1998 BUICK LESABRE Engine And Engine Coolingengine Problems

BOUGHT A USED (2 OWNER) BUICK LESABRE IN DEC '08 HAVING 37,428 . IN EARLY MARCH, '09, AFTER LESS THAN 4000 MILES, STARTED HEARING A BRIEF GURGLING WHEN ENGINE TURNED OFF. IN MID-MARCH, WHILE PULLING ONTO A HIGHWAY FROM A SLIGHT UPWARD GRADE THE VEHICLE LOST POWER, AND A DRIVE TRAIN VIBRATION TOOK PLACE FOR A FEW SECONDS....NEARLY CAUSING AN ONCOMING TRUCK TO COLLIDE WITH US.TOOK VEHICLE INTO A NATIONAL FRANCHISED TRANSMISSION DEALER FOR CHECKUP...TRANSMISSION CHECKED OK. HOWEVER, TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED RADIATOR FLUID IN MANIFOLD INTAKE AREA. SUSPECTING LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD SEAL AND/OR CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD COVER. NEED TO USE THE VEHICLE, BUT HAVE TO WAIT FOR REPAIR UNTIL MONEY CAN BE PUT TOGETHER. AM A DISABLED EX MARINE,VIETNAM VET.. SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PUT UP WITH THIS PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT LOOKS LIKE A VERY PREVALENT ONE ,BASED ON WHAT IS ON THE NET. REPLACEMENT PART IS ONLY 140.00 THROUGH A...

MY WIFE DRIVES A 1998 BUICK LESABRE. SHE HAS A DISABILITY AND IS PACEMAKER-DEPENDENT. ON 5-17-2005 SHE WAS ENROUTE ON THE HIGHWAY TOWARD OUR TOWN IN THE BUICK WHEN IT STARTED RUNNING HOT. FORTUNATELY, SHE WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT BACK TO OUR TOWN, WHERE SHE THEN PULLED OVER IN A WAL-MART PARKING LOT. HOWEVER, SHE BECAME VERY STRESSED OVER THE SITUATION BECAUSE THE TEMPERATURE GUAGE HAD GONE WELL INTO THE RED BUT SHE WAS AFRAID TO PULL OVER FOR FEAR OF BECOMING STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY. AS IT TURNS OUT, THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM IS A FAILED PLENUM, AN ISSUE WHICH OCCURS FREQUENTLY WITH THE GM 3800 ENGINE. I SUBMIT TO YOU THAT THIS PROBLEM IS WELL-KNOWN TO THE MANUFACTURER, THE NHTSA, AND MANY MECHANICS AND REPAIR SHOPS. THE SAFETY PROBLEM COMES FROM THE FACT THAT (AS FAR AS I AM AWARE) THERE HAVE BEEN NO WARNINGS ISSUED...

VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER PULLED OVER. DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE CHEVROLET DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT WATER GOT INTO THE ENGINE BLOCK AND LOCKED IT UP. THEY REMOVED AND REPLACED THE(MANIFOLD) PLENUM WITH ALL NEW GASKETS, NEW OIL, ANTI FREEZE AND NEW SPARK PLUGS. *BF *NM

1998 BUICK LESABRE. PLENUM GASKET ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILS AND ALLOWS COOLANT TO GET INTO ENGINE. THEN ENGINE DIES IN THE ROAD CAUSING PEOPLE TO SLAM ON BREAKS. NO WRECKS. THIS IS A WELL KNOW PROBLEM WITH LESABRE'S BUT BUICK HAS FAILED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I HAD TO PAY $1200 TO FIX CAR AND IT NOW PROBABLY HAS ENGINE DAMAGE. I WOULD LIKE BUICK TO COME FORWARD WITH THIS AND LET PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT IT. THIS HAS TO STOP! *NM

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN MY 1998 BUICK LESABRE AND I PULLED OVER TO DISCOVER THAT THERE WAS LOW LEVELS OF COOLANT. IT HAD JUST BEEN CHECKED 2 MONTHS EARLIER AT AN OIL CHANGE AND THE WEEK BRFORE WHEN I GOT GAS. I ADDED COOLANT AND GOT BACK ON THE ROAD. AFTER 5 MILES THE CAR QUIT RUNNING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. I HAD IT TOWED TO A BUICK DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAILED PLENUM THAT ALLOWED COOLANT TO FOUL THE PLUGS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE PLENUM, FOULED PLUGS, COOLANT, AND OIL FOR $800.00 DOLLARS. *AK

VEHICLE RETURNED FOR INSPECTION WITH REGARD TO 04V090 12/13/04 COMPLAINTS POOR PERFORMANCE, FUEL ECONOMY, HARD STARTING, AND USE OF DEXCOOL ANTI-FREEZE SINCE RECALL PERFORMED. DECOOL ANTI-FREEZE ENTERING THE INTAKE MANIFOLD OF ENGINE, AND ENGINE OILING SYSTEM FROM FAILURE OR RUPTURE OF UPPER INTAKE PLENUM NEAR EGR PASSAGE. ANTI-FREEZE HAS FILLED ENGINE LIFTERS CAUSING NOISE/FAILURE, FILLING COMBUSTION CHAMBER CAUSING HYDRO-LOCKING OF ENGINE, COULD CAUSE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF ENGINE RESULTING IN POSSIBLE FIRE OR ACCIDENT. DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR UNDER 04V090 MANIFOLD OVER PRESSURE CONDITION STATED REPLACEMENT OF UPPER & LOWER INTAKE, LIFTER, PLUGS, OIL, ANTI-FREEZE AT A COST OF $1,150 ON VEHICLE THAT HAD 77,827 WHEN THE RECALL WAS DONE, AND NOW HAS 80,407 MI. WHICH IS LESS THEN 3,000. THIS COULD VERY WELL HAVE HYDRO-LOCKED THE ENGINE AT FREEWAY SPEED,OR CAUSED CATASTROPHIC FAILURE RESULTING IN SEVERE DAMAGE, INJURY, AND POSSIBLE FIRE FROM ENGINE OIL & FUEL HITTING THE HOT CATALYTIC...

CONSUMER INQUIRED AS TO WHY THE RECALL ON PARK AVENUE WITH 3800 V6 ENGINES EXTENDED TO THE LESABRE AS WELL. *PH THE BUICK PARK AVENUE AND BUICK LESABRE ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE SAME ENGINE. THE CONSUMER SAW RECALL 03V473000 FOR THE PARK AVENUE AND WONDERED WHY THE LESABRE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *NM

WHILE PLACING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE A LOUD POPPING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR. THEN, VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE INTAKE EXHAUST MANIFOLD SYSTEM, AND A HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK. ALSO, EXHAUST MANIFOLD COVER BLEW OFF.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH CONSUMER NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE WATER PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED IT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

THE VEHICLE'S PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED WHICH RESULTED IN WATER GETTING INSIDE THE CRANKCASE. *NM THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT BECAUSE SHE FOUND OUT THAT THE PART HAD BEEN RECALL TWO YEARS AGO. *NM

WHILE DRIVING ON MY WAY TO WORK THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOW AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I PULLED OVER AND ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR AND THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. I CALLED MY AUTO CLUB FOR A TOW AND THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A CONNOCO STATION IN PARK RAPIDS. THEY IMMEDIATLY KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, STATING THEY SEE A LOT OF THE 3800 ENGINES DO THIS. THE INTAKE PLENUM ROTTED AWAY ALLOWING COOLANT TO FILL A CYLINDER AND STALL THE ENGINE. GM HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLITIN FOR THE PROBLEM, BUT NO RECALL. THIS COULD BE A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN WITH LOSS OF POWER TO THE ENGINE THE STEERING AND BRAKES WILL NOT FUNCTION AS THEY SHOULD. *AK

THIS IS A ENGINE PROBLEM WITH WHAT I BELIEVE WAS A BAD PART DESIGN. THE PART IS FAILURE OF INTAKE PLENUM. THE EGR PIPE FROM THE ENGINE COMES THROUGH THE PLASTIC INTAKE. THERE IS A LOT OF HEAT GENERATED AT THIS POINT. OVER A PERIOD OF TIME A HOLE IS BURNED THROUGH THE INTAKE. THIS FLOODS THE ENGINE WITH COOLANT. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE NEW. THE FIRST TIME THE PROBLEM OCCURED AT 59,000 MILES. I HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT A COST OF $1100.00. I ASKED THE DEALER ABOUT THIS. THE REPONSE WAS . YES WE KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE K ENGINE BUT THE FACTORY HAS NOT CALLED FOR A RECALL. AT 113,577 MILES THE PROBLEM OCCURED AGAIN. I AGAIN HAD THE ENGINE REPAIRED AT A COST OF $1140.93. AGAIN I ASKED THE DEALER ABOUT THIS. I WAS TOLD THAT A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS SENT OUT IN...

1998 BUICK LESABRE STALLED AT A STOPLIGHT AND WOULDN'T START. AFTER HAVING THE PROBLEM DIAGNOSED AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD REMOVED, WATER WAS DISCOVERED IN THE INTAKE AND IN THE CYLINDERS.

PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD WARPED ALLOWING COOLANT TO LEAK THROUGH ENGINE BLOCK AND HYDROLOCKED ENGINE. CALL TO LOCAL BUICK DEALER COMFIRMS THIS IS NOT ISOLATED DEFECT. THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AS I WAS ENTERING THE HIGHWAY. MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO ADMIT RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEFECTIVE PART. MY COST $879.98. POSSIBLE FUTURE ENGINE DAMAGE.*AK

THE MANIFOLD WARPED, WHICH CAUSED COOLANT TO SPILL INTO THE ENGINE. AS A RESULT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB *JB

WHEN ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DRIVER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE ENGINE MANIFOLD UPPER INTAKE VALVE. *JB (MANIFOLD AND GASKETS MALFUNCTIONED) THE OIL PAN AND VALVE COVE WAS REPLACED. THERE WAS ALSO A FUEL INJECTOR PROBLEM. THE DEALER FOUND THE #4 CYLINDER MISFIRING WITH NO FUEL DROP. *SC

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 75, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR SUDDENLY SLOWED DOWN AND STOPPED (I HAD TO QUICKLY MOVE TO THE SHOULDER). NOTICED NO COOLANT IN THE COOLANT RESERVOIR. TOWED IT TO THE GMC DEALER. SERVICE MANAGER REMARKS: DUE TO ANTIFREEZE LEAK FROM MANIFOLD GASKET ALL FLUIDS WENT THROUGH ENGINE BLOCK AND HYDROLOCKED THE ENGINE AND CAUSING IT TO SHUT DOWN. (THE SERVICE MANAGER INDICATED THAT THEY HAD TO SEVERAL BUICK LESABRE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM). AT LEAST I AM LUCKY THAT THIS PERSON KNEW WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM WITHOUT SPECULATION. I HAVE HEARD OTHERS WERE NOT THAT LUCKY AT OTHER DEALER PLACE WHERE THEY COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IS THE PROBLEM EXCEPT SPECULATING ON THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. ALL I WANT IS THAT THE GMC COMPANY PAY FOR THE REPAIRS OR REIMBURSE FOR THE REPAIRS CAUSED BY THEIR POOR TECHNICAL WORKMANSHIP. *AK

THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD AT OWNER'S EXPENSE OF $985.00. *AK

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION. THERE WAS A BREAKAGE IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND MELTING ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE ENGINE DUMPING SHROUD. A SMALL FIRE WAS BURNED ON THE ENGINE BLOCK WHEN THE SHROUD WAS REMOVED. *AK *SC *JB

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKED COOLANT INTO THE CYLINDERS. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE STALLED. *AK *TS *NLM

CONSUMER STATED WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH ALL DASHBOARD INDICATORS STARTED FLASHING, AND ENGINE STALLED. *AK

WHEN CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE, BLACK SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM THE REAR OF VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONSUMER PULLED OUT INTO THE TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS REPAIRED.*AK *TS *JB

THE CHECK ENGINE SOON LIGHT HAD COME ON. THE VEHICLE LOOKED AS IF IT WAS LEAKING COOLANT, HOWEVER NO COOLANT WAS FOUND LEAKING. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP, THEY FOUND AN INTERNAL LEAK. THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE PLASTIC PLENUM INTAKE. *AK *SCC

ON 07/21/03 MY 1998 BUICK LESABRE (VIN [XXX]), SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT PRIOR SYMPTOMS, BEGAN TO RUN EXTREMELY ROUGH AND THE ENGINE STALLED AND WAS UNABLE TO BE RE-STARTED. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD BEFORE THE ENGINE STALLED. I AM NOW SADDLED WITH A $2,000 REPAIR BILL  ALL, APPARENTLY, AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE OF THE PLASTIC GM PLENUM. THE PLENUMS FAILURE CAUSED OTHER FAILURES WITHIN THE ENGINE (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE AND THE STARTER). ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC THAT SERVICED THE VEHICLE, THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON IN GM VEHICLES THAT UTILIZE THE PLASTIC PLENUM. I WOULD SEEK RESTITUTION FROM GENERAL MOTORS FOR WHAT APPEARS TO BE A HISTORICAL AND SYSTEMIC FAILURE OF THIS PLASTIC PLENUM RESULTING IN EXTRAORDINARY ENGINE REPAIRS.*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

CONSUMER PARKED VEHICLE AFTER DRIVING WITH NO SIGNS OF MECHANICAL TROUBLE. THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO CAR AND ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED, WHICH CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK, WHICH RESULTED IN ENGINE FAILURE. *AK *CB

VEHICLE FIRE/ VEHICLE DESTROYED. *MR ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, PRIOR TO FIRE, VEHICLE WOULD SURGE THEN DIE OUT AT BOTH STOPS AND WHEN SLOWING DOWN. ALSO ENGINE HAD A WHINING NOISE. DEALER REPLACED GENERATOR ASSEMBLY. FUEL FILTER ALSO REPLACED. CLEANED THROTTLE BODY. BRAKES MADE SQUEALING NOISE. REAR BRAKES CLEANED AND ADJUSTED. THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE IN THE RIGHT REAR AFTER HOT AT STOPS. EXHAUST SYSTEM MISALIGNED. THE MIRROR COMPASS AND REAR WINDOW WERE ALSO INOPERATIVE. VEHICLE WAS ALSO INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT PRIOR TO FIRE. *TT

I PURCHASED A '98 BUICK LESABRE - FROM MY BROTHER-IN_LAW, IT ONLY HAD 70,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THE HEAD GASKET BLEW CAUSING ME TO REBUILD THE TOP SECTION OF THE MOTOR--THEN AFTER THAT WAS FIXED AND I DROVE THE CAR FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 MONTHS MORE -- THE BOTTOM PART OF THE ENGINE BLEW--AND I HAD TO REPLACE THE COMPLETE ENGINE NOT KNOWING WHAT CAUSED THIS PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS ALWAYS MAINTAINED BY THE DEALERSHIP "BOYLE BUICK" IN BEL AIR, MD. *JB

THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD MELTED INSIDE THE ENGINE. *JB THE VEHICLE WAS MISSING AND WAS SMOKING. NEW MANIFOLD AND PLUG WIRES WERE ADDED. *SC

CAR REFUSES TO CRANK SOMETIMES, WAIT 45 MIN-1 HOUR, THEN IT WILL CRANK. ALSO, SLOWING DOWN TO STOP AND CAR JUST DIES, REFUSES TO CRANK, AGAIN WAIT 45 MINUTES - 1 HOUR AND IT WILL CRANK. THIS IS HAPPENING EVERY 2 WEEKS-1 MONTH. I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT FIRING, BUT COULD IT BE SOMETHING TO DO WITH FUEL SYSTEM? DEALER KEPT FOR 2 DAYS AND COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. BUICK SAID THEY HAD NOT HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. *JB

THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE.*JB

THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED SOME PARTS WHILE VEHICLE WAS WARMING UP.*JB

THE ENGINE FAILED.*DT *JB

THE VEHICLE WAS HARD TO START, CONSUMER HEARD A POP NOISE, AND THE ENGINE STARTED TO RUN ROUGH. CONSUMER STATED MAYBE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET.*JB

THE BATTERY WAS LOW, TRIED STARTING THE MOTOR A FEW TIMES IN THE MORNING. AFTER WAITING ALL DAY, CHARGED THE BATTERY BACK UP TO NORMAL AND STARTED THE CAR. A LOUD BANG AND FLASH WAS NOTED AND THEN THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH AN EXTINGUISHER. THERE WAS A BACK FIRE IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, WHICH IS MADE OF PLASTIC AND IT EXPLODED CASUSING THE ENGINE TO CATCH FIRE. VISUAL DAMAGED CAUSED BY THE FIRE WAS TO THE FUEL LINE, AIR LINE AND WIRE HARNESS. VEHICLE IS 4.5 YEARS OLD AND ONLY HAS 23,000 MILES ON IT.*JB

THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS CONSUMER ALSO HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE STARTER NOT DISENGAGING. *JG

CONSUMER NOTICED THE VEHICLE EXCESSIVE ANTIFREEZER CONSUMPTION EVERY 300 MILES, THE RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY ALL THE TIME. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

ENGINE IN OUR CAR BLEW A HEAD GASKET, OUR MECHANIC SAID HE HAS HAD TO WORK ON 4 ADDITIONAL CARS THE SAME MODEL AS OURS, WE FEEL THIS MAY BE A PROBLEM, AND THAT THE ENGINE SHOULD NOT FAIL AT THIS PARTICULAR MILAGE.*AK

WHEN GOING DOWN A STEEP HILL AND TRYING TO BRAKE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. ALSO, ENGINECHECK LIGHT CAME ON AS THOUGH VEHICLE HAS OVERHEATED. A BULLETIN WAS GIVEN TO OWNER BY A PARK RANGER AT MT. WASHINGTON. THE BULLETIN WAS ABOUT A PROBLEM WITH THE INERTIA SWITCH. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

SERPENTINE BELT FLIPPED OFF PULLEY BECAUSE CRANK PULLEY IS BENT AT INNER GROVE BELT. YH

WHILE DRIVING AT 20-25 MPH, GOING DOWN HILL, PUT THE VEHICLE IN FIRST GEAR AND THE ENGINE STALLED. CONTACTED DEALER, AND TESTS WERE RAN. STATED VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN STOPPED BEFORE CHANGING GEARS. GMC CONTACTED AND CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK *ML