I drive a 2002 2.2L Pontiac Sunfire when I bought it it was a little week so I changed the oil know I'm using rolay purple oil with some Dura lube treatment oil .. and I'm using k&n oil filter ..and I put in new e3 diamond spark plugs in it and now she runs like a dream .. now I'm saving up for a new dual cat back magnflow system for the Sunfire
Dude, I've searched for this car (same as mine, color and everything lol) and I could not find anything. Only 1999-2003. No 1997 specifically. thank you so much! If you can post some more I'm bound to have something go wrong again and you are the person I'm going to.
Yeah, Cash for Clunkers really created a brain drain for current mechanics when it comes to older cars. When I was a kid, most mechanics working in the industry could work on any car ever made. Not so much these days. When I was a kid, there were a lot more 20-30 year old cars on the road. Part of it is they just don't make 'em like they used to which is why I just keep fixing my 2001 Jetta. I rebuilt one of these 2.4s in an apartment kitchen and my friend is still driving the car 15 years later. I'm changing the spark plugs this week and probably doing an oil change. Because we live in the desert and the engine is notorious for marginal rod bearing oil pressure, I'll be using 20W-50 full synthetic oil. If your spark plug boots don't come off with the coil assembly, you need new boots.
I was told it's called the cinder block a gasket. It's on the metal part above the spark plugs that little thin line. That's where the oil is coming from the metel. Everyone I know that has my engine 2.4 has that leak. I just change my spark plugs when it start. Change the Coil Packs it's two. That whole top is the main power to this car too. I brought the whole top from a junkyard and my car worked wonderful. So it made me learn... I hope I helped...
Well, what you are referring to is the cam cover gasket. I rebuilt a 2.4 in 2010 and got a Fel-pro gasket kit and 14 years later, there are no oil leaks anywhere on the motor. But yeah, the stock ones commonly leak, especially when 20+ years old. Another problem spot is usually the timing cover gasket. The one I installed was silicone rubber which has a long lifespan. The original ones are much cheaper.
Good stuff. The spark-plug torque specification (13 ft-lbs) is embossed on the head (as can be seen in the video) so no need to check the manual. I always put the spark plug boots onto the coil housing and then lower the whole thing onto the spark plugs, which I think makes it easier to align (even though it's still a blind operation). Thanks for the video!
Wow, that was great! I have a '95 Pontiac Grand Am, with the same kind of engine, and it needs to have ALL that stuff done , plus a few more things. I want to start doing my own work on it, though I only have videos like this, and the Chilton Repair manual for GM cars from 1985 to 1998, and the owner's manual. My car needs an oil change, but unfortunately it would probably be faster and less expensive to just take it somewhere, than try to do it myself. I don't have any way of getting it up on anything, to get to to oil tank anyway. But it helps to watch videos like this, so that maybe in the near future, I can do it myself.
Might also add the following while doing your checks. Power Steering level, Brake Fluid level, condition and level of transmission fluid, and battery terminal posts cleaned. If in summer time attach gauges and check AC pressures if AC doesn't seem to be cooling well.
Hey I have a 1997 grand am 2.4. I need know where the camshaft position sensor is located. And as well as the crankshaft sensor. Thanks. And great video.
If your spark plug boots don't come off with the coil assembly, you need new boots. You should also use some contact cleaner and brush to clean the contacts in the boots if you are reusing them. you're supposed to have the boots on the coil assembly for reinstallation.
Searched everywhere! Replacing front valve cover gasket. Cam shaft is lifting with the cover. WHY?? I'd really appreciate an answer if ya got one. Thanks.
Do you know where the cap to the radiator cover is the silver cap on 97 Oldsmobile ache is My engine setup is the same as this video and I can’t find it any where
Excellent video. I have a 140K 2.4L. wanted to change plugs but was told that pulling off the top (coil pack) is difficult. this that true? Need to keep my 98 chevy malibu running during these hard times. Thank you.
What does it mean when my car takes a lil while to get started but once it gets started it goes good but if you slow down at stop light or stop sign it cuts off and takes while to get going again ? Like you have to give it alot of gas to get it going ?
I have a question,,,, do anybody know how to Replace the micro Power steering belt on this engine,,, I'm having problems figuring out Which 🔩 I need to take out to get the thing to move up or down....
Whoever designed this car was a little special. Only car I've ever seen where the hood release has to be pushed sideways instead of pulled towards you ( I've sat back and watched people try and fail to raise the hood because of this ridicilousnes) , and the only vehicle I've changed plugs on that has a metal plate that damn near requires breaking things off to uncover, and where you need xray vision to put it back on when changing the plugs. Seems like part of the motivation in car design these days is to make it more difficult for the poor person to fix it themselves, and need to have a dealership do it ( because they deserve as much money as they can get, even at others expense. Screw rhe poor who tries to save money by doing it themselves, they just shouldn't be poor in the first place, they deserve what they get)
@@TheOriginalMechanic LOL I've got a little more to add, then. As of now I've lost 3 out of the 4 springs that popped out when I pulled the plate off, we can't find them anywhere, me and m y son pushed the car back 10 feet, I ran a magnet a over the engine compartment (which turned out to not be anywhere near as clever as it was in my head when the idea came to me) and now the car fires up but sputters and dies when I put the plate back on. Part of the ignition coil pladtic that locks it in place when plugged in has broken when it caught the edge. So either that is the cause, or those springs must serve some vital purpose on the car running right. And I lost a pair of reading classes from getting ticked and tossing them into the weeds. A 30-45 minute job, and 8 hours later I'm surfing the web to try and get this car running again
If your 99 has a Quad 4 I believe it would have a oil vapor separator instead of the PVC valve. It should be a rectangle black box in front of your motor. If you have the quad 4 I believe.
@@TheOriginalMechanic You want to use at least 40W full synthetic in these motors because of marginal rod bearing oil pressure. In the desert, 50W. This is why yours is in the junkyard. I rebuilt mine when it spun a bearing. I ground the rod for an 0.010 over bearing by hand and the motor still runs fine 14 years later. If you were the Original Mechanic, you would have saved your Twin Cam. You should never throw one away in any case because people who build vintage racer replicas use them as a stand in for an Offenhauser engine. They can make some big HP if you are willing to ditch the balance shafts and live with the vibes. IDC if you literally blew it up, unless there are chunks of crankcase missing, they can always be fixed. And that's pretty unlikely given that they are totally overbuilt for a 150HP motor and made entirely from steel. Even the transaxle is overbuilt and if you maintain it properly with regular flushes, it will last for 300k mi. Olds didn't screw around when they originally designed this powertrain. It may be terrible for NVH but it will last forever if you treat it right.
I couldn’t find a single thing about a 97 Oldsmobile Achieva anywhere online until this video. Thank you.
I drive a 2002 2.2L Pontiac Sunfire when I bought it it was a little week so I changed the oil know I'm using rolay purple oil with some Dura lube treatment oil .. and I'm using k&n oil filter ..and I put in new e3 diamond spark plugs in it and now she runs like a dream .. now I'm saving up for a new dual cat back magnflow system for the Sunfire
I'm sorry but I just gotta say, putting a dual cat back Magnaflow exhaust on a Sunfire is just ridiculous.
Thanks. I will be helping a friend get their 2000 Sunfire going and I've never worked on a 2.4L DOHC so this was useful for how to get at the plugs.
Dude, I've searched for this car (same as mine, color and everything lol) and I could not find anything. Only 1999-2003. No 1997 specifically. thank you so much! If you can post some more I'm bound to have something go wrong again and you are the person I'm going to.
A.J. Callahan my grand am have been amazing car 375000 miles same motor and transmission
Thank you so much for this video your the only one I could find information on my car. Not even any the mechanics shops could help
I've heard that before. Glad I made some videos before it was retired to the scrapyard.
Yeah, Cash for Clunkers really created a brain drain for current mechanics when it comes to older cars. When I was a kid, most mechanics working in the industry could work on any car ever made. Not so much these days. When I was a kid, there were a lot more 20-30 year old cars on the road. Part of it is they just don't make 'em like they used to which is why I just keep fixing my 2001 Jetta.
I rebuilt one of these 2.4s in an apartment kitchen and my friend is still driving the car 15 years later. I'm changing the spark plugs this week and probably doing an oil change. Because we live in the desert and the engine is notorious for marginal rod bearing oil pressure, I'll be using 20W-50 full synthetic oil.
If your spark plug boots don't come off with the coil assembly, you need new boots.
I was told it's called the cinder block a gasket. It's on the metal part above the spark plugs that little thin line. That's where the oil is coming from the metel. Everyone I know that has my engine 2.4 has that leak. I just change my spark plugs when it start. Change the Coil Packs it's two. That whole top is the main power to this car too. I brought the whole top from a junkyard and my car worked wonderful. So it made me learn... I hope I helped...
Well, what you are referring to is the cam cover gasket. I rebuilt a 2.4 in 2010 and got a Fel-pro gasket kit and 14 years later, there are no oil leaks anywhere on the motor. But yeah, the stock ones commonly leak, especially when 20+ years old. Another problem spot is usually the timing cover gasket. The one I installed was silicone rubber which has a long lifespan. The original ones are much cheaper.
Thanks for you video. Just pick up a 96 Sunfire with a 2.4 L , nice little car !
Good stuff. The spark-plug torque specification (13 ft-lbs) is embossed on the head (as can be seen in the video) so no need to check the manual. I always put the spark plug boots onto the coil housing and then lower the whole thing onto the spark plugs, which I think makes it easier to align (even though it's still a blind operation). Thanks for the video!
That's how you're supposed to do it. If the boots don't come off with the coil assembly, you need new boots.
Wow, that was great! I have a '95 Pontiac Grand Am, with the same kind of engine, and it needs to have ALL that stuff done , plus a few more things. I want to start doing my own work on it, though I only have videos like this, and the Chilton Repair manual for GM cars from 1985 to 1998, and the owner's manual. My car needs an oil change, but unfortunately it would probably be faster and less expensive to just take it somewhere, than try to do it myself. I don't have any way of getting it up on anything, to get to to oil tank anyway. But it helps to watch videos like this, so that maybe in the near future, I can do it myself.
Might also add the following while doing your checks. Power Steering level, Brake Fluid level, condition and level of transmission fluid, and battery terminal posts cleaned. If in summer time attach gauges and check AC pressures if AC doesn't seem to be cooling well.
And study up on your favorite curse words for when you realize it's got a closed transmission system.
Thanks for posting this
+Jonathan K You're welcome and thanks for the comment.
Hey I have a 1997 grand am 2.4. I need know where the camshaft position sensor is located. And as well as the crankshaft sensor. Thanks. And great video.
If your spark plug boots don't come off with the coil assembly, you need new boots. You should also use some contact cleaner and brush to clean the contacts in the boots if you are reusing them. you're supposed to have the boots on the coil assembly for reinstallation.
Good video, Thanks I sent to my Son so that he can do his Tune up Following along with your Technique 💪👍😉
Searched everywhere! Replacing front valve cover gasket. Cam shaft is lifting with the cover. WHY?? I'd really appreciate an answer if ya got one. Thanks.
Do you know where the cap to the radiator cover is the silver cap on 97 Oldsmobile ache is My engine setup is the same as this video and I can’t find it any where
Excellent video. I have a 140K 2.4L. wanted to change plugs but was told that pulling off the top (coil pack) is difficult. this that true? Need to keep my 98 chevy malibu running during these hard times. Thank you.
I found it easy on this '97 Grand Am. Merely unbolt the unit and it should lift off. Perhaps someone had one that was stuck on.
@@TheOriginalMechanic Thank you for the reply. best
What does it mean when my car takes a lil while to get started but once it gets started it goes good but if you slow down at stop light or stop sign it cuts off and takes while to get going again ? Like you have to give it alot of gas to get it going ?
I have a 1998 poniac sunfire 2.4 Liter
Could be the coil paks
You need new spark plugs
i cant get two of the little boots that cover the sparkplug off
Put the coil rubbers on the coils before putting on plugs...as 1 assembly
I have a question,,,, do anybody know how to Replace the micro Power steering belt on this engine,,, I'm having problems figuring out Which 🔩 I need to take out to get the thing to move up or down....
I never tangled with it, but certainly someone has on You Tube.
so you dont need the special tool to put the filter back on?
No not at all.
Whoever designed this car was a little special. Only car I've ever seen where the hood release has to be pushed sideways instead of pulled towards you ( I've sat back and watched people try and fail to raise the hood because of this ridicilousnes) , and the only vehicle I've changed plugs on that has a metal plate that damn near requires breaking things off to uncover, and where you need xray vision to put it back on when changing the plugs. Seems like part of the motivation in car design these days is to make it more difficult for the poor person to fix it themselves, and need to have a dealership do it ( because they deserve as much money as they can get, even at others expense. Screw rhe poor who tries to save money by doing it themselves, they just shouldn't be poor in the first place, they deserve what they get)
That's all true and as funny a comment as I've seen in a while. GM excells at head scratching engineering
@@TheOriginalMechanic LOL I've got a little more to add, then. As of now I've lost 3 out of the 4 springs that popped out when I pulled the plate off, we can't find them anywhere, me and m y son pushed the car back 10 feet, I ran a magnet a over the engine compartment (which turned out to not be anywhere near as clever as it was in my head when the idea came to me) and now the car fires up but sputters and dies when I put the plate back on. Part of the ignition coil pladtic that locks it in place when plugged in has broken when it caught the edge. So either that is the cause, or those springs must serve some vital purpose on the car running right. And I lost a pair of reading classes from getting ticked and tossing them into the weeds. A 30-45 minute job, and 8 hours later I'm surfing the web to try and get this car running again
What are the little hole with oil in them?
Hi My father in law have this1999 twin cam engine on his car and I d like to know if you can help us find the pcv valve. Does it have one?
Sorry I don't know exactly where it is. This car is in the scrapyard now (RIP).
Thanks
If your 99 has a Quad 4 I believe it would have a oil vapor separator instead of the PVC valve. It should be a rectangle black box in front of your motor. If you have the quad 4 I believe.
Which is why most people can’t find it or don’t know where it is.
@@cincomithell A black box? near where in from of the motor? left or right side? Thanks.
could you help me with this engine of your video where the PCV valve is not located
Should be somewhere on the valve cover. I don't have this car anymore.
The grand am quad 4 will have a oil vapor separator instead of a PVC I believe.
It may not have one.
What type of oil did you put?
5w-30 conventional oil
@@TheOriginalMechanic yeah, that's why it died, lol.
@@Lurch-Bot Well, actually it was a gas line leak that laid it to rest. My son was in college and made a decision to scrap it.
Fuel filter location?
any master cylinder replacement videos ?
+Rafael Leon No, I don't
I mentioned that because I have a gm Pontiac 97 and the master cylinder is different. I have to figure it out, thanks anyway
What Oil Use?
Quaker State 5W-30
@@TheOriginalMechanic You want to use at least 40W full synthetic in these motors because of marginal rod bearing oil pressure. In the desert, 50W. This is why yours is in the junkyard. I rebuilt mine when it spun a bearing. I ground the rod for an 0.010 over bearing by hand and the motor still runs fine 14 years later. If you were the Original Mechanic, you would have saved your Twin Cam. You should never throw one away in any case because people who build vintage racer replicas use them as a stand in for an Offenhauser engine. They can make some big HP if you are willing to ditch the balance shafts and live with the vibes. IDC if you literally blew it up, unless there are chunks of crankcase missing, they can always be fixed. And that's pretty unlikely given that they are totally overbuilt for a 150HP motor and made entirely from steel. Even the transaxle is overbuilt and if you maintain it properly with regular flushes, it will last for 300k mi. Olds didn't screw around when they originally designed this powertrain. It may be terrible for NVH but it will last forever if you treat it right.
Making it as difficult as possible to figure out where any of this stuff is located. SMH.
Do oil on transtion
?