Buying Trans Am - what to look for?

**jcws6** · 09-12-2006, 09:44 AM

i'm thinking about buying a 2001 WS6 Trans Am i found (with 19,500 original miles!). what should i be looking for? i've already checked the Carfax (it's clean), but is there anything else you experts think i should be checking out on the car (good or bad)?

i'm going to look at it tomorrow, so any help would definitely be appreciated

**bwinch** · 09-12-2006, 02:03 PM

well i am no expert but i had went and looked at a 02 ws6 and the carfax was also clean. BUT when i opened the doors you could see the tape marks on the inside of the door trim showing it had been painted once before and he would never confess that it had but i had my friend with me who paints cars for a living and he is the one who noticed it. That told me that it had been wrecked and just not turned in. So in other words i would say check all the jams for any sign of painting. Just a thought

**shady milkman** · 09-12-2006, 06:15 PM

look for dents in the fender, check for linement in the door lines and make sure the t-tops fit nice..(all stuff caused by the frame bending...happens alot espec. when driving hard and taking corners fast..like me

) check rear end..make sure the fluid isn't dripping on the floor. um take it out for a test drive and make sure everything shifts smooth..it should with 19xxx on it. Oh and check the a/c condensor..hopes this help.

**Redphoenix1998** · 09-13-2006, 12:59 AM

when the car runs, throw a couple of revs. If you hear a loud ticking noise from the valvetrain that increases in speed as the revs go up and decreases when the throttle comes down, then the pushrods are bent. Use your finger's between the door gaps to check for any find of misalignment. Tape marks is a good thing to check, but check aroudn the emblems, if you see the paint seems a little weird, it's been repainted. Take it for a test drive and see if it runs smooth or rough at idle and cruise. Listen for any weird noises, loud rearend or a loose suspension

**tonyjnjz** · 09-13-2006, 01:43 AM

ok that loud ticking noise your describing..what it if only happens somtimes on start up and goes away once the car is warmed up??? is it still prob bent pushrods??? i thought it was the notorious piston slap OR my belt squeaking as it seems to happen more when its humid ( dewy) out

**TheSilverSurfer** · 09-13-2006, 03:38 AM

Piston slap is more of a clacking sound when you start it up. My car has it --but it goes away when warm and the motor does not burn oil.

**Crank** · 09-13-2006, 08:41 AM

Tony that start up clacking is normal the oil is in the bottom of the pan and not to the top of the engine yet. As long as it goes away right away its cool. Everybody here is right on with there comments I wanted to add - start the car right away and let it run while you are checking everything out on the car then test drive it after it has been running for at least ten minutes. Test drive it for at least 15 min going through all the gears and whatnot. I found a blown head gasket on one I drove recently It ran great when I first started driving it and then the temp went up and ran like crap. I came back pulled the dipstick and water mixed with oil. I asked the guy when he was going to tell me about the blown head gasket. He replied what blown head gasket

**T1 Agony** · 09-14-2006, 09:08 AM

I'm starting to think we all hti the pedal don't we? I think th majority of our cars are going to an early grave XD.... In fact I have seen about a 400% drop in the number of SW6's on the road this year.... I think some dumbasses are racing and crashing em.

My father(I know.... I'm almost 22) still harangs me about hitting it..... even when i'm not.... guess he doesn't realize my car starts in 2nd?

But yeah... if you hear any knocking at all..... I think the car's not gonna last till 150,000

**svt_eater** · 09-16-2006, 05:26 PM

Originally Posted by bwinch

well i am no expert but i had went and looked at a 02 ws6 and the carfax was also clean. BUT when i opened the doors you could see the tape marks on the inside of the door trim showing it had been painted once before and he would never confess that it had but i had my friend with me who paints cars for a living and he is the one who noticed it. That told me that it had been wrecked and just not turned in. So in other words i would say check all the jams for any sign of painting. Just a thought

Keep in mind that there was a problem with the driver side door hinges that GM noticed at one point during the 2002 model year. It could have been done at the factory.

**OneFine99TA** · 09-17-2006, 11:26 AM

And my car was repainted, but not because of a collision, just because it got KEYED. But yeah, good rule of thumb anyways because people drive these cars way hard and you never know their history.

**DrkEagle** · 09-21-2006, 02:32 PM

Check for the little annoying things too...like the damn window motor speed. I had my WS6 01 for about 3 months after I bought it in May of 05 and my driver window motor died out and I had to replace it and now I've noticed that the passenger side motor is starting to give out. Maybe you can knock a few hundred off. It's not much, but it's something.

**Hot Black Trans-Am** · 09-21-2006, 03:51 PM

Make sure you check to make sure it is a real WS6. You can check the door tag for the code or call your Pontiac service center with the last 8 of the vin.

**Hawk241** · 09-21-2006, 07:42 PM

Before i looked at my car, I borrowed my buddy's engine stethascope. He is a mechanic here in town, most mechanics have them, and went around the the motor. I used them in the past, if you can find one, ask the the guy how to use one, I dont want ot bore everyone here...Dont get scared at cold start ups, LS1's are little "ticky" sounding, most all aluminum motors are louder at start up. Good Luck!

**cold_surfer** · 09-23-2006, 12:50 PM

the usual wear items:

rotors - warped (ft/rr) $200
window motors $75
tire wear - allignment $80-$600
burnt out body lights $10-200
battery $80
front light motors $80-400

The good news is that if it needs the above subtract it and do it yourself (except allignment) -- then you will have a NEW car. get a spare window motor on ebay for $25.

**DanielWS6** · 09-23-2006, 01:16 PM

Originally Posted by jcws6

i'm thinking about buying a 2001 WS6 Trans Am i found (with 19,500 original miles!). what should i be looking for? i've already checked the Carfax (it's clean), but is there anything else you experts think i should be checking out on the car (good or bad)?

i'm going to look at it tomorrow, so any help would definitely be appreciated

Maybe, even try finding out who owned before? Talk with previous owner.

**Hurley711** · 09-23-2006, 02:01 PM

Check the rear axle for any noticeable leaks or fluid on it.......

**jcws6** · 10-20-2006, 01:46 PM

thanks for all your help. the first TA i looked at didn't work out, but i ended up finding a slightly modded black '02 WS6 6speed with under 11,000 miles (basically brand new). so i'm once again a Firebird owner, and I couldn't be happier!

**DriveV8Faster** · 10-20-2006, 05:54 PM

Originally Posted by jcws6

thanks for all your help. the first TA i looked at didn't work out, but i ended up finding a slightly modded black '02 WS6 6speed with under 11,000 miles (basically brand new). so i'm once again a Firebird owner, and I couldn't be happier!

Don't forget to post pics

**Hot Black Trans-Am** · 10-21-2006, 10:30 PM

Congrats man!!!

**TheSilverSurfer** · 10-25-2006, 02:35 AM

Originally Posted by jcws6

thanks for all your help. the first TA i looked at didn't work out, but i ended up finding a slightly modded black '02 WS6 6speed with under 11,000 miles (basically brand new). so i'm once again a Firebird owner, and I couldn't be happier!

Have fun