Tl*the contact owns a 1998 oldsmobile 88 ls. The vehicle stalled and would not accelerate, the steering didn't lock and the airbag light illuminated. The failure mileage was 79,000. The failure occurred on six occasions. The dealer stated that they were unable to duplicate the problem. The contact stated that due to the safety risk involved the manufacturer should be able diagnose the failure. The current mileage was 80,435. *ak the consumer states has taken vehicle into dealer for 2 dianostics checks no failures found. Engine still continues to stall. Update *4/23/07tr
1998 Oldsmobile 88 engine complaints
Page 2 of 4: complaints 11 to 40 of 82, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Consumer smelled anti freeze fumes outside of the vehicle, leaking on the plastic intake manifold. Dealership will be notified. *ak the egr piping degraded and caused water to leak into the intake manifold.
My oldsmobile 88 was loosing anti-freeze. There was a recall on the fuel pressure regulator, so I took it in for recall repair and had the dealer check the coolant system. They said my intake manifold needed to be replaced at a cost of $1200. This is the second time I have had to have this done to the car. The intake manifold was replaced at 60000 miles.apparently the plastic manifold is not able to handle the heat. My car has never overheated and this should not be happening. I have 133,000 miles on the vehicle and should not have had to replace this manifold twice.
Ltr to gm reimbursement for repair on recall defect of intake manifold on 1998 oldsmobile eighty-eight. *bf the vehicle intake manifold failed prior to recall notification. When the consumer started the vehicle it backfired and shut off. The consumer attempted to restart the vehicle several times without success.
While the vehicle was parked, the consumer noticed that a liquid was leaking from underneath the vehicle. Also, while applying the brakes the pedal did not go to the floor. The braking power was less than normal. Consumer took vehicle to dealer for inspection, and the mechanic determined that the oil pan gasket and front brake pads needed to be replaced. *ak *er
While driving,\ the check engine light flashed on the dashboard and remained on. Then, the vehicle stalled. Driver was unable to restart vehicle. Noticed that coolant leaked from underneath the vehicle. It was towed to the dealer, and mechanic determined that the intake manifold needed replacement. Driver informed the mechanic that this problem occurred more than once ,and has not been resolved.
Consumer received a recall letter regarding the fuel pressure regulator. Prior to receiving the recall letter consumer's vehicle experienced failure of the engine intake manifold. Consumer is requesting reimbursement of expenses incurred to repair vehicle prior to receiving recall notification letter.
While driving on a national highway. The engine locked up. Also water was in the cylinders, which caused the engine to lock and the starter to fail. Please provide any further information.
The manifold on the consumers vehicle was replaced at his expense one year ago and now there is a recall on the fuel pressure regulator, which the consumer believed somehow affected the manifold. Gm stated the defect did not affect his vehicle. *jb after the engine was warmed and started, it would take a couple of tries and then the vehicle would surge when starting. The fuel pressure was leaking. The vehicle continued to lose coolant. *sc
Consumer took the vehicle to the dealer because the check engine light came on. After having a dianostic test done repairs weres done to rectify the problem. Mechanic told the consumer that a recall was issued.
While driving 55 MPH vehicle stalled. Consumer restarted the vehicle, and drove it home. Consumer will contact the dealer in the near future.
I purchased a 1998 oldsmobile 88 in march of 2003, I put new wiring on the vehicle approximately in december after I had the vehicle checked because the check-engine light was on. The check-engine light started coming on again and the car was using all the water about every 10 miles, I took the car to a repair shop where they told me that there was a problem with the intake manifold. After leaving the repair shop, I stopped by a store and was inside about five minutes and the car wouldn't start right away, I had to try starting numerous times before it would start. On my way back home the car slowed to about 40 MPH and wouldn't go any faster, even with the gas to the floor; it would only get slower. After getting back home, the car wouldn't crank back up at all; it wouldn't even turn over. I bought the car back home that same day and checked the internet for any recalls on the vehicle and noticed that there was a recall in february 2004.
In october of 2003, my check engine light on my oldsmobile 88ls, 3.8 series two engine, came on. The car had a loss of power and started running rough. Before I got the car stopped the engine quit. I looked under the hood to see water running out of the gaskets. I checked the radiator to find no water and also noticed the overflow tank had none. I pulled the dipstick to find all the remaining water to be in the oil. The vehicle was towed under and extended warranty to the dealer of which it was puchased to find that the upper intake had either cracked or burst. The dealer refered to the damaged part as a plentium. This occured at 89,000 miles. The dealer replaced the damaged part and put the engine back together. The dealer advised me to keep a watch on the car to see if any changes develop. At the first three thousand mile oil change the vehicle had lost oil and I also added water to the radiator. The vehicle was also back to the dealer before the oil change for loss of gas mileage and a few other concerns. When I arrived at the dealer for the oil change they pressure tested the engine and asked that I leave the vehicle for them to check out a detected problem during the pressure test. The repairs done during this time involved the gaskets again, and also the heads where warped and they repaired them. At 106,000 miles the dealer requested that I replace the engine. The dealer tested the engine again to determine an internal coolant leak. Now the car has a loss of water and also has started to burn some oil. There are numerous amounts of complaints about this same problem with this engine and something needs to be done. This particular engine is in all oldsmobile, buick, pontiac, and chevrolet made vehicles. All the owners of these vehicles need some assistance.
Car overheated without any visible signs of this but the red area of the gauge then the check eng light came on. Pulled to side of the road, checked it got it cooled down, then proceeded to the very next rd to gas station for better view of what was going on. Got to it very quickly and the temp was back up. Stopped let it cool and added water to the now empty resovair that was full when we started the trip. And no signs of leakage and no boiling over, let it cool. Added water. Then tried to crank it up, it would not. Had to have it towed to dealer, thought eng had locked up. Was told their was a feature to this car that shuts down the eng when a leak like this occurs. Wondering how many other people are taken because they thought the eng was gone......and it was not. But it somehow damaged the starter when all this happened. I had a mechanic check out the car before we left on this trip, had the oil changed and everything. But something went wrong when the leak, and running hot occured. Not sure how it messed up the starter. But also know since it shuts the eng down, locks it up, how many people are having to get a new eng cause their person did not know about this feature as well.
1998 olds lss with 79,000 miles. Engine stalled while driving to work. Dealer diagnosis revealed that most of the coolant had entered the engine through a cracked intake manifold. Stall condition was due to collant in the cylinders. Dealer cited the problem as stress cracking. Intake manifold was replaced. A second, intermittant problem is that the engine will shut off during normal driving. It restarts fine. This happens approximately 1-2 times per week and started about 6 months ago. There are no diagnostics codes set and no one can tell me for certain what causes this. I did change the fuel filter, but that did not solve the problem.
While driving less than 35 MPH, the consumer noticed the vehicle did not gain any speed, followed by the engine losing power. The vehicle was towed to a technician who then informed the consumer that the manifold needed to be replaced. Please provide details.
In early 1998, I purchased a 1998 oldsmobile eighty-eight brand new from reliable oldsmobile dealership in cleveland, oh. Although the car is a few years old, the problem I am complaining about began around may 1998. I went to the dealership on numerous occasions complaining about excessive, loud noises that were coming from the engine. The first time I went was june 1, 1998. Each time the dealership tried fixing or doing something different, but they never fixed the problem. I endured the noise and the problem because I did not know of anything else to do. While traveling from georgia to ohio last summer (2003), the car finally broke down. The dealership in tennessee determined that the problem was a defective tension pulley. This defective pulley also caused an extensive amount of residural damage to the engine. This was the noise I was hearing . When I contacted the general motors company (the oldsmobile division has shut down), they ignored me except for telling me that my warranty had expired. I recognize that it has expired. However, the problem arose long before the warranty expired and could have been fixed long before it expired but for the oldsmobile dealership's failure to properly diagnose the problem. I do not think it is fair that a dealership can fail (deliberately or not) to diagnose a problem covered by the warranty while the warranty is in effect and then scream that the warranty has expired. Particularly, after one of its own dealership diagnosed the problem. If the dealership in tennessee could diagnose it, then the one in ohio should have been able to do so as well. I wish to be reimbursed for the cost of this repair, which was $1944.67. I am not asking for the cost of the hotel room and the wages I missed, but it should have to pay for that as well.
The consumer noticed that every week he/she was pouring one gallon of coolant into the vehicle. The was taken to the dealer and technician stated the intake manifold was cracked and needed to be replaced. Please provide further information.
While driving there was an explosion in the engine compartment which blew the intake manifold apart. Please provide any additional information.
Transmission: upper plate gasket went, causing gear slippage at high speeds which gradually became worse in the lower gears. Transmission replaced under warrenty. Transmission was replaced with a rebuilt unit which is now exhibiting much of the same slippage at high speeds (only minorly at the moment) @ 156,000km. Engine: first engine had the egr/exhaust design defect that causes the intake manifold to melt and coolant to poor into the engine. Report from the shop was that entire bottom end was destroyed by the coolant, and a full new engine had to be ordered (complete with accessories, etc.). The new engine's idler for the serpentine had the bearing cease, knocking the belt off. Since the waterpump was belt driven, the engine overheated. The car was left to idle in the parking lot for a total time of ~ 5-15min. (the temperature out was somewhere around -40c / -40f.). Brakes: perhaps cronically undersized for this vehicle, rotors have warped like clockwork every 30,000km. They are currently warped approaching 160,000km and will need to be replaced --- again --- shortly. This is not a car that see's much heavy use. Groceries on weekends, ~ 15-20km max. Total daily trip during workdays. It has yet to accomplish an extended road trip (I.e., north bay -> ottawa or north bay -> toronto, 4 hours (~400km) and 3 hours (~300km) respectively) without the 'check engine' light being lit. Additional recollection: front fog lights constantly filling with condensation as well, have been replaced 4-5 times while under warrenty. No solution was found and now they're just not used.
1) aug. 2000 generator failure 2) aug. 2002 both rear wheel cylinders replaced 3) oct. 2003 coolant leaking : replaced leaking water pump. Intake manifold also leaking but not replaced at this time due to cost. 3.8l v6
Gm has a plastic plenum/manifold on their cars that become defective after 60 to 70 thousand miles. Due to the heat that the manifold is exposed to, the part will than leak. When this part was made from aluminum it would not cause these problems. I have replace this part 2 times in 2 1/2 years. Gm will not help with the bills because I have over a hundred thousand miles. But the part only has 65 thousand miles on it. I have gone to 2 auto repair shops and all I tell them is I am losing coolant and they know what the problem is. They said they replace these often. They replace these so often that now there is a after market that this part can be purchased from. My husband is a mechanic and knows what to look for on our regular maintenance, and that is how this was found. If people don't catch this coolant loss in time they could blow their engine. If people are not aware of this problem how can they watch for it?
Leaking coolant from water pump and from intake manifold.
The consumer noticed the intake manifold had a crack, which caused fluids to leak out. *ak *scc
While merging into interstate rush hour traffic with no warning engine failed causing lost of braking and steering effectiveness. No warning was received. Vehicle was towed to dealer and upper intake was found cracked allowing coolant to enter combustion chamber. One week and $800.00 later car was "repaired" vehicle continues to experience fuel delivery problems. Hard starting, random stalling. Dealer advised me this is a common problem with the 3800 series ii engine regardless of mileage or type of use and maintenance. Considering the sudden lost of all power this is very dangerous as braking and steering effectiveness is reduced as is electrical power for accessories such as headlamps and windshield wipers.
Fractured plastic (!) intake manifold (upper plenum) resulting in loss of coolant over the course of about four weeks until the problem was finally diagnosed. Had to have this problem analyzed and eventually remedied at a cost of around $700.00 total. Why on earth is this crucial component plastic?
Intake manifold failed. Coolant leaked inside the engine. Dealer notified. Oldsmobile delta 88,1988.
When starting the vehicle, the intake manifold had blewout and caused the vehicle to be non drivable. The dealer was notified. *ak *scc *jb the "explosion" woke up the neighbors. There was smoke but no fire. Bby
Coolant leak into engine caused car to run extremely rough to the point of having to stop. The car would not restart. Had it towed to a repair shop. The engine had seized due to coolant leak resulting in damage to the head gaskets. The head gaskets along with the upped plenum had to be replaced at a cost of $1100. After research on your sight, I found this problem on several other 1998 olds 88 cars. I also found that a technical bulletin had been issued to dealers about this problem. Why wasn't this problem with the upper plenum that is referenced in the technical bulletin sent to owners of these vehicles. I found the many other model of gm cars also use the 3800 engine with a plastic upper plenum that can crack over time from excessive heat.
Car was running rough, esp. On starting. Made appointment with dealer who couldn't look at it for a week. We realized it was losing coolant, but there was no apparent leakage under the car or hood, etc. Filled with coolant, drove approx. 4 miles then engine light came on and stayed on. Checked oil and it was over "full". Called the dealer back with the new symptoms and was told it was a common problem with this type of car to have coolant leak into the oil (then into engine) and it probably needed manifold work $600.--$700. Had car towed to dealer where they found the manifold did need to be replaced. In researching, we have found that this is a common problem in 88's and sometime results in engine fires. We are wondering why there hasn't been a recall and why would the manufacturer use plastic in engine parts!?
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