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97 Buick LeSabre 3.8 problems. Mechanics can't find the problem

I recently bought a 97 LeSabre 3.8. The car has numerous problems.

  1. It dies when letting off of the accelerator and idles rough at start up (have changed fuel filter, plugs and wires, maximum airflow sensor, and idle air control valve) still not fixed
  2. It jerks hard around 50 mph
  3. High pitched squeal under the hood
  4. Even with ac fully charged the ac blows luke warm air

I've now had it to 6 mechanics and keep throwing money at this car but even the mechanics scratch their head and say "we can't find the problems". I'm most concerned with the dying and jerking. I can live with the squeal and lack of ac but I need it to run! Does anyone know of common problems associated with these 3.8 Buick engines that might be the culprit? I would GREATLY appreciate any info.

Thanks all!

Reply to
gimpy
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My first guess is intake manifold leak. If so, then you had better check for water in the oil.

6 mechs? You area of the world must have really, really incompetent techs. Either that or you have not taken it to a GM dealer.
Reply to
=?x-user-defined?Q?=AB?= Paul

Check the EGR valve for the stalling at idle.

Reply to
Rob

Agree with above poster--with engine idling rough, spray WD40 around intake and vacuum hoses. When it speeds up (most likely when intake gets a squirt of WD40) you know where the vac. leak is. Again, probably the intake man. leaking--quite common problem, and usually one of the few problems with this 3800 engine. Then, find the squeal problem, which is likely related to the ac, like having too much freon in the system. Luck, s

Reply to
sdlomi2

Or the AC compressor and or clutch is not working properly.

Reply to
Edwin Pawlowski

Yes incompetency in this area seems to be the descriptor for local technicians. The GM dealership kept the car for 11 days! Their repairs based on what I described in the initial post: changed ac compressor (still blowing warm air though) and changed brake pads without me saying anything about brakes?! Of course I paid nothing for the brakes. The ac still doesn't work and I never mentioned brakes so...after quite an argument I paid for the compressor and left with a car that still won't run.

I was really frustrated that the GM techs didn't fix the car or even find the problems. I'll suggest all of the info I've received here to another tech as I'm no mechanic and would not know where to begin. But thanks for all of the input.

Reply to
gimpy

That engine is in Buick, Olds, Pontiac. Could you take it to a different GM place? Or someone that works on a lot of GM's? Google for GM 3.8 intake manifold leak

Reply to
=?x-user-defined?Q?=AB?= Paul

Something's not adding up here...

Reply to
Mike Marlow

Sounds like you should not have paid for the compressor either. No work -- no pay. Could be something as simple as a damper stuck or vacuum leak. Dealers are good in that they know their particular cars very well, but they have idiots too. My 91 Regal had AC problem. After the fourth time in, I told the dealer what the real problem was, His reply was "the evap coils never go bad or leak". Well, you can figure the rest. They did the $400 repair at no cots.

Reply to
Edwin Pawlowski

His experience doesn't seem to validate your confidence in dealerships, does it, Paul.

Reply to
<HLS

Reply to
gimpy

For the fuel injection plenum situation, there is no recall as far as I know, because they don't consider it a safety item.

If it happens under warranty, they will probably fix it. Otherwise, you will probably pay to have it fixed.

Basically they are saying "You are stupid enough to have bought one of our shitteaux designs, you live with it!"

Reply to
<HLS

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