Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General General 1993 Pontiac Grand Prix SE (3.1 V6)

Ok my girlfriend just moved in with me and we used her car (the one mentioned above) to drive 1,200 miles with about 3-400lbs of stuff in the back. I have two things to ask.

1. How are these cars. Anyone have any experience on them? What are the main problems with them?

2. When driving up we would run into some hilly parts in the road. Every now and then it sounded like the car would bottom out and make a loud noise kinda like a peice of metal hitting another. I don't know what it is. While driving it today (no load) we would hit sewer covers in the road and on the driver side rear is was ok (the fronts were both ok) but the passenger side rear would make a lot of abnormal noise. I had the same problem in my 93 eclipse but it was like a busted sway bar or something. It sounds a lot alike. Any suggestions?

It's a pontiac. All I know is a girl has one at school that is pretty new and it cut off while she was driving the other day and wouldn't start again. Get a hunduh.

Pontiac...LMFAO

All I can add is this...if you've never done a tune up on a 2.5 duratec, do one. Then, do one on a GM 3100 motor...You'll be crying for the duratec.

That bad huh? I though my Zetec was bad but the little four banger can walk away from hers. We did it already lol. Anyways... any other info?

Just something else, keep your car company comments to yourself. I like the damn thing even if it is a Pontiac. Least it's not a sunfire.

Thank you

Check out the struts, they may be shot.

When each corner is pressed down, it should come up but not bounce up and down any.

make sure the tires are the sam proper size for the car, sometimes an oversized one will grind against the inner fender lip.

The cars are generally good, this design was actually the most expensive car design in history, something like 7 years of initial R&D and 10 billion usd...

But take care of it, or else it will fall apart (so will any car).

The cars have their advantages, the parts are dirt cheap and super-plentiful. The engine, 3.1 litre was used in a lot of cars between 1990 and today, and is related to the 2.8 from 1980 to 1990 and the 3.4 OHV from 1993 to today.

Trans should be a 4T60 Hydramatic but it may be the older 440-T4. Both have been used in millions of cars.

Basic chassis was used between 1988 and today, new versions, 2004 GP and 2005 Regal (etc.) use more aluminum suspension pieces, but the design is similar.

Sister ships are the Chevrolet Lumina, Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme and Buick Regal, 1988 to 1997.

But, typical of post-1977 GM cars, there's a shitload of Torx screws and bolts. It is very wise to purchase a good Torx set if you plan on doing anything.

93 Grand Prix SE was my first car. Unfortunately I wasn't really into them then so I won't be of an help but I liked that car a lot!

"The cars are generally good, this design was actually the most expensive car design in history, something like 7 years of initial R&D and 10 billion usd..."

True, and people say the Contour's was expensive. This is why GM still has the platform on the 2004 GP's. The cars have been around since 1988.