1998 Buick Park Avenue: engine failure

Filed Aug 31, 2007 · Engine · TN

Greetings, I procured a car from the twin city buick dealership on 3046 airport highway [alcoa tn 37701] to purchase a nice used car for my son. The salesman, was nice enough to show me / steer me in the direction of a 1998 buick park ave with 30k original miles. We ran a background check on the miles and car history report and with a handshake called the deal done. My son used the car for one year and put about 10k miles on the vehicle he noticed that the temperature gauge was getting a little warmer than normal. The car was checked out at clifton buick dealership in rockwood tennessee my son was at summer camp in rockwood tennessee as a boy scout leader for the last two summers and it was discovered that the plenum gasket device was defective. In addition, anti-freeze was discovered leaking into the engine as well. The bill to get ben's car back on the road was in $568.06 about two weeks later the engine light came back on and I had to go back to the dealership. It was a faulty sensor discovered and most likely attributed to the anti-freeze leaking through the tailpipe as was suggested by the dealer. This cost was $315.66. Finally, about a week goes by and now the oil light came on. Again we are at the dealer and discovered it was not the anti-freeze but damage to the engine from the plenum issue. The cost to trouble-shoot the car was $82.60. Additional detail provided by the dealer is $3,360.00 to replace the engine with a used engine that has 68k miles and 1 year warranty or $4,453.00 to replace the engine with a rebuilt one that has a 3 year 100k mile warranty. The dealership recommended the rebuilt one. *jb updated 12/12/07

Filed Mar 2, 2006 · Engine · 71,967 miles · NC

Dt*: the contact stated in may 2003 the vehicle was hard to start at times. The dealership determined the plenum on the upper intake manifold was cracked. The dealership replaced the upper intake manifold. Two weeks ago on 2-4-06 the vehicle shut down while driving 65-70 MPH. The vehicle was restarted and driven home. The contact took the vehicle to the dealership on 2-6-06 where the dealership determined the plenum on the intake manifold was cracked again. Coolant had seeped into the engine resulting in engine failure. The engine was replaced.

Filed Feb 24, 2004 · Engine · 64,244 miles · WV

While enroute home from vacation low coolant warning light came on. Within a few miles the engine temperature gauge went to hot. I was able to limp back a mile or so to a chevrolet dealer I had passed. The intake manifold gasket had failed, costing $593 to replace along with the spark plugs, oil and filter. However, upon returning home, I opened the oil filler cap to find a glob of water contaminated oil inside. Now even short trips result in water droplets on the underside of the oil filler cap. Also, the engine idle is down about 100 RPM, it doesn't sound or run as smoothly as beore and there's a slightly detectable metallic knock from the engine. I believe the plastic intake manifold has also failed and should have been replaced. As a result of the defective manifold and gasket design, a $34,000 vehicle has a sick engine at only 64,000 miles. The mechanic that replaced the gasket said he had only worked at the dealership for three weeks, but replacing these intake manifold gaskets had been a continuous job. The service manager said I was lucky, because another customer had seized the starter and broken the flywheel trying to jump start her car full of coolant from a failed intake gasket.*ak this problem with the intake manifold and gasket design is a manufacturer's defect that should be corrected by gm and not borne by the customer. I've also experienced most of the other characteristic failures with this car such as, warped brake rotors, failed ignition control module, failed shoulder belt retractor, broken ash tray door latch, shudder in steering wheel while turning at low speed, suspension vibration due to defective bushings, etc. After 26 years of gm ownership loyalty, I'm calling it quits.

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Engine, Seat belts · 93,000 miles · IN

After buying my '98 park avenue, I noticed that after washing it on a couple of occasions that the paint had began to chip. I took it to a couple of paint shops and everyone said that this car should not have paint peeling and it was a defect because they could see the factory primer. My engine died without any warning. The teperature gauge didn't show that it was overheated and no smoke or steam came from under the hood. Right before the car stopped the dic showed : check coolant levels and even then it didn't beep as it should have. I have had a problem with my seat belts since purchasing this vehicle. They are continuously tangled and twisted when they cross the body. Moreover, my owner's manual has an illustration that states that my seatbelt usage is incorrect.

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Engine · 71,930 miles · CA

3.8l engine seized in mid-drive on highway. Towed and diagnosed by buick dealer as corroded manifolds from dex cool. Replaced both manifolds. Replaced all gaskets on pans etc. Replaced fluids, oil and coolant, as well as plugs and cleaned all.

Filed Aug 5, 2003 · Engine · 82,000 miles · TX

While driving in traffic, engine ligght came on and began to lose power. Susequent findings were that the composite intake plenum had several pin hole leaks which resulted in dumping of coolant into engine and seizure very shortly after light came on. Had to replace engine. New engine seems to have other problems now with power and smooth operation and excessive rattling.

Filed Mar 1, 2003 · Engine · 81,820 miles · MI

Lifters damaged from apparent coolant leak in upper intake manifold at 80,000 miles. Rod bearing knock occurred at 81,820 miles. Cause as yet unknown. Possibly related to earlier coolant leak problem. Now in need of a new engine.

Filed Sep 4, 2002 · Engine · MI

Engine coolant dex cool leaked into engine through defect in upper manifold, destroying entire engine, requiring complete new engine.

Filed Jan 17, 2002 · Engine · FL · fire

Insured wasn't able to start car. Triple a came to start the car, when driver hooked up the battery cable and turned the ignition, the engine blew up and a fire began, claim 59-v656-995.

Filed Jan 17, 2002 · Engine · MN · fire

Insured was jump starting vehicle with cables, engine blew, fire started, claim 23-1290-238.

Filed Aug 21, 2001 · Engine · MI · fire

The driver put the key in the ignition, turned it and heard a loud boom, then the car was on fire under the hood, this failure could possibly be to and engine failure.

Filed Dec 28, 2000 · Engine · FL · fire

Vehicle would not start, consumer had vehicle jumped and when he hooked up the battery cable and turned the key to start the vehicle, the engine blew up and a fire started, claim 59-v656-995.