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just traded a buddy of mine a video camera for his old 94 grand am witch was just etested and safetyed 3 months ago car interior is exellent shape only problem with the outside is the wheel wells but thats a easy fix car has 331,000 and still runs good! question is how long how can i check the health of the engine? compression test??? also when i put it in reverse i get a clunk from the pass side front im wondering maybe motor mount???

Welcome to AF!!

A compression test will give you a great deal of information about the internals of the engine. The noise you hear is probably a CV joint on the axle shaft that has gone bad and needs to be replaced. A motor mount is also a possibility but check the axle shaft first. Much easier to check.

thank you for the welcome now how do i check the cv joint?? im new to this sorta stuff compression test ill do one of these days

Could that clunking noise also be the same problem with the CV joint in a 99 GT. Dosen't happen all the time but I always hear/feel it when I first start and drive the car.

I check the cv's by laying on the ground and have someone in the car
with the break on shifting from "D" to "R" and look for movement
in the joints.

Daman is right in how to check them. This can be the problem with a 99 GT but you should hear the noise more than just when starting out. I would check the front brake mounts and calipers to see if they are sticking slightly as well.

^^^ I agree