3.4 engine. quick help please.

[truck150]

what are thoughts on the newer grand am's with the 3.4 03 grand am ?
good or bad motor? do they last long is there anything i should know about the engine. i am going to look at an o3 grand am ram air today and want to know a little back ground of the 3.4's. the car i am looking at has 55,000 mile on it. please let me know asap. thanks

[GTP Dad]

Unfortunately, the 3.4 has it's share of issues. There have been a lot of posts concerning the 3.4 on this forum. I know of a local, where I am from that has a 3.4 and has had numerous issues with his engine including leaking head gaskets. Just remember! Buyer beware!!!

[truck150]

how many miles did his have when he started having problems? //they are asking 8900 for this car. do you think that is too much? any other problems you can think of. now i am worried. what would you do? thanks

[Scrapper]

yah my sons got same car i just relaced head gasket and of course new head...good luck to you..

[xeroinfinity]

Hey Truck, thier were issues with the lower intakes, but if it has been replaced since 2003 it should have the improved gaskets.
Which this can be the casuse of head gasket blow outs.

My SE has had 5-6 intake gaskets, before I got the new ones. Its Moded a little
I run the DS out of it now, and I dont have any problems, but I keep up on preventative maintenance and run full sythetic on everything.

The earlier models of GA 99-02 had alot of problems with the passlock system/ignition switchs. Some leak water and damage the fuse boxes and blow BCM.

IMO i think $8900 is to high, but I guess this dependss on where you live. I;d at least try and get them down to $7900-8000 and throw in a warrnty.

Also ask them for the warrnty repair history , so you'll know whats been going on before you bought it.

Good Luck!

[grfnkl]

to give you an idea of the gasket issue, which XI is right it's the lower intake Manifold gasket or LIM for short.... Some people replaced them at 20,000 miles and some much later. I finally did mine at 80,000 miles on my 02. You are better off with the 03+ g/a's they had a few less problems then the earlier years, but every car can have it's issues. definetly have a check on the history of the car. Good luck!

[MT-2500]

Originally Posted by truck150

how many miles did his have when he started having problems? //they are asking 8900 for this car. do you think that is too much? any other problems you can think of. now i am worried. what would you do? thanks

When buying a car alway work them down on asking price.
Also your banker and insurance agents have car value books and can tell you right fast what it is worth.

Also some web sites have care value books.
Good luck

[Vipey1337]

I've never had ENGINE problems with my grand am (1999), and it's at 172,000 miles and still chugging

I'm going to completely redo the engine though, and make an ultimate sleeper like XI hehe

[no_import2007]

Really Good Motor And Fast 2.......i Put A Cold Air Intake And Man It Roars.......