who's a GM tech? car for the kid

[fund razor]

Kid is looking at a 99 Grand Prix SE with a 3100. It's high miles, but I crawled all over it and it was well maintained. I am hip to the notorius plastic intake manifold gasket... but this is so high miles (200k) that it must have been done by now. She is poor and they want $1,700.
Tires are decent Kumhos. Rotors are ok. top end of engine sounds a little "busy" but all in all... it has the look of professional maintenance. (clips, retainers, screw heads, fasteners, etc.... all in place and not screwed up.) Hardly any underbody rust. Lower 2 inches of radiator looks funky, but could be from road debris. More dented than chalky.

Any reason that she should not take a chance that I am not already aware of?
Thanks.

 

[fund razor]

Too late, she decided to buy it.

Ah well..... kids.

I am hoping that the gasket was done.

 

[Chris]

That's the problem with a $1700 car- all it takes is one issue and you can double your investment without increasing its value a dime.

Here's hoping she dodges the bullet.

 

[fund razor]

That's the problem with a $1700 car- all it takes is one issue and you can double your investment without increasing its value a dime.

Here's hoping she dodges the bullet.

Thanks. I was talking her out of it hard, but on the other hand.... I told the kid to get a job, she got up at 6am and went to work starting in January.... she saved the money.... and needs a car for a promotion. I told her to start saving and planning for a newer car immediately and make it a short, easy term of service for the car.

 

[inbetween]

Fund, the 3100 doesn't have the plastic intake. It does, however have the plastic intake gaskets. Just keep an eye on fluid levels, oil, coolant, etc. (should be normal checks anyway) and you'll most likely be ok. The "busy" sounds are relatively normal for a 3100. The valve train makes some noise and there may also be some piston slap. Not usually detrimental. If it's a northern car, keep an eye on the brake lines, they like to rust out. Good Ol' Ohio

 

[fund razor]

Fund, the 3100 doesn't have the plastic intake. It does, however have the plastic intake gaskets. Just keep an eye on fluid levels, oil, coolant, etc. (should be normal checks anyway) and you'll most likely be ok. The "busy" sounds are relatively normal for a 3100. The valve train makes some noise and there may also be some piston slap. Not usually detrimental. If it's a northern car, keep an eye on the brake lines, they like to rust out. Good Ol' Ohio

Thanks. I learned all about the plastic intake gaskets (and how low in the engine the dam thing is) on JJ's 95 Grand Prix. Thanks for the input on the valve train, that was one of my bigger concerns. I had her drive it to my house on the test drive and I put it up on ramps at my house. Crawled under pretty good, checking struts, brakes, underbody rust (really wasn't any), front drive axle, etc....
She will be happy to hear that the slightly noisy valvetrain that I heard was not a serious area of concern. It was not obnoxious. Just "present," if you know what I mean.

 

[fund razor]

btw.... I have always thought that the 95 grand prix with the 3100 was allowed to overheat at least once, maybe because of the weird burping/fill procedure that you have to do... and the overheating is what fubar'd the intake gasket.

Now the 95 needs fuel pump(s).

 

[fund razor]

The 99 has a funky fuel gauge.

 

[inbetween]

The 99 has a funky fuel gauge.

Fuel level sensor issue

 

[fund razor]

Fuel level sensor issue

In the tank?

 

[inbetween]

btw.... I have always thought that the 95 grand prix with the 3100 was allowed to overheat at least once, maybe because of the weird burping/fill procedure that you have to do... and the overheating is what fubar'd the intake gasket.

Now the 95 needs fuel pump(s).

The gaskets may be susceptible to heat damage, but they just plain suck. The latest GM gaskets have metal inserts around the bolt holes and a different torque for the bolts. We'll see how long they last. There is a cooling system fill tool available that pretty much eliminates the fill problems.

 

[fund razor]

Now that the ladies are starting a fleet, the fill tool may be worth it.

 

[inbetween]

In the tank?

Yes. On the fuel pump/sender assembly. Still about $75 or more for the part. Don't need to change the $300 pump if it still works. Can be changed through an access in the trunk without dropping the tank.

 

[inbetween]

Now that the ladies are starting a fleet, the fill tool may be worth it.

It works on just about everything with a closed cooling system

 

[inbetween]

http://www.matcotools.com/Catalog/toolcatalog.jsp?cattype=T&cat=2315&select=&page=5

Just one of many available. About half way down the page Part#: MCR101

 

[fund razor]

Yes. On the fuel pump/sender assembly. Still about $75 or more for the part. Don't need to change the $300 pump if it still works. Can be changed through an access in the trunk without dropping the tank.

Awesome. She will be very happy.

On the 95... is there an access on that one? Or does the tank have to come down?

Thanks for the tips, Adam. I owe you some beers this summer on the Islands.

 

[inbetween]

Awesome. She will be very happy.

On the 95... is there an access on that one? Or does the tank have to come down?

Thanks for the tips, Adam. I owe you some beers this summer on the Islands.

I think the tank has to come down on the 95. They added the access in '97 when they changed the styling of the car

 

[fund razor]

I think the tank has to come down on the 95. They added the access in '97 when they changed the styling of the car

I figured, but I can dream.... can't I?

Thanks again.

 

[inbetween]

Enough about cars...shouldn't you be workin' on that Apache? :26:

 

[fund razor]

Enough about cars...shouldn't you be workin' on that Apache? :26:

I was, I was.