# 1998 Pontiac Grand Am - Bucks (gently) **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** pontiac\ **Created:** [May 29, 2020, 1:52am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-pontiac-grand-am-bucks-gently/165005 "2020-05-29T01:52:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tom04](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/51bf81/32.png) [@Tom04](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tom04)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2020, 1:52am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-pontiac-grand-am-bucks-gently/165005/1 "2020-05-29T01:52:06Z")
My 1998 Pontiac Grand Am GT, 123,000 miles seems to gently buck a little when going up a grade at highway speed. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2020, 9:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-pontiac-grand-am-bucks-gently/165005/2 "2020-05-29T21:06:06Z")
Does the _Check Engine Light_ start glowing at that point? Or–God forbid–does it start flashing/blinking? ---
**Author:** ![SteveCBT](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/stevecbt/32/3192_2.png) [@SteveCBT](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SteveCBT)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2020, 10:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-pontiac-grand-am-bucks-gently/165005/3 "2020-05-29T22:41:20Z")
What is the condition of the spark plugs / wires. A weak coil can cause this, engine on a flat road OK but breaks down under load. IIRC each coil drives 2 plugs. ---
**Author:** ![Honda-Blackbird](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/honda-blackbird/32/3159_2.png) [@Honda-Blackbird](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Honda-Blackbird)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2020, 11:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-pontiac-grand-am-bucks-gently/165005/4 "2020-05-29T23:06:28Z")
Which engine is in this Grand Am? It matters greatly. If it is the 2.4 “Quad-4” there are some very specific and well known culprits under the hood that can cause the symptoms you describe. The V6 is an entirely different animal. What do you have? ---
**Author:** ![Tom04](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/51bf81/32.png) [@Tom04](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tom04)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2020, 1:03am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-pontiac-grand-am-bucks-gently/165005/5 "2020-05-30T01:03:21Z")
Thankyou for the feedback. My 98 Grand Am GT has the 3.1 6 cylinder engine. ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2020, 7:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-pontiac-grand-am-bucks-gently/165005/6 "2020-05-30T19:22:15Z")
What about the fuel filter? Those are often kind of out of sight, out of mind. However, a weak coil, plug wires, or spark plugs could also cause this kind of problem. So when was the last time the fuel filter, plugs, etc were changed; if ever? If the fuel filter has never been changed then don’t be surprised at some point if the fuel pump decides to die. That is sometimes a side effect of driving for a long time with a partially clogged filter. ---
**Author:** ![Tom04](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/51bf81/32.png) [@Tom04](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tom04)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2020, 12:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-pontiac-grand-am-bucks-gently/165005/7 "2020-05-31T12:18:27Z")
Grand Am GT 1998 has 123,000 miles, fuel filter changed at 60,000 miles and new plugs and wires put in at 95,000 miles. I am going to look into replacing coils and see if that helps eliminate the bucking feel while on the highway.