99 Grand Am-Torch it or fix it?

[cavscout]

Hello everyone,

Once again this car is striking my last nerve. From the constantly hard shifting transmission to the whining fuel pump. While I understand this vehicle may be a bad apple out of a bunch there is a point I call rediculous. The damn hazzard switch had the recall done but still makes noise.She starts to sputter whenever she wants.After looking at a few other GA's(2.4) I've come to the conclusion that none of them run smoothly and make more noise then they should,every dealer I go to tells me the same thing.For a car that has been taken care of all its life its falling apart.

Any opinions on what I should do with this thing? My wife says if I get rid of it she wants another one, and theres no way in hell thats going to happen.I would rather piece this thing back together then gain another car payment but I'm not sure this car is worth putting in the money it is going to need.

Any thoughts?

[prescill]

Take it from me with very , very much experence on this matter. I've put 12000.00 into my 99 and thats not oil, tires, or brakes. Just be glad you don't have the 3.4 litre. I've done 3 lim gaskets and a head gasket and numerous other repairs. Now what I thing is, if you can sell it and get a 02,03,04 and up. It seems by 02 most problems were taken care of, except the 3.4 still have problems, but over all there seems to alot less problems. Just remember that this vehicle is more expensive to keep on the road compared to other vehicles, dur manly to parts being very expensive. Due a search on google and you will find other forums about the 99, 2000 grand-am and the endless problems with this year Good luck. :D

[cavscout]

Well I have talked to her and we have an agreement.If we get another GM vehicle for her it will be a GP with the 3800.Anything other then that will be chosen out of the DC family,more then likely a Cherokee.I dont find the logic in paying 10-12G for a new GA just to own the same vehicle without problems.I also refuse to rebuild or replace everything under the hood,even the dealer says its a rough running motor when new....Unless I can swap a different motor in.So the question is what will it take and what options do I have.With my Trep I baught it with a blown 2.7 and swapped in a 300M 3.5HO. Although I needed new accessories,the swap was simple. If I can swap in a better engine/trans with relative ease then we will keep the car.

I dont think I will sell it, I wont get shit for it like this nor will I screw somebody over.So if theres no alternative it is fully insured so I can just leave it on the right block with the keys in it!

[SE2000]

I thought I had problems with mine. The list went on. But now that I've repaired everything, the car is running good. This group has been a great sorce of information. If it can gone wrong someone else already had it happened. You turn signal problem is the column multifunction switch. The sputtering might be a coolant issue, have you replaced and bleed the system? If you use the latest,greatest quality parts, you will end up with a reliable car.

[cavscout]

Well after looking at what it would take to throw in a 3800 thats out the window. The sputtering is more like a random misfire, whenever it decides to act up.It has had 2 tune-ups in 10k without any effect.Im starting to suspect a headgasket on its way out.If thats the way it turns out this car is doomed:shoot2:

[prescill]

The misfiring sounds something like my parents 03 alero, 2.4 sputtering all the time and stalling sometimes and hard to start. They took it three times to the garage, one time it started and stalled and had to be towed in. Turns out it was the ignition modual(sp). But does not sound totally like your problem. The part is , get this 510.00 candian plus tax, so make sure that is it if you need to replace it. good luck