1997 Pontiac Sunfire engine and engine cooling problems

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE GT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE LOST TWO ENGINES DUE TO HIS ENGINE OIL WARNING LIGHT NOT ILLUMINATING AND WARNING HIM THAT THE OIL LEVEL WAS LOW. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR HAD IT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 95,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.”

“IN LESS THAN 1 YEAR I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO HAVE IT REPAIRED 6 TIMES FOR WHAT I FEEL IS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM! MY ENGINE STALLS WHEN I AM COMING TO A STOP OR AFTER BEING ON THE INTERSTATE AND IT IDLES ROUGH. I HAVE HAD MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED TWICE IN THE PAST YEAR, FUEL SENSOR REPLACED, SPARK PLUGS, COIL, WIRE TO THE IGNITION MODULE REPLACED. MY CAR STILL RUNS ROUGH AND STALLS WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE, WHEN IDLING IN TRAFFIC, AND WHEN I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. I HAVE SPENT OVER $2,000 IN REPAIRS AND TOW FEES. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE. *TR”

“1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE PROBLEM WITH CRACKING INTAKE MANIFOLD. MANIFOLD LEAKED COOLANT INTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM CAUSING ENGINE TO LOCK UP. ONLY OFFERED REMEDY WAS TO COMPLETLY REPLACE THE ENGINE FOR $6,000.00.”

“FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS MY 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX HAS BEEN "CHUGGING" WHILE IDLING IN PARK, AND WHILE IN DRIVE. I WATCH THE RPMS FLUCTUATING WHILE IN IDLE-PARK, AND STOPPED-DRIVE. WHAT COULD THE PROBLEM BE? IT FEELS AS IF THE CAR WILL KILL ON ME IF I AM NOT IN A CONTINUOUS MOTION. *NM”

“WHILE DRIVING DOWN A BUSY ROAD AT 45 MPH AND GOING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION, I HEARD A POP/BACK FIRE AND THE 1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE WITH AN 3800 ENGINE LOST ALL POWER. WE WERE STUCK IN THE INTERSECTION. WE WERE LUCKY WE WERE NOT KILLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP BY AAA. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE PLASTIC MANIFOLD FAILED, AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT CAN ANYONE DESIGN A PLASTIC MANIFOLD?THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD, AND VEHICLES SHOULD BE RECALLED. WE COULD OF BEEN INJURED. THE 1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE WITH A 3800 ENGINE IS A SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO THE PLASTIC MANIFOLD.*AK”

“WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONSUMER NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE ONTO THE GROUND. THE CONSUMER NOTICED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE OIL FILTER HAD A HOLE IN IT WHICH CAUSED THE OIL LEAK. THE MECHANIC ALSO INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB”