Grand Am FTL

[brighteyes]

So tonight we were driving down the road and the engine temperature was between 200 and the 3/4 mark. Suddenly the car shuts off the lights flicker then it didn't want to start back up. so we leave it on the side of the road for a couple of hours, come back and it's cooled down some, then it doesn't want to start again, finally we get it started and drive it for 4 miles and we pull over to put water in it because we figured it was overheating but the gauge wasn't saying it was. The water is shooting out of the reservouir. The cooling fans also aren't coming on. But when we try to crank it it turns over but it doesn't want to start. could it be the computer? or a sensor telling it it's too hot to start? what would make the cooling fans not come on? i checked the fuses and everything was fine. the fans won't come on even with the a/c on. any help would be appreciated

oh yeah it's a 2001 grand am gt

[brighteyes]

I have oil in my throttle body is this normal? its behind the blade...and it blows coolant out of the reservoir and steam after the coolant runs out....is this a bad thermostat or caused by air in the system?

there is no water in the oil and no smoke or steam coming out of the tail pipes so I don't think it is a headgasket

[SappySE107]

oil is normal through the PCV setup. Blowing coolant out the overflow is a sign of a blown head gasket.

[brighteyes]

but wouldn't there be water in the oil or steam or something coming out of the exhaust?
when it cranks it drives fine....i have to pat the gas to get it to crank though...it wont start just turn over at 200+ degrees...still think its a head gasket?

[SappySE107]

no, it doesnt have to mix anything. I had this happen before.

[brighteyes]

ok thanks

[IsaacHayes]

Sounds like it got too hot and blew the headgasket.

[brighteyes]

i got a question...

how much do you think i can get out of this car if i sell it?

[gsEnterpries]

$2.00 and I'll come get. LOL. Just kidding. I'd fix it, but then again thats what I do for a living.

[brighteyes]

lol i don't have the right tools to fix it so i'm selling it i'm asking 1500 for it

[1meanz]

=/ i bought my running gagt with a fixed lim (precaution) and brand new tires for 1600. then again the asking price was 2500 so yea.

i say fix it man, at least get a compression test and make sure its even the head gasket

[Superdave]

Damn, my '04 books for around 6K.. i bet your '01 wouldn't be too far under that depending on the condition and miles.

Do you have any mechanic friends? for maybe $200 + beer/pizza you could have it running.

[brighteyes]

the engine has to come out to change right? what is the easiest way to get the engine out....dropping it from the bottom?

[1meanz]

for the heads?! no it doesnt have to come out, its all done from the top. a normal socket set, a good set of ratchet renches, and a gasket set, and your good to go. but id check them heads if they got hot at all, aluminum warps fairly easy.
and not tryin to thred jack, but yes dave it books on up there, my buddy at the jy got it and saved it for me, was a repo from a 60 year old woman, her daughter took the money for drugs insted of paying the bill lol. 120k miles.

but back on topic, get some beer and pizza, get a half decent mechanic, and go on

[Superdave]

Yep, a metric socket set, few metric wrenches, assorted screwdrivers. a small tube of lithium grease for the injector Orings, maybe a breaker bar for taking out the old headbolts, a wire wheel+ drill to clean up the surfaces. You can rent a torque wrench from any decent auto parts store, usually it's free as long as you don't break it. lol

you'll need to buy a headbolt set (around $15), top end gasket kit (sku 930210) for under $200 and a tube of Loctite red.


I would take both heads to a local machine shop and have them checked for any warping. Most likely they'll be fine though.