Repair And Fix it

The cooling system inside of the Grand Prix 3.1-liter engines comes equipped with a spring-loaded thermostat that opens and closes according to the temperature of the antifreeze. The thermostat has a bottom spring that compresses and opens the top of the thermostat to allow the antifreeze to flow through the engine block. The main purpose of the thermostat is to prevent the engine from overheating by regulating the flow of the antifreeze through the engine. If the thermostat fails, it has a safety feature that will allow the thermostat to return to the open position.

Instructions

1

Pull the Grand Prix with the 3.1-liter engine into a safe and level work area. Set the emergency brake and open the hood. Shut the motor off and wait two to three hours for the engine to cool down completely.

2

Slowly unscrew the radiator cap and set it to the side. Make sure that the cap is not hot and does not have pressure on it. Slide the drip pan underneath the radiator drain plug on the bottom of the radiator. Loosen the drain plug with the pliers and allow a couple of gallons of coolant to drain into the drain pan. Tighten the drain plug back down tight.

3

Locate the top radiator hose that connects to the top radiator port and the intake manifold. The other end of the radiator hose connects to the thermostat housing on top of the intake manifold. Unscrew the hose clamp from the end of the hose that is attached to the thermostat housing port with the pliers. Pull the clamp back onto the hose. Twist and pull the hose off the thermostat housing port.

4

Unscrew the two thermostat housing mounting bolts with a ratchet and a socket. Pull the housing off and set it to the side. Pull the thermostat out of the intake manifold and discard it into the drain pan. Scrape away any of the old gasket from the base of the intake manifold and the bottom of the thermostat housing. Wipe away the excess gasket, dirt and debris from both places with a clean rag.

5

Spread a thin line of the red high-temperature silicone around the bottom of the thermostat housing. Push the gasket onto the bottom of the housing so that the silicone will hold the gasket in place and act as a extra sealer. Make sure that the bolt holes are matched up on the gasket and the thermostat housing.

6

Set the thermostat housing back over the intake manifold and match the bolt holes up. Screw the two mounting bolts through the thermostat housing and tighten with the ratchet and socket.

7

Push the top radiator hose back over the thermostat housing port and line the hose clamp over the radiator hose and the port. Tighten the clamp with the screwdriver until the hose is securely tightened to the thermostat housing port.

8

Add the antifreeze to the radiator until it is full. Leave the cap off the radiator. Crank the motor and let the engine heat up until the thermostat opens. The thermostat generally opens around 180 degrees. When the thermostat opens, the antifreeze level will drop inside of the radiator. Keep adding more antifreeze to the radiator until the antifreeze stabilizes at the top of the radiator cap. Screw the cap on tight and turn the engine off.

Shocks should be replaced on your Jeep Grand Cherokee every 75,000 miles to maintain a high quality ride. Shocks mount from the frame of the vehicle to the axle and absorb any bumps from the road. Shocks work in parallel with springs to soften the ride and performance. Shocks are filled with nitrogen and are specific to each vehicle. Faulty shocks can lead to premature tire wear, rough ride and poor handling.

Instructions

Front Shock Replacement

1

Loosen the lug nuts of one of the front tires with a lug nut wrench. Place a jack under the axle of your Jeep and lift the vehicle enough to remove the tire. Remove the lug nuts and pull the tire from the axle.

2

Open the hood and locate the upper shock bolts inside the engine compartment. These are on each side of the engine on the fender wells. Remove the nut with a 14 mm socket and a ratchet.

3

Remove the nut from the bolt that secures the shock to the mounting bracket on the axle with a ratchet and socket. Pull the bolt from the bracket.

4

Remove the shock from the vehicle.

5

Place the new shock into position and install the lower mounting bolt through the bracket and into the shock absorber. Tighten the nut with the ratchet and socket. Install the upper nut that secures the upper shock to the vehicle inside the engine compartment with the ratchet and socket.

6

Reinstall the tire and tighten the lug nuts with the lug nut wrench. Lower the vehicle to the ground with the jack.

7

Repeat the process on the opposite side of the vehicle.

Rear Shock Replacement

8

Loosen the lug nuts on one of the rear tires with the lug nut wrench. Place the jack under the axle of your Jeep and lift the vehicle enough to remove the tire. Remove the lug nuts and pull the tire from the axle.

9

Locate the two mounting bolts that secure the shock into position. There are two bolts, one on the top and one on the bottom. Remove these bolts with the ratchet and socket. Remove the shock from the vehicle.

10

Place the new shock into position. Thread the mounting bolts through the bracket and into the shock. Tighten the bolts with the ratchet and socket.

11

Replace the tire onto the hub of the axle. Tighten the lug nuts and lower the vehicle to the ground.

12

Repeat this process on the opposite side of the vehicle.

Putting a new belt on a supercharged Pontiac Grand Prix is nearly identical to putting the belt on a standard Grand Prix. The Grand Prix GTP was introduced in 1997, and with it the supercharged 3800 Series II. The Grand Prix GTP with the supercharged 3800 motor was capable of producing between 200 and 240 horsepower, depending on the use of L36 or L67 engine models. The belt routing between the L36 and L67 is an identical procedure. The Grand Prix was replaced by the Pontiac G6 and G8, before Pontiac was removed in 2009 from the General Motors line of vehicles. Pontiac produced cars since 1926.

Instructions

1

Open the hood and stand on the passenger side of the car facing the belt side of the engine. Loop the belt underneath the bottom pulley or the crank pulley, in the outer track provided. The supercharger belt on the 3800 SC is the outermost belt, as there are two belts on this engine.

2

Hold the belt taught in your right hand so you do not lose your grip on the crank pulley. Run the belts smooth side or back on the front side of the two supercharger idler pulleys. These two idler pulleys are are about three inches in diameter. The lower supercharger idler pulley sits at the two oclock position, just inches above the crank pulley. The upper idler pulley sits on the top front face of the engine.

3

Loop the inside of the belt, or the grooved side, up and over the supercharger. Maintain your grip with your right hand on the belt to maintain your positioning of the belt.

4

Set your left hand on the top of the supercharger pulley and hold the belt still. Slide your right hand down the belt toward the front of the car until you reach the tension pulley.

5

Pull the belt tight again with your right hand, and use a 3/8-inch ratchet and socket with your left hand to push the tension pulley down towards the bottom of the engine. If you feel uncomfortable in this position, set the ratchet down and grab the belt with your left hand. Use your right hand on the tension pulley if this feels more comfortable to you. Slide the belt over the tension pulley, making sure that you keep your hands clear from the point between the belt and pulley.

6

Release the tension pulley and let it retract to its upright position, and remove the ratchet and socket from the tension assembly.

7

Inspect your work to make sure the belt is centered on each pulley, and sitting in the proper channels provided in the crank pulley. Clockwise from the supercharger, your belt should go to the front side of the tension pulley, down and around the bottom of the crank pulley, up around the front sides of both idler pulleys, and back to the supercharger.

Its important to replace your cars headlamp bulbs as soon as they stop working. Failure to do so can result in a ticket or, even worse, cause an accident. Replacing the headlamps on a Pontiac Grand Prix may seem intimidating to those who have little or no experience working with vehicles, but the process is surprisingly straightforward.

Instructions

1

Open the vehicles hood and turn the engine off. Wearing protective gloves, locate the metal retaining clip above the headlight and use a socket wrench to remove the bolt.

2

Pull up on the retaining clip while pushing back on the headlamp and align the marking on the retaining clip with the notch on the headlamp. Pull the headlamp assembly out of the vehicle.

3

Remove the bulb socket ring from the headlamp assembly by turning the ring counterclockwise. Pull the old bulb out from the socket and place the new bulb in.

4

Reinstall the bulb socket ring by placing it back onto the headlamp assembly and rotating it clockwise. Place the headlamp assembly back into the vehicle.

5

Push down on the retaining clip while at the same time pushing back on the headlamp to ensure that the headlamp assembly is secured into place. Place the bolt back into its initial position and securely tighten it.

The clockspring provides constant electrical contact to the steering wheel-mounted module and related components. Its primary responsibility is feeding power from the battery to the air bag for emergency deployment. If the clockspring fails, it affects the air bag, horn, and cruise control, if equipped. As with any part, the clockspring may fail due to age. It is especially susceptible due to the constant rotation of the steering wheel. There are two versions of clocksprings. If you have cruise control, you need the three-wire version. Otherwise, buy the two-wire model.

Instructions

1

Position the front wheels straight-ahead. Remove the key from the ignition.

2

Remove the negative battery cable wrap the terminal with high-quality electrical tape. Wait a minimum of two minutes before proceeding with repairs on the vehicle. The reserve capacitor holds a charge to deploy the air bag even after disconnection of the cable.

3

Remove the two Phillips screws just below the steering wheel on the dashboard. Remove the panels located behind the knee panel. Youll encounter two Phillips screws and two clips.

4

Using your Phillips screwdriver, remove the two steering wheel shroud cover screws.

5

Use a hex driver to remove the air bag module mounting bolts at "10" and "2" on the rear of the steering wheel. Gently tilt the module forward.

6

Press the connector for the yellow air bag wire toward the module until the lock spreads open. Use a small tipped prying tool to gently pry the connector from the module while holding the lock open. Unplug the black and white horn wire and slide off its rubber sleeve.

7

Unplug the green wire located near the steering wheel retaining bolt if your vehicle has cruise control.

8

Carry the air bag module with the bag and trim cover pointed away from the body in case of accidental deployment. Place it in a clean and dry area with the cover side up.

9

Prevent the steering wheel from turning while using a 21 or 22 mm socket to remove the retaining bolt.

10

Mark the steering wheel and shaft for re-alignment. Extract the steering wheel from the shaft by using a steering wheel puller.

11

Disconnect the remote switch harness connectors. If you are unable to start or unlock your vehicle remotely, you can ignore this step.

12

Look up at the steering column from the floorboard. Disconnect the clocksprings two lower electrical connectors.

13

Remove the clocksprings retaining screws and slide it up and off the upper steering column shaft.

Installation

14

Slide the new clockspring on the steering column with the locking pin in place. If you remove the locking pin before installation, youll have to perform other centering measures before you can install the part.

15

Align the clockspring and seat its three pins on the rotor hub with the three holes in the turn signal cancel cam. The oblong pin belongs at the top of the clockspring rotor. Align and seat one pin and two mounting holes with corresponding holes in combination switch.

16

Install the two clockspring retaining screws.

17

Reinstall the steering wheel, including tightening the retaining bolt.

18

Tilt the air bag module into place and re-attach the horn, air bag and, if applicable, the cruise control connectors. Place the module into position and tighten its bolts.

Reinstall all the panels and re-attach the battery cable.

The 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP was a sub-version of the standard Grand Prix. It featured a 3.8-liter engine with a Super Charger to upgrade the vehicle to a muscle car. Replacing the battery on one version of the 1998 Grand Prix is the same as on any other in the series. Tightly fit behind the passenger-side headlight, the battery is fairly heavy and requires a little finagling to remove it from its tray.

Instructions

1

Open the hood to the 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP.

2

Put on the safety goggles and mechanics gloves.

3

Remove the four upper engine cross member retaining bolts that run from the passenger-side fender rail to the grille using a ratchet and a socket.

4

Place the extension on the ratchet and use a suitable socket to reach and remove the battery hold-down wedge bolt. Reach down between the battery and engine cradle to remove both the retaining bolt and hold-down wedge.

5

Remove the negative battery terminal bolt with an 8 mm box-end wrench by turning it counterclockwise (to the right since the terminal bolt is on the inside of the battery casing). All car batteries should be ungrounded by removing the negative battery terminal first to prevent sparks (which can result in igniting hydrogen gases the battery may be emitting, causing the battery to explode).

6

Remove the red cover (if applicable) from the positive battery side post terminal and then remove the terminal bolt with the box-end wrench (again turning it to the right).

7

Remove the battery from the battery tray. Some batteries may offer an upper handle to manage the battery better. If not, tip the battery slightly towards the back of the engine and grasp it from each side. Batteries that are not equipped with handles tend to offer small shelves in either side of the battery for grasping.

8

Install the new battery by reversing the procedure. Be sure to connect the red positive terminal bolt first and the black terminal bolt last to prevent sparking.

9

Replace and tighten the battery hold-down wedge and retaining bolt and then replace the cross-member and retaining bolts by reversing the removal procedures.

The 1998 Pontiac Grand Am fog light is under the front bumper cover. Replacing the fog light bulb is an easy task. To get to the back of the fog light assembly, you will need to get under the vehicle. If you have had the fog light on, let the vehicle sit at least ten to fifteen minutes before you start working on it. The fog light gets hot when it is on for a long time.

Instructions

1

Find a level place, jack up the vehicle, and place it on jack stands under the frame.

2

Crawl under the vehicle and look straight up. You will see the back of the fog light assembly where the fog light bulb is mounted.

3

Rotate the bulb counterclockwise and pull backward on the bulb to remove it. Disconnect the electric wire plug from the bulb.

4

Connect the electric wire plug into the new bulb. Avoid touching the glass part of the bulb.

5

Insert the new bulb in the hole in the back of the fog light assembly and rotate the bulb clockwise.

6

Jack up the vehicle and remove the jack stands from under the frame and let the vehicle down. Turn the fog light on to make sure it works.

Located on the passengers side of the engine block, the oil pressure sensor in your 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee converts engine oil pressure to milliamps and sends this information to the engine management computer. Whether your Jeep has a 4.0-liter inline six cylinder or a 5.2-liter v-8, the sensor sits in nearly the same place on the engine block. Sensor failures can exhibit as erratic readings at the oil pressure gauge on the instrument panel or a low pressure indicator light flashing on and off randomly. You can replace the sensor in minutes, and a new sensor is available from Jeep or through a parts store.

Instructions

1

Open the hood of your Jeep and locate the negative battery cable end at the battery. Loosen the clamp bolt on the cable end with a wrench then separate the cable from the battery terminal. Isolate the cable end away from the battery while you work.

2

Locate the oil pressure sensor on the passenger side of the engine, near the oil filter housing. The sensor threads into the engine block and has an electrical connector on the top of it with a single wire coming off it.

3

Release the locking tab on the electrical connector then pull the connector off the sensor and lay it aside. Slide a deep socket over the sensor, connect a ratchet to it and rotate the sensor counterclockwise until it is free of the engine block. Discard the old sensor.

4

Position the new sensor in the engine block, rotating it clockwise by hand until it is snug. Place the socket and ratchet on the sensor then carefully turn it another 1/4-turn to secure it.

5

Push the electrical connector on to the new sensor until the locking tab engages. Move back to the battery and position the negative battery cable end onto the battery terminal. Tighten the clamp bolt with a wrench then close the hood.

Camber is the measurement of the plane of the front wheel and its relationship to the plane of the ground measured in degrees of the angle. If the two surfaces are perpendicular, the vehicle has 0 degrees camber. If the plane of the wheel tips outward, the vehicle has positive camber, and negative means it tips inward. Camber is one of the alignment angles of the Grand Am, and is applicable to both the front and rear wheels.

Suspension Details

The 1997 Pontiac Grand Am has a McPhereson strut suspension system. This is a system where the lower part of the steering knuckle is supported and held in place by the lower control arm, and the upper part of the steering knuckle is supported by the strut assembly. The strut assembly consists of a shock and a coil spring which serve the dual role of supporting the weight of the vehicle and dampening excessive suspension bounce.

Front Camber Specifications

The specifications for front wheel camber for the 1997 Grand Prix are between -1.15 and 0.35 degrees. Any measurement between those two numbers is acceptable and should result in good tire wear and vehicle handling as long as the other angles are set correctly. The ideal measurement is -0.40 degrees camber.

Rear Camber Specifications

Rear-wheel camber specifications are between -1.0 degrees and 1.0 degrees. The rear wheels are given a larger variance in the acceptable measurements because their role in turning is not as pronounced. Ideally the measurement should be in the center of the range, or as close to 0 degrees as possible.

Cross Camber Specifications

Cross camber is the difference in camber between both the left and right side. This would allow the left wheel to have a slight positive camber and the right wheel to have a negative camber. The cross camber specifications for the front wheels are between -1.0 degrees and 1.0 degrees. You may vary the cross camber to compensate for vehicle pull as necessary as long as you stay within the specifications.

Preparation

Before the exhaust manifold on a Jeep Grand Cherokee can be installed, the vehicle must be prepped. The battery and air cleaning assembly, including the filter, must be removed; and all coolants, such as windshield cleaning solution and radiator fluid, should be drained and flushed from the system. Disconnect the air-conditioner and detach the starter motor and all heating hoses. You are removing them to gain access to the cylinder head.

Removing Existing Parts

Remove the manifold by, first, taking out the heat-shield components and disconnecting the starter motor. Detach the Y-pipe, and unbolt and lift out the manifold, along with the gasket between the unit and the engine. Rusty bolts and fasteners are usually treated and cleaned before the new manifold is installed.

Installation

Before the exhaust manifold is attached to the cylinder head, covering all six cylinders, position the manifold gasket over the edge of the opening. Then set the manifold into place over the gasket. Tighten the bolts, starting in the center and moving toward the ends, and reconnect the unit to the Y-pipe. Reinstall the disassembled parts in the opposite order in which they were removed.

The Pontiac Grand Am was originally offered as a mid-sized car and was later remodeled to a more compact style by its manufacturer, General Motors. Owners of Pontiac Grand Ams can typically extend the life and use of their vehicle by following a few simple tips. To help insure safety, however, automotive concerns should always be inspected by a certified mechanic.

Noise When Applying Brakes

Noise that becomes noticeable when the brakes are applied on a Pontiac Grand Am can be caused due to a number of reasons. A common reason for noise when the brakes are applied is dust in the brakes or worn down brake pads. If the brake pads are new and you have been able to rule out dust as the culprit, another common reason that could be causing the brakes to make noise is a problem between the caliper piston and the steel interface, which is typically noticed during slow speed braking. Brakes that make noise of any kind should be inspected by a certified mechanic in order to determine the problem and prevent additional damage to the brake system.

Coolant Warning Light

If the coolant level warning light appears on your dash, your first step should be to check your coolant to ensure that your levels are sufficient. If the light comes back on after checking to ensure that you have enough coolant, the problem may be with the chamber in the coolant reservoir. Often times, the culprit is sediment that has collected in the reservoir and settled down around the bottom of the float. This sediment causes the float to stick to the bottom, incorrectly signaling the engine that the reservoir is empty. Try removing the coolant reservoir and shaking it upside down. This should release the float from being stuck to the bottom. If after replacing the reservoir, the light remains, the problem may be a faulty fuse that needs replacement.

Speedometer Not Working

A broken speedometer can not only be frustrating, it can lead to a speeding ticket. When a speedometer has stopped working, its often due to a faulty fuse that is connected to the speedometer. When the fuse stops working, it stops sending power to the vehicles computer, making it impossible to determine what speed you are actually going. If the rest of the gauges are working, but the speedometer is not, try replacing the fuse. If after replacing the fuse, the speedometer still does not work, you may have an electrical short in your dash that will need to be inspected by a certified mechanic.

A "Check Engine" light flashing on the dash can warn you of impending problems with your Grand Am, but it can also be annoying if you fixed those problems without resetting the warning light. If you dont have access to an on-board diagnostics scanner, the quickest and most popular way to reset a "Check Engine" light is to disconnect the battery. Removing the computers power source for an extended period of time will cause it to lose most of its stored information, including the parameters that triggered the "Check Engine" light.

Instructions

1

Open the hood and locate the battery. In the Grand Am, the battery will be on the drivers side of the vehicle.

2

Disconnect the black negative terminal cable with a ratchet and socket. When setting the cable aside, make sure the metal end of the cable is not touching any metal surface. Disconnect the red positive terminal cable with a ratchet and socket and set it aside.

3

Drain the residual energy in the vehicles wiring and circuitry by pressing on the horn or brake pedals until there is no power left. Wait at least 15 minutes for the vehicles engine computer to "forget" its settings.

4

Reconnect the positive and negative terminal cables to the battery. Tighten the connections with a ratchet and socket and close the hood. The engine computer may require a "learning period" in which the computer readjusts the transmission shift points and throttle input according to the owners driving style.