While vehicle was in repair shop upper intake manifold exploded upon starting vehicle. Dealer and manufacturer were notified. Feel free to provide any further information.
1998 Pontiac Bonneville engine complaints
Page 7 of 8: complaints 161 to 190 of 200, newest first, as owners wrote them.
For the third time (18k miles, 79k miles, 129k miles) the intake manifold gasket has failed and allowed the engine to liquid lock by filling with coolant. First incident covered by warranty, second cost me $1,000 and now pontiac is willing to split the cost of the third repair. I contend it is a design defect, and should cost me nothing.
Engine check light came on, so I stopped the car added antifreeze, then the car wouldn't start back up, so I had it towed to a garage . The mechanic there found that there was a hole in the plasic upper plentium and antifreeze got in the motor, so now we are having to replace the whole motor.
After noticing engine running hotter than normal, checked radiator - coolant level was low, nothing in overflow reservoir. Antifreeze and water added to fill, restarted car - idled rough then check engine light came on and started blinking. Added additional water and antifreeze when radiator was again low and reservoir empty, then car would not start at all. Vehicle towed to dealer who stateed it is "hydro-locked" due to melted plenum allowing coolant into cylinders. Engine will have to be replaced or completely overhauled. Complaint made with pontiac, no reponse yet. Found several other consumer complaints regarding same issue on this site...also for grand prix, buick lesabre, park avenue and chevrolet malibu.
A hole or defect in the plentum (part # 17113136) of the manifold allowed coolant to be sucked into the pistons causing major damage to the engine and starter. After discovering the defect, the part was taken to a gm dealership and it was confirmed that this part has been replaced over 13 times in the past year due to a hole occurring in the exact same place allowing coolant to be sucked into the engine. Gm has not acknowledged any responsibility for this defective part and has refused to investigate further. The original dealership has been contacted and reluctantly acknowledged that they have replaced this part over 20 times in the past year.
Car heated up. The engine was shut down to cool. Antifreeze was low and added with no evidence of a leak. Car would not start and was towed to a garage. It was discovered that coolant had been sucked into the pistons due to a hole or defect in the plentum (part# 17113136) of the manifold. After discovering the defect in our part we found that this part has been replaced numerous times with the exact same defect by two dealerships in our area in the past year. After contacting pontiac/gm we have received no help for damages ($1,500.00) caused by this defective part and they have no intentions of having a recall per mr. Rafiat jimoh, customer relationship manager. Can a report be obtained of the number of times this part plentum #17113136 has been replaced in gm cars in the past year?
The vehicle broke down and caught on fire at the dealership, when they attempted to start the vehicle, there was a crack in the intake valave. Claim#13-9723-630
Intake manifold blew up and fire started in engine. Claim number 40-2468-798.
Vehicle was being jumped started with an external battery pack, when cranked there was an internal engine explosion, blew manifold cover off and injectors out. Claim number 35-w429-786.
The consumer heard explosion under the hood when the vehicle was started. Flames were coming out from under the vehicle. Claim number 25-5472-210.
When the consumer started the vehicle there was a loud pop and vehicle started smoking in engine compartment. Claim number 13-7560-177.
Consumer went to start vehicle, there was a loud pop noise and vehicle started smoking, fire in engine compartment, claim 13-7560-177.
While traveling at highway speeds engine check light came on, and temperature gauge went to high. Consumer drove car to a near by mechanic, and they poured antifreeze into engine compartment to cool vehicle down. *ak consumer stated, while he started the engine, white smoke poured from the exhaust, towed the vehicle to the dealer, dealer replaced engine but while testing the engine, the same problem appeared, dealer aware of the service bulletin, the upper intake manifold was replaced, which caused the problem.
Car is equipped with a plastic plenum that when the engine overheated/cracked and allowed antifreeze to enter the engine requiring replacement of engine. Our repairman found that this was the first year that pontiac used plastic for this component.
The vehicle's intake valve covers cracked and the coolant was sucked into the cylinders causing the engine to overheat and stall.
Vehicle has been stalling, first at slow speeds, and when making slow turns. Lately at speeds of 55-60 MPH. Taken to dealer 3 times, cannot find a problem.
Rod bearings for cylinders 1 and 2 failed due to lack of lubrication with recommended amount of oil in the vehicle. Gmc is not interested in finding the root cause. They have insinuated that we ran the vehicle without oil but can not explain why bearings for cylinders 3-6 show no signs of lack of lubrication. Gm is not offering any assistance although the vehicle is barely beyond warranty.
Vehicle stalled while in operation traveling at either low speeds/cold weather,/speeds above 65 MPH, and stop andgo traffic. Consumer has avoided 6 accidents due to this defect. Dealership has examined vehicle and could notdetermine cause of engine stalling. Please provide any additional information/attachments.
Traveling @65 MPH engine just shut off. Would not start until 3 hours later then it was hard to start. Problem was determined to be ground under passenger seat. Car still was hard to start now the deal claims it is the fuel pump regulator. Very upset with this experience. Other problems seem to have cropped up due to this ground problem such as alternator failure, headlights failing to the on positon, power windows would not work and of course the failure of the fuel regulator. This ground seems to be a major problem and I am surprised there has not yet been a recall. The common thread can be seen in the complaints lodged on your internet site.
Intake manifold blew up and a fire started in the engine, claim 40-2468-798.
Consumer attempted to start vehicle, it back fired and caught fire in the engine area, consumer states he heard an explosion under the hood when the vehicle was started, flames were coming out from under the vehicle, claim 25-5472-210.
From looking at the parts, it appears that a rod cap bolt failed allowing the rod to come loose and breaking the rod. The dealer described it as a grenade going off in the engine. This happened without warning. A noise suddenly rapidly developed and the car was immediatly stopped, but the engine was ruined costing $3000 to replace. I am thankful no one was injured. I sent information to pontiac, but they have been silent about it.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Engine failure caused the vehicle to stall on highway, and is unsafe. Yh
Vehicle was being jump started with an external battery pack, and when cranked there was an internal engine explosion, the manifold cover blew off and injector out, claim 35-w429-786.
While driving automobile suddenly cut off and had no power- engine shut down, and consumer had no use of the brakes, automobile drifted about 100 feet and came to a stop.after sitting for about 15 minutes, the automobile restarted.
There was a crack in the intake valve, vehicle broke down and caught on fire when they attempted to start vehicle, claim 13-9723-630.
On four occasions while driving at 40 MPH, the engine quit running which could have resulted in an collision. However, on one occasion the vehicle was taken to the dealer for repair,but no problems were found.
While driving in city at aprox 35mph warning light came on for emission control. Contacted dealer , who said that it was the transmission, and it was not under warranty. But vehicle needed a new transmission.
Intermittently the vehicle stall out and dies resulting in a loss of vehicle control. The vehicle will start up immediately after . The dealer has not been able to duplicate or correct. Mjs
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