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#1
10-22-2003, 03:46 PM
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96 Grand Am burns WAY TOO MUCH GAS!!!
Thanks for taking the time to read this,
I've got a 96 Grand Am SE. For a couple of months now it's been pulling a real number on me when it comes to gas millage. Right now it's gotten pretty bad to the point where it's bleeding my wallet, I spend a lot of money on gas. My gas gauge is also not working, the needle does whatever it feels like. So i did a test, I filled up and tracked how much it burns, when i did the math it came out to 13 Liters for every 100 km, sorry I don't know what that is in MPG. Mind you my car is only a 2.4L quad, and i have friends with huge v6's that burn the same as it's burning right now. I've been told it could be the O2 sensor, I haven't had a tune up for a long time. I'd appretiate anybody's advice, any suggestions would be helpful, I don't have the cash to burn on extra gas. Thanks 
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#2
10-27-2003, 01:16 PM
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Re: 96 Grand Am burns WAY TOO MUCH GAS!!!
I had a similar problem with my 95 Grand AM GT, got horrible gas and it dogged alittle too for performance, what i would do in your situation is check out the coil pack, your engine may be running too rich and one of the cylinders may not be fireing and just filling up with gas, this will give itself away when you have the hood open and it basically smells like you stuck your face in a container full of gas.
One possibility that i hope is your solution. --The Dude
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#3
10-27-2003, 01:22 PM
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Yeah I do smell gas when the car is ideling, it smells like gas or maybe a little like oil. My preformance is also a bit off, sounds quite similar to ur past situation. I'm going in to get it checked out soon, thanks for your input, i'll tell my mechanic to check the coil pack possibillity. He thinks it's most likely an o2 sensor, whatever it is, it is starting to piss me off because my fuel gage doesn't work either so i always have to carry a gas can in my trunk which is full of expensive amps, and subs. Thanks a lot for your input! Now i've got an idea of what I might be looking at.... Oh, did it cost you a lot to fix the problem?
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#4
10-27-2003, 03:37 PM
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From what you are telling us about the fuel gauge "doing whatever it wants" it sounds to me like there is a problem with the floatation device inside the tank that monitors the fuel level. This device, along with the fuel pump are only accessible by removing the gas tank. If you are going to go to the expense of removing the gas tank and having this problem fixed, I would highly recommend having the fuel pump replaced as well. It may or may not help your current problem with your car running to rich, but it will definitely be worth the preventative maintenace if you plan to keep the car. I think that my original fuel pump on my car (88Z24) blew after 10 years. Point being that they don't last forever. So, essentially you could kill 2 birds with one stone. As far as running too rich, a faulty 02 sensor, or ignition module, would throw the check engine light on, so this may not be your problem. Have your catalytic converter checked out. If your drop in gas mileage was sudden, I am inclined to think that it isn't a tune-up issue. Sudden problems are often a result of one part shitting the bed.
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#5
10-27-2003, 07:07 PM
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This didn't exactly happen overnight. This car got me thinking that it was burning a little too much a couple of months ago, but now it's just ridiculous. Also maybe I wasn't too clear while describing the gas gauge issue, so I'll be descriptive. When I first fill up it reads past the top mark as it should, BUT it stays there for about a day, and then decides to drop below half a tank the next morning when I turn on the car. Everytime I've run out of gas there was never any warning light and the gauge showed about just under half a tank. As for the cat converter I think it's in good shape, I just took my emmissions test and passed with flying colours. Also my tach kind of acts up and it seems sometimes like I've gotta press the accelerater a bit harder or it hesitates. Well anyways like I said I'm gonna get it checked out this friday, so I'll keep everybody updated. Thanks again for actually caring. lol
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#6
10-28-2003, 12:43 PM
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I honestly think that your car is having an issue with the fuel pump and the sending unit. The sending unit is what the fuel pump and floatation device are attached to. Faulty O2 sensors, needed tune-ups and bad exhaust do make gas mileage drop, but not to the severity that you are describing. Have you ever had any fuel lines replaced or the fuel filter changed? If someone mixed up your feed, return and vapor lines, you may have the problem that you are describing. Regardless, you definitely have a problem with your floatation device that monitors fuel level. It sounds like when the device floats to the top (full tank of gas) it becomes stuck. That's why your gauge reads full when it's really not. This device and the sending unit are hooked up to the computer, so there may be a problem with the wiring attached to this unit. I'm just throwing suggestions out there. It's difficult because I can't actually see the car. As far as a tune up in concerned, it may not be a bad idea. Those 2.4 twin cam motors are definitely good up to 100K miles before a tune up though. Oh yeah, is your car actually leaking gas anywhere? If your lines are rusted or damaged, and air gets into the system, it can cause very bad gas mileage and hesitation. I know it doesn't explain the gauge thing, but being a 96, you may have some rusty fuel lines. The gauge thing is definitely a problem with either the wiring to the floatation device or the device itself. Well good luck. Keep me posted.
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#7
10-31-2003, 07:56 PM
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problem supossedly fixed
I just got back from my mechanic today, it turns out it was a couple of things causing the problem. First off the o2 sensor was part of it, it was heavily rusted, and secondly some dolt from the dealership... yes the dealership - put in the wrong spark plugs last tune up, they weren't titanium as they were supposed to be, and they had the wrong gap. All of this, in turn chared my coil pack which also had to be replaced. This caused the cylinders to missfire or even not fire at all intermitantly. Complimentary to all this, the fuel filter was in pretty bad shape, and the air filter was 90% clogged even though I just changed it 20 months ago. When I got into the car and drove off I definately notticed the difference in engine response. I'm gonna do a test to check my millage. Hopefully my problems are done with. Thanks to all for the advice, and "TheDude01" you were right about the coil pack.(right on brother)haha
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#8
11-01-2003, 07:45 AM
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Re: problem supossedly fixed
Quote:
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#9
11-01-2003, 07:30 PM
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all together(parts and labour) with taxes and everything it cost $440, but that's in Candian dollars, that's not a bad deal. I trust this mechanic, this is a small shop and it's always booked up solid cuz ppl. like this guy's work. I know Grand AM's are a pain in the ass too, they need all these stupid parts that other cars usually don't. All and all I just got new tires too, and now the car is running like a champ. Now we'll just see how long the tranny lasts.... haha
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#10
11-02-2003, 03:58 AM
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Re: 96 Grand Am burns WAY TOO MUCH GAS!!!
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#11
11-02-2003, 09:37 AM
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True I could've eassily changed the air filter myself. But the plugs all four cost $15 each and the coil cost $150, this is all in Canadian dollars, parts cost a little more here and the price just seems higher because the conversion ratio is a bit off. I tried looking for a coil and I couldn't beat his price. Like when I see an amp online from a US site around $200 if I buy the same amp from a local audio shop i'll end up paying over $300 Canadian and then there's the crazy 15% sales tax we gotta pay. Maybe you're right though, I still might've paid too much.
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#12
11-04-2003, 07:46 AM
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Re: 96 Grand Am burns WAY TOO MUCH GAS!!!
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#13
11-06-2003, 02:57 PM
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Well, I must say that what was wrong with your car surprised me. I mean, I have a V6 cavalier and I do the work myself on it. When my O2 sensor failed or my coil packs died, the car immediately threw the check engine light on. I know that this is a dummy light, but with a simple diagnostic test (one that can be done at home) you get a code and know which part to replace. Did your mechanic fix the fuel gauge problem? If he didn't, then you may want to consider my previous advice. The symptoms that your grand am had were identical to my Cavalier and I ended up replacing the fuel pump. Well, I'm glad that everything worked out anyway.
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#14
04-13-2010, 11:49 PM
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Re: 96 Grand Am burns WAY TOO MUCH GAS!!!
hey my 93 GA 79k has the same prob replaced the fuel filter plugs and wires and air filter head gasket and trany is good
this thing just drags allover hates hills idles fine i have to let go of the gas and press down again goes good but then drags down again get some black smoke when i try to get on the highway when i replaced the plugs they where the wrong kind and where coverd in carbon im just at a loss i dont want to get rid of it for something stupid please help thank you
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