1997 Pontiac Grand Am GT 2.4L from North America
Summary:
The car performs okay
Faults:
My oil pump went out at approximately 90 days of ownership.
My air conditioning has never gotten really cold, it is just cool, even when I first purchased it.
I had to replace a battery, alternator, both oxygen sensors and ignition switch, before being notified of a recall on the car for an electrical relay problem.
General Comments:
I have had to replace the water pump on my car twice.
My car also has moisture on the driver's side after raining or snow. I thought it was a problem with my air conditioning, but it wasn't.
I had my air compressor and air conditioning hoses replaced within the last year.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 7th August, 2004
28th Sep 2005, 14:08
Regarding the ERLS issue. I have a 98 Buick Skylark, which is one of the GM sister cars to the Grand Am. They are identical in everything except for cosmetics.
This is also apparently a common problem. I experienced the exact same problem, except that the car basically became a 2 speed manual after the fuse blew, until replaced.
I went to a mechanic and they told me to throw the car away and get another one, that they couldn't figure out what was wrong. I finally found the ERLS fuse blown, replaced it, and it was good until the A/C was turned on, and the fuse blew shortly thereafter (when the compressor disengaged). The problem had nothing to do with your brakes, it is a problem in the A/C compressor clutch wiring. Unfortunately the ABS controller, transmission shift switches, and several other subsystems run off of this one fuse (ERLS, which stands for ECM Relays, I believe). This was a pretty poor engineering decision, IMHO. Two critical systems paired on the same fuse as the air conditioning?
Anyway, I hope someone finds this info helpful.