3.5L possible major engine failure

[Ruley73]

I just had to have my wife's 1999 Intrigue w/3.5L DOHC V6 towed home. I am unsure what happened. It has almost 140K miles on it. When I left it was running fine, no noises or anything. Oil was 1 qt low so I added the last half quart I had in the garage before I left. 90 miles later I noticed a ticking sound which gradually turned into a knocking sound. It was raining and had the radio on so only god knows how long it was ticking.

I stopped at AutoZone and threw in a quart of Lucas Oil Stabilizer to see if the noise would change. It didn't so I turned around and headed back home. I noticed that the engine was not putting out full power after I turned around. Made it only about 5 miles and the engine quit without a loud bang...just the knocking got much louder and suddenly stopped. I heard what sounded like a little shrapnel and oil splatter the floorboard. The coolant was still full, oil was still near the full line. I didn't check tranny fluid.

After the fact, I tried to turn the engine over with the starter and I didin't even hear the solenoid click. Oil appears to be leaking from driver's side. I suspect a crank bearing failure, but I'm not sure. I'm going to bed for now and will look at it more tomorrow 'er later today (yeah, it's 4 AM and I've had a long night needless to say.).

One last thing I will add is that when I did the last two oil changes I added 6.5 Qts instead of the 6 Qts stated in the owners manual. Perhaps this contributed to my problem.?

[harmankardon35]

From what I read on here the 3.5L is usually a good engine, but in my own personal experience I avoid them because a friend of mine had a 3.5L intrigue from new and he needed the engine replaced after 3 years. It sounds like the same issue you are having, because his was a faulty bearing causing the knocking noise...although is never failed completely. Its not terribly common, but I have heard a few mechanics say that about the 3.5's. 1/2 quart too much oil wouldn't cause any real problems...

[Ruley73]

Well I confirmed it today. Not sure exactly what caused it, but the engine threw a rod though the engine block and hit the starter case. I removed the starter (very easy BTW) and pulled out a piece of a connecting rod and some chunks of the block. I'm not sure what I'm going to do next. I've still got about $3000 left to pay on the loan so I'll prolly find a used engine and throw it in. I'm just skeptical that the transmission will go out next shortly after. I think it'll last a while since my wife doesn't drive it very hard and I changed the fluid & filter at about 85K and was going to change it again in the near future.

[panzer dragoon]

a 1999 Intrigue is only worth $3000 at the most anyway.

If you can buy another problem Intrigue for <$1000 you could maybe go that route.

Www.car-part.com
Crazedlist

Don't put more than $1000 in your car -it's not worth it.

[LittleHoov]

Well, it might be worth it even if it was more than 1000 dollars it still might be worth it.

Im in a similar boat in that my car has high mileage, is American, and especially is Oldsmobile, so therefore its worth nothing.

But on the same hand, its a good running and driving car that even in its age is still pretty efficient. Plus I own it. The OP is likely in the same boat.

So if you dont want to go into more debt buying another car, its better to spend the money and fix the one youve got. Because its highly doubtful that you will find a car for 1500-2000 dollars that will be any better than the one youve got in the driveway.

[panzer dragoon]

you could find a cheap Intrigue and maybe even do the 3.8 swap (only for longativity reasons of course since you are a diehard LX5 fan like me.)

Part out the rest to the bums here:
I need the drivers window regulator.

These cars are getting older and parts are more needed than ever. = I am hoping for my Dad's Intrigue to be the donor to my future cause. --> most likely a true statement since I only drive it about 2000 miles a year now.

A cheap Intrigue can be parted out and you could break even (you get your engine for free)

[Ruley73]

Originally Posted by panzer dragoon

you could find a cheap Intrigue and maybe even do the 3.8 swap (only for longativity reasons of course since you are a diehard LX5 fan like me.)

Part out the rest to the bums here:
I need the drivers window regulator.

These cars are getting older and parts are more needed than ever. = I am hoping for my Dad's Intrigue to be the donor to my future cause. --> most likely a true statement since I only drive it about 2000 miles a year now.

A cheap Intrigue can be parted out and you could break even (you get your engine for free)

Personally, I think a 3.8L swap is more trouble than it's worth. I'd be better off buying a 3.8L Intrigue and driving it and junking this one out. In this case, it's not just a matter of swapping engines. I would also need the PCM, wiring harness, fuel pump, control arms, coil springs, and the 4T65E gear ratios are different for the LX5. I don't have access to a well-equipped facility to do all this myself so obviously I would still have to pay someone to swap all these parts. Around here the going rate for labor is at least $60/hour. Intrigues for sale are few and far between to begin with and finding a "cheap" one is even tougher. The 2000-2002 LX5 engines are slightly different than those from 1999 and are not interchangeable without some work (and I don't know exactly what that is).

I've found a used engine for about $600 w/120K miles on it (lowest of the bunch w/o paying much more $$$ for lower mileage) and I was quoted about the same amount to get it installed including all new fluids. In contrast, the cheapest 1999 Intrigue I've found locally with a 3.5L is about $3500. I'm still waiting back from the bank to see exactly what options I have as far as money goes.

[panzer dragoon]

crazedlist.org will search all the craigslists

$3000 loan on a 1999
Your car with the blown engine <$1000

Since you are looking at a repair bill that is over 1/2 the value of the car I would seriously think about dumping this Intrigue and put your debt onto the new loan = buy a new car.

[panzer dragoon]

this car is a 1999 = 9 yrs old

If you don't have the tools (and space/time) to fix it you are really stuck (reason to buy new)

My car also had "the bearing of death" sound, -and I was worried. I switched to Mobile 1 and thank God it went away (bought it used for $15k + tax, 17k miles). At start-up my Dad's 1999 LX5 is sort of noisy then quiets down when warm.

My Dad is retired and has no plans on buying a new $25k car = he will stick with his 200k mile Intrigue and will hope mine dies first. 1993 Chevy 454 Suburban also. But he has full tools, engine lift, air compressor etc, etc, etc. +AllData. Just got done with sis's VW Cabrio and he's quite efficient with the 3.4L GM UIM gasket replacement (did 2 of them, Impala and a Grand Am)

[Ruley73]

I've decided to keep the car, fix it, and drive it until the it is paid off.

I'm having trouble finding a decent used 1999 3.5L engine locally for a fair price. I can pick up a good 2000-2002 engine for only $500 with under 90K miles on it. I have found that a 2000-2002 will work if you swap the intake and fuel rail. I'm wondering what exactly are the differences between the 1999 and the newer engines and what renders the newer engines incompatible with a 1999 car w/o switching the intake & fuel rail?

[LittleHoov]

The only thing I can think of is that somewhere in that 99-00 time frame GM made some changes to their 3.8 engines to try and correct their common intake manifold issues. Perhaps they made some changes to the 3.5 as well?

I would think everything else should be the same, you can swap the intake and fuel rail from your old car. But I wouldnt trust my opinion, I didnt even know 99 was different from the rest.