The Pontiac Transport and the Montana are virtually two of the same. Great mini vans that last a long time with regular maintenance. But after a hundred thousand or so miles, it’s time to pop the hood and give them some well deserved attention. The tried and true 3400 series G.M. engines these models are equipped with are very reliable, but this reliability comes with scheduled tune ups. Most will take them to a local dealer or repair shop, but for the weekend do-it-yourselfer, here a few tips and tricks that will surely help you.
 Pontiac Transport |
After making the van safe to work on by choking the wheels and disconnecting the positive side of the battery, you will quickly notice that the rear bank of spark plugs are not visible. This author suggests starting with the rear bank plugs and wires first, as these are the most difficult for obvious reasons. Thankfully, the biggest portion of a tune up on these engines is just plugs and wires. These rear plugs and wires are accessible two ways. The first way is to jack the vehicle up, safely and securely position it on jack stands, and gain access from underneath the vehicle. Not much leverage is available from this position, though. The second way to gain access is by removing the alternator on the rear left hand corner of the engine, unplugging the injector harnesses and moving them out of the way, and creating space to get your arms to the rear of the engine.
After finally gaining access, the technician realizes that the boots are very difficult to remove from the spark plugs. There is no room for tools, so you just have your hands to remove the wires. After pulling, twisting, and finally screaming like Adam Lambert performing with Kiss, the boots will finally free themselves. Do one plug wire and one plug at a time, and re-secure all wires in their proper position. No one will want to do this twice in the same day.
Once the rear bank is done, and all items are reinstalled properly, move to the front bank. Remember to do one wire and one plug at a time and do not mix up wire positions at the coil packs. Throw in a new air filter, an oil change, and your Pontiac is ready to deliver thousands of more miles more efficiently. The satisfaction and sore arms of doing this job yourself are worth it.
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