GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

i need help ASAP. i need a pic of a 99 Grand AM GT, 3.4L need a picture of the engine(thermostat housing area) a friend is stuck in nags head area and her grand am is over heating. she knows nothing about cars. im going to try to walk her through replacing the thermostat. any one get me the pic i would greatly appreciate it. or anyone in that area wants to make a few bucks that will work too.Don't fail me now genvibers

Might wanna try here:http://www.gaownersclub.com

does this help?-edit-nevermind, that was a 2005

Could be stuck T-stat or the "famous" 3.4L bad head gasket...

they replaced the t-stat and i think the head gasket too anyone have another idea???im trying to talk her into selling it and getting a vibe lolits not working tho

Could also be the intake gasket too... I knew the 3.1 was bad about that, but wasn't sure if the 3.4 had the same deal since they're the same engine essentially...That sucks! I know I had to replace the intake gasket 2x on the Malibu I used to own with the 3.1... It ain't pleasant.

The head gasket if replaced could have been caused by the T-stat failure. Once the engine runs too hot it blows the H. Gasket. Bad cooling fans or fan relays will also a car to overheat.

My dad had his 3.4 GA for 6 years, never a single problem with gaskets or t-stats. Actually, now that I think about it, no problems with the engine. Period.

Quote, originally posted by ragingfish »My dad had his 3.4 GA for 6 years, never a single problem with gaskets or t-stats. Actually, now that I think about it, no problems with the engine. Period.im sure there were people who had malibus when they were re-introduced that had no electrical problems too. some people get lucky.

3.4 reguardless what vehicle they are in have problems with the intake gaskets leaking....If I had to bet money....that's probably her problem....suxs I know....GM bulletin # 03-06-01-010Bnew design intake gaskets = pn- 89017279

Quote, originally posted by MiVibe-ToolGuy »or the "famous" 3.4L bad head gasket...I'm part of that club. Had to get mine replaced at 34k.

Quote, originally posted by ragingfish »My dad had his 3.4 GA for 6 years, never a single problem with gaskets or t-stats. Actually, now that I think about it, no problems with the engine. Period.Most do not and a T-stat should be changed out before there is an issue like between 40-50,000 miles on any engine. I know a few people that have had intake gasket issues, some caught them in time others did not but most were under warranty still. It is a good engine IMO just some where along the line the gasket supplier changed or the gasket was made cheaper.

so is your friend still stuck in Nag's Head?

Quote, originally posted by MiVibe-ToolGuy »Most do not and a T-stat should be changed out before there is an issue like between 40-50,000 miles on any engine. I know a few people that have had intake gasket issues, some caught them in time others did not but most were under warranty still. It is a good engine IMO just some where along the line the gasket supplier changed or the gasket was made cheaper. I can understand that. As I mentioned in an old, old, old thread, my parents Grand Prix had an entirely new engine put in around 60,000 miles, under warranty of course. It ran like a champ, but apparantly there was some manufacturing defect whereas little metal shards were left over from manufacturing and would pool up and clog the heating core. The dealer cleaned it out 4 times, the clog kept returning. GM authorized a new 3600 engine put in, has been running trouble free since. Amazing how they can build rock-solid engines with amazing track records, change ONE little thing, and all of a sudden, the engine becomes unreliable and problematic.

Another example; the 231A engine was redeisgnated the 3.8k and they went to a composite intake which leaks like a sieve!

yall have been helpful they have replaced the t-stat twice now and some other stuff working for the time