1998 OLDSMOBILE 98 Engine And Engine Coolingengine Problems

BOUGHT MY 1998 OLDSMOBILE REGENCY IN JULY OF 2005 WITH 78000 MILES ON IT. MARCH OF 2006 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF. THE COOLANT WAS BONE DRY UPON INSPECTION BY SELF. THERE WERE NO VISIBLE LEAKS. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO HAD TO REPLACE THE PLENUM AT A COST OF $533.00. THE PLENUM HAD CRACKED AND COOLANT RAN INTO THE #3 CYLINDER. I THEN HAD TO HAVE THE FUEL INJECTORS CLEANED AT THE DEALER WHO CHARGED ME $170.00 FOR THAT JOB. NOW I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE ANTI-THEFT LOCK SYSTEM. MY SECURITY LIGHT KEEPS COMING AND GOING AND MY CAR WON'T RECOGNIZE MY KEY. WHEN THIS HAPPENS ABOUT (EVERY 3RD START LATELY) THE FUEL SYSTEM AND THE STARTER SHUT DOWN FOR 3 MINUTES. IT DOESN'T ALWAYS START AFTER I WAIT 3 OR 4 MINUTES EITHER, SO I HAVE TO SIT AND WAIT...

INTAKE MANIFOLD, MADE OF PLASTIC, RUPTURED DUMPING COOLANT INTO CYLINDERS. RESULTED IN INSTANTANEOUS STOPPAGE OF ENGINE AND LOSS OF POWER STEERING. COULD EASILY HAVE LED TO WRECK. *AK MECHANIC AT FIRST GM DEALER CONTACTED DIAGNOSED PROBLEM SIGHT UNSEEN AS IT IS A KNOWN COMMON PROBLEM. GM STRONGLY SUGGESTED HAVING WORK DONE AT A DEALERSHIP SO THEY COULD MAKE "ADJUSTMENTS" TO THE REPAIR BILL. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER, NO "ADJUSTMENTS" WERE MADE, TOWING BILL WAS EXHORBITANT, AND REPAIR BILL WAS 30% HIGHER THAN QUOTED BY INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. DEFECTIVE PART IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION (IN MY POSSESSION).

CONSUMER WAS GETTING A CLUNK AT TIMES WHEN BRAKING AND ALSO WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE. DEALER SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE AN ENGINE MOUNT, WHICH IS A LOOSE CRADLE BOLT. *YD

TIRES WORE OUT EVERY 22,000 MILES. ALSO, ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT, AND OIL WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. *AK