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1997 Pontiac, knocking, white smoke, sluggish response and performance


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marluce
New User

Jun 19, 2013, 8:16 PM

Post #1 of 8 (1677 views)
1997 Pontiac, knocking, white smoke, sluggish response and performance Sign In

My 1997 Pontiac sunfire 2.2L with 189xxx miles has for the past few months been burning oil which I thought was norm for a of it's age. One morning when I was just getting off work I jumped in my car and started it and it began knocking. There were no prior symptoms that I was aware of. I began driving the car home and the knocking decreased. I stopped to get gas on the way home and checked the oil. It seemed low so I bought a quart and put it in. When I started the car again the knocking was louder abs the car had lots of white smoke coming from the exhaust. I drove the car home and noticed sluggish performance and response. I parked it and have not moved it since. I checked the engine and right where the head gasket is there seems to be oil deposits running down the engine. I checked the oil when I got back and it seemed watery or milky.

So is the valve cover gasket blown? If so is it something I can fix myself? This car is on it's last leg anyways should I just sell it ? I will not take it to a shop.

Thank you for the help in advance.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Jun 20, 2013, 12:02 AM

Post #2 of 8 (1659 views)
Re: 1997 Pontiac, knocking, white smoke, sluggish response and performance Sign In

With all that wrong and you are not willing to take it to a shop, sell it. High chance of blown head gasket and or cracked head. Enough observations now that this will not be cheap and not a good DIY anything,

T



marluce
New User

Jun 20, 2013, 1:12 AM

Post #3 of 8 (1648 views)
Re: 1997 Pontiac, knocking, white smoke, sluggish response and performance Sign In

Should I attempt to sell it on Craigslist or something similar? Where would i get a decent price for it? I don't have much in the car so it wouldn't bother me to sell it pretty cheap.


(This post was edited by marluce on Jun 20, 2013, 1:15 AM)


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Jun 20, 2013, 3:13 AM

Post #4 of 8 (1636 views)
Re: 1997 Pontiac, knocking, white smoke, sluggish response and performance Sign In


Quote
Where would i get a decent price for it?


You have a 97 Sunbird with 200K and a blown engine.

A "decent price" would be a couple hundred dollars for scrap.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Jun 20, 2013, 4:56 AM

Post #5 of 8 (1625 views)
Re: 1997 Pontiac, knocking, white smoke, sluggish response and performance Sign In

Agree that it's mostly scrap value as I think you need a new/replacement engine. You can get a quote over the phone with local scrap/junk yards if like where I am will pick them up free or perhaps a bit more if you can get it there.

If you have something nice like new tires, matching set of good wheels, excellent interior parts, body parts you might sell things off separately or whole car noting "severe" engine problems to save you and anyone from wasting time.

To sell outright: Depends on location but a sign and info on car plus cheap ads but again state the troubles. You could get more but not a lot.

I seriously doubt you could recover repair costs to sell this and do better,

T



marluce
New User

Jun 20, 2013, 6:10 AM

Post #6 of 8 (1616 views)
Re: 1997 Pontiac, knocking, white smoke, sluggish response and performance Sign In

Any ballpark estimates of what it would cost me to fix it at a shop?


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Jun 20, 2013, 6:13 AM

Post #7 of 8 (1612 views)
Re: 1997 Pontiac, knocking, white smoke, sluggish response and performance Sign In

You don't even know the extent of the damage yet but a minimum of $700 and the rest of the engine will likely fail after that repair due to the increased compression.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



marluce
New User

Jun 20, 2013, 7:26 AM

Post #8 of 8 (1604 views)
Re: 1997 Pontiac, knocking, white smoke, sluggish response and performance Sign In

Alrighty. That clears up all my questions. I appreciate both of you helping me out. Have a good one.






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