Dt: contact states in hot weather 75 degrees or above and within one mile the car will die. Can wait it 10-15 minutes and the car will restart. Had this problem for the last 3 summers. It usually happened in slow traffic, but consumer did not get out on the interstate very much; but was concerned that if he did. The car would die in heavy traffic. Took it to the dealer, and they said they could not find anything wrong with it. They suggested that it may be the fuel pump or the sensor in the crank case. The service engine light sometimes cam eon. . The car has less than 30,000 miles on it. He has not talked to the manufacturer. *ak
1997 Buick Park Avenue engine complaints
Page 2 of 3: complaints 11 to 40 of 47, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Pushrod malfunctioned in the engine, caused car accident.
While driving at any speed the engine stall without warning. As a result the automatic power door locked trapping the driver inside. The cause has yet to be determined. *nm
After starting the vehicle, the vehicle back fire and then caught fire in the engine compartment. The local fire department arrived and extinguished the fire. The cause of the fire has not been determined.
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?????
While driving 30 MPH consumer noticed white smoke coming from the vehicle. It was towed to the repair shop and then to the dealer for repairs. Consumer was concerned that the intake manifold gasket was made of plastic.
Vehichle stalled while turning at an intersection and was not driveable; vehicle had to be towed. Upon diagnosis, the vehicle "hydrolocked" due to dexcool leaking into the engine chamber from a melted upper intake manifold. The upper intake manifold, water pump, thermostat crank sensor and map sensor required replacement. It was then further determined due to an intolerably loud engine knock that the dexcool had corroded the engine compartment bearings; the engine was not repairable and required replacement.
Vehicle overheated twice within a 2 month period. Coolant elbow broke when vehicle overheated the first time. The second time the vehicle overheated, the upper intake manifold broke. *la
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)
Heater/air conditioning leaks onto floor on the passenger side of vehicle. Started about a year after purchase (new) and we complained. Dealership replaced water pump. Still leaked. Became much worse in july 2003 (required a roll of paper towels to keep the front floor board semi dry on trips). We took it to fitzpatrick in concord, ca and they stated that all gm vehicles did that and there was no repair needed. This was when the car was still under warranty and now, no longer is.
The A/C will turn on again after I turn it off. The radio will shift to cassette and back while displaying e33. Drivers window will come down unevenly and get wedged. The alternater went out and the bottom bolt stripped during removal. There is a lurch sometimes during shifting.
My factory installed supercharger has had a pulley mechanism fall apart. As a result the belt from this system (similar to a drive train belt) fell down through the engine compartment under the front passenger side tire abruptly stopping my vehicle as the belt was still attached to the another component in the engine. This has happened three different times and each time has involved a different pulley on the system.
The plastic intake manifold developed a hole and leaked anti freeze onto the cylinder. This resulted in engine locking up and the crank shaft bearing going bad. *ak the rod bearings also failed due to water entering the oil pan.
The plastic air plennom on the top of the 3800 engine of the newer gen motors cars that they are now using will not hold up under the heat. The egr tube which extends up into the plastic air intake burns a hold into the cooling system surrounding the egr tube, causing coolant to drian into the the motor intake chamber. In turn, the coolant then mixes with the oil and ruins the motor rod bearings. I have already replaced one motor and am now experiencing similar trouble with the second motor for the same problem. They need to go back to the metal air intakes!
The dealer replaced the plastic intake manifold, water pump, gaskets and serpentine belt. The vehicle only had 47000 miles on it. *nlm the vehicle had required many repairs while under warranty. The coolant tank kept going low and the upper and lower gasket along with all components. The water pump was replaced. *scc
While driving engine mount bolts cracked, causing engine to fall on one side. Contacted dealer, and dealer was not willing to do anything.*ak
Vehicle will stall out while consumer is driving at any speed. Contacted dealer, and the dealer cannot find cause of problem.
At 70 MPH vehicle began to slow down a lot, then stalled. Towed to dealer, antifreeze flooded engine, causing the engine to seize.*ak. Consumer was forced off the road by an 18 wheeler because vehicle had started slowing and consumer could not get vehicle to respond. Loss of steering accompanied the sudden decelleration.
Insured was starting the vehicle when he heard a big boom and then smoke came from engine and caught on fire, claim 25-5607-676.
Fuse box relay box suspected for cause of fire, claim 42-1331-250.
Insured attempted to start vehicle. After hearing what sounded like back firing, a fire started under the hood of vehicle, claim 52-2467-692.
When vehicle was started, there was an explosion and vehicle was on fire, claim 53-c849-836.
Insured believes the engine fire was caused by a loose wire in the starter, claim 25-5562-917.
Consumer tried to crank vehicle when it immediately popped and caught on fire, claim 24-5198-330.
When vehicle was started, there was an explosion and vehicle was on fire, claim 53-c849-836.
Engine burned out because there was no coolant in system. Also talked to mechanics, and mechanics stated plenium which was part of coolant system, cracked causing coolant escape and burned engine out. There be no coolant in engine.
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.
While driving on the interstate engine check light began flashing, and chimming. Pulled over to side of road stopped and raise the hood. The engine was running rough. Stopped the engine saw that it was not overheated. Attempted to start. It wouldn't. Wrecker tooto brian harris dealer. Dealer repaced both intake manifolds because they were pitted and allowed coolant to enter into cylinders and lock the engine. Dealer said both manifolds had to be replaced.
Consumer attempted to start vehicle and heard what he thought was a back fire, a fire started under the hood, claim 52-2467-692.
Consumer noticed a small oil leak. Took vehicle to dealer. They repaired it. Dealer said that a gmc bullentin about oil pans on buicks stated that pan was wavy and could cause an oil leak.
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