I am pulling my hair out! 1999 Pontiac Firebird.

[CayenneRed]

Okay guys I am at my wits end here. I need help and no one around this area seems to know what is going on with this car. I have a 1999 Pontiac Firebird V6. Just the basic Firebird. I have two problems with it...


Problem #1-
A couple of days ago, I noticed a "screeching" sound coming from the front passenger side wheel, while I driving. If I hit my brakes, the osund would stop. After looking at the brake pads, I had them changed. Well, it was difficult to get the brake pads off of the vehicle and now we can't get the new ones to fit. So we decided to put on another pair that was previously changed but was in better condition than the ones that was just recently changed. Now it is very difficult for the wheels to turn freely. My calipers are fine and the rotors look good After driving it for a short period of time (maybe a mile), the brakes started smoldering and putting off a thick, white smoke. Along with that the wheels smelled like they were burning. What could be the problem now?

Problem #2

While driving along the interstate, I lost power to the engine. When the gas pedal was floored the rpm would register but the car would not pick up any type of speed. This usually happens when I am driving at least 60 mph for at least one hour. After maybe a minute or so, the car would pick back up and I would not have anymore problems throughout the remainder of the trip. When I took it to a mechanic, I was told that it was my transmission. What do you guys think? Any input?

[volkerc]

Originally Posted by CayenneRed

Okay guys I am at my wits end here. I need help and no one around this area seems to know what is going on with this car. I have a 1999 Pontiac Firebird V6. Just the basic Firebird. I have two problems with it...


Problem #1-
A couple of days ago, I noticed a "screeching" sound coming from the front passenger side wheel, while I driving. If I hit my brakes, the osund would stop. After looking at the brake pads, I had them changed. Well, it was difficult to get the brake pads off of the vehicle and now we can't get the new ones to fit. So we decided to put on another pair that was previously changed but was in better condition than the ones that was just recently changed. Now it is very difficult for the wheels to turn freely. My calipers are fine and the rotors look good After driving it for a short period of time (maybe a mile), the brakes started smoldering and putting off a thick, white smoke. Along with that the wheels smelled like they were burning. What could be the problem now?

Problem #2

While driving along the interstate, I lost power to the engine. When the gas pedal was floored the rpm would register but the car would not pick up any type of speed. This usually happens when I am driving at least 60 mph for at least one hour. After maybe a minute or so, the car would pick back up and I would not have anymore problems throughout the remainder of the trip. When I took it to a mechanic, I was told that it was my transmission. What do you guys think? Any input?

problem 1
sound like you got a stuck piston in your caliper, if you can't push the piston back in its bore to install new pads, that would be your problem, the smoke is coming from the pads burning up, your disc should also be glowing, chances are you warp those also continue driving them like that,
problem 2
sounds to be the tranny, ...

[89IROC&RS]

The first problem is definatly caliper related. however when you say it was hard to get the pads on and off, are you talking about the caliper?????? the pads should just fall out when you get the caliper off. It sounds to me like there are two possibilities. One the caliper piston isnt working right. Second, the caliper needs some attention. Sometimes a thin layer of rust forms between the caliper and its mount where the two slide against each other. Take a fine file and clean up that surface and put some silicone lube across all the sliding surfaces. This will probly take care of the problem.

The drivetrain problem definatly sounds like the tranny. Im guessing one of three problems. a bad belt, bad clutch packs, or something related to the torque converter. I suppose it could also be a bad shift solenoid. But to me that would put the car in neutral. So im saying one of the first three is probly the problem.

[99onI95]

Problem #2 is not good. My car started doing that and has cost me 2k trying to fix it. It soon led to other problems. My advice is to visit your "friendly" aka greedy pontiac dealer. There is a chance of plug wires or plugs though.

Just my experience with the 3.8

[custom mccannix]

problem 1 is definatly the caliper

problem two is not your tranny it is most likely your IAC going nuts or your cats. Your best bet is to take it to a dealer and no we are not greedy as aa tech i get paid 20.00 an hour but when i have to do a diagnosis i only get paid half an hour flat rate so i only get 10.00 even if it takes me 2 hours to find the problem. so we actually loose money on that stuff

[89IROC&RS]

The IAC would not register engine speed without vehicle speed. If the IAC were acting up, the actual speed of the engine would be changing. The way this problem was described the engine is operating fine, the power just isnt making it to the rear wheels. This sounds like a transmission problem.

[ccstaplet]

When I had a problem that sounds a lot like your problem number 2, it turned out to be the Mass Airflow Sensor.