OK. I was a chevy/pontiac guy from 1970 to 2002 You name it I owned it cars, trucks trans ams, z-28, yadda. Got a big Ford (sorry for cussing) diesel truck in 2002 and lost touch w GM stuff,
17 year old daughter just wanted first car so I picked up a 97 firebird 3.8 liter
at an auction for $1700. Has 138K on it. Got it home and notice a noise thats coming from the back--outside it seemed to be the muffler but inside seems like where the t-tops are stored---almost like a radio left on with no station--buzzing kinda. Notice it change if you put on other electrical stuff. Could that be the fuel pump? Are those in the tank or under the back of car? Does that loud humm mean its going bad?
LEFT turn indicator wont flash. Funny thing is the front right one stays on as long as the key is on. Not flashing tho---just on but it will flash if I flip the stalk up. Looks like the turn lights are in little pods inside scoops that almost look like aftermarket driving lights. How the h do you get those open? Have a screw on each side but that looks like it just takes the pod off the bracket.
The check engine light is on but the thing that worries me most if once in a while, usually at idle or slow speed, it feels and sounds like Ive lost spark to one cyl. Rough. Then it goes away.
Edmunds said that model up to 1999 was a 5 star car EXCEPT the 1997 which had two large dollar problems. Tranny and Injection system. I looked up the original dealer who told me that no GM garage had a service record of fixing those items so Im guessing at 138K it would have gone bad if it were going to??
How hard is it to change the fuel pump? The valve covers seem to be leaking a bit and I can smell burning oil. Are those easy to do on my own?
Darn---wish I had my 69 Z back. These computerized things are past my ability/equipment.
Finally, I can change the disk brake pads on my F-350 in about 20 minutes total with my eyes closed. Are the pads easy to do on this 97 without any special tools? Any comments from any 97 3.8 owners? Thanks gang.
17 year old daughter just wanted first car so I picked up a 97 firebird 3.8 liter
at an auction for $1700. Has 138K on it. Got it home and notice a noise thats coming from the back--outside it seemed to be the muffler but inside seems like where the t-tops are stored---almost like a radio left on with no station--buzzing kinda. Notice it change if you put on other electrical stuff. Could that be the fuel pump? Are those in the tank or under the back of car? Does that loud humm mean its going bad?
LEFT turn indicator wont flash. Funny thing is the front right one stays on as long as the key is on. Not flashing tho---just on but it will flash if I flip the stalk up. Looks like the turn lights are in little pods inside scoops that almost look like aftermarket driving lights. How the h do you get those open? Have a screw on each side but that looks like it just takes the pod off the bracket.
The check engine light is on but the thing that worries me most if once in a while, usually at idle or slow speed, it feels and sounds like Ive lost spark to one cyl. Rough. Then it goes away.
Edmunds said that model up to 1999 was a 5 star car EXCEPT the 1997 which had two large dollar problems. Tranny and Injection system. I looked up the original dealer who told me that no GM garage had a service record of fixing those items so Im guessing at 138K it would have gone bad if it were going to??
How hard is it to change the fuel pump? The valve covers seem to be leaking a bit and I can smell burning oil. Are those easy to do on my own?
Darn---wish I had my 69 Z back. These computerized things are past my ability/equipment.
Finally, I can change the disk brake pads on my F-350 in about 20 minutes total with my eyes closed. Are the pads easy to do on this 97 without any special tools? Any comments from any 97 3.8 owners? Thanks gang.
