how common is piston slap in 01-02 trans am's
12-21-2005, 11:59 AM
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how common is piston slap in 01-02 trans am's im buying a 01 trans am and people have told me about piston slap how common is this in the car and being it has 54k miles and still purs like new does anyone think ill ever have a problem
12-21-2005, 12:12 PM
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Originally Posted by rgaynor85
ok let me refraze my question how common is it for people to have major issues cause of it or do most never notice it
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12-21-2005, 12:33 PM
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It's a fairly common thing, especially in the 01 and 02. According to GM this is not a problem and that it's just a characteristic of the motor. Some have it worse than others. It bugs some guys, but personally, squeaky brakes bug me more.
If yours doesn't do it by now, I'd say you got a good (quiet) one. They usually do it from the get go.
If yours doesn't do it by now, I'd say you got a good (quiet) one. They usually do it from the get go.
12-21-2005, 02:04 PM
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Originally Posted by TAQuickness
it's about as common as finding a wrench in a garage.
12-21-2005, 02:07 PM
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It is a defect that GM refuses to fix.
Many cars experience this problem - say about 30%. Some design changes were made in 2001 but the defect has not been fixed. The design changes involve specialty coated pistons skirts and newly designed compression rings.
If it does not piston slap right from the factory, chances are it will never be an issue.
Personnally, I would NEVER buy a used GM car with piston slap, however. If a new car I bought had piston slap I would see a lawyer and make GM buy it back under the Federal Lemon law.
So when you test a used Gen 3 car, open the hood and make sure the engine block is dead COLD. Start the car and liston for a knocking sound. ...you know the sound that is similar to an engine whose main bearings are dead.... Typically, piston slap goes away after the engine warms up. This is why you must test the motor dead COLD.
Many cars experience this problem - say about 30%. Some design changes were made in 2001 but the defect has not been fixed. The design changes involve specialty coated pistons skirts and newly designed compression rings.
If it does not piston slap right from the factory, chances are it will never be an issue.
Personnally, I would NEVER buy a used GM car with piston slap, however. If a new car I bought had piston slap I would see a lawyer and make GM buy it back under the Federal Lemon law.
So when you test a used Gen 3 car, open the hood and make sure the engine block is dead COLD. Start the car and liston for a knocking sound. ...you know the sound that is similar to an engine whose main bearings are dead.... Typically, piston slap goes away after the engine warms up. This is why you must test the motor dead COLD.
12-21-2005, 02:11 PM
#14
My car developed slap over time, but before 50K miles. Now in the morning it sounds like there's a midget with a jackhammer trapped in a steel 55 gallon drum. When I had my heads off, the cylinder bores still looked in good condition, still showing the cross hatching from the factory hone. I dont burn much oil if any at all, plus I dont feel that it affects durability of the motors. Its nothing more than a little bit embarassing until it warms up and goes away. Ive always taken very good car of the car, and she rarely gets to stretch her legs.
12-28-2005, 10:26 AM
#15
So what can you do about it! I've got a '01 vette motor w/1500 miles that someone bitched loud enough about being noisy that the dealer did replace it motor. The person I bought it from assured me there was nothing wrong with the motor and it was just a characteristic of the motor. Anyway, I'm getting the motor ready to put in my '55 and I'm sure it's one of the noisy ones. Is there anything I can do that is not too costly to possibly quieten it down? I am doing a head, cam, oil pump, and timing chain upgrade and have the motor out so now would be the time for me to do something. Thanks.
12-28-2005, 10:38 AM
#16
Originally Posted by 55chevy
I've got a '01 vette motor w/1500 miles that someone bitched loud enough about being noisy that the dealer did replace it motor. The person I bought it from assured me there was nothing wrong with the motor and it was just a characteristic of the motor. Anyway, I'm getting the motor ready to put in my '55 and I'm sure it's one of the noisy ones. Is there anything I can do that is not too costly to possibly quieten it down? I am doing a head, cam, oil pump, and timing chain upgrade and have the motor out so now would be the time for me to do something. Thanks.
