1992 Pontiac Grand Prix

ENGINE WAS ON BUT VEHICLE WAS IN PARK POSITION WITH KEY IN THE IGNITION, HEARD A NOISE AND SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN, BUT IT DID NOT START A FIRE. NOISE SOUNDED LIKE THAT OF AN IGNITION STAYING ENGAGED. AFTER REPAIRS, VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY ONE AND A HALF MILES AND PARKED FOR THREE AND ONE HALF HOURS. WHEN CRANKED VEHICLE MADE SAME NOISE. REPAIR SHOP REFUSED TO TOW AND SAID CONSUMER SHOULD TOW IT THEMSELVES. KEY WAS PUT IN THE IGNITION SO THAT STEERING WHEEL COULD BE MOVE THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. *AK

I PURCHASED MY 92' GRAND PRIX FROM THE ORIGANAL OWNER. SINCE THIS TIME ( 4/97 ) I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE FISRT THAT WENT WRONG A MONTH AFTER IT WAS BOUGHT A GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED UNDER THE AIR PLENUM MANIFOLD ( COST $475 ) THE CAR WAS RUNNING ON ONLY 5 OF 6 CYLINDERS. THE NEXT PROBLEM I HAD WAS THE ENGINE. I WAS ON THE FREEWAY AT NORMAL SPEED WHEN THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF. THERE WAS NO POWER. THE ENGINE HAD BLOWN. WHAT HAPPEND HERE WAS THE IDLER PULLEY THAT KEEPS TENSION ON THE SURPENTINE BELT BROKE OFF. ACTUALLY THE BOLT HOLDING THE PULLEY IN PLACE SNAPPED. THIS CAUSED THE PISTON VALVES TO COME OUT OF TIME AND SMACK TOGETHER. THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. BEING THE DEALERS WERE CHARGING IN EXCESS OF $5000 TO REPLACE IT I HAD TO FIND OTHERS MEANS. A USED ENGINE WAS TO REPLACE THE ORIGINAL. ( COST $1720 ). TWO MONTHS LATER THE ALTERNATOR BURNED UP WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED AND RUNNING AT AN IDLE ,COST $550. IN NOVEMBER OF 1998, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING. I HAD THE FLUID AND FILTER CHANGED TWICE TO MAKE SURE IT WAS CLEAN. REVERSE IN THE TRANSMISSION WAS WIPED OUT AND HAD SOMEHOW RUPTURED 2ND GEAR AS WELL. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT, BUT FAILED AGAIN BEFORE I EVEN GOT THE CAR BACK. THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED WITH ANOTHER ANSD WAS REBUILT. I UDERSTAND THAT VEHICLES WITH HIGHER MILEAGE ARE SUBJECT TO MALFUCTION, BUT I FEEL THIS WAS A BIT MUCH.BETWEEN THE COST OF THE INITIAL REPAIR AND THE INTREST FORM THE LOANS TAKEN TO GET THE REPAIRS DONE, I HAVE SPENT OVER $6000 IN THE LAST 18 MONTHS JUST TO KEEP THE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD. AND NOW I HAVE ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE. I AM NOT SURE WHAT IT IS YET BECAUSE IT JUST STARTED RUNNING TERRIBLY ON 1-23-99. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN IT SINCE. I FEEL THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE PAID FOR BY GENERAL MOTOR CORPORATION DUE TO LACK OF WORKMANSHIP STATED BY THE RECALL SET IN 91. PLEASE LET ME KNOW ASAP IF I CAN GET HELP MY SITUATION.THANKYOU. *AK