To the GM mechanics here

eddie1278 · May 18, 2013

I'm not a ASE certified mechanic but the cars with the LD9 DOHC 2.4 engine in it are a friggin nightmare to work on. I've been working on cars since I was 16 I'm 35 not and I can fix anything but these engines drive me up the wall.

I have a 1997 pontiac grand am with the 2.4 in it and today I swapping an AC compressor out and accumulator. The compressor removal wasn't too bad just have to take the alternator out and then the belt tensioner. But the accumulator is hidden behind the right front head light. The book says go from underneath and take splash shields out etc.. To do that would involve taking so much off no way. So I decided to take the headlight out and it was pretty simple.

Everything with these cars is a nightmare to work on. If the waterpump goes that tops the list of the most pain in the **** because it's driven by the timing chain and the motor has to be lifted and sooooo much stuff has to come apart all for a waterpump that costs $50.

Oh and found my leak in the AC system that blown seal on the compressor
:eyecrazy:

malibu101 · May 18, 2013

Yeah, the way things are packaged today small things can be a big nightmare.

On the bright side, you see what the problem was and know you've fixed it.
It will make the air coming out of the vents seem that much cooler this summer.

RCP · May 18, 2013

That thing is over a decade old. I agree with the water pump issue though, if it were me id just replace it during the 100k timing overhaul bad or good

redwrench60 · May 18, 2013

Good ol' quad fours lol. You know what they say.....if it were easy everybody would do it.

SpiderGearsMan · May 18, 2013

yeah the three piece V5 compressor is one leaking mofo
I enjoy working on 2.4s but I got real good at them over the years and I can charge 8 hours for a water pump

SpiderGearsMan · May 18, 2013

RCP said:
That thing is over a decade old. I agree with the water pump issue though, if it were me id just replace it during the 100k timing overhaul bad or good

100k overhaul ??? WHATS's THAT ?? hahahahah

86k10 · May 18, 2013

SpiderGearsMan said:
yeah the three piece V5 compressor is one leaking mofo
I enjoy working on 2.4s but I got real good at them over the years and I can charge 8 hours for a water pump

How long does it take you to do a water pump on a 2.4? My wife's car has a slow leak on the water pump block to engine gasket I have been putting off for 2 years. I just add a quart of coolant when the light comes on every 6 months.

redwrench60 · May 18, 2013

Remember those stupid little diapers they used to put around the water pumps to soak up the "normal" coolant from the weep hole? lol.

malibu101 · May 18, 2013

SpiderGearsMan said:
100k overhaul ??? WHATS's THAT ?? hahahahah

Meaning-
How many make it to 100K to need the overhaul. :lol_hitti

My wife had a 94 Grand Am GT. I forget the exact size V6 but that engine bay was 10 pounds of poop packed in a 5 pound bucket.

I learned a few new swear words on that thing too. :evil:

eddie1278 · May 18, 2013

malibu101 said:
Meaning-
How many make it to 100K to need the overhaul.

My wife had a 94 Grand Am GT. I forget the exact size V6 but that engine bay was 10 pounds of poop packed in a 5 pound bucket.

I learned a few new swear words on that thing too.

I got 149,000 on the clock right now and it runs excellent. I even had that crank position sensor fail and leak all the oil out on me while I was driving about 80 mph. I drove it nearly bone dry for about 15 mins at 65-80 mph. I noticed the oil light flick on for a second then off i just thought it was a glitch. I got to work and the dipstick had a drip on it.

The whole underside of the car was soaked in oil but 3 years later fires up without hestitation and I trust it to drive to California if I wanted to.

These DOHC motors are strong.

Pumpman1968 · May 18, 2013

I just scrapped a 97 Grand Am so I have a set of clear headlights and decent tail lights if your in need.

eddie1278 · May 18, 2013

RCP said:
That thing is over a decade old. I agree with the water pump issue though, if it were me id just replace it during the 100k timing overhaul bad or good

These don't use timing belts they use chains. Not sure what they recommend on timing chain replacement. I'm not going to do all that on a 18 year old car.

eddie1278 · May 18, 2013

Pumpman1968 said:
I just scrapped a 97 Grand Am so I have a set of clear headlights and decent tail lights if your in need.

I just restored my headlights a month ago with 1500 grit sandpaper and polishing compound they are crystal clear.

montanafordman · May 19, 2013

I think any automotive engineer should be required to work at a dealership on the car he/she designed for the next 3 years. Maybe then you'd have some more common sense layouts and repairs! :lol_hitti

purplezr2 · May 19, 2013

montanafordman said:
I think any automotive engineer should be required to work at a dealership on the car he/she designed for the next 3 years. Maybe then you'd have some more common sense layouts and repairs!

I think all the people that ***** about engineers should go trying being on the other side of the fence, having to deal with marketing, sales, and accounting people.

montanafordman · May 19, 2013

purplezr2 said:
I think all the people that ***** about engineers should go trying being on the other side of the fence, having to deal with marketing, sales, and accounting people.

Well, point taken! Actually I was talking with my parents the other day and mentioned that I had changed the oil in my lawnmower that day, and I lamented that for my craftsman push mower you have to tip it on its side / almost upside down to drain the oil out the filler tube! My folks were surprised at this and I said, well - if a drain plug costs 10 cents and you have 200,000 units produced thats your answer about "why." :lol_hitti

Besides there are probably a majority who never change the oil for the life of their mower anyway, and just shrug and buy a new one when the old one quits working. :dunno:

Its a disposable society - we don't build to last it only has to make it until the next new trend, style, gadget arrives. Cars aren't that different. How many people even occasionally change their own oil anymore? Far less than people used to I'm sure, even from 15 years ago - let alone fix a leaky AC compressor. I think the lions share of GJ members are quite the minority compared to society as a whole when it comes to restoring tools, items, and generally fixing ANYTHING.

RCP · May 19, 2013

Most of the time your supposed to maintenance the timing chain around 100k. Thats what most of my cars called for

rickhigginshtbr · May 19, 2013

I'm parting out my '03 Grand Am, wanna swap in a 2.2 ecotec? lol.

CNGsaves · May 19, 2013

montanafordman said:
Well, point taken! Actually I was talking with my parents the other day and mentioned that I had changed the oil in my lawnmower that day, and I lamented that for my craftsman push mower you have to tip it on its side / almost upside down to drain the oil out the filler tube! My folks were surprised at this and I said, well - if a drain plug costs 10 cents and you have 200,000 units produced thats your answer about "why." Besides there are probably a majority who never change the oil for the life of their mower anyway, and just shrug and buy a new one when the old one quits working. Its a disposable society - we don't build to last it only has to make it until the next new trend, style, gadget arrives. Cars aren't that different. How many people even occasionally change their own oil anymore? Far less than people used to I'm sure, even from 15 years ago - let alone fix a leaky AC compressor. I think the lions share of GJ members are quite the minority compared to society as a whole when it comes to restoring tools, items, and generally fixing ANYTHING.

Just so you know . . . I have NEVER changed the oil in my mower !!

, , , , I have LawnBoy 2-stroke !! :bounce:

I just mix oil with gas and never have to worry about it . . . AND . . . my mower is going strong for 10+ years!!

Agree that typical 4-stroke mowers are built as cheap and throw away as possible. If mower lasts 3 years and falls apart, "good" for manufacturer to sell you another one.

eddie1278 · May 19, 2013

rickhigginshtbr said:
I'm parting out my '03 Grand Am, wanna swap in a 2.2 ecotec? lol.

haha funny. I go to the bone yard to find parts and I find like 2-4 cars with my engine in it and like 50 ecotec engines :lol_hitti

montanafordman · May 19, 2013

CNGsaves said:
Just so you know . . . I have NEVER changed the oil in my mower !!

, , , , I have LawnBoy 2-stroke !!

I just mix oil with gas and never have to worry about it . . . AND . . . my mower is going strong for 10+ years!!

Agree that typical 4-stroke mowers are built as cheap and throw away as possible. If mower lasts 3 years and falls apart, "good" for manufacturer to sell you another one.

You could buy 2 stroke mowers 10 years ago!?!?! I thought they phased out of 2 stroke mowers long before that!! :lol_hitti

Seriously I think I heard some crazy statistic about how much a 2 stroke mower pollutes the air compared to a modern car and it equates to something crazy. My parents had a lawn boy 2 stroke that I used to cut a small patch between the house and the driveway since it was easier to manuver than the John Deere riding mower in that space. They had over an acre to cut though so thats about all the duty that little lawn boy saw in its later years. I think they still have it but I"m sure its not been used in years. I'm also positive its older than I am!

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