1997 Pontiac Grand Am Need advice?

Question

My sister who lives in FL owns a 1997 Pontiac Grand Am 73702 miles on it, and recently called me about several problems she was having with it this is a email she sent me and I was wonder if any of you have any advice, or knew some one around the Tampa area who would be good to go to get it checked out.
-Email-
Last Thursday it rained and we went through a puddle and the car stalled out in the middle of it. We got the car off the road and got it started up and home. The check engine light came on and white smoke was coming from the exhaust and the car was shaking and jerking. We let it sit for at least 6 hours to "dry out" and then drove it to work. Seems ok on the way to work, about 5/6 miles down the road it started shaking worse, smoke started coming out and i couldnt get it to go past 35 mph. I started "pumping" the gas some and it got up to 45mph ok but was shaking like crazy. I got a ride home from work and let it sit a full day.

-Email extended-
Drove it home later that night from work and it seemed better execpt that it was shaking and was making a funny noise (sounded like a broken belt maybe?). Continued to drive it sat and sun just to work and back. Monday it started acting odd again; the air conditioning works great, colder than its ever been. Now it hesisitates to switch into second gear almost red lining, you have to "pump" the gas or let off of it so the rmp's go back down and then push the gas again and keep doing it until it switches...happens everytime I have to stop. It seems like the timing is off or something. Then tues. the brakes started acting weird. I have to push down on the brakes as hard as I can when I stop and if I just barely let off of them it started to roll...most recently i was sitting at a red light holding the brakes down and it started shaking worse and make a weird noise and almost felt like it was moving and then started making a different noise, it almost sounded like someone

-Email extended-
was throwing little pebbles at the hood but from inside the car like where the engine is. Got home and was turning the key to turn it off and started shaking worse and made a horrible noise. Oh yeah and i think it's eating my gas too...I put just over 2 gallons in my car to see how many miles i was getting and i only drove about 28 miles on 2gallons and I'm out of gas again.

Answer 1

That was more than a puddle. They may have water in the transmission but worse yet, they may have sucked up water into the engine and the head gasket is now leaking. To continue to drive the car only makes the damage worse and the cost of repair go up.

Answer 2

Yikes! That was some puddle. I have seen cars pulled from lakes with less trouble. Water in the fuel could certainly cause it to run rough and cause white smoke. The on board computer is probably getting all screwed up by the odd sensor readings this is causing. That could be why the transmission is malfunctioning. Get it to a mechanic and tell him what you did.

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Answer 3

Perhaps sucked water into the engine. Advise her to buy something to put in the take to help also with possible water in the gas tank. Fill it up FULLY, and consider getting a tune up. Fuel filter change, air filter change, and make sure the MAF isn't damaged. Get the check engine light checked out as it might better point out the problems.

Answer 4

If it has a v6 3.a million 3.3 3.4 dont touch it. I easily have 2 grand ams with blown head gaskets and a broke down buick those automobiles are junk. The 4 cylinders are so plenty greater appropriate.the three.8 v6 replaced into the wonderful v6 gm made for those automobiles.

Answer 5

Why didn't she pull over and park it, and have it towed to a garage? She has probably ruined the engine from driving it and it will cost a fortune to have it rebuilt. She should probably junk it and buy a new car.

Answer 6

Have your EGR valve checked. it may be stuck open