List of repairs...did I get taken? :-(

[wdudetocool]

i live in an apt and have to work on bonnie in the carport. awkward at first,but u got to do what u got to do.....lol....

His problem is he lives in an apartment and would be working in a parking lot...

[Ludichris]

The PCM won't need to re-learn the plugs. Change the fuel filter, clean the throttle body, make sure the air-filter is cleaned, and have the O2 sensor replaced. Then we can go from there.

Beast - fuel filter was on the list, that will be done soon. Cleaning the throttle body...hm...never done that, what solvent or cleaner do I clean it with? Air filter is a brand new K&N drop in, so that's done. And lastly - is the O2 sensor a dealer only part, or where should I source one from? (I'm really wishing I had a garage...I SO would have stored my '97 and taken the good parts of it's engine. :()

[00Beast]

O2: Delphi, Denso or AC Delco will be fine. Denso is probably the easiest to find.

CRC sells TB cleaner in a red can. You need to remove the TB from the car to do it though, and you'll need a set of "security torx" bits to remove the sensors.

[vogie01]

The PCM won't need to re-learn the plugs. Change the fuel filter, clean the throttle body, make sure the air-filter is cleaned, and have the O2 sensor replaced. Then we can go from there.

Beast - fuel filter was on the list, that will be done soon. Cleaning the throttle body...hm...never done that, what solvent or cleaner do I clean it with? Air filter is a brand new K&N drop in, so that's done. And lastly - is the O2 sensor a dealer only part, or where should I source one from? (I'm really wishing I had a garage...I SO would have stored my '97 and taken the good parts of it's engine. :()

Rockauto is your best source for parts and prices if you can't wait for it to be shipped. There is a 5% discount code on the General page.

[00Beast]

Check Amazon too, sometimes their stuff is a lot cheaper...

[JMAEDLO27]

Taken??? how much did you spend???

[Ludichris]

Okay, did the fuel filter today, and took apart the air box. It's completely different than pre 00's...I wasn't able to modify it as much. I did however pop about five 1 1/4" extra holes in the main panel inside the box, hoping that created some better air flow. So, two more things off the list. I went with a Wix fuel filter. The original Delco one was still on there.

So: Plugs, wires, K&N filter, (hopefully) increased airflow in the airbox a little bit, and fuel filter. Do I notice any performance difference? A little. It isn't blowing me away or anything. So, cleaning the throttle body and replacing O2 sensor are both next, but I'm out of cash for this pay period for this stuff, so it will have to wait for a couple weeks.

I also put a dose of complete fuel system cleaner with Regane in the last fill up.

[Ludichris]

O2: Delphi, Denso or AC Delco will be fine. Denso is probably the easiest to find.

CRC sells TB cleaner in a red can. You need to remove the TB from the car to do it though, and you'll need a set of "security torx" bits to remove the sensors.

Napa has the Denso's, but they are specified "front of converter" and "rear of converter" - which one do I need, or do I need both?

[Archon]

Front of the converter is likely all that you need.

[Ludichris]

Taken??? how much did you spend???

I didn't see this. I paid $6500. :-/ The thing is - I drove four other Bonnies, and three or four Grand Prix's that day, all within the <$5K range...and they were all BEAT! I was told by my mechanic, that I trust, that unless you're willing to wait it out and look for that ONE car that is going to be the diamond in the rough kinda thing....the used car market has inflated terribly in the last 18 months or so, and what should have cost $5K now costs......$6500, and what should have cost maybe $4K now costs $5K. From my experience with driving those seven or eight Pontiacs that day....it seems that he's right. KBB value on mine is I think $5500 it said. But it was better than the beat down alternatives, one of which had OIL in the TRANNY FLUID, just to get it off the lot. At least this one is waking up the more I do to it, and I think once I get a few odds and ends taken care of, it should probably be okay.

The other thing is - I had NO time to look for a car. I spent five days leading up to the day when my girlfriend drove me around to look at/buy a car, scouring all over the local dealers stock, Craigs List, even towns up to 100 miles away. I had my route planned and the research was done, so that the ONE day I had, I would be driving a car, I didn't have a choice. I have a son that lives 200 miles away because of my ex, etc., so it was a timing thing, too.