1996 Buick Lemon (Century)

[ShaunMac]

Hi,

I purchased a used Buick Lemon (oh, 'scuse me; I mean Century) 10.31.04.

3 weeks later it blew the water pump. But that was on warranty, so it was fixed.

Currently, there is an infuriating intermittent problem. I don't think it's the engine. But when it occurs, it sounds quite lethal!

When parked and testing the engine, no problem.

Most of the time when driving, also no problem.

But sometimes, when the car's in a sour mood, suddenly there's a very loud tapping or grinding sound coming from the center of the firewall, seemingly right under the dashboard. Sounds like an impact sound, such as a lifter or rod might make, or maybe the sound of a gear grinding as if it were loose and coming out of its gear train. I let up on the gas and it's better, but then it comes back ... but seems to not depend on what I do with the gas. This sound comes at different speeds and at different times, i.e., heavy power going up an onramp to a highway, or lighter power such as a 45 mph straight road, etc. Sometimes the sound won't let me go over 40 mph, but the very next day, when having someone look at it, no sound at all, even doing 70 or 80 mph on the highway.

Most infuriating just now; no sound at all when I took it to the dealer for the 48,000 mile service - that's another thing ... low mileage, and there's THIS problem!!! I had someone from the dealer drive with me for a mile or so. He said if it were an engine problem, I'd probably know it, and the problem would definately not be as intermittent as this one seems to be.

When I look under the hood, there is something attached to the firewall directly in the center, where the sound seems to be coming from. It's a contained box of some kind, about 8 or 10 inches, mostly square, with what look to me to be electrical cables attached to the top of the engine. The guy from the dealer said that this might be the cruise control, but I don't have that feature in my car. Can anyone tell me what this device might be?

I am very satisfied with this car ... except for this asinine lemon thing that works for no one but me ... and when it happens, it's loud, and it sounds very lethal.

Please help!

Thanks,

--ShaunMac