Hey guys,

I’m kinda new to the whole Monte Carlo scene as I’ve always been a Camaro guy (and owned 5 so far…between racing dailies), but I now have a ’03 SS and it has a few problems I could really use some assistance with troubleshooting. Here goes:

1 - When driving in heavy traffic, the temp goes up to about 210 (at the hottest), when it gets to that point, you can smell a slight hint of coolant burning. I’m thinking it’s either the intake manifold or a hose is leaking that I have yet to discover. Any history about this being an issue with these cars? I know people say that there’s issues with the 3.4, but I haven’t heard much about the 3.8.

2- I think I need to replace all 4 wheel bearing assemblies, and here’s the reason why:
Every time I start to go somewhere, the traction control comes on and I hear a grinding sound from the front wheel (driver’s side). I’m guessing it’s the ABS on the wheel that’s screwed up and if I’m replacing 1, I might a well replace the other.
On the rear, when I apply the brakes, there’s a clicking sound that speeds up with/slows down with the rotation of the wheels. I thought it was brakes at first, but we replaced the brake pads, rotors, and rebuilt the calipers and it only stopped for about a week. So my thought is that either the sensor for the ABS is screwed up or the emergency brakes are jacked.

What do you guys think?

Thanks in advance for any advice/assistance.

 

1st, welcome
2nd. the coolant smell, there was a recall on our cars at one time for this issue on the 03 and others, might take it to the dealer and have them run the vin to find out if it was done to the car.
3. the clicking sound. I found that the bolts on mine will tighten up for a day or two and then it will start this and i can go back in there and snug them up and it stops again. I started to use blue loctite on them. for this. Also i would just do a gen. check of all of it under there if ya can to make sure it is tight. the only other itm i heard of this the spacer for the caliper was wore some and caused it to chatter and took forever to figure it out but once done it stoped it. might try that also.

 

Hmm... what is the recall for, what is done and what is the problem?

 

I dont remeber the whole thing but i know it was somethign to do with the intake gaskets and also a deal on the dex crap coolant we have in them from the factory .

I had mine done while we were in Germany and i could not tell you what all they did for the Recall i had some other stuff that had to be done also.

 

Thanks for the welcome and the info. I'll check today with a dealership here in the area about the recall. As for the chatter/clicking....I'll check the bolts and see if that helps. It kind of makes sense now that I think about it. Every time it would start happening, I'd pull the wheels, check the brakes n' such (which included taking off the brake pads/calipers and putting them back on) after that it would be fine for a couple of days and then start up again.....

hmm....go me for logical thinking!! :sigh: