97 Buick Lesabre Problem UIM ?????

[marko15pa]

I have a 1997 Buick Lesabre with 175.000 on it , it was running fine tonight but when I stopped to make a left hand turn it showed check engine light and it ran rough but I still made it almost all the way home before it stopped and shutoff, when I got home I tried to restart it but it wouldn't start, I opened up the hood and there wasn't a drop of water that I could tell in the radiator etc, probably the UIM ,but did I ruin the engine?

[HotZ28]

Check the oil, does it have a milky appearance and is it above the full level on the dipstick? Did you notice any noise from the engine before it quit and can you see any external leak, or smell coolant? First thing to do is pull all the plugs and see if the plugs are wet. Will the engine turn over? Did the engine overheat?

[marko15pa]

I checked the oil it looked completly normal (just under the full level on the dipstick, I didn't notice any noise from the engine before it quit but it has had a small leak somewhere for aboput a year or so, I put some stop leak in it because I didn't know until tonight that this year had a problem with this. The engine turned over when I first got it home but after a while it would not even turn over, the engine never showed overheat on the temperature guage that's why I was shocked that there was not water in the system that I could tell., I will have to pull the plug tomorrow in the light and check them out.

[HotZ28]

Be sure to check battery voltage, it should be 12.6v. When an UIM ruptures, coolant can either go into the crankcase, or ingested through the intake runners. If it was going through the runners, you should have noticed white smoke from the exhaust.

[marko15pa]

I pulled the front 3 plugs and I definetly see antifreeze behind them especially on the one closest to the passenger side,

Still I can't get the starter to turn , I was told to take out the back three and click the keyn to clear them of any water etc and that it would probably crank then but I will have to see, I don't want to repalce the plenum if the engine is shot,

thanks for your help

[marko15pa]

Well I pulled the other three plugs and true to life it cleared the cylinder of water and turned over

When I change the plenum do I have to remove the fuel Rail, alternator, and the various other things there that the book says to remove when changing the UIM or can I just remove the plenum without removing the rest of the stuff

Also do I need to drain the cooling system completly before proceeding with the change

I know I will have to change the oil and filter as well as put in new spark plugs....,Thanks for all the help in here, I've learned alot over the last few days.....See you can teach an old dog after all!!

[happydog500]

Originally Posted by marko15pa

When I change the plenum do I have to remove the fuel Rail, alternator, and the various other things there that the book says to remove when changing the UIM..?

Yes.

[HotZ28]

Check your email for for both of the UIM/LIM replacement procedures. From what you said, the radiator was nearly empty, so you will not need to drain any more coolant unless you added some. BTW, it would be a good idea to replace the LIM gaskets while you are at it. Click Here & Here for some replacement part numbers.