1998 Buick Lesabre: sudden loss of power

Filed Mar 25, 2009 · Engine · 41,000 miles · SC

Bought a used (2 owner) buick lesabre in dec '08 having 37,428 . In early march, '09, after less than 4000 miles, started hearing a brief gurgling when engine turned off. In mid-march, while pulling onto a highway from a slight upward grade the vehicle lost power, and a drive train vibration took place for a few seconds....nearly causing an oncoming truck to collide with us.took vehicle into a national franchised transmission dealer for checkup...transmission checked ok. However, technician discovered radiator fluid in manifold intake area. Suspecting leaking intake manifold seal and/or cracked intake manifold cover. Need to use the vehicle, but have to wait for repair until money can be put together. Am a disabled ex marine,vietnam vet.. Shouldn't have to put up with this problem, especially when it looks like a very prevalent one ,based on what is on the net. Replacement part is only 140.00 through a national parts company. The auto shops are quoting over 800.00 to fix. C'mon, let's get something done about this before someone is killed!!! Haven't you noticed the power failures in some of the reports??I would think gm would do a volunteer recall, rather than risk reputation, and consumer life&limb. The problem is that gm was using havelin's 'orange' antifreeze (dextrol) and it was faulty. It was congealing in the engine, disrupting coolant flow, thereby causing overheating enough to blow intake manifolds and/or gaskets........seems the 8 auto tech's I've talked to over the past week know this. So, why don't the industry and gov."experts"???

Filed Sep 13, 2004 · Engine · 95,000 miles · MN

Vehicle's engine misfires and loses power. *mr the service engine light had come on along with the misfires and power loss. The consumer was told that the problem could be due to the engine hydraulic lock. The consumer stated that gm was aware of the plastic intake manifold problem.

Filed Jul 30, 2004 · Engine · ID

While driving vehicle started to lose power. *mr the vehicle gradually lost more power and quit. The consumer was informed that the upper intake manifold was cracked in one of the passages, which required a total replacement of the engine.

Filed Jun 23, 2004 · Engine · 92,523 miles · MN

While driving on my way to work the vehicle started to slow and the engine light came on. I pulled over and attempted to start the car and the engine would not turn over. I called my auto club for a tow and the car was towed to a connoco station in park rapids. They immediatly knew what the problem was, stating they see a lot of the 3800 engines do this. The intake plenum rotted away allowing coolant to fill a cylinder and stall the engine. Gm has issued a service bullitin for the problem, but no recall. This could be a major safety concern with loss of power to the engine the steering and brakes will not function as they should.

Filed Aug 29, 2003 · Engine · 77,290 miles · LA

Intake manifold failed on my 1998 buick lesabre at 77,000 miles. Plastic manifold perforated due to exhaust gas impinging from egr tube, flooding engine with coolant and causing engine to stall with subsequent loss of power steering and brakes on interstate highway.

Filed Aug 13, 2003 · Engine · 58,875 miles · MI · fire

I had been losing coolant (2 quarts in 4~6 weeks) without seeing any spots on ground or coolant about engine / radiator. While driving, experienced relatively sudden loss of power, mil light came on, could not drive greater than 60 MPH, very poor operation and acceleration. Dealer (superior buick, dearborn michigan) diagnosed problem as blown headgasket. I subsequently had engine remanufactured under dealer premise of head gasket, only to find that the upper intake manifold had failed and allowed coolant to pass into intake passages (reference gm service bulletin 010601007, and ~7a). I was never informed of these bulletins by the dealership, but they are 2 years old.

Filed Jun 28, 2002 · Engine · SC

At 50mph engine stalled then vehicle lost power. Could had caused an accident. Cause unknown dealer notified.