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Old January 26th 05, 04:25 PM
HLS
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"shiden_kai" > wrote in message
news:ayjJd.163727$8l.30291@pd7tw1no...
> Daniel J. Stern wrote:
>
> > I'm not aware of the 3800 having this problem, but GM's smaller V6s
> > (3.1,
> > 3.4) definitely have had chronic problems of exactly this nature
> > anything's possible from General "Mark of Excrement" Motors. I've
> > crossposted your query to alt.autos.gm, which may get you more
> > replies, faster.

>
> Yes, it is/was a very common problem with the Generation II 3800
> engine. The lower manifold has been revised and is "reputed" to
> be better. Only time will tell. The new GenIII engine now has
> eliminated the plastic upper plenum....so this will no longer be
> an issue. Though the intake manifold gaskets on the 3800 do
> disintegrate over time....but certainly not at the rate of the 60 degree
> v-6's.
>
> All the manufacturers have their problems...which is what keeps
> technicians hard at work. Certainly wouldn't want them to
> make them so good that we'd be standing around all day.
>
> Ian



This was the kind of answer I would have hoped Buick would have been honest
enough to provide. Thanks, Ian.

Certain models of the 3800 were pretty nearly bulletproof. Others were not.
The 98 LeSabre we drive is possibly one of the riskier engine
configurations, but it has not failed.

Buick chose not to recall the afflicted engines and repair the problem, but
rather waits to see if they will fail and if they can avoid warranty
repairs.

I like many things about the Buick, and was impressed by their overall
reliability standing in the market...a year or two ago it was second only to
Lexus.

Have you seen the LaCrosse, and if so what do you think about it?
I have not yet seen it, was impressed by the specs of the new engine, but
would not buy one of these high output jobs until I feel better about their
reliability.


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