1999 Chevrolet Lumina LS from North America - Comments

Have replaced Water Pump at 115,000KMS and am now looking at options to replace NOTORIOUS Intake Manifold Gasket and this motor now has Lifter problems too!!

After owning a 1990 Lumina with little trouble, I thought I would step up to something newer and bought a gently used 1999. After I purchased it, I found out about the notorious Intake Manifold Gasket problem with this engine. I have had this car for a little more than 1 year and put high KMS on it with my job - I change the oil every 5,000KMS and never drive it more than 120KMS/HR. I am not hard on my vehicles and have always taken very good care of them. It really disappoints me that a problem that was so well known and documented by GM, wasn't voluntarily fixed past the standard 60,000KM warranty. I contacted my local GM dealer when the car had 65,000KMS on it and was told I was "on my own". I can't believe that this car has lifter problems already - probably as a result of the bad Intake Gasket?? I have always owned GM products with pretty good success, but after this ordeal - I can see that GM really doesn't care about me at all and I will definitely rethink my next vehicle purchase.

I agree with the Oil leak problem as mine does have that along with the singing lifters. I have also put 17 sets of lifetime brakes pads on my car... this is not a good thing and not backed by GM as I was told it was my driving.. amazing how I have never done this with any other vehicle I have ever owned in my 30+ years of owning vehicles... Other than these two items the car has been very good.. with the exception of it's swaying now at 111,000 miles and I haven't figured out that problem yet.

The only reason for you to go through 17 sets of brake pads is if you have calipers that are sticking (and therefore causing excessive wear) or you're not getting the rotors machined/replaced with the pad replacement. With many domestic cars, the cheapest/lowest quality parts are used for their brakes. For example, it is common to have to replace the rotors on the Ford Econoline vans after 20,000 miles because Ford uses the cheapest rotors they can get away with.

Don't service your brakes at the dealer. Go to a shop that also does performance upgrades. Replace the calipers, the rotors and the pads all in one shot with parts from a reputable brand like Brembo and I'm willing to bet that your brake replacement problem will be cured. Sure it will be expensive (probably $1000-$1500), but then you'll have brakes that work better than new and will likely last a long time. And if you want to cure the mushy brake pedal feel that Fords and GM cars often have, replace the brake master cylinder and replace the brake lines with steel braided ones.

Doing things that way is initially expensive, but it's cheaper in the long run because it saves you on downtime, labour and you end up with a better performing car.