and do buy American made when I can. In this case, they lost my business, and I'm very pissed off about it.
#2 of 4 Follow up by gtx Sep 17, 2007 (6:05 pm)
That's roughly $360 out of my pocket for the intake manifold gasket repair, which I might ad worked just fine. I saw no more evidence of the manifold leaks.   Just today, I got a notice in the mail from the dealership reminding me about the repairs that they diagnosed. I'd like to park the car in their parking lot and set it on fire! Take that you bastards!   We bought the car new and 5 years later, got an even $5000 for trade in value. That's over 10K in depreciation. Replies to this message: burdawg (Sep 18, 2007 6:59 pm)
#3 of 4 Re: Follow up [gtx] by burdawg Sep 18, 2007 (6:59 pm)
Replying to: gtx (Sep 17, 2007 6:05 pm) I assume that your intake manifold had been leaking for some time, which allowed air into the cooling system. Dex cool and air mixed together becomes very corrosive to cast iron, which could explain the head gasket failure. It usually explains the problem with Dex cool contamination and the tendency to "solidify" in the cooling system. That solidification is actually iron corrosion in the coolant. Hope you enjoy the Mazda. I've owned several I got a lot of use out of all of them. They weren't maintenance free by any means though.
#4 of 4 I completely understand.. by t_in_hampton Sep 25, 2008 (1:07 pm)
GTX,   I can completely understand when you say you're no longer buying American made cars, (I happen to love Ford Mustangs however...lol).   We, unfortunately, purchased a 2002 Grand Am GT and ever since we bought it, it has been nothing but trouble. We just paid it off this month and it has broken down for the seventh time! The dealership and GM refuse to offer us any help so we have had to consult with a lawyer.   Almost all of the problem seems to originate with the computer/ignition within the dashboard, (car won't start at all).

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