Coolant leak into engine thru plastic intake manifold gasket.
1998 Buick Lesabre engine complaints
Page 5 of 8: complaints 101 to 130 of 204, newest first, as owners wrote them.
While driving reached high temperatures due to intake manifold failure. Coolant leaked inside the engine. Dealer notified. Sorry no recall, and would cost $ 1,400 to fix it. Consumer took vehicle to an independent shop, and would cost $ 700 for consumer to fix it.
When the vehicle was started, there was an explosion. There was a breakage in the intake manifold and melting on the underside of the engine dumping shroud. A small fire was burned on the engine block when the shroud was removed. *ak *sc
Vehicle had been losing coolant since 1998. Vehicle had been to dealer for repairs at least seven times. The gas recirculation valve (egr) port was made of plastic, and when it melted, coolant seeped into the engine. *ak consumer received reimbursement of $479.99 from mc clellon buick after contacting the original owner.
1998 buick lesabre - engine backfire upon starting - blew off vacume hose at intake manifold, cracked plastic intake manifold. Engine hydrolocked, sucking coolant into all 6 cylinders. Fuel pressure regulator replaced along with a new plastic intake manifold.
While driving on interstate 75, engine light came on and the car suddenly slowed down and stopped (I had to quickly move to the shoulder). Noticed no coolant in the coolant reservoir. Towed it to the gmc dealer. Service manager remarks: due to antifreeze leak from manifold gasket all fluids went through engine block and hydrolocked the engine and causing it to shut down. (the service manager indicated that they had to several buick lesabre with the same problem). At least I am lucky that this person knew what was the problem without speculation. I have heard others were not that lucky at other dealer place where they couldn't figure out what is the problem except speculating on the cause of the problem. All I want is that the gmc company pay for the repairs or reimburse for the repairs caused by their poor technical workmanship.
Temperature light illuminated. Consumer stopped and put in coolant. Next, check engine light illuminated , and engine died. Vehicle was towed to dealer. The upper and lower manifolds needed replacement. *ak the dealer also installed a new thermostat and gasket and replaced all six spark plugs.
Consumer took vehicle to dealer for inspection, and mechanic noticed that the plastic intake manifold cracked, causing fluid to leak onto the engine.
The check engine indicator light illuminated. While driving the vehicle engine stalled. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, and they replaced the plastic intake manifold at owner's expense of $985.00.
The intake manifold leaked coolant into the cylinders. As a result the vehicle stalled. *ak *ts
Consumer had manifold system repairs done on 98 buick lesabre. The manifold system was replaced twice. After the second repair, consumer became aware of the recalls for the same make and model with 3.8 v6 engine. General motors were contacted but the consumer didn't receive a response.
Vehicle had been losing coolant since 1998. Vehicle had been to dealer for repairs at least seven times. The gas recirculation valve (egr) port was made of plastic, and when it melted, coolant seeped into the engine.
When consumer started the vehicle, black smoke was noticed coming from the rear of vehicle. When the consumer pulled out into the traffic, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was repaired.*ak *ts
The vehicle overheated due to an inoperative plastic intake manifold. The manifold was replaced and the coolant system was flushed. *jb *ts
Intake manifold melting. Loss of coolant. Replace plastic intake, plugs, starter, oil and filter, pcv valve, coolant. Plus towing bill and shop labor. Gm defect. Gm knows it, gm should reimburse for repair cost.
Water was leaking from the intake manifold into the engine. This could cause the engine to blow out. Intake manifold was deteriorating due to the leakage.
Consumer stated while traveling 35 MPH all dashboard indicators started flashing, and engine stalled.
Engine coolant leak, into the engine manifold,of my vehicle, resulted from defective upper intake manifold composite material degrading around the egr stove pipe. Buick motor division of general motors corporation has issued a service bulletin, #01-06-01-007a-(07/18/2001), document id#812024, pertaining to this exact type of engine manifold defect in 1998 buick lesabre automobiles. On september 3, 2003, the egr stove pipe failed in my 1998 buick lesabre, allowing engine coolant to enter the engine manfold. I formally request that your agency immediately begin an investigation into this defect, in order to proceed toward ordering a recall of this vehicle.
Car backfired and engine caught on fire
While returning home from our daughter's in virginia, our check engine light came on. We pulled onto a side road and turned off the car. Looking under the hood, we found the reserve radiator reservoir to be totally empty. After 20 minutes, we tried to start the car to no avail. We were towed back to the nearest town, selinsgrove, pa, to a pep boys and were told the engine had seized up. The next day the car was towed back to rochester where our mechanic proceeded to find out the problem. We also called the dealership where we bought the car two years ago, and the service manager told us that he had seen this before. The radiator fluid is entirely sucked into the engine through the intake manifold and there is never any indication of over heating or changes on the gauge readings because the engine is not hot, due to the fluid being in there. Consequently, we had to have the engine replaced. Three days after this happened to us, a letter was mailed out to all owners of 2000-2003 buicks for this very same problem. We have a 1998 buick lesabre. We called the number given 1‑800‑832‑8425 and also called bbb auto line for general motors. General motors will not do anything to help us in this matter because our vehicle is a 1998. The cost we have incurred to remedy this failure is in excess of $3,000.00. The same engine was used to repair the problem: a 3800 series ll (l36) v6 engine. How do I know the same thing won't happen again? I do not! I do not want to keep the vehicle yet I cannot afford not to. We have bought gm cars and trucks for the last 35 years. We always said: "buy american". I guess that time is over. Is there anything you can do to help us?
The check engine soon light had come on. The vehicle looked as if it was leaking coolant, however no coolant was found leaking. When the vehicle was taken to the repair shop, they found an internal leak. This was caused by the plastic plenum intake. *ak
The upper intake manifold gasket corroded and caused coolant to leak from the vehicle. This leakages occurred while driving or parking. The dealer was notified and informed the consumer that the vehicle was not covered under a manufacturer's recall. *ak
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.
The vehicle experienced the same problem as the recall that was issued regarding the manifold, however the vehicle identification number was not included in the recall. *ak the consumer stated the vehicle ran for five hours, he stopped to get gas and the vehicle failed to restart.
Consumer states that while driving, the vehicle would stall and it will be hard for the consumer to control the vehicle. Dealer notified. *ph the vehicle started to loose speed pulled into gas station. The vehicle start again. Gm was aware of the problem. The consumers friend had experienced the same problem with the replacement of the manifold gaskets. The consumer requested to be reimbursed for the manifold and the starter. *scc
Fax fm andrew hunt (nj) request assistance in getting reimbursed for $561.24 worth of repairs to fix the upper intake manifold on his 1998 gm buick lesabre & recall all cars listed in gm tech. Service bulletin # 01-06-01-007a. *mr the consumer stated the concern was the vehicle did not give warning of a problem as the coolant emitted from the tail pipe unnoticed. If there was too much coolant in the engine the vehicle would stop. The defective plastic intake manifold and the broken starter from the vehicle which clearly showed that the egr stove pipe allowed water to get into the engine. *scc
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.
First we would like to report our dissatisfaction with stillwater motors in that they added bogus charges on to the invoice then later, after we questioned and insisted on seeing these new parts and the old parts, they adjusted the invoice by crediting us $400. The car was brought in due to the engine running rough, overheating and an increased usage of coolant. The dealership diagnosed the problem as being a defect in the upper manifold resulting in leakage of coolant onto the sparkplugs. In the end, the upper manifold, 4 gaskets, the oil filter, and thermostat had been replaced and had the fuel/emission system flushed. We were quite astounded to see so many issues with this very same problem we had and we are hoping that there is some relief given to all buick lesabre owners who have had to incur these repair costs.
Consumer parked vehicle after driving with no signs of mechanical trouble. The consumer returned to car and attempted to start the vehicle, but was unsuccessful. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed that the plastic intake manifold cracked, which caused coolant to leak, which resulted in engine failure. *ak
Vehicle's "plenium" intake valve (part no. 506cgm4) cracked causing coolant to leak into engine resulting in engine failure.
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