Buick Park Avenue knocking problems

Filed Mar 30, 2011 · Fuel system · 99,000 miles · NY · fire

I own a 1999 buick pk ave. On feb 27, 2011 I had to move vehicle to plow snow. Low battery, attach booster pack and tried to start again. There was a loud backfire. Apparently the plenum had burst knocking off fuel line and I found my vehicle to be on fire. After putting out fire I contacted my ins co, who advised me that this damage was an exact description of a gm recall-tsb#03054b- and I should contact them. Gm advised me that the recall was done previously. I would have thought that this problem would not have happened if the supposed repair was actually done and the replacement parts were not also faulty. I feel gm should be responsible. I have saved all parts and am requesting an investigation into this matter. Another vehicle in my same area also has the same condition and fire - his car was burnt up. Something is definitely wrong and I am hoping there will be another investigation. Either in the repair parts if used or the dealerships repair habits confirming that no fraud was committed by said dealership.

Filed Mar 10, 2006 · Engine · 29,884 miles · IL

Dt*: the contact stated while driving at various speeds or at an idle, knocking noises came from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop for inspection. The mechanic determined the engine motor mounts were worn and needed to be replaced. The engine motor mounts were replaced by the independent repair shop.

Filed Jul 6, 2004 · Engine · MI

While driving at any speed consumer heard a loud knocking noise coming from the vehicle. Consumer drove the vehicle to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the engine needed to be replaced.

Filed Jun 23, 2004 · Engine · 87,425 miles · NC

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.

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 Sep 23, 2003 · Engine · 129,657 miles · NC

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.

Filed Aug 25, 2003 · Engine · 120,000 miles · IL

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!

Filed Jul 17, 2003 · Engine · 60,000 miles · PA

Anti-freeze leaked into the engine's oil. As a result, the vehicle lost power. The rod bearings, upper and lower intake manifolds were replaced. *jb there was severe damage to the engine, which caused the entire engine to be replaced. *ph

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 Oct 27, 2000 · Electrical · WA · fire · 1 injury

Vehicle caught fire with occupant locked in the vehicle. Car was being parked in the garage at home after a trip to the store. Fire caused vehicles door and window openers to fail. Since this incident I have heard of similar incidents in other vehicles. I am trying to determine if this is happening in other vehicles and what can be done to ensure that other people don't get locked in their vehicles when a fire starts and knocks out the door openers and windows. This would have been a fatality had my mother not spotted the smoke coming from the garage in time.please call or email me if you require further information.