What To Check?
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
From: Fresno, CA
What To Check? Hey guys.
I recently bought a 2002 Pontiac Firebird Formula with 32K miles with the M6 trans.
What general maintenance would you guys recomend? Also how long do the stock clutches usually last on these cars?
This is my third LSX car (04 GTO & 06 GTO) but ive never had one this age or with this many miles, so Im just wondering what to expect in terms of things to check and general maintenance.
Thanks
I recently bought a 2002 Pontiac Firebird Formula with 32K miles with the M6 trans.
What general maintenance would you guys recomend? Also how long do the stock clutches usually last on these cars?
This is my third LSX car (04 GTO & 06 GTO) but ive never had one this age or with this many miles, so Im just wondering what to expect in terms of things to check and general maintenance.
Thanks
If it hasnt been beat on you should be fine. Clutches last longer than others or vice versa depending on the operator.
check this sub forum
https://ls1tech.com/forums/general-maintenance-repairs-102/
check this sub forum
https://ls1tech.com/forums/general-maintenance-repairs-102/
I got 36k out of my stocker untill the pressure plate gave out. It had aton of life left on it too. But deffinatley do a full tune up, plugs and wires. Also a fuel filter and oil change. And I would flush the radiator real good and then add Dexcool again. I would also change out the diff fluid. I used Mobil 1 with some posi additive. Then you can get a turkey baster and suck out all of the power steering fluid and replace that with some Valvoline synthetic ps fluid. Also bleed the brakes as well and replace with some High temp brake fluid. I used a Dot 4 Synthetic also from valvoline. You WILL get a better brake and power steering feel. I was very very surprised at the results from my power steering. I mean its not night and day but you could tell a good difference. Plus my stock stuff was completley clear.
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 333
Likes: 0
if you really wanna give it a good tune up...
syn oil change
check diff and change fluid
check and fill tranny fluid
3 part seafoam
replace spark plugs after seafoaming
new wires
clean throttle body
fuel filter
air filter
check clutch fluid- change if dark
flush radiator
rotate tires
look under the car for any leaks
what did you pay for the car if you don't mind my asking
hope that helps you
syn oil change
check diff and change fluid
check and fill tranny fluid
3 part seafoam
replace spark plugs after seafoaming
new wires
clean throttle body
fuel filter
air filter
check clutch fluid- change if dark
flush radiator
rotate tires
look under the car for any leaks
what did you pay for the car if you don't mind my asking
hope that helps you
I forgot about the trans fluid lol.....
What you should do instead of seafoam is go to your local shop and have them Motor Vac the engine for you. What they do is connect a machine to your fuel rail on the driver side and pull the fuel pump fuse. They then start your car and have it run on the deterginte that is in the machine. It usually runs betweet 20 minutes to 40 minutes. It will be good as new after words.
What you should do instead of seafoam is go to your local shop and have them Motor Vac the engine for you. What they do is connect a machine to your fuel rail on the driver side and pull the fuel pump fuse. They then start your car and have it run on the deterginte that is in the machine. It usually runs betweet 20 minutes to 40 minutes. It will be good as new after words.
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TECH Fanatic
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,407
Likes: 63
From: Knappa, Oregon
Unless you know for sure, I'd just assume that no service has been done and start with the basics and move on. With 32K on it there might not have been anything done to it other than driving it and a couple oil changes. I myself would put a can of Seafoam into the oil and drive it for a day and then change the oil (and filter) with a good sythetic. Air filter, fuel filter, plugs AND wires. Spray some MAF cleaner on the MAf when changing the air filter. Then dump a can of Seafoam into a full tank of gas. That's a basic tune up, couple hundred bucks, if that.
The rear end, tranny, brake and coolant fluids I would treat as stage 2; needs to be done but not as critical as the basic tune. Look at the serpentine belt for cracks.
The rear end, tranny, brake and coolant fluids I would treat as stage 2; needs to be done but not as critical as the basic tune. Look at the serpentine belt for cracks.
uhh guys he didnt just buy an 85 trans am with 200k on it, it sounds lke (from the impression i got) he just bought a very mint WS6 (and he paid for it) with very low miles.........how come u guys are out there telling him to seafoam his car?!?!? has everyone lost thier minds?? really simple LSXpeformance, check the oil, make sure u have decent looking coolant and go.........no bushings no u wont need a clutch (again from the impression i am getting) until damn near 100k as long as your not at the track every weekend....also is there a problem with your MAF?? what would posses you to clean your maf?? Like i could see if the car was running shitty but again the impression u gave ME is that u just purchased a mint 02 WS.6 with very low miles for nearing top dollar, so this car BETTER run effin perfect......more times than not people use that seafoam GARBAGE and the car never stops smoking, u will always get a puff on startup after u use it IMO??? and since when is changing break fluid part of a basic tune up? sounds like a waste of time money and simply stu disturbing everything for no reason............unless of course he is having a problem with his breaks?? and for that money he had best not be!
2001SOMWS6 the sail panel is just a fibre glass cover, u wont find any bubbles and kind of hard to find ripples in a non structural peice dotn u think? lol id like to see how many bubbled 4th gen sail panels u have come across, and as a final note you can check your trans fluid also but i have pulled 100k mile t56s with untouched trans fluid from almost new and still be bright red so again probably a waste of time......if oil and coolant is good and no evident leaks or running issues are present fill it up with premium and drive it
2001SOMWS6 the sail panel is just a fibre glass cover, u wont find any bubbles and kind of hard to find ripples in a non structural peice dotn u think? lol id like to see how many bubbled 4th gen sail panels u have come across, and as a final note you can check your trans fluid also but i have pulled 100k mile t56s with untouched trans fluid from almost new and still be bright red so again probably a waste of time......if oil and coolant is good and no evident leaks or running issues are present fill it up with premium and drive it
Teching In
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: WV
I'm with Mr. Hopkins on this. I wouldnt think there would be any need whatsoever to be fooling with the brake fluid, diff fluid, power steering, etc. unless he is obviously having problems with them. But like Mr.Hopkins said, from the description of the car, it should be in mint condition. Is it me, or does $16500 sound a bit high to everyone?