1998 Buick Lesabre

GM MADE THEIR INTAKE MANIFOLDS OUT OF A PLASTIC RESIN ON THE BUICK 3800 V6 ENGINE. THEY ROUTED THE EGR VALVE THROUGH IT WHICH CAUSES A HEAT BUILD UP THAT WRAPS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ALLOWING COOLANT TO GO INTO THE ENGINE. MY REPAIR BILL WAS $803.76 PLUS ONE STARTER $189.00 THAT BROKE WHEN THE ENGINE SIEZED. FROM READING ON THE INTERNET THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINES WITH THE PLASTIC MANIFOLD. THE DEALER THAT FIXED MY CAR AID YES IT WAS A DESIGN PROBLEM AND THAT HE HAD ANOTHER CAR OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL AS MINE IN THE SAME MORNING AS MINE. SAME PROBLEM AND THAT HE HAD ONE THE WEEK BEFORE. IN MY CASE THE ENGINE DID NOT LOCK UP AS I AS GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY BUT THIS COULD BE A DANGEROUS PROBLEM FOR SOMEONE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THIER ENGINE LOCKS UP. *AK

CONSUMER STATED SHE BEGAN HAVING INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE GOING DEAD AT STOPS IN APRIL 2001, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SURGE AT STOPS AND EVENTUALLY HAD BOTH SYMPTOMS DURING LOW SPEED DRIVING, CONSUMER WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 4 OCCASIONS AND WAS INFORMED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE UNTIL SOMETHING SHOWED UP ON THE COMPUTER, HOWEVER WHILE DRIVING HOME CONSUMER STATED THAT ENTIRE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE, LIKE A GUNSHOT, SMOKE FROM THE HOOD AND THE ENGINE BEGAN DROPPING FIRE ONTO THE STREET, THE FIREWALL WAS COMPLETELY BURNED.*JB

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER COULD SMELL EXHAUST FUMES, WHEN TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT THE SMELL BECAME WORSE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED, THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER COULD NOT, HE HAD TO HIT THE DOOR SEVERAL TIMES WITH HIS SHOULDER UNTIL THE DOOR GAVE WAY, THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN SMOKE, IT WAS STATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR CAUSED THE FIRE AND IT HAD JUST BEEN PUT ON, CLAIM 01-6150-358. *SLC

I BELIEVE I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE VATS . THE SYSTEM HAS FAILED PREVENTING ME FROM STARTING THE CAR. I HAVE CHECKED THE FUSES AND ONE WAS BLOWN BUT THAT GOES TO THE ELECTRONIC LEVEL CONTROL (HENCE A SECOND PROBLEM) ITIALLALLY THE CAR FAILED TO START AFTER JIGGLING THE KEY IT STARTED. THE SECURITY LIGHT REMAINED ON THE WHOLE WAY HOME. CAME HOME SHUT THE CAR DOWN AND STARTED BACK UP AGAIN. LATER THAT EVENING MY WIFE TOOK THE CAR TO THE STORE, WHERE IT FAILED TO START. SHE CALLED ME I PROMPTLY RESPONDED WITH 2 OF MY CHILDREN IN TOW. AFTER CHECKING FUSES, READING THE OWNERS MANUAL AND DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY, JIGGLING THE KEY THE CAR STARTED...THANK GOODNESS. THEN WE GOT HOME AND IT DIED. YESTERDAY I CHECKED ALL FUSES TO VERIFY, ITS NOT THAT..FINALLY DETERMINING ITS IN THE IGNITION SYSTEM RELATING TO THE LOCK CYLINDER. I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND HOPE THE DEALER WILL FIX IT. TODAY I HAVE CONTINUED TO POKE AROUND AND ATTEMPTED TO START IT..SUCCESSFULLY AFTER JIGGLING THE IGNITION/KEY. DO YOU KNOW IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE? UNFORTUNATELY WE DO NOT KNOW IF IT WILL START AGAIN. THIS IS NOT A PLEASANT SITUATION. DO YOU KNOW WHAT MIGHT CAUSE THE LOCK CYLINDER TO DO THIS? WILL THIS REQUIRE NEW PASSKEYS?*AK