What are some common 3rd gen problems? I know about the headlight motors going out, fading/cracking paint. I would like to find a GTA or Z-28 but I guess a 5.0 TBI or TPI would suffice.

 

Cracked dash pad. Also, if it is a T-top car, all kinds of noises from the interior. 3rd gens are unibody and not having a solid roof lets the body flex and over time it starts to make cracking and popping noises (nothing scary sounding, just noises). I am having this problem right now although my car has 175,000 miles on it. Subframe connectors solve that problem, though!!

 

Sagging door on drivers side---easily fixed though. Dead power hatch pull down motors, leaky t-tops, weak stock 305s 91-92s seem to be giving lots of people fits with the 3rd brake light. I just got mine working a couple months ago.

I'm sure others could come up with more. From my personal experience the later ones 91-92 seem to have the least problems. They are the best built cars of them all.

My first thirdgen was an 89 TA, the thing gave me all sorts of problems, Vats,radiator,brakes Etc. I have had my 92 for over 4 years and the only thing that has actually broken is the alternator and the water pump.

 

The biggest problem for me is finding the money to upgrade parts or restore GM's crappy plastic parts. When they built these cars, they forgot to finish them, meaning that the cars were not braced well structurally and the cheap plastic interior pieces will fail rather quickly. I guess it is like owning a Chrysler product, except our cars have style and substance.

 

Trans Ams tend to overheat if the front air dam (under the nose) is tweaked back or missing.

Troy

 

Headliners always sag, front drivers seat always tears along the bolster, heater core will die - its only a matter of time, t-tops and the rear hatch will start to leak.

 

Amen to that, ive spend so much money on new GM plastic parts and other things. But now she looks so good its worth every dollar i spent on my baby.

 

Ohh yea, you guys are all forgetting rust! Lots of thirdgens have it nowadays. Most-Likely-To-Be-Rusted-Areas include:
Floorboards, wheel wells(mostly rear), 1/4 panel lips, other under the car stuff. I think i'm forgetting a spot... oh ya, stock seam sealer puddy absorbed rust on my car.

 

Rust on the rear wheel wells, saggy doors and leaky t-tops are the most common from my experience at this board.

And what TA said, its not just Trans Ams.. all Firebird models can have that problem.

 

You guys forgot the rear spoiler That is sure to crack. You guys know where im talking about.

 

If you've got a third brake light, also common to lose life.
I can say there aren't many round' these neck of da' woods who have one functional. Although I have seen plenty on the board.

 

My '92 has had the starter replaced twice. Also replaced alternater. The 1st time it was just the solenoid that was bad, though. I very seldom see a '91/'92 with a working 3rd brake light. Mine works, but only for a few road bumps. Nothing else has gone wrong with it until just now when the odometer quit.
They seem to be pretty good cars. Of course the older ones will likely have rust on lower quarters if they've seen weather.
I'd imagine the 80's models are subject to paint issues since GM poorly painted a lot of cars that just haven't held up and had many claims.

 

Stress cracks above the rear of the drip rails. Stress cracks around the steering box. Slow power windows and locks. Noise in the doors. Ovaling of the end link holes in the a-arms. Under car rubber deterioration. HVAC controls defaulting to the defrost.

JamesC