1997 Pontiac Grand Prix power train problems

“ON THE 10TH OF JUNE IN 2016 DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT 65 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, I NOTICED A WHITE COLORED SMOKE COMING FROM THE CAR. IN THE PROCESS OF PULLING OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE FREEWAY THE ENGINE STOPPED AND THE SMOKE CONTINUED. POPPED THE HOOD AND SAW A FIRE ON THE MIDDLE/ FRONTFRONT OF THE MOTOR. THE FORE WAS COMING FROM THE COVER ON THE TOP OF MOTOR.”

“THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT RUNNING, THE OIL LIGHT AND ALTERNATOR LIGHT DIDN'T COME ON JUST THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT, ALSO THE TACHOMETER STAYED AT 2000 RPM. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND TRIED, BUT COULDN'T GET THE ENGINE TO START. PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TRIED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE FINALLY STARTING. I HAD TO PUT TRANSMISSION IN THE PARK POSITION, AND THE KEY ALL THE WAY OFF, THEN START THE ENGINE. I HAD THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR REPLACED, BUT MADE NO DIFFERENCE. ITS HAPPENED 6 TIMES IN THE LAST 5 MONTHS AND 300 MILES. I QUIT DRIVING IT UNTIL I CAN GET ANOTHER CAR. *TR”

“97 GRAND PRIX, 3.8L HIGH OUTPUT ENGINE,4T65E 4 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SE MODEL 4 DOOR. TRANSMISSION WAS AT FIRST HESITANT TO GO INTO REVERSE AT 100,000 MILES. AROUND 125,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION HAS NO REVERSE OR NEUTRAL MOVEMENT WHILE PUSHING THE CAR IN REVERSE. IN OTHER WORDS YOU CANNOT MOVE THE CAR IN REVERSE AT ALL, EVEN WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND IN NEUTRAL. SHOP TOLD ME I HAD A BROKEN REVERSE SHIFT FORK. TRANSMISSION SERVICE CENTER ADVISED THAT THE CAR'S USED VALUE DOES NOT WARRANT THE REPAIR COST OR PURCHASE OF NEW EQUIPMENT. *TR”

“I PULLED INTO A CAR WASH STALL AND SHUT MY CAR OFF TO WASH IT. AFTER WASHING IT I GOT BACK IN MY CAR AND TRIED TO PUT IT IN GEAR, BUT THE SHIFTER WOULD NOT MOVE. THANK GOD I HAD MY CELL PHONE, I HAD TO CALL MY HUSBAND OUT OF WORK TO COME CHECK OUT THE CAR. HE CONCLUDED THAT I HAVE TO STICK A INK PEN IN THE SHIFT RELEASE HOLE TO PUT IT IN GEAR. I HAD OUR THREE MONTH OLD WITH ME AND IT WAS COLD THAT DAY, IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN NICE IF I WOULD HAVE HAD TO WALK WITH THE BABY. ANYWAY I HAVE PUT IT IN THE SHOP TO GET IT CHECKED AND THEY DO NOT KNOW THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD IT MAY COST ME A LOT OF MONEY TO GET IT FIXED BY THE TIME THEY FIND THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY PROBLEM TO ME. WHAT IF THIS HAPPENS TO SOMEONE ELSE WITH SMALL CHILDREN AND THEY DO HAVE TO WALK. I ALSO KNOW FROM CALLING AROUND TO PART STORES THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO AT LEAST 6 OTHERS JUST IN THE MUSKEGON AREA, THAT SHOULD CALL FOR A RECALL IN ITSELF. *JB”

“FIRST MY KEY WOULD NOT RELEASE OUT OF THE IGNITION. I HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING STUCK UP IN THE RELEASE BUTTON THINGY TO GET IT TO RELEASE THE KEY. NOW THE SHIFTER WILL NOT MOVE UNLESS YOU DEPRESS THE SHIFT LOCK RELEASE BUTTON. THANK GOD I KNEW ABOUT THE BUTTON BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE BEEN STUCK OVER 100 MILES AWAY FROM HOME WITHOUT ANY HELP IN SITE. I HAVE HAD OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR BUT FORTUNATELY FOR ME THAT WAS WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I'M SURE MY 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX SE ISN'T THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM.”

“WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE FLOOR MODEL CONSOLE INTO GEAR. CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO PRESS THE BRAKE RELEASE ON THE FLOOR CONSOLE TO DISENGAGE THE GEAR SHIFT. CONSUMER WILL MAKE CONTACT WITH THE DEALER ABOUT THIS ISSUE.*AK”