1998 PA Coolant problem

[hdfatman]

Here's my problem.......hope someone can help. it's a 1998 Park Ave w\114K miles. have had it for 3 years with no problems. I've always done or have had done normal preventative maintenance.

last week the low coolant light came on .....checked the coolant was low ..... temp running between 195 and 205 (normal level) ..... high oil pressure (129 psi).....no visible coolant leaks beneath car or on engine. also was not producing any white smoke (no smoke at all). So took to a buick dealership (i'm an outside consultant and spend 48 weeks a year on the road). trusting him, this is what he said needed to be done to fix the problem... as well as a few others he found???? flush the cooling system.....change oil.....new oil pressure switch....change serpentine belt....flush motor.....do pressure tests on cooling system and engine (no leaks)..... replaced radiator cap and termostat. ($880.00 worth of work) had him do it.

a day after picking the car up, same problem.....low coolant light.....i did notice the reservoir level did not change but the radiator was down about 1/2 gallon. the car never overheats.

could the line between the reservoir and the radiator be clogged and the excess coolant that is being lost escape from the overflow tube on the radiator? what else could be causing this problem......any help would be greatly appreciated as i feel the dealership stuck it to me.

just reread the final bill .......said "may also have intake plunum leaking internally". tech never mentioned this..... What does that mean or consist of. thanks....any help would be greatly appreciated.

[HotZ28]

Well, it sounds like another dealer made some big bucks on that deal!! I realize that is what they are in business for; however, it is unfortunate that they do that 50 times a day to unsuspecting costumers.


I doubt that they bled the system when they changed the coolant, therefore you would have air in the system. The check coolant sensor may be fried also, due to running low for a period of time and crud built up on the sensor. Replace it if a full system does not turn the light off.

Do you have any signs of coolant in the oil? If you see a high oil level, or milky looking substance in the oil fill hole, you could have a bad manifold. If that is the problem, you need to do something soon, before the engine locks up!

[yogi_123rd]

Your statement:

"i did notice the reservoir level did not change but the radiator was down about 1/2 gallon."

The hose from the overflow reservoir to the radiator is clogged.

[hdfatman]

took that one in the old wazoo

thank u both for the input......going to check for the clogged line and the dex-cool/water in the oil today........

trying to research the quote on bill "intake plenum"..........can anyone help explain this to me.......i know it's plastic and tends to melt on the 3800's. WOULD THIS CAUSE LOSS OF COOLANT..... wouldn't there be a leak around the gasket or would it burn off (i.e white smoke from exhaust). if this is the problem is the KEN-CO kit the best way to go?

thanks again guys

[HotZ28]

http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/...ic.php?t=43094

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/GM-38...spagenameZWDVW

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/GM-38...temZ8013356051

[l1johnson]

I have a 1999 Regal that experienced the exact same problem you described to the tee. It turned to be the upper intake manifold was leaking coolant into the engine. I experienced the white smoke out the exhaust while the car was in my driveway. After that I called for a tow and took car to the garage. It cost me about $400.00 to correct the problem. Leaking coolant into the engine explained why I never could find any coolant on the ground or any place on the engine. Good luck and remember ......it's only money.

[hdfatman]

brought the beast in friday ............... kind of fiqured that's what it was .....melted Plenum in the upper intake........ wth...only money to all the dealers in the world who over charge for this job..........

[oneradartwo]

Hey hdfatman,

My 1992 Park Ave does the same thing, I have had it checked by 3 or 4 different dealers and they all said the same thing "I don't now whats causing it everthing is fine!" So I have just been keeping my eye on it. Sometimes in the morning when its close to freezing temps, the coolant low light will come on, but when I stop for gas and turn the car off, and come back, it goes out. So I was wondering are you have any problems with your fans running?

[l1johnson]

If you don't mind me asking ....what did they charge you to fix the problem?

[Rookie#1]

Originally Posted by l1johnson

If you don't mind me asking ....what did they charge you to fix the problem?

It is my understanding the plastic plenum's on the 95 thru 2003 3.8 L. engines suffured melt down between the EGR passage. and the anti-freeze port. This is a common problem. INSURANCE: EPLACE THE UPPER PLANUM. If you are at least a small bit of handy you can replace the plenum with a $137.00 new and improved plenum thru auto zone or advanced auto. Otherwise, dealer dealer will be happy do do so for around $400. Let the plenum break loose will make the dealer a little happier. He then has to flush you system first then replace the plenum. An easy $800.00 job. Just time consumming. If the 92 plenums are plastic I would imagine the same problem applies. Good Louck....

[regalfriend]

Dealers are a ripoff..... I think they make alot more maintaning a car than selling it new.....By me the Buick dealer charges $97 an hour..... and estimate jobs that take longer to do than if i did them....on the plus side dealers waiting rooms usually have good coffee and better looking secretarys than the average repair shop.....I'd rather fix it myself and go to a whore house near Starbucks

[oneradartwo]

Originally Posted by l1johnson

If you don't mind me asking ....what did they charge you to fix the problem?

nothin...no has figured out the problem yet!