2000 GP 3800 Coolant Leak

Coolant is leaking from the engine and dripping off the pan. I fear this is the intake manifold gasket problem. It has just begun and coolant level is still OK, but I see drops of green coolant in the snow.

I've searched this forum and Googled 3800 GM Coolant Leaks and found no definite info on GM's willingness to help with this problem. I remember reading that GM would pay for part or all of the repair if the car had less than 150,000 miles. The car has 110,000 miles on it.

Anyone know if GM will do anything or do I just buy the FelPro gaskets and dive in?

I remember reading that GM would pay for part or all of the repair if the car had less than 150,000 miles. The car has 110,000 miles on it.

Good One! :lol2: :rofl:

Is it possible that it is your water pump that is your problem. Where are the drops of antifreeze in the snow. Is it in the back or on of the sides.

Mr. Blake,
I was not trying to be funny with my OP. My dad's 2004 Buick recently needed the upper and lower intake gaskets replaced along with the EGR pipe fix. A local GM dealer did this for $350, including parts, about half of what the shop rate would be. On my 2000 SSEi, I had problems at 80,000 miles and five years with the heated seats, radio readout, and air conditioner pump bearing. GM covered more than half the repair costs.

In my experience, if you're a longtime GM customer and you let them know you are knowledgable of a common problem like this one on GM V6's, they often offer to cover repair costs or, in many cases, 50%. I've never been turned down in an out-of-warranty situation like this.

Doctorhardware,
Thanks for the reminder on the water pump possibility. I will look closely before taking any action to repair the leak.

usually if its the UIM the coolant will not make it to the ground, it just kind of puddles up underneath the plastic motor cover on top of the valve covers. as suggested, i would take a closer look at where the coolant is coming from.

Grandprixgtx00,
Good point. Thank you. I will look very closely for the leak before any teardown. It's too big of a project to replace LIM gaskets if it's not needed. Since we bought the car used, I can't find out if the original owner had the job done. With the number of miles on the car, hopefully it's the water pump leaking.

Mr. Blake,
I was not trying to be funny with my OP. My dad's 2004 Buick recently needed the upper and lower intake gaskets replaced along with the EGR pipe fix. A local GM dealer did this for $350, including parts, about half of what the shop rate would be. On my 2000 SSEi, I had problems at 80,000 miles and five years with the heated seats, radio readout, and air conditioner pump bearing. GM covered more than half the repair costs.

In my experience, if you're a longtime GM customer and you let them know you are knowledgable of a common problem like this one on GM V6's, they often offer to cover repair costs or, in many cases, 50%. I've never been turned down in an out-of-warranty situation like this.

Doctorhardware,
Thanks for the reminder on the water pump possibility. I will look closely before taking any action to repair the leak.

I know you weren't trying to be funny. Sorry if i came accross asa Jerk. I have just never been able to get GM to cover any of my repair costs. Not even for the parts. I've had two other GM cars with 3100V6's. One had less than 60k on it when it blew the LIM, and the other had just under 80,000. Both vehicles GM declined to cover under warrenty. Which was probably better anyways because I bought fel-pro gaskets and did the work myself.

What dealer are you bringing your cars to for repair work? I think I'm going to yours next time.

In east central Wisconsin, we have a dealer named Bergstrom Automotive that has stores for GM, Ford, Chrysler, VW, Toyota, Honda, Hyundi, and others. They are by far the largest dealer north of Milwaukee in Wisconsin.

In the case of my 2000 Bonneville, I wrote letters to the head of the Pontiac Zone office explaining how many Pontiacs I've owned through the years. I told him how people I know with foreign makes don't have problems with radio readouts failing that require replacement of the radio ($600), a seat heater failing after 60,000 miles $200), and an air conditioning compressor bearing failure $500) at 80,000 miles. I also explained that of the 20+ GM cars I've owned, problems like this hadn't occurred. After a few phone calls, he told me to take the car to a Pontiac dealer and Pontiac would cover all but $500 of the $1,300 estimate for these three repairs.

My dad's experience on his 2004 Buick was similar. We researched the problem of UIM and LIM gasket and EGR failures using the internet. The dealer agreed they had many failures like my dad's and agreed to fix the problem for less than half of their estimated cost ($350).

Neither settlement was perfect, but a little letter writing and phone time saved us a lot of money. It's interesting to me how people with 2007 Pontiacs post on this board complaining of problems the dealer would be required to fix with the 100,000 mile warranty.

In east central Wisconsin, we have a dealer named Bergstrom Automotive that has stores for GM, Ford, Chrysler, VW, Toyota, Honda, Hyundi, and others. They are by far the largest dealer north of Milwaukee in Wisconsin.

hey...isnt that in Wausau? i live in Stevens Point, so its about 30 miles north of me.

Yes, I believe Bergstrom has a dealer site in Wausau. We have them in Oshkosh, Neenah, Appleton, Little Chute, and many more cities in the east central Wisconsin area.

We drive through Stevens Point every time we go "up north" to Lac du Flambeau. Culvers on Hwy. 10 is our favorite snack/potty break stop.

Did you get that coolant leak pinpointed? Have you checked the bypass elbows on the passenger side of your motor? There are two of them. One is pretty hard to see. That might be where your coolant is coming out.