Everything Wrong With My 1989 Pontiac Trans Am

[@swisscarguy]

Any more things I missed?

[@SoGoYoko]

Thanks for posting this video of your third gen Pontiac. The rear window tint isn't factory. They came completely clear new from the manufacturer. In regards to the center caps on the wheels, there should be metal brackets that hold the plastic caps in place onto the rim. If they are missing, the caps aren't strong enough to hold themselves onto the rim and will come off while the car is in motion, especially if driven on less then smooth roads. These are actually the first things that get lost from the car, usually when the tires are replaced, the mechanic doing the tires sometimes will forget to install that metal bracket onto the rim and just snap the plastic center caps in place and call it done. Replacement center cap metal brackets are hard to find. The black plastic lug nut caps require the type of lug nut that has a thread around the outside of it. Obviously each rim on this car consists of an aftermarket lug nut that doesn't allow the installation of the black plastic lug nut cap. The spoiler in the back that is missing is called the "aero spoiler" or wrap-around spoiler. If the car is driven in the rain or stored outside where it's subjected to moisture, it goes bad. The spoiler is constructed of thin sheet metal skeleton and embedded in a rubber/polyurethane covering. Moisture gets in from the bolt holes. After a few years in such environment, the metal skeleton rusts out and causes the spoiler to change shape and eventually split open. The one on my 87' Pontiac went completely bad in 96', 9 years from when the car was manufactured. Lastly, you're pointing out issues on a car that's over 33 years old. A lot get worn out and even just age alone will ruin rubber components. What complicates matters even worse is this vehicle was manufactured under regulations outside of the country that it is currently located in. Believe it or not, this vehicle is in really great shape for it's age. Good luck.

[@jasonknight5863]

Beautiful car. You should install the GTA rear spoiler and paint it back to its factory Red color. It would then be a copy of the Soul Glo Trans Am in the Eddie Murphy movie “Coming to America” 🇺🇸

[@jamesmack3266]

Great videos! I had the same car in the early 90's, mine was an 89 red formula ws6 5.0 tune port manual 5 speed. I absolutely loved it! It was cheap to own and really really fun to drive. It was comfortable and the whole family fit in it. I was in grad school and it was fun and cheap. I never liked the styling and mine had what the car dealers here in the US call "dents around" - minor damage on many body panels. But because of this it was very cheap to buy and it still looked decent. I even tracked it some, on smooth tracks it was fun. On older bumpy tracks it was scary, and i remember one or two track instructors refused to ride in it or drive it. So much fun!! Keep the videos coming! It's a mystery why you have so few subscribers, great content!

[@SoGoYoko]

In regards to the overhead (headliner), the best way to repair that sagging is to completely remove the headliner from the car, lay it facing up, carefully/gently pull back on the fabric and use a spray adhesive. Spray the adhesive on the bare headliner material and then replace the fabric carefully so all lines up correctly. Let the adhesive dry/cure completely before reinstalling the headliner into the car. I did this on mine back in 98' and nearly 25 years later, it's still holding in place without sagging down again.

[@SoGoYoko]

The passenger door panel is lose because it was removed by a previous owner and all the little plastic keepers broke apart when the panel was removed. The plastic components that hold the door panels to the door weren't designed to be taken apart more then a very few times. Age and years of extreme heat & cold cause these plastic pieces to get brittle and break apart when the door is disassembled. It could also be that the metal frame around the inside of the panel has broken away from the panel itself. This happened to mine. I used clamps and two part epoxy to reattach the metal frame to the inside panel surface on my own 87' Pontiac. Fixed it well that way. What to expect from a 33 year old third gen Pontiac.

[@SoGoYoko]

The center radio & air control console is loose because either the bolts that hold that part secure to the car are missing/loose or the console itself is broken. Easy to determine by removing the radio and looking inside.

[@carlc5748]

This car was most likely assembled in the Van Nuys, California assembly plant. That plant had about the lowest ranking of the GM plants for build quality. I grew up very near that plant, in the San Fernando Valley. Just try to fix the stuff that annoys you the most. Don't know if you really know the original mileage on it, but I'm surprised that there are not more things wrong on it. Must be very rare to have it in Switzerland, and still in drivable shape. Just curious, does Switzerland still have that law that every household has to have a high powered rifle, and ammo, since you are your own militia, and defenders in your country, in lieu of a standing army? I am sure that you have an extremely low violent crime rate in your country because of all of the guns, and people with the technical expertise that know how to use them safely for national defense. Thank you, first time viewer, gave you a like!!

[@florian_eggenberger]

Hallo Swiss Car Guy, "Trans Am" hat mich elektrisiert. 1978 kaufte ich nämlich in den USA einen knallroten TA 6.6 (mit Shaker-Hood" und nahm in mit in die Schweiz, verkaufte ihn dann ca 1980 dem Auto Hans in Oerlikon, könnte immer noch heulen. Was mich aber zu einem Kommentar verleitet hat, ist der Umstand, dass ich damals an der Wannetenstrasse wohnte, d.h. ca 280m von der Stelle, wo Du das Video aufgenommen hast. Ich habe das Gebäude im Hintergrund erkannt, d.h. die alte Weberei. Ich wünsche Dir mit Deinem TransAm soviel Freude, wie ich mit meinem hatte.

[@sleepycatpictures1176]

The horn blowing after reconnecting the battery will be the alarm kicking off. Inserting the key in the door and ignition should turn it off. Well, it would have done originaly if the transponder had still been there. The sometimes non-start issue might be a relay or bad starter motor solonoid.

[@Goc67]

I am sorry but the rear hatch seems to be misaligned.🙄 Most issues you mention is related to poor reassembly after repaint. Looking forward to follow your way to completion of all the errors. 😅 I think you should fix the holes in the rear hatch and repaint it...since you do not want to buy a new spoiler.😊

[@matauboy]

None of these things really stop you driving it. Just pick the thing that annoys you most, fix it and keep going from there.

[@911RescueDiver]

Wow that car is in great shape!

[@SoGoYoko]

The cruise control might not be working because there is a rubber vacuum air hose that runs from the cruise control unit on the drivers side in the engine compartment to a plastic pressure ball/tank located behind the driver side fender in front of the front driver side wheel. You may want to check all those hoses to make sure they aren't broken. If the vacuum can't be held because a crack in the hoses and/or ball/tank, the cruise control won't work. This could possibly be the problem as to why your cruise control doesn't work.

[@swisscarguy]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I will look into your suggestions.

[@roman5880]

Nice car! Also, nice god tier watch Casio f91w!⌚

[@terminatedphil]

That car needs to be in black and gold. New set of tires and wheels, new spoiler, new plastic trim, a nice exhaust, window tint delete, sorted number plates and a red knight rider light 😊 Next step would be sorting the interior mess 😅

[@CPMest81]

I think I could've beaten you when I first picked up my 88 trans am 😂

[@Uathankicks]

Hell yeah Mario that thing looks sweet.

[@SoGoYoko]

If this was my car, the very first thing I'd change are the cherry bombs that have been installed as rear exhaust tips on this car. They don't look good but more, they must really be hanging very low and backing up into a parking spot, you will most likely run those into a cement curb and/or parking block. In doing so, you'll damage more then just the exhaust tips.

[@MotorScotti]

They are quite ugly but the only street legal exhaust tips for dealership sold Firebirds and Camaros in Switzerland. The factory exhaust pipes are not legal because it made the car too loud to comply with the 1980's rules. In 1995 the rules were slightly softened, however they are not retroactive. Hence, even today do you need to have to drive with those... at least when you bring the car to it's bi-annual state mandatory inspection.

[@chl5048]

Dein TransAm könnte der jüngere Zwilling von meinem sein :D, haben viel gemeinsam die beiden Autos. Auf jedenfall schonmal die Farbe und das Problem mit dem Heckspoiler usw. trotzdem super Auto.

[@computercrack]

Can you do an update on the Lexus tco? Thx :)

[@High61Way]

nice car

[@seawall5102]

Good video, great accent.

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

Mario, you have a beautiful Trans Am! Do you still own the Coupe de Ville?

[@swisscarguy]

Yes (at least I think so). It has spent the last couple of months in the workshop to have a few minor things fixed, which spiralled out of control into what I anticipate will be a massive bill. 😑

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

@@swisscarguy I hope that it's going to be amazing after that, but experience has taught you to expect some surprises! It is a truly stunning car with incredible design.

[@swisscarguy]

@@mitchellbarnow1709 For now I would already be happy if it just stopped leaking coolant. 😅

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

@@swisscarguy That would be fantastic, Mario!

[@shawnwhite2572]

That whole steering wheel is incorrect. It's for 85-87 models. The 88-89 models had the four spoke wheel.

[@rkan2]

Do get it right from this video that the Swiss inspection is not very strict? :D

[@markhellman-pn3hn]

correcting these "minor" imperfections - is going to cost "MAJOR" money !!

[@gkvogt]

How does a car like that end up in Switzerland?!

[@swisscarguy]

Back then, these cars were sold new in Switzerland. Until the 60s there even was a GM assembly plant in Switzerland where some American cars for the European market were built.

[@gkvogt]

@@swisscarguy thanks for the answer.

[@outthere2]

The wipers , when off should both hide behind the cowl. Simple fix to relocate the passenger wiper. Paint it while it's off. All the buttons under the cluster are different colours. It really looks weird. No way that bolt in the passenger armrest is stock. It's huge! That ticking under acceleration sounds like the speedo cable. On my '74 Camaro, that was an issue. I think you are just picky enough. Sort the cheapest things and Safety items first. ie: Those tyres.

[@SoGoYoko]

Those buttons under the cluster may look weird, but they were those different colors brand new from the factory (stock). The bolt in the armrest is aftermarket. The originals are star heads. If he can get a replacement cap/cover, it won't matter what type of bolt is in there, just as long as it fastens the armrest tight to the inside of the door. As for the tyres, you'll be lucky to find Goodyear in the size needed for this Pontiac. I've got the GTA version which has the factory 16 inch rims and requires 245 50 16 size tires. I'm pretty sure the rims on his Trans Am are 15 inch, but could possibly be 16's. Goodyear just doesn't make tires for this car in that size anymore, which is a real bummer/shame. This year (2022) I ended up going with Toyo Proxies RA1's (245 45 16). Was actually the very first time since my GTA was new (1987) that it doesn't have Goodyear tires on the car. Not sure how readily available performance tires are for his Pontiac Trans Am in the country he's in. Good luck.

[@swisscarguy]

True, I ordered a set of Vredesteins as it was the only sporty tire available in 215/65/15. Most other tires in that size sold here are for vans. 😅

[@swisscarguy]

@Dan Very helpful, thanks!

[@HistoriaOrbis74]

I'll be glad to take it off your hands!

[@GiocoAmaro]

Sì però è comunque uno spettacolo ;)

[@stevenzagony6187]

Those are Firebird/Formula tail lights, not for the Trans Am.

[@swisscarguy]

They were the only legal lights in Europe because of the amber indicators. All cars sold on the European market by GM directly had those tail lights from the factory, even the GTA.

[@paultroxler7272]

Well you are getting what you paid for.

[@VolkanTaninmis]

#1 Comment 😁👍

[@markhellman-pn3hn]

you bought the car to impress your friends !!

[@swisscarguy]

I have no friends.

[@gkvogt]

Curious about how much you paid for it.

[@swisscarguy]

CHF 6901

[@gkvogt]

@@swisscarguy how much is that in real money? US dollars.

[@swisscarguy]

@@gkvogt USD 7358 as of today. But keep in mind that cars are much more expensive in Switzerland (as are most other things 😥).

[@jamthebass1653]

Wie viel hesch Zahlt?

[@rupertpiersbutler]

Share with someone who has no life 😂😂😂

[@mannine99]

You need a mullet to drive this car

[@matthewnelson4298]

Fake news

[@chris-SDI]

My 91 would do exactly the same thing no start and the temp would max out, it’s the relay on the firewall by the mastercylinder. They are big should be 2 one is the fuel relay and the other is the starter

[@donaldcurtis9229]

I got a 84 Trans Am I what brand new 305 high output 5-speed WS T-top fully loaded ain't nothing wrong with my car 42,833 miles got a 97 Firebird Formula 2 ain't nothing wrong with that either except for maintenance so stop crying and do the work

[@gkvogt]

What is homaligation?

[@swisscarguy]

When a manufacturer officially offers a car for sale in a country the cars run through a special series of tests and measurements by government entities that describe the way all these cars have to be in order to be registered in the country and be legal. This includes exact measurements, weight, max. loading capacity, number of seats, passenger restraint systems, noise levels, emissions, emissions systems present in the car, tire sizes, applicable wheel sizes and markings, engine identification, etc. The combined rules and data for a specific model are its homologation. When a car is homologated you can just buy it new and register it. If the car is not homologated you need to have a very thorough inspection before you can first register the car in Switzerland, where the government inspector makes sure the car fulfills all current regulations for new cars or all the regulations that were valid at the time of the first registration date on an imported used car that was not already registered in Switzerland before.

[@gkvogt]

@@swisscarguy thanks. That's about what I thought. Keep up the videos. 👍👌

[@carlc5748]

@@swisscarguy Is the import duty tax high to import a foreign car in to Switzerland?

[@swisscarguy]

@@carlc5748 For a car not produced in Europe it's 4% of the car's value + CHF 15.- (~USD 16.-) per 100kg of weight. And of course there is VAT of 7.7% also. So, it's basically 11.7% of the car's value + 150 bucks per ton. Cars produced in Europe, that have a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) to prove it, are not subject to the weight tax. The other 11.7% still apply.

[@mikesiegenthaler4224]

Mario since you dont drive At speeds over 120 kph please leave those beautiful good year Eagle f1s on the Car or use them a little bit at least since you are an eco freak😜

[@sebastiancrabill444]

What do u expect from a car thats used and 40 years old

[@matthewnelson4298]

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