So Fix it

A catalytic converter is an exhaust component that was put on all production cars since 1974. The job of a catalytic converter on a Pontiac Grand Prix is to burn up any left over gas that went through the engine and was left unburned. The catalytic converter uses a chemical reaction to change the unburned engine gases to less toxic gases, like carbon dioxide and water vapor. This helps cut down on the pollutants emitted, from the Grand Prix, into the atmosphere.

General Location

Because the catalytic converter is an exhaust component, it is located in the exhaust system on the underside of the Grand Prix. On the Grand Prix, the exhaust system attaches to the engine block and to the underside of the car using brackets, and then exists out the rear of the vehicle with dual exhaust tips. The converter looks like a small muffler, or rectangular box, around the middle of the exhaust pipe. The primary components of the converter are usually made out of stainless steel.

Location on the Exhaust

The catalytic converter is located between the exhaust manifold and the muffler. The exhaust manifold is a pipe that moves the engine gasses from the engines combustion chamber into the exhaust system. The muffler is a large chamber located near the end of your exhaust system that reduces the noise energy of the exhaust gasses as they exit the exhaust system.

Why Its on the Car

Toxic gasses are released when the engine in the Grand Prix runs. These gasses could cause depletion of the ozone, as well as illness or damage to the environment, if they were released without being broken down into less harmful gasses. Because the government put emission restrictions into place to slow the buildup of pollution, all cars were equipped with catalytic converters after 1974. This has cut down on the pollution being released by automobiles significantly since the government required all cars to have the converter.

Why Its in the Exhaust System

The exhaust system on the Grand Prix, just like every other car, is used to move gas from the engine out to the surrounding air. The converter is located after the exhaust manifold so that it can take the toxic engine gasses and convert them into less toxic ones before the exhaust moves into the muffler and eventually exist the rear of the Grand Prix. Without the catalytic converter within the exhaust system, exhausted toxic gases from the engine would be released into the atmosphere, causing toxic buildup.

Some car alarms are more sensitive than others. If somebody is walking by the car and nudges it, the car could go into frenzy. Car alarms are also annoying when trying to make repairs to the cars. If you want to disable the alarm on your Pontiac Grand Prix, you can easily turn it off by accessing the alarm transmitter. This is located under the steering wheel. By engaging the valet switch, the alarm automatically disables.

Instructions

1

Open the Grand Prix and put your key in the ignition. Turn the ignition until you have turned on the cars electrical system, but not the engine.

2

Pry off the dashboard panels around your ignition cylinder with your fingers or a flat-head screwdriver.

3

Locate the alarm transmitter in the ignition cylinder. This is a small black box.

4

Locate the "Valet Switch" and turn it off. This switch will be labeled. When you turn it "Off" the LED light on the transmitter will go off.

5

Replace the dashboard panels around the ignition cylinder.

The 2003 Pontiac Grand prix uses a mechanical thermostat designed to increase the flow of radiator coolant through the engine when the temperature of the coolant surpasses 180 degrees. The thermostat prevents the engine from overheating. If the thermostat stops working, the design allows it to fail in a save position that allows fluid to flow unrestricted through the engine. This prevents overheating, but it also prevents the engine from producing enough heat to warm up the inside of the vehicle. When the thermostat breaks, replacement is the only option to correct the issue.

Instructions

1

Drain approximately 2 gallons of coolant into a clean drainage pan from the petcock located on the bottom of the radiator. You will reuse the coolant.

2

Follow the upper radiator hose from the radiator on the Grand Prix to the intake manifold, where the hose connects to the water outlet housing. The thermostat rests inside the water outlet housing.

3

Clean any debris away from the outlet housing with a towel or compressed air. It is common for leaves and other road dirt to build up around this area. A clean surface prevents any contaminants from getting into the cooling system.

4

Remove the two bolts that secure the water outlet housing to the intake manifold on the Grand Prix with a socket and ratchet. Lift the housing off the intake manifold to expose the thermostat.

5

Lift the old thermostat out of the intake manifold and shove a shop towel into the newly exposed hole.

6

Scrape the old gasket off the surface of the intake manifold with a metal scraper or small wire brush. Do the same with the bottom of the water outlet housing.

7

Remove the shop towel from the hole in the intake manifold and place the new thermostat into the hole. The end with the spring goes into the hole while the end with the pin sticks out.

8

Place a new gasket over the thermostat and place the water outlet housing on top of the gasket. Secure everything with the two bolts.

9

Open the lid on the radiator expansion tank and drain the 2 gallons of fluid back into the radiator.

Pontiac offered the 2002 Grand Prix in the SE, GT and GTP models, in both sedan and coupe forms. The engines in the Grand Prix were the 3.1-liter V-6, the 3.8-liter V-6, and the 3.8-liter, supercharged V-6. Removing the spark plug wires on any of these engine combinations is an identical process, though the smaller 3.1-liter affords more room for working under the hood. The tools for completing this project are all available at an auto-parts store and some general retailers.

Instructions

1

Stand facing the front of the engine and remove the far-left, center, and far-right spark plug wires, using a pair of pliers as close to the engine as possible. Pull on each spark plug wire with the pliers until they pop off the spark plug.

2

Stand on the passenger side of the vehicle, facing the engine. Remove the rear spark plug that is closest to you, using a pair of pliers as close to the engine as possible. Go to the drivers side of the vehicle and remove the rear spark plug wire that is closest to you, using pliers as close to the engine as possible.

3

Lift the front end of the Grand Prix using a 2-ton jack or one with greater capacity. Place two jack stands beneath both the left and right lower control arms. You can pull the car onto two vehicle ramps instead of using the jack and jack stands.

4

Lie beneath the front end of the car and slide back until you can see the rear of the engine when you are facing upward. Remove the center-rear spark plug wire by using a pair of pliers, as close to the engine as possible.