1997 Buick Park Avenue: engine failure

Filed Sep 2, 2008 · Body, Engine · 140,000 miles · MI

My vehicle is a 1997 buick park ave with 140,000 miles. I'm the second owner. My in-laws were the original owners. I got the vehicle from them in 1999 with approximately 9000 miles on the vehicle. Therefore, I know the complete car care history of this vehicle. Yesterday, september 1, 2008 my granddaughter was driving this car and she lost control of the vehicle due to lost of steering capabilities. No one was injured nor body damage due to her low speed when this incident occurred. The tow truck operator indicated that the engine cradle split into pieces due to rust and this caused the steering to fail since the steering rack is mounted to this engine cradle. The rust through of this the engine cradle (or engine frame) was confirmed by the repair shop today, september 2, 2008. The repair shop indicated that the 1997 buick park ave's had a steel engine cradle and that the moisture and salt gets caught within this box frame due to it's position directly behind the wheel wells. The repair shop indicated that 1998 park ave's( and after) have aluminum engine cradles but that the 1998 part will not fit the 1997 buick park ave. The only repair is to find another used engine cradle from a 1997 buick park ave which costs approximately $400 to $500 just for the used part. The other alternative is to buy a new engine cradle from a gm dealership for approximately $1200 to $1400. It seems to me that this engine cradle is a very critical part of the frame of the car and should not rust through within 10 years. All of the steering controls are mounted to this part and when this engine cradle fails all steering capabilities are lost. Please review this web site for the same part failure by other 1997 buick park ave owners (http://www.allworldauto.com/comments/1997_buick_park_avenue_comments_and_complaints_c42-256-1997-312-1.html.

Filed Mar 14, 2006 · Electrical, Engine · FL

1997 park avenue has difficulties with the electrical system. Vehicle's engine blew up at 89,000 miles because the intake manifold leaked engine coolant into the engine and caused it to seize. *ts in seven years the consumer had to replace the vehicle's battery five times. ***nar***

Filed Oct 4, 2004 · Engine · 79,850 miles · AR

No engine failure yet....I am consuming almost as much antifreeze as I am gasoline. Just kidding, but in less than 1000 miles I have used 11/2 gallons of dexcool antifreeze. I can find no leakage on my garage floor, but it sure is going somewhere. Am I in eminent danger of engine failure?????

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Transmission · 30,000 miles · AZ

Transmission started to jump into od. Vibration at different speeds. Replaced tranny with gm rebuilt.after 700 miles problem came back (vibration only) same problem but now has metal to metal grinding when making left turn and accelerating. Replaced engine mounts. They were cracked. Prior to this dealer said it was the solinoid, repalced. They only made this tranny in 1997

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Engine, Visibility · 84,000 miles · UN

My number one problem with this car is the plastic intake manifold failed under normal use. This allowed coolant to mix with the oil while I was driving on the highway in heavy traffic. The result was that the main bearings were destroyed and I had to buy a new engine. (I have the original plastic intake manifold in my possession.) the problem is that the plastic intake manifold can not withstand the heat generated by the egr valve and eventually suffers from thermal fatigue at the egr and stress relaxation around the flange of the manifold. I notified gm of the problem in writing and they offered me $800 compensation for my $5,000.00 problem. They told me that my engine was probably on its last legs. I told them that the car has been babied and offered up results of the mandatory emissions test that the car underwent not 3 weeks prior to failure as proof that the car was in good running order. (in toronto, all vehicle owners must submit their cars for emissions testing every 2 years. The car is measured for hydro carbon output, nox output, co, and co2. If the engine had been malfunctioning, it would have been qualified.) this problem would not have occurred if gm didn't switch from aluminum to plastic. Other problems with the car include a rear window defogger that caught on fire, - 3'rd alternator, 2nd battery , a security system that sounds while driving down the street, water in the trunk (several attempt to repair, ended up drilling a hole in the trunk), failed AC compressor, failed heated seat, several instrument control light bulbs have burned out and can not be replaced, you have to replace the entire instrument. The rear brake rotors that warp every 35,000 km. - fuel gauge that doesn't work below a quarter tank. If you would like copies of correspondence sent to gm, let me know. Regards doug webb 13 brumell avenue toronto, ontario m6s 4g3 [email protected] 905‑238‑0007 ex. 2624 (daytime)

Filed Sep 18, 2001 · Engine · GA

Symptom of battery failure-triple a jump started car -checked battery & engine with computer which detected no problem-drove car @ 50 miles on highway-no problem- after sitting over nite started normally but after driving about 2 miles lost all power- tripe a could not start so towed car to their shop & found engine froze up- caused by defective air intake manifold which developed a leak allowing coolant fluid to get into engine mixing with oil. I know of 5 other incidents of this nature, 3 of which resulted in engine failure.