Good buy or lemon?

[sers]

Hey guys, need some advice here.

I’m looking at a 1999 GAm GT with 80,000 miles. Car’s in good shape and runs well, however, it’s already had the following work:

1. Steering rack replaced
2. Front strut bearings replaced
3. Coolant leak - engine overheated causing head gaskets to blow. Both heads resurfaced and new head gaskets installed.
4. Alternator replaced
5. Brakes done once already
6. Belt replaced
7. Blower motor resistor replaced

I love GAs and have been wanting to get one for a long time. I’m thinking, though, that this car is a lemon and I should stay away. What do you all think?

[b2089]

Ask why the engine overheated. Was it a fualty thermostat (pray it was) or is it a problem that will re-surface? Does it need more work to prevent future over heating?

Also why was the belt replaced?

And I don't know what a strut bearing is. Struts go up and down, where is the bearing?

[b2089]

Never mind about the bearing thing. Some people call the strut mount a strut bearing according to a web search. Again though I'd want to know exactly why these parts were replaced. Did the strut rust off? Did the tire move so much as to damage the mount?

If you don't get good answers or a heck of a good deal, hopefully both, look elsewhere. GAs are plentiful.

[sers]

Not sure why it overheated. There was a coolant leak, so I'm thinking that it almost ran out of coolant before the problem was caught. But by then, it was probably too late and it overheated. I'm not sure, though.

I do know the car doesn't have Dex-Cool anymore, but some other replacements.

[coupe]

Thats all perfectly normal stuff for any car to get replaced.

Marshall, dont know why the belt getting replaced confuses you.

I bet the coolant leak was from the LIM and it overheated which in turn warped the heads. As long as it was fixed properly i wouldnt worry to much about it. How much are they asking for it?

[b2089]

Why did the belt wear out so fast? Was it related to the alternator problem? Is there a belt alignment issue from the alternaotr replacement so you will continually eat belts?

If the coolant leak was LIM related then was that fixed? Did the collant leak come before or after the overheating? You said the head gasket had to be replaced, that would cause a coolant leak but in that respect the car had to overheat for that to occur.

Coupe, is it really normal for a GA to need that much work in only 80k miles. I say you can never ask enough questions when it comes to buying a car. Needing that much work already throws up red flags to me, but maybe I'm paranoid.

[sers]

Asking $6300 CDN, but he's negotiable.

[coupe]

Originally posted by b2089
Why did the belt wear out so fast? Was it related to the alternator problem? Is there a belt alignment issue from the alternaotr replacement so you will continually eat belts?
It was replaced once and yes its normal to replace a belt and tensioner within 80K miles. Dosent have anything to do with the Alt. It is also normal to replace an Alt. within 100K miles.


Originally posted by b2089
Coupe, is it really normal for a GA to need that much work in only 80k miles. I say you can never ask enough questions when it comes to buying a car. Needing that much work already throws up red flags to me, but maybe I'm paranoid.

Yes that much repair is normal for any car. Most of that stuff he listed is just maintenance repairs.....totaly normal.

[b2089]

In that case I've been very lucky. I've had belts last over 100k miles, tensioners close to 2k when the car gave out, and never have I replaced a steering rack. Those things outlast the engine

[eric99gt]

All normal things. Having a belt replaced.....ya that's common.

[sers]

I'm not so sure that all the work that was done on the car would be considered "normal maintenance". I think most of it was unexpected repairs. Is this normal for a Grand Am with a 3.4 v6?

[eric99gt]

very normal. Most of those things are either normal maitenance or expected repairs.

[b2089]

You are telling me that replacing a stering rack is expected? Strut bearings? Are cars are normal to overheat and blow the heads?

[MantaGreen97]

Well the steering rack isn't normal at all... But, brakes are a wear item, for 80k km that's fine; blower resistor is a common problem on the 99, so no biggie there; belt replacement was probabably precautionary/maintenance; alternator isn't exactly normal but not particularly abnormal either. Strut bearings (mounts?) aren't normal but they could have been replaced along with the struts just because... Overheating and blowing head gaskets is definitely not normal.

LIM gaskets alone would be "normal" (not really normal but common on 3100/3400s as we all know). Head gaskets are not normal.

$6300 for a 99 seems a bit too expensive if you ask me. One good thing is that they are telling you all this about the car though--most times used car dealers/salesppl will tell you nothing of the sort. Hopefully that's the full major service history.

[XoticGA]

Originally posted by b2089
You are telling me that replacing a stering rack is expected? Strut bearings? Are cars are normal to overheat and blow the heads?

Don't you love our cars? :lol:

I had the steering rack replace, LIM, 2 blower motors, 3 oil sensors and 6 window regulators.. ANd a few more fun things :P

[b2089]

Originally posted by XoticGA
Don't you love our cars? :lol:

I had the steering rack replace, LIM, 2 blower motors, 3 oil sensors and 6 window regulators.. ANd a few more fun things :P

Anyone want to buy a used GA, I'm scared to drive it now
:cool:

[coupe]

Hell i have a 99 and havent had half the problems most people do with these cars.

[sers]

I guess when it comes to reliability, it's a crap shoot when you buy one of these cars?

[coupe]

Its a crap shoot when buying any car.

[Refuse Winst]

Yeah, I'd agree that most of those things aren't really extreme or unusual for that many miles. Head gaskets are, but if there was a LIM problem that was ignored, then that would explain it... and I would bet that's probably what happened.

I wouldn't say it's a "lemon", but I would ask a few questions still... escpecially about the LIM.

I looked at a car just like mine... same color, year (99), and everything with about that many miles, and the dealership was steady at about $7500 on it... but they had inspected and repaired everything, and offered a warranty with it. I would definitely try and talk them down.... mine had about 94,000 miles on it, and before tax and everything, I paid $4500. Other than some imperfections in the paint and a crack in the bumper, my car was in great shape and has had little or no problems yet in the 5 or so months I've owned it now. Only real repair I've had to do after buying that I wouldn't include as general maintenance is the Blower Resistor, and that was cheap and easy.

[sers]

Yeah, I'm thinking that the headgasket problem was caused by a leaking LIM. I really would like to own one of these cars. The sporty styling along with the 4 doors is just what I'm looking for (especially with 2 kids). I'm just leary about reliability. I currently own a 1993 Honda Civic that has given me next to no problems in the 160,000 miles that I've driven it. It being a 2 door just makes it a pain in the ass with the kids. But the car runs and drives so well, and the fact that it has been utterly bulletroof, makes me hesitate sometimes to get rid of it. But, i need 4 doors and don't want something boring. Not sure what to do here. Bite the bullet or....

[b2089]

Perhaps you best bet would be to spend more moeny on one at a GM lot, a GM Certified used vehicle has a short warranty with it, and the dealership instepcts it for problems before selling it.

Other than that I find it hard to imagine that the problems were the result of a lemon car. I don't know what caused them, but actual lemons do exist and usally the problems with those are much more extensive. Thankfully due to tighter variances modern lemons are rare.

I'd buy it but I'd still ask all the tough questions before hand and try to get that price down a little. It's actually a fair price, but extensive mechanical work does lower the resale value.