1998 OLDSMOBILE 88 Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasoline Problems

IN FEBRUARY I WENT TO START MY ENGINE IN THE MORNING AND IT BLEW UP. I TURNED THE KEY, NO ENGINE TURNOVER BUT SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN I OPENED THE HOOD, FLAMES CAME OUT. THE FIRE DEPT. PUT OUT THE FIRE AND SAID THE CAR WAS TOTALLED. SOME OF THE VINYL SIDING ON MY HOUSE WAS SLIGHTLY MELTED.*AK

ENGINE AND OTHER PARTS WERE REPLACED ON APRIL 3RD 2002. VEHICLE TAKES 3-4 TRIES BEFORE STARTING. ALL COMMUNICATION LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON DASHBOARD AFTER IT STARTED UP. 5-10 MINUTES INTO DRIVING LIGHTS WENT OUT. DEALER WAS INFORMED OF PROBLEM.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CONTACTED DEALER.*JB

THE INSURED STATED THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE.*JB(CLAIM#04-8004-446)

ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE, CLAIM 04-8004-446. *SLC

THE ISURED'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING TO WORK WHEN THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE.*JB(CLAIM#24-5198-115)

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THERE WAS A LOUD POPPING SOUND AND THEN SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, THE INSURED THEN OPENED THE HOOD AND DISCOVERED THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE.*JB(CLAIM#38-J636-778)

THE VEHICLE STALLS AND SUDDENLY ACCELERATES WHILE DRIVING, THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLCATE THE PROBLEM, THIS PROBLEM CAUSES LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. NLM

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 24-5198-115. *SLC

CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE AND HEARD LOUD POPPING NOISES AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD, CONSUMER OPENED THE HOOD AND THERE WERE FLAMES, ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE, CLAIM 38-J636-778. *SLC

THE INSURED STATED THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE.*JB(CLAIM#04-8004-446)

THE ISURED'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING TO WORK WHEN THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE.*JB(CLAIM#24-5198-115)

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THERE WAS A LOUD POPPING SOUND AND THEN SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, THE INSURED THEN OPENED THE HOOD AND DISCOVERED THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE.*JB(CLAIM#38-J636-778)

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING, THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. NLM

ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE, CLAIM 04-8004-446. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 24-5198-115. *SLC

CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE AND HEARD LOUD POPPING NOISES AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD, CONSUMER OPENED THE HOOD AND THERE WERE FLAMES, ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE, CLAIM 38-J636-778. *SLC

ENGINE SPUTTERED AND SHUT DOWN CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES, ETC. FORTUNATE NOT TO HAVE HAPPENED AT HIGH SPEED OR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE ENGINE LOCKED UP COMPLETELY AND WOULD NOT RESTART. CAUSE WAS COOLANT LEAKAGE THROUGH CRACK IN PLENUM WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $700. THIS IS VERY LIKELY THE CAUSE OF THE FOLLOWING CONSUMER COMPLAINTS LISTED ON YOUR SITE: ODI ID'S - 553119, 883623, 886028, AND POSSIBLY OTHERS THAT WERE UNEXPLAINED. I ONLY SEARCHED FOR OLDS 88, BUT THE SAME ENGINE IS USED IN PONTIACS, AND OTHER GM MAKES. THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON ENOUGH TO HAVE BEEN LISTED BY THE AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE ASSOC. OF ARIZONA REPAIR SHOPS - SEE THEIR WEBSITE AND AN ARTICLE UNDER THE TITLE "COOLANT LEAKAGE" WHICH EXPLAINS THE PROBLEM VERY CLEARLY. THE PLENUM IS PLASTIC, AND IS SIMPLY SUBJECTED TO MORE ENGINE HEAT THAN IT CAN SAFELY...

VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, DEALER HAS SERVICED VEHICLE AND REPLACED VALVES IN THE EXHAUST, HOWEVER PROBLEM REOCCURRED.*AK *SLC

THE VEHICLE STALLS AND SUDDENLY ACCELERATES WHILE DRIVING, THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLCATE THE PROBLEM, THIS PROBLEM CAUSES LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. NLM

THE VEHICLE STALLS AND SUDDENLY ACCELERATES WHILE DRIVING, THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLCATE THE PROBLEM, THIS PROBLEM CAUSES LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. NLM

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE AND REPLACED VARIOUS COMPONENTS. HOWEVER, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK