GM 3800 plastic plenum problem, revisited

Thanks, Shep. Buick has avoided a general recall, claiming it is not a safety problem. Just shitteaux engineering and quality.

Maybe this is the time to move up to a Toyota ;>)

Careful here, Ford had similiar manifold probs. Toyota the sludging issues.

I agree...previous years 3800 configurations were very good. Maybe the later ones too. This run was just a lapse of consciousness in engineering.

Buick rides well, and is very comfortable. It is economical enough.

The things I don't like: computers run too many functions and are expensive to replace or service, window motors and controls on all GM tend to be of poor longevity, alternators in some cases have tended to be failure prone.

Had a 1998 Olds Regency. Same problem. Cost $600 to repair. Then traded it in on a Infinity SUV. Hope this is better than GM. Had 7 GM products and all of them put money in the mechanics pockets. Have had 6 Ford products (still have 2) they have been reliable vehicles. WW

This is one repair that I haven't seen GM jump right in and goodwill all over the place.

If you plan to keep the vehicle another 8 years, you might want to check out the lower intake pipe kits that I've seen kicking around the net. You can just replace the upper plastic plenum and install the smaller diameter pipe in the lower manifold.

If you just want to fix it cheaply....just install a new upper plenum, it will be fine for a long time.

Ian

I saw those kits a while back, from Canada I believe, but at that time they were only for sale to the trade, not individuals. Maybe that has loosened up.

I've been expecting this to happen for a good while now. My wife and her family are long time Buick users, and I think they are in disbelief that Buick is involved in this way. We would normally trade for a new one, but credibility is now damaged. Apparently the LeSabre will be replaced by the Lucerne next year and the Regal/Century has already mutated into the Lacrosse. Makes one wonder if these will be full of 'teething problems' in their first years.

Thanks for all your responses

Does this mean that the older Gen I 3800 hard parts won't fit, Ian?

That item is undoubtedly made by Dorman.

#615-180, well under $200 at most any decent auto supply store

Dropped by NAPA this morning, and they had this plenum in stock. Price was US$154. NAPA independent mechanic here will replace it for $100.

Lots better than the 'dealership' hump and bump.

It amazes me that GM can produce a nice car that size, with good power, that gets 29-30 mpg pretty reliably.

That's only a problem if GM were to actually conceive of something new. Not likely.

No, there is really very little that is similiar between the Gen I and GenII engines.

Ian

As a followup on this, I priced the aftermarket plenum at NAPA. US$154. A local independent offered to install it for US$100.

The Buick dealership offered me a price of US$350 (about half the usual price), which included new coolant, etc.

I felt these offers were exceedingly fair under the circumstances, and the car is now repaired and ready to go.

Although I was told the oil was not contaminated, it had 2000 miles on it so I decided to change it. (Even used a NAPA Wix filter, for good measure;>) In fact, I found some droplets of water in the oil I drained out of the car, so it was probably best I went the second mile.

I have written this up at my blog site, commending the garages and suggesting that particularly vulnerable people (little old women who drive out of town a bit) may want to have this repair done before it is needed.

$250-350 is pretty cheap insurance, compared to what is possible.

A failure on the road could put the vulnerable at considerable displeasure, and a failure at high speed could lead to more damage than this car experienced.

Where's your blog site?

Ian

It is a little blog emphasizing local issues here. Do you have a private email where I can mail you the link?

Yeah, send it to i_a_n_r-m-a*c&@s@h)a^w.ca

Just remove every spacer except the @ before the "s"

Ian