Just have to sign dotted line, want opinions first

[good2go]

Well, all i have to do now is sign the dotted line for a 2002 Pontiac Grand SE, 3400SFI, 4-door, with 95,000Kms.

Fully loaded, mint, certified and e-tested for $10,500(canadian). Which is a decent price around here, and they are far and few between.

Wanted to get some last minute opinions on the car. I've already looked it over and done the test drive, just have to call and confirm the sale.

Anything i should look out for? Or a reason i shoudlnt buy this car? Its getting all new strut towers and tires before i buy. Motor runs mint and is clean, car dosnt have a spot of rust on it.

What is gas mileage like? Reliability? Insurance?? Anything i should know before i purchase this vehicle tommorow??

Thanks! Neil

[levey]

Search this stuff

LIM gasket
passlock
piston slap
hazzard switch
That should get ya started.

[sunrunner_pei]

Price seems decent for the year/kms. The Lower Intake Manifold hasket is known for very early failure in the 60-degree V6's. and the 3400 is no exception. That and poor front rotors are the 2 most common issues with the 1999+. A good set of aftermarket rotors/pads solves the brakes issue, but there isn't much you can do to avoid the LIM gasket. Try searching the car's warranty/repair history and see if it's already been repaired.

[good2go]

otherwise are they good cars?/

[Prospeeder]

yea, they are good cars, the Hazard switch is a saftey recall and HAD to be performed before they sold it to you. THe LIM is common, and unavoidable, its around 500-600 to fix, and Piston slap is complelty normal, just noisey is all, its because of the small piston skirts and when cold the piston "slaps" around in the cylinder, its been proven to cause NO ill effects what so ever in the long run

[Subtle_Cynicism]

It's not unavoidable. I know some Grand Am's have not had that problem.

[Prospeeder]

well, new 04-05 ones i think are fixed, or some 03s that probably will soon, but i will bet every 3100 GM car, and 3400 GM car from 94-03 Has had the problem or will have it pretty soon

[good2go]

i can replace the LIM myself if it goes. how will i know when it goes? does it let coolant into the oil or something? Any visual things i could check??

I looked and smelt the oil and it was definitly clean and maple syrup coloured with no coolant in it.

and at 95,000Kms, wouldnt that gasket have already went? and it would most likely be replaced?

[99blackSE]

If the LIM is leaking you should see coolant puddling around the intake.. IIRC

[eric99gt]

If it's an external leak. As good2go mentioned if it's leaking internally then you'll notice a milky white substance in the oil.

[AJSpeedAM100MPH]

Replacing the gaskets is no easy job, it took my dad and I 8+ hours to finish the job. You know when its going too, your antifreeze level will go down and the oil level will go up. You will probably be leaking antifreeze on the outside too. You might not have the problem with the newer grand ams though. Hopefully GM has got smart and fixed the problem, but probably not. The place where you are buying it from will do all they can to cover it up too, so don't trust the oil thats in it now. Also in my dad's transport, which has the same engine, the gaskets have gone three times, so they will blow more then once if your wondering. Except the 3.4L engine the grand am rocks! I have no complants.