2002 Grand AM Chug on incline low MPG

[Vicki7]

Great, so I have more than one issue. Oh TGIF! Thanks!

[Love Cars]

Originally Posted by Vicki7

Great, so I have more than one issue. Oh TGIF! Thanks!

Be sure and let me know what you find out.

[xeroinfinity]

Love Cars, The 2002 uses a totally diferent trany , your car has problems with the TCC. Which I posted in your thread

Vicki7,
The 2002s do have a few problems but usually a fluid & filter will help chuging, which I think this is from a valve in the VB sticking. Cant realy tell from my house

If a fluid & filter didnt help try some Seafoam trans cleaner, it is cheap and might help.

My 99' GT had some of those symptoms on hills and the above helped.

Good Luck

[Vicki7]

Where is the shift modulator located on the 2002 grand am?

The 03/06 coil pack is arching when you touch it with no signs of cracking. We tried switching the coil pack out and it's still arching. What can be causing that? We did an intake on it a while back, is it possible that something got squished in that process that's making it ground out and arch?

[xeroinfinity]

Where is the shift modulator located on the 2002 grand am?

If you are reffering to the Park/neutral safty switch it is on top of the trans, driverside. If you do a search in the N-body problems diagnosis you might find a thread I posted to test the PNSS.

The 03/06 coil pack is arching when you touch it with no signs of cracking. We tried switching the coil pack out and it's still arching. What can be causing that? We did an intake on it a while back, is it possible that something got squished in that process that's making it ground out and arch?

Yes,
If archs are coming from the coil then it is bad.
Though a wire could have been nicked when the LIM was done.
Especially the injector harness, this would cause misfires for sure!

[Vicki7]

but would that harness cause the misfire and the no shift at the high rpm and have no power when it isn't shifting or is it something wrong with the tranny and the harness or something in there???..

Hubby says it sounds like a vaccuum leak that's right behind the firewall but only when accelerating, sounds most high pitched when it should be shifting. ??

Mechanic talk...

[Vicki7]

So we are definately chasing two problems at once.

The plug wire is bad. I just changed them and have to change them again. That's what is causing the misfire. We're taking the car in to have the tranny serviced to see if that is what is causing the messed up shift in the car. They will also do a diagnostic test to see what else is wrong. Grand Am's are Pieces Of Sh**. I will never ever buy another one. Ever.

[xeroinfinity]

Good Luck

Most of the GA's are consistant in thier problems, meaning they all share simular problems throughout the line of different models.

Compared to other Makes & models I hav owned my 99" GA's are holding up rather well considering, with realy not many problems other then LIM & wheel hub sensors.

[Vicki7]

It's an exhaust problem! We took it in to have it diagnosed and the EGR valve is showing stuck open. There was something else, I can't remember off hand but it's showing as an exhaust problem. AGH!

[xeroinfinity]

Hi Vicki7, be glad its the EGR and not the transmission

Trans work is never cheap in a FWD car.

Hope this clears up your problem

[Vicki7]

Ok, we got it back today and took it to an exhaust shop and they did a free diagnostic test. My Cat Converter is bad. That's what is causing the misfire codes and the chugging. Could've saved myself $150 on a tranny service if I would have known that first. LOL Oh well, at least now we're done chasing the problem

[xeroinfinity]

Thier is an extended warranty on some 01-02 GA's.

I'll see if I can find the TSB.....

try looking here several hundred ....
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/pr.../tsbsearch.cfm

[Vicki7]

How do I find if it is under the extended warranty? I can't seem to figure that part out

[justin0717]

if your converter is bad then its covered under an 8yr 80k miles warranty

[grfnkl]

You never got the cat converter checked? I posted that as a possibility awhile ago for ya. Oh well. Either way, Justin is right about the warranty for the 8yr, 80,000 miles. you can find that in your emissions section under your warranty booklet that should have been in the car when you bought it ( if bought new). Once you get the cat changed you'll see a major difference in the car! Your G/a almost sounds like what i went through mine, when i had the same problem....