What do you do when a Dealer tells you your supposed to get 18MPG?

[Cathy06PT]

Alrighty Sooooo, I have my lovely winter car which has a 2.2L Ecotec Motor, it's a 2003 Grand Am SE1, and checking all the stats online it's supposed to get 25MPG City, 33MPG Highway...Now I know these are never exact but it's a rough estimate....So I can feel my Grand Am Shifting strange ( Kinda slipping on 3rd Gear or 4th Gear, I can't quite put my finger on it, but I know that's happening. ) I took it to two seperate Pontiac Dealers and The first one didn't do Jack just pushed my car aside and the second dealer looked at it, found nothing wrong and said that these 2003's only get roughly 18MPG HIGHWAY. I drive Mostly Highway too..... They mean to tell me that My family's 2000 V8 Dodge Dakota get's better Mileage then a 2.2L??

I'm no idiot especially when it comes to Pontiacs, There is no way that they are going to tell me a 2.2L 4Cyl gets 18MPG Highway and it's Normal for it to get lets say 230 to 250 Miles to the Tank..Load of BS....I'm going to end up taking it to a Third place ( Not a Dealer ) to get it fixed/looked at. It has the Extended Warr, and Had it's tune up only 1 month ago, fresh Oil, tires are new and checked...all filters ( air/fuel ) changed...

I am 100% Sure it's a Tranny Issue, but what the heck!!!!

[ucantcme]

I get 30mpg+ in the PT .

Thats why we stick with the PTs!

[Cathy06PT]

Originally Posted by ucantcme

I get 30mpg+ in the PT .

Thats why we stick with the PTs!

LOL I agree but I don't drive my PT in the Snow we get here :-) I parked it last winter and I plan to do the same. :-)

[Ironman]

Well, the easy solution would have been not to buy a pontiac. but you may want to check you Catalytic converter. It may be clogged. That would decrease power making it downshift often, decrease gas mileage, and make it run rough.

[Cathy06PT]

Originally Posted by Ironman

Well, the easy solution would have been not to buy a pontiac. but you may want to check you Catalytic converter. It may be clogged. That would decrease power making it downshift often, decrease gas mileage, and make it run rough.

thanks ill try that and sorry I LOVE Pontiacs :-) and my PT

[Ironman]

It just occured to me that this is not a late eighties car, and as such would have an o2 sensor behind the catalytic converter. So if the problem is the cat, then the second o2 sensor should be throwing a code that would illuminate your check engine light (double check that you do have one on the backside of the cat), well, there are other things to check, vacuum lines, EGR valve, injectors, throttle position sensor, fuel injectors. If the car just seems to have a significant decrease in normal power and seems like its lugging, then it could be any of these problems. otherwise, if the power seems fine and the car just slips between gears, then yes, it probably is the tranny.

[crusierdad76]

30+in a PT has to be the exception but be that as it is ( I know Id be thrilled to get 25)
i drive a 2004 Pontiac gran am i think it has the 3.4 v6 and i get 30+
I don't know if it is like the PT or not in the fact that the Pontiac with the small 4 cyl is way under powered and it just takes a lot to get it going my chevy S-10 has a 2.2 and it barely gets 18-20 odd how what we think should get good millage usually dosen't I have said this a few times but a 2000 intrepid with the v6 will get 30 and it is so much bigger guess it just cuts the wind better

[Hooligan]

The PT has a couple of things that keeps the normal driver from getting good mileage, it is heavy 3100+ lbs and it is designed like a brick. So, many of us like the looks of the car, so we go with the flow on the mileage. When I bought the 2008 it did have a EPA sticker that was 18 city, 24 highway which made more sense that the 2006 that stated 24 city, 29 highway.

[crusierdad76]

Hooligan I totally agree and if I could get what ucantcme is getting I would be thrilled But like you said I like the body style of the car it is just way cool looking and while im not a design engineer we all know that IF Chrysler had wanted they could have designed a PT that got great millage and kept the same exact body style they just chose not to the diesel would have been a great way to go I know for a fact that a TDI VW will get over 40 and even when diesel is higher it is never that much higher not to mention the long life
The PT is what it is I love mine and have just learned to live with its little short comings