18th Jan 2010, 22:54
I've posted previous reviews of my Grand Am SE-1 with 2.4L. It now has 217,000 miles on it and it has been the most reliable car I've ever owned. I'm almost ashamed to admit that I've never changed the transmission fluid. List of things I've fixed:
Blower motor resister
Fuel pump
Fuel pressure regulator
Wheel bearing at 216000 miles
28th Jan 2010, 14:49
I bought a 2001 Pontiac Grand AM in 2004 with 33,000 miles. Since buying it, we had so many problems with it, that we had to fix, because everything that went wrong with it, when we brought it to the dealer, the warranty did not cover it. Including, changing brakes after a year, coolant is leaking, oil leak, tires, changed shocks, driver and passenger side windows do not work...etc...
For everyone complaining about the clicking noise coming from the dash, sounding like the signal lights are on. I had to bring mine into the shop because it was doing the same thing, they ended up having to change my signal light switch, and since then it hasn't done it. It cost about $400 to fix.
Now I'm having a problem with my gauges, dashboard lights, radio, and air conditioner taking a couple seconds to come on after starting it. I can drive it, but none of the lights, gauges, radio, or air conditioner come on until it has been running for 5-10 seconds.
What could be causing this problem???
16th Feb 2010, 12:21
I have a 2001 Grand Am SD - Have no idea what the cylinder is now that I am all the way upstairs in my 3rd floor apartment building. But here is my problem:
I brought the car home on my lunch break yesterday. 25 minutes later I go to start the car and the key will not turn in the ignition. Won't move at all from OFF to ON, ACC - NOTHING! Locked tighter than tight! This has never happened before, and I got no notice. This does not seem to be the same problem as the PASSLOCK SYSTEM I have read so much about - as I cannot turn the key to ON to reset anything after 10 minutes. I have tried 10 different times since yesterday at noon to turn the key, but it will not budge.
ANY IDEAS???
16th Feb 2010, 23:29
Yes - about your seized up ignition switch. The same thing happened to my 1999 Grand Am (by the way, it was the last straw and I got rid of the car). The tumblers in the switch are locked up. You most likely will need to replace the switch, which will mean a tow to your mechanic, since you will not be able to start your car. Good luck.
17th Feb 2010, 09:26
To the man with the key stuck in the ignition, your steering wheel is probably locked. Try stepping on the brake, and turning your wheel slightly to the left or right while turning the key.
17th Jun 2010, 18:44
My 2001 Pontiac Grand Am SE 2.4 (I believe) has been good to me.
I had the no starting issue; I reset the computer, and for the fun of it, sanded the plugs and turned off the security system, the switch under the steering wheel. It fired right up after sitting for however long.
21st Aug 2010, 13:57
I have a 2001 Grand Am SE with now 131,000 miles on it. I have had it a little over a year and replaced the fuel pump and brakes. My car also does that clicking sound, which I try to ignore, and now the catalytic converter is going. Trying to figure out the cost of the repair for this, as I don't know if it's worth it to repair. What is the average cost with labor on this??
22nd Aug 2010, 12:03
To 13:57.
You can do this yourself for less than $200. It's a very easy job. It's well worth fixing if that is the only issue.
15th Dec 2010, 19:38
I have a 2001 Grand Am SE with the 2.4liter with 172k miles on it. There are a couple of things I wish to say about this car. It's a nice looking car but if anyone remembers, the sticker price brand new, they weren't that expensive for the looks it got. Couple this with many parents buying them for a teenager and well, you get my point. If you bought it used, it probably wasn't maintained well. I'm not saying GM didn't make a cheap car, they did, but it looked a hell of a lot better than a Kia for the price. One person on here mentioned he recommends replacing as much stock parts with aftermarket parts, I concur.
The clicking noise... before you let a mechanic charge you a stupid price for something that CAN BE so simple... it can be a lot of times what is called the multifunction switch which can be purchased at Autozone for around 100 bucks and is very easy to replace yourself. Yes it's annoying, it's not usually a big deal to fix. Simply unscrew the 2 screws on the bottom of the steering wheel, remove top panel, remove the 4 screws that hold the switch in, remove switch, replace switch and reverse order. Hope that helps.
Remember this people, if you purchased a pre owned Grand Am at a bargain price, that doesn't mean it won't need attention. Like I suggested before, rather than a high car payment, spend a little each month replacing stock items with aftermarket such as the radio, brakes, tires, etc etc.
GOOD LUCK! :)
17th Nov 2009, 15:46
I have a 2001 Grand Am and I have a whining sound coming from the front end like something is grinding? Only does it when the car's in drive and not when I'm going backwards? I also fixed the blown head gasket and it's not just the Grand Am 3.4! We just replaced the same thing in my buddys Impala with the same motor, so it's the 3.4! Usually the back head on the pass side of car. Other than that, the car has been good for the last 140000 miles.