Comments: 1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-55
1998 Buick Le Sabre 3.8 95,000 miles
Three days ago I noticed the coolant level about about an inch low in the reservoir so I topped it off. Never had any problems otherwise. I use 89octane gas, and all fluids changed on time. Today on the highway the check engine light started blinking. I pulled over at rest stop about two miles after. Reservoir was empty, radiator was cold and empty and engine itself was slightly (I'm hoped) overheated. Instantly assumed it was a blown head gasket. Added coolant to radiator until full and went to start it long enough to limp into a parking spot. Engine was hydro-locked. Thought definitely a head gasket. Got it towed home and pulled spark plugs. Numbers 1 and 3 cylinders completely full of coolant. I got myself mentally prepped for a complete head gasket job. Came home checked online and found out about this problem. I am really hoping I don't need to take the heads off, and I'm praying I didn't cook them during the ordeal if they weren't already toast to begin with. Can someone please recommend a good supplier of an effective repair part for this problem? I don't want to spend the cash on another plastic intake with the same faults. I've seen the metal repair kits and they look pretty nice, but I don't know who to buy it from. Any help would be great. Thanks! vwzach182@yahoo.com.
1998 Buick La Sabre Limited.
98K. Engine error. Did not find the reason yet. But after go through the information post here, I believe it is intake problem.
I found there was a recall here:
Http://www.car.com/content/own/service/index.cfm/action/RecallsView/seriesid/7708.
Hope it is useful for all of us.
I have had the same problem. Everyone said blown head gasket (not an auto service station). Can't afford to take to shop, so boyfriend attempting to fix. Purchase head gasket kit & new head bolts, about $300. He thought he fixed, still white smoke, then found out he missed the back head(not sure what called), so he tore down again and fixed once again. A couple things he found was a blockage in one of the holes in the head (rubbery solid), the second time on the back portion there is a plastic L shaped connector for hoses and the sections above the O-ring broke and were inside, he found and removed. After "fixed" the second time, it ran for about 10-15 minutes, then we heard a loud sound, white smoke poured out of the tailpipe and it died. When I purchased in May of 2004, a month later had the problem with the upper intake manifold plenum and dealer fixed (not without cost), so I didn't think this was the problem this time. When it occurred (have over 130,000 miles), car felt like it was pulling while driving, then when I went to park the car, the over-temp light came on, turned off car, when cooled added water, tried to drive home, died after about 1/4 mile. Now after 2nd attempt, Ron is going to pull the plugs to see which cylinder has the water, but I guess we have to check the intake manifold too. Another thing I was wondering is we reused the same new head bolts after he had repeat the head gasket replacement to the back head (?), would this have caused water to leak back into the engine? Someone mentioned that these bolts expand once torqued down and may give if reused period, he wasn't sure, but thought that might have caused a problem.
How many Buick executives drive their own products? Do they have the same problems as the rest of us have with the 3800 engine? I LOST the antifreeze and the check engine light came on. I was on the interstate and drove to the next exit and to the garage. The same story as others have stated. Do they know what a recall is? What is going on with GM Buick? Have they been informed?
I also have a 98 Buick LeSabre and it's leaking antifreeze. We can't see any leaking or signs of leakage. I am afraid it's the intake manifold. It wouldn't start this morning just click and I think the engine locked or something. I checked and I did not see any antifreeze at all in the resvoire (sp?).
I see a big bill in my future.
I guess from what I read here this is common for this model.
Buick should come clean for this. It's definitely a defect. I heard that they make this part out of plastic? And when it gets hot it expands and cracks. Has anyone else heard this?
Yesterday, January 29,2008 the intake manifold gaskets were replaced on my 1998 Buick Regal LS-107,000 miles. Also, the coolant and thermostat were replaced. There was oil all over the back of the engine and oil in the coolant. Price for all the work - $758. My mechanic told me to check the Internet because this is a big problem, but one you have to pay!
Buick owners, lest you think you are Lone Rangers, my beautiful '97 Olds 88 all options leather, no rust etc. At 88K lost 1 and a half gallons coolant when on the road. noticed no white smoke out rear, but engine got hot. Stopped immed. topped up coolant. Went on my way for another 1500 miles. no problems, no further coolant loss. THEN one cold day recently on starting, engine got up to temperature in one half mile (rather than normal three). Checked, coolant, half gal. low, coolant is in oil. My mechanic says cracked head. Yeoww, that's the engine. Local yard has '01 3800 for $900. but this engine will have same problem. Seats and windows still work, so I guess I can paint it camo and make it into a deluxe deer blind... sm from Peo. IL.
Add me to the list. Last week my wife parked our 98 LeSabre in the garage. No problems or unusual sounds. The coolant reservoir was low and filled two or three times, but no noticeable leak. Next morning the engine seized. Hydro-lock. I pulled the plugs and coolant poured out. It's a nice car, but I agree that putting another plastic manifold on it is no fix.
I feel so not alone after reading all these comments. My son has been driving my father's 1998 Buick Le Sabre and while en route from Denver to New Orleans, he too had the same described problems of the temp gauge going up slightly, stopped, added coolant, drove further only to have it seize up completely. He ended up having it towed from Alexandria, LA to New Orleans where it has been sitting quietly ever since because he is a student and doesn't have the wherewithal in time or money to get it fixed. Now we are wondering about going through the expense of putting in another engine only to have the same problem occur again. Some of you have mentioned a "retro-fit part" that isn't plastic. Are there any engines out there available with a corrected manifold? If so, how do you go about finding them? Any advice would be welcome as I am trying to help him handle this problem from afar.
Hi people, I also have a '96 Buick LeSabre and I have the same problem; anti-freeze inside the engine oil. After reading these comments, I guess my next car will be a Toyota. I am just wondering why GM is losing market... it's because of their engineers. Wow, shame on you GM. I will never buy another car from you.
I have a '99 Buick LeSabre that recently started issuing white smoke and now will not start. Is the intake manifold on the '99 plastic as well?
Thanks for any information.
Yes unfortunately it was. They used it up until 2004 or 2005 on the 3.8. Many of the newer (2000-2003 or so) LeSabres were recalled for this issue, but the 95-99 version was never re-called by GM. The Park Avenue has the same engine but doesn't seem to have nearly as many issues with the intake manifold. I have a 1999 Park Avenue with 140,000 and the original plenium. My boss' '99 LeSabre failed around 130,000. He was able to do the repairs himself for about $300.
I have a 98 LeSabre and had the same coolant leak problem around 45K. While on a cold morning I noticed my heater was no longer pumping out hot air. I check the temperature gauge and it was moving erratically. When I got to work I noticed that the coolant was very low. I still can't believe GM didn't put a low coolant sensor in the reserve tank (way to go). A coolant sensor would have saved a few engines. I bought a plenum (upper manifold) for $200 and spent an afternoon replacing the old one. About 75K and 2-1/2 years later, I noticed the coolant level in the reserve tank slowly dropping. I went out and bought a plenum gasket for $40 (throttle body gasket was included) and replaced it a second time, so far no coolant leakage.
I would like to point out that both of the gaskets did have a noticeable wear (smooth surface) on the throttle body side. I strongly believe vibration was the problem. The worn gasket was most likely caused by having the throttle body supported by the plastic plenum. As for heat from the EGR exhaust, it could contribute. I didn't see any evidence of melted plastic other than a deformed plenum gasket.
Wow! I had no idea about this common problem until today. I have a 1999 Buick LeSabre 3.8 V6... Hydro-locked on me last Friday morning (5/9/2008).
AAA towed it to the shop on Sunday. Learned today that the repair bill is $1K for new intake manifold, starter, spark plugs, oil change, and labor.
Nevertheless, I suppose I am lucky, for the mileage on the car is 197,000.
And now I feel I'm a part of the Buick "One Grand" club.
I have a 1998 Buick Park Avenue with 165,000 miles. My wife called after running into town to say that the low coolant light was on. I had noticed it on the other day, and added coolant. I thought it odd for it to be back on in only a couple of days. When I got home I found coolant was low, so I added more and went to move the car, and found it would not start. I replaced the battery and still would not start. I could turn engine by hand backwards. but hit the starter and engine turned and stopped in the same spot. and now I have wrecked the starter. I have just found this site and I am sure after reading here that I have the same problem. I just hope I haven't destroyed my engine by trying to start it.