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2000 Pontiac Grand AM SE, Shaking during acceleration
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HelpPaco
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Oct 28, 2014, 8:13 AM
Post #1 of 22
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2000 Pontiac Grand AM SE, Shaking during acceleration
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First and foremost, thank you for taking the time for reading my post. Any help would be very much appreciated.
Information of Car: 2000 Pontiac Grand Am, 2.4L Engine, Automatic Trans, ~90,000mi (Engine Swap)
Problem: My car is shaking whenever I accelerate from a stop. It also shakes violently when car is in reverse gear. Additionally, at a stop while in drive, the car will also tremble occasionally, with a smell of oil/gas coming through the vents. It tends to stop shaking when I reach about 40 mph, however, it will start back up at higher speeds on the highway (around 70mph or so). Check engine light turns on and off randomly, especially when car is shaking less often than normal. Check engine light is currently not on, so I cannot determine the code.
Recent Work: There was an engine swap that occurred about 2 months ago. Typical parts were replaced as well (Timing Belt, Water Pump) and shaking started when car was received. Mechanic who worked on car stated that shaking would diminish or stop all together in 2 weeks of driving (claims fluids needed to be worked in engine). Maybe he did not install one of the parts or engine correctly?
Any help would be very appreciated. If you need any more information or have any questions, please let me know.
Thank you again!
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Oct 28, 2014, 8:24 AM
Post #2 of 22
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Re: 2000 Pontiac Grand AM SE, Shaking during acceleration
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Just done and CEL can flash plus this shaking that the MECHANIC told you would go away!!!!
What? NO. Who chose that engine first and is responsible for it if anyone? Other than that it could be several things but is consistent with broken motor mount for the shaking only for now.
Is this person going to help you now or is that game over?
T
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HelpPaco
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Oct 28, 2014, 8:37 AM
Post #3 of 22
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Re: 2000 Pontiac Grand AM SE, Shaking during acceleration
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Engine was purchased from a reliable car dealership (and close friend) who removed the engine from a grand am that was totaled in an accident, 2 days after purchasing the vehicle from same dealer. Engine started up in shop and ran perfectly, tons better than the old engine that was previously in my car.
And no, mechanic will not be helping me this time. I'm more than certain he was inexperienced installing engines.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Oct 28, 2014, 8:49 AM
Post #4 of 22
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Re: 2000 Pontiac Grand AM SE, Shaking during acceleration
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Agree it's a good start to hear it run and know why it was available from donor car but it ends there. Was it really the exact same engine may be unknown still.
Seems like in the swap exhaust may (probably) been a pest and motor mounts now tilting too far and exhaust if it can touch body metal or other engine parts would shake, make wild noises and who knows what wiring could be pulled on or damaged?
I was thinking mounts because the weight of the engine settles down at some speed when you said it quit. CEL needs reading to see what code is and post it. No telling I guess how much stuff was bumped or what for the swap plus the story that it needed to get used to new fluids and such - bull.
True it can take some time to re-learn for a good idle and that could explain some too.
Do you have the old car or can get info on it? Same engine code in VIN#?
Who has the old engine too? Some parts may need swapping that weren't. Lots went wrong with this job from what sounds like a good chance and now installing mechanic isn't going to help you so how much can you do or what or where would you send it to check this swap job that it was right?
T
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HelpPaco
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Oct 28, 2014, 8:52 AM
Post #5 of 22
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Re: 2000 Pontiac Grand AM SE, Shaking during acceleration
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Also, yes I have seen the CEL flash during acceleration. Additionally (if this helps), the car will screech loudly only while accelerating. Noise will stop when I am not pressing on the gas pedal. This is very noticeable during the initial stages of driving the car, however, screeching will diminish/stop as the car gets driven more.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Oct 28, 2014, 9:03 AM
Post #6 of 22
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Re: 2000 Pontiac Grand AM SE, Shaking during acceleration
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Suggests motor mounts more! Screeching - perhaps it moves enough some belt driven something can hit a part or who knows but the job got hacked IMO.
Who's going to help you or are you going to take it from here? You can do a basic on motor mounts alone just open hood with engine running put brakes on firmly, parking brake too and put it in gear fighting the brakes some (don't go nuts) and watch the engine move. It will some but not too, too much. If that duplicates the sounds and shaking then with a helper do the same but always watch out that car could break free and move doing that or don't do that at all. Stand to the side in a place safe for it to move if it does.
Other is with a floor jack and wood placed exactly right on oil pan lift some and watch mounts. If wrong you may damage it so don't do that either unless you are sure.
At least check all fluid levels again and then again so that's not in the picture. Oil, ATF, PS, engine coolant and so on.
Look where exhaust pipes meet engine to see if it was all hacked up or what too. Seems this job just plain wasn't finished or checked out all that well so it's you and your observations or finding better help,
T
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HelpPaco
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Oct 28, 2014, 9:11 AM
Post #7 of 22
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Re: 2000 Pontiac Grand AM SE, Shaking during acceleration
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Do you have the old car or can get info on it? Same engine code in VIN#?
I do not. The old car was junked.
Who has the old engine too?
The engine was scrapped by myself because it was essentially too damaged for repair/use. My son drove the vehicle without oil (leaking oil over a period of time, sensor was not functioning to catch this issue before it was too late.)
how much can you do or what or where would you send it to check this swap job that it was right?
I was hoping to consult with a few mechanics this week and get their opinion on whether the swap was performed correctly and an estimate on what it would cost to fix the current issues. Any recommendations in the Chicago area would be fantastic.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Oct 28, 2014, 9:29 AM
Post #8 of 22
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Re: 2000 Pontiac Grand AM SE, Shaking during acceleration
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I couldn't possibly give you an estimate on how much to fix this up to start all over as this job is sooooo messed up IMO. You should have all info on donor car and swap over some items that might not work on the running engine. Nobody seems to have known what the heck they were doing so far.
So yes you need competent help and might be buying parts that were discarded already and told a story that it would be better with time - a clue the person had no clue!
Guess I'd scope out a shop that hires ASE certified techs for a start. You could ask up front for a diagnosis only and how much it would likely take to correct the issues or if this job was a total failure and might have been unfortunately.
Search out shops and plain call them for a hands on look at it as it stands and how much for a diagnosis of what it will take to make this right if it can. I don't know how else to help from here as it was clearly not well done,
T
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HelpPaco
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Oct 28, 2014, 9:36 AM
Post #9 of 22
(1547 views)
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Re: 2000 Pontiac Grand AM SE, Shaking during acceleration
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I could probably a video of the engine running if that would provide any more insight? I will also try to get the code, as soon as I receive a CEL.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Oct 28, 2014, 9:45 AM
Post #10 of 22
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Re: 2000 Pontiac Grand AM SE, Shaking during acceleration
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Why are YOU getting involved NOW instead of before this mess happened? CEL you could get a reading now at places like Autozone do that for free but get #s not a diagnosis from those. CEL (the light) doesn't need to be on to have codes pending.
A lot of stuff gets unplugged, pulled on and bumped just swapping out a perfect engine for a bad one. Connections can fail, exhaust is a problem on most to deal with. Change out oils and test it out BEFORE you get it back not excuses. Used is still used even if this ran well in a wrecked car plenty remains unknown. What miles were on it, what history on the thing if known and so on.
Right now it might be something silly and easy and just can't know from here no matter how good you are at pictures and videos being right there with eyes on it and testing beats all and that's what you need to do,
T
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Oct 28, 2014, 11:02 AM
Post #12 of 22
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Re: 2000 Pontiac Grand AM SE, Shaking during acceleration
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If you had a check engine light ever come on or flash, there will be codes stored that you can have read. The light does not have to be on. Also if it was flashing, it means you have a severe misfire. This Quad4 engine can be tricky. If you haven't already replaced the plugs, then do that. If there is still a misfire, I would replace the plastic coil housing. that acts as a distributor cap on the car a frequently causes a miss like that.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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HelpPaco
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Oct 28, 2014, 11:24 AM
Post #13 of 22
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Re: 2000 Pontiac Grand AM SE, Shaking during acceleration
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I will replace the spark plugs today and let you know of my findings.
Thank you for your advice Hammer Time
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
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Oct 28, 2014, 5:20 PM
Post #14 of 22
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Re: 2000 Pontiac Grand AM SE, Shaking during acceleration
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It sure would be nice to know which trouble code numbers your getting.
Typical parts were replaced as well (Timing Belt, Water Pump) and shaking started when car was received.
If it wasn't shaking before you had the timing chain and pump replaced, they could have installed the chain incorrectly or maybe even bent some valves. If the valve timing is off, the engine isn't going to run correctly even with new spark plugs.
I believe you got screwed, blued, and tattooed by whomever told you that the car needed to be driven for a couple weeks to settle things out.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Oct 28, 2014, 5:31 PM)
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HelpPaco
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Oct 28, 2014, 5:58 PM
Post #16 of 22
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Re: 2000 Pontiac Grand AM SE, Shaking during acceleration
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Spark plugs were replaced. No change in performance. Engine code is listed in above post.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Oct 28, 2014, 6:01 PM
Post #17 of 22
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Re: 2000 Pontiac Grand AM SE, Shaking during acceleration
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You probably should do a compression test before putting any more parts in but if the compression checks good, I would be highly suspect of the coil housing as stated before.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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HelpPaco
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Oct 28, 2014, 6:12 PM
Post #18 of 22
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Re: 2000 Pontiac Grand AM SE, Shaking during acceleration
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I apologize, I'm a beginner at this. How do I go about checking the compression?
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Oct 28, 2014, 6:15 PM
Post #19 of 22
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Re: 2000 Pontiac Grand AM SE, Shaking during acceleration
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These are very basic tests and if they are foreign to you, that would mean that you are really way over your head here because it's going to get a lot more complicated before you find this problem. I suggest you get it diagnosed professionally. It will be cheaper in the long run.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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HelpPaco
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Oct 28, 2014, 6:22 PM
Post #20 of 22
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Re: 2000 Pontiac Grand AM SE, Shaking during acceleration
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I just referenced a video, i have performed one of these before. I got a bit confused with the wording (I'm a foreign exchange student). I will conduct the test and post my results. Thank you for your help.
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
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Oct 28, 2014, 6:41 PM
Post #21 of 22
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Re: 2000 Pontiac Grand AM SE, Shaking during acceleration
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Just make sure you disable spark and fuel before you do your compression test.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
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HelpPaco
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Oct 28, 2014, 6:43 PM
Post #22 of 22
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Re: 2000 Pontiac Grand AM SE, Shaking during acceleration
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Will do. Thanks for the tip.
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