Supercharger tensionor pulley/bearing assembly and belt has broke for the third time at mileages of 82457, 93720, 139,000.
1998 Buick Park Avenue engine complaints
Page 2 of 4: complaints 11 to 40 of 98, newest first, as owners wrote them.
On may 6, 2006 we were coming back to spartanburg, sc from the beach. We were about 7 miles from kingsree, sc. After leaving a service station, we started getting "check engine" messages. We went back to the service station to see what was wrong. We had no coolant. I put a gallon of coolant in and decided to go into kingstree, sc in case there was more trouble. Just as we got to kingstree, sc we stopped at another station after getting more "check engine" messages. Again, we were out of coolant and now the car would not start. A wrecker towed it to a garage. The mechanic said he was fairly certain of what the problem was because buick had been having lots of trouble with a particular part. He then confirmed that it was the upper intake. He replaced the upper intake part with a revised part from buick and assured us we would not have any more trouble with the coolant. This cost $571.48 and a 6 hour delay. The consequences could have been much more serious if we had not been near a service station. Buick refuses to pay or acknowledge they have a problem with the intake.
Dt*: the contact stated the engine overheated several times and continuously required additional coolant fluid. This was always preceded by the check engine light illuminating. When the vehicle was taken to a service dealer, they determined there was a pinhole sized leak in the manifold. The service dealer was able to repair the leak.
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.
Dt*: the contact stated there were two problems with the vehicle. The first problem involved coolant leaking from the engine. The next morning, the check engine light illuminated and the vehicle would not start. The vehicle was towed to an independent repair shop, the mechanic was able to get the vehicle started. Upon inspection the intake manifold was filled with water and the manifold was replaced. The second problem occurred when driving across a patch of ice at approximately 40 MPH the traction stability and ABS failed. The v traction control and ABS lights illuminated. The front end started to slide. The contact pulled the vehicle to the side of the road and turned the vehicle off. Once the vehicle was restarted,the traction control and ABS reset themselves and were working properly.*ak updated 3/3/2006 -
I purchased 1998 buick park avenue, from sanderson lincoln-mercury dealership, glendale, az 85301, on february 24, 2005. Subsequently, I experienced a mechanical break-down on april 30, 2005. Hence, I have discerned that there were two recalls issued on february 24, 2004, campaign number 04v0900000 and campaign number 00v17000 on april 18, 2000. I am writing because I have experienced both defects. The former campaign caused me to expend $900. For repairs for a cracked manifold and the latter was recently experience when the front seat passenger could not attach the safety seat belt because it had jammed. Please advise as to what my recourses should be? Power buick, scottsdale, az, never advise me of a recall that is consistent with the auto's breakdown...but did charge me $887.44 for the repair costs.
1998 buick park avenue had the water pump , fuel pressure regulator, oil pressure switch, left door lock control bezel, tensioner pulley and bearing replaced.***no answer required***.*mr the gas gauge needle jumped past the full mark then all the way back around to empty. The plastic upper intake plenum was replaced because it had warped from the heat and started to leak.
My 1998 buick park avenue wouldn't start because of a line that leaked anti-freeze into the cylinders of the engine. After I took it to the mechaninc and talking with a parts foreman at a local dealership I found out that this was quite common. If it is common why isn't there a recall and why aren't the being fixed free of cost to us owners?
Dt: the contact owns a 1998 buick park avenue. The contact states that the coolant spilled into the engine and vehicle overheated , causing the car to stall. The car was taken to a dealership, and they stated that the engine sucked up all the coolant. Apparently it was sucked in to the engine from the egr port hole because it had become degraded. Also the federal safety agency recall campaign id 00v117000 was issued in 2000. It stated that passenger vehicles, some of these vehicles have front seat shoulder belts that may twist, allowing the webbing to become jammed in the retractor. This is the problem that consumer's vehicle was having, but manufacturer insisted there was never a recall for this problem.
1. Loss of engine coolant with no apparent external leakage 2. Difficulty starting and then failure to start engine 3. Corroded plastic intake manifold allows engine coolant into engine destroying engine.
Vehicle is a 1998 buick park ave. The plastic idler pulley and assembly failed and the surpentine belt no longer turned so the power steering was lost (and maybe power brakes also). This happened without warning while driving 60 MPH on I 45 in houston and exiting over a cloverleaf onto beltway 8. There was no accident because I was able to use my muscle to get the car off the road. The car was towed to a garage and the pulley assembly and belt was replaced.
I am submitting this for my father-in-law who is 85 years old. There is a defect in gm 3800 engines (VIN k-rpo l36) at least from 1995 to 2003. Gm is aware of the problem and refuses to do anything about this defect which may have the potential for causing catastrophic accidents. My father-in-law was passing another car at about 70 MPH on a two lane country road when the engine in his 1998 buick park avenue locked-up. The damage to the engine was severe enough to require that the engine be replaced. The local buick dealer stated that gm is aware of the problem with these engines (in fact, it's rather well known among auto mechanics), but has a policy of not assisting with repairs and has not recalled the engines. Fortunately there was no accident in this case, however, there is the potential for an accident to occur anytime an engine locks up at speed. I feel that these engines should be recalled and modified/repaired at gm's expense (there is an after-market kit available which is an indicator of the extent of the problem). The problem is that the engines can develop a leak near or under the throttle body area of the upper (plastic) intake manifold. The egr passage melts the upper intake plenum which results in an external (if you are lucky) or an internal water leak. If the leak is internal, the engine can almost instantly lock-up causing damage to the engine and potentially causing a catastrophic accident. My father-in-law's connecting rods were bent.
The consumer stated the intake manifold disintegrated. As a result anti- freeze leaked into the manifold and started to burn. Please provide additional information.
I noticed coolant in reservoir was disappearing with no visible exterior leaking. I filled it and watched it carefully over the next couple days. Within 20 miles I had used 2 quarts of coolant and then my ses light came on. I immediately took my car to the local repair shop. The mechanic checked it out and determined that no. 6 cylinder was taking in coolant. After removing the intake plenim he found a hole burned through the coolant jacket by the egr valve. Hopefully, my engine is o.k. But seems to have lost some mileage. This is obviously a defective part and I should be reimbursed. My total bill came to only $382.00 including the new plenim and gasket. (labor in town is a bargain). I have the old part and will provide it if requested.
Anti-freeze leak through the upper intake manifold past the egr valve and throttle body, engine ran hot, hydrostatic engine lock. Car had to be towed, upper intake manifold had to be replaced, spark plugs, and thermostat. Otal cost $685.75.
The sevice engine light came on and within a day or two my car kept needing coolant. I scheduled an appointment with a buick dealer but the next day the car wouldn't start. I had it towed to the dealer and within hours of getting there I was told there was an upper and lower internal manifold leak. The service person told me that he was familiar with the problem but would not say it was a design flaw. Why would a dealer carry a manifold that is a non-moving part but a cast piece of iron if this was not continual problem? I work in a foundry for caterpillar that makes cast blocks and heads and was told by an engineer this is a bad design.
The consumer stated that intake manifold failed, allowing coolant to get inside the engine. This cost $1200.00 to repair. The consumer called the manufacturer and spoke with a representative, who basically told him that they could not help. The consumer called the buick dealer and was told that this was a common problem and buick will not do anything about it. Buick service department told consumer they kept a number of them because of this problem. *ak when the consumer attempted to start the engine, the starter housing broke. The mechanic found the engine full of coolant and traced the problem to an upper intake failure due to heat from the egr passage eroding away the plastic manifold causing coolant to leak into the engine. The consumer requested reimbursement. *sc
While driving at 40 MPH consumer heard aloud noise coming from the engine and vehicle stalled. This caused the loss of steering, and the brakes. Dealer has been notified. An independent shop determined that engine needed to be replaced.
Consumer requesting reimbursement for repairs made to 1998 buick park avenue. *mr the engine cranked and there was a loud bang exactly as the recall stated. Following the bang was a loud noise and white smoke that had come from the tail pipe. Anti freeze entered the engine and mixed with the oil. The engine was re-manufactured. The service dealer stated that the intake manifold was defective. The fuel pressure regulator was defective as well. *sc
While driving at 50 MPH check engine light came on, showing that the coolant was low. Dealer examined the vehicle, and filled the reservoir with coolant. Between the dealership and the consumer's home coolant drained from the reservoir and the radiator. Vehicle was towed back to the dealer, who replaced the manifold, the gasket, and upper plenum on the engine.
Intake manifold defect causing engine destruction and failure, resulting in replacement of engine. 1998 buick park avenue 88947 miles.
Vehicle was parked in the garage and consumer noticed that coolant was leaking from underneath the vehicle. Consumer was able to drive the vehicle to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the intake manifold needed replacing due to a hole inside of the tube.
Intake manifold was leaking, resulting in a anti freeze leak over engine. Dealer has been contacted. *ak intake manifold, water pump, front rotors/pads, serpentine belt, tensioner pulley and plugs were replaced. *tt
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.
When making a turn in either on a straight " " direction the vehicle stalled. But the vehicle was restarted without a problem. *ak
Failure of plastic upper intake manifold on 1998 buick park avenue causing coolant to leak into engine cylinders. The repair bill cost $990. I have not seen any other manufacturer besides general motors construct their intake manifolds out of plastic. The servicing dealership noted that they are replacing an average of 3 plastic intake manifolds each week due to plastic failure and antifreeze leaking into the engine cylinders. I think this needs to be investigated as this engine (3.8 liter) and plastic intake manifold have been and continue to be used in multiple gm vehicles from at least 1996 through the present.
The plastic upper intake manifold developed an internal crack, which leaked coolant into the combustion cylinders. The 3.8l v6 engine shut down and then hydrolocked. It was repaired by a certified buick dealer. The day the vehicle was returned, within 20 miles of driving, the rear main bearing seal failed. The dealer felt it was caused by the coolant mixing with the oil. After this repair, the engine ran approximately 2000 miles and spun a main bearing, due to the coolant/oil mixture. This has been reported to buick. They feel it is not their problem.
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.
3.8l engine intake manifold leaked, causing engine coolant to foul spark plugs disabling the vehicle.
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.
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