2002 Pontiac Grand Prix

TARABREE

MEMBER
2002 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX

2002 Pontiac Grand Prix 6 cyl Automatic 128, 00 miles

I have a 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix GT. It has been doing strange things lately and have no idea what it could be.
On start-up, it shakes pretty bad. After a couple of minutes, it goes away and is just fine like it's always been.
I've been going through more anti-freeze than usual. I used to never have to add it - now I have to add it about once a month which, even though I'm a woman, I know that's not normal.
Sometimes I hear this "clicking" noise coming from the hood. It's louder when it's first started. Sometimes it goes away completely and sometimes it just gets "less" loud.
White smoke from tailpipes, even when it's not too cold. Never noticed it before.
My car almost didn't start today. It has the original battery on it so I thought maybe it needs a new one. It did eventually start without a jump.

Please help!Thanks for any info you can give me!

7 Replies

BLACKOP555

MECHANIC
10,371 POSTS

Sounds like you may be burning some coolant! First step is to buy a test for checking for bad headgaskets or cracked heads or to rent a compression tester and check the wet and dry compressions of the vehicle.

Let me k now what you find.

Hows the temperature been lately? Running a bit warm or is it where it normally is? What bout the transmission and power steering fluid?

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Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009 AT 9:54 PM

TARABREE

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Thanks for the reply. That's the thing that has me baffled is that everything I read about head gaskets points to a higher temperature on the car. But it NEVER overheats (knock on wood, yet).
I hope it's not a head gasket. Aren't those pretty expensive?

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Saturday, March 7th, 2009 AT 1:49 PM

BLACKOP555

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Just because it doesnt overheat, does not mean the headgasket isnt bad.

Headgasketes are terribly expensive at least one hundred bucks per piece, and its a labor intensive job.

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Sunday, March 8th, 2009 AT 11:49 AM

TARABREE

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A mechanic I know that lives in another state so he can't work on my car told me on the phone that I can add 3/4 quart of transmission fluid to the oil to see if that helps. Said something about parts sticking in the engine and it may lubricate them again to work correctly.
Is it really okay to add 3/4 quart of tranny fluid to my oil? Will it hurt anything if I do that?

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Sunday, March 8th, 2009 AT 2:51 PM

BLACKOP555

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Ive heard of people doing that, never heard of damage, what is that supposed to do? Doesnt really free up too much. Your best bet is to get some fresh oil and add some seafoam to it or slick 50 if thats what you want.