Gas Recirculation Valve (egr Valve) Problems of Buick Park Avenue

While attempting to start the car after the ingnition was cranked for less than one second there was an explosion from under the hood resulting in fire. The fire was put out within a minute due to access of a nearby fire extinguisher. Upon examination of the engine compartment the entire intake manifold had exploded off of the engine and there was fire damage to wiring and hoses. The car was parked outside overnight and the temperature was 5 degrees f. It is a good thing I had recently purchased this car from my aging parents.

See all problems of the 2001 Buick Park Avenue 🔎.

S10 appropriate handling re problems with 2003 Buick Park Avenue possible safety recall issue for intake manifold and gasket. The consumer stated he received a call from a gm executive assistant responding to a letter that was sent to them. She dismissed the consumers concern because he didn't take the vehicle to an authorized dealer for the repair when the parts failed a second time. However, both technicians who repaired the manifold and gasket within a two- year period told the consumer the oem replacement parts were substandard. The parts were made of plastic and had degraded.

See all problems of the 2003 Buick Park Avenue 🔎.

Contact states in hot weather 75 degrees or above and within one mile the car will die. Can wait it 10-15 minutes and the car will restart. Had this problem for the last 3 summers. It usually happened in slow traffic, but consumer did not get out on the interstate very much; but was concerned that if he did. The car would die in heavy traffic. Took it to the dealer, and they said they could not find anything wrong with it. They suggested that it may be the fuel pump or the sensor in the crank case. The service engine light sometimes cam eon. . The car has less than 30,000 miles on it. He has not talked to the manufacturer.

See all problems of the 1997 Buick Park Avenue 🔎.

I am submitting this for my father-in-law who is 85 years old. There is a defect in gm 3800 engines (VIN k-rpo l36) at least from 1995 to 2003. Gm is aware of the problem and refuses to do anything about this defect which may have the potential for causing catastrophic accidents. My father-in-law was passing another car at about 70 mph on a two lane country road when the engine in his 1998 Buick Park Avenue locked-up. The damage to the engine was severe enough to require that the engine be replaced. The local Buick dealer stated that gm is aware of the problem with these engines (in fact, it's rather well known among auto mechanics), but has a policy of not assisting with repairs and has not recalled the engines. Fortunately there was no accident in this case, however, there is the potential for an accident to occur anytime an engine locks up at speed. I feel that these engines should be recalled and modified/repaired at gm's expense (there is an after-market kit available which is an indicator of the extent of the problem). The problem is that the engines can develop a leak near or under the throttle body area of the upper (plastic) intake manifold. The egr passage melts the upper intake plenum which results in an external (if you are lucky) or an internal water leak. If the leak is internal, the engine can almost instantly lock-up causing damage to the engine and potentially causing a catastrophic accident. My father-in-law's connecting rods were bent.

See all problems of the 1998 Buick Park Avenue 🔎.

The consumer stated that intake manifold failed, allowing coolant to get inside the engine. This cost $1200. 00 to repair. The consumer called the manufacturer and spoke with a representative, who basically told him that they could not help. The consumer called the Buick dealer and was told that this was a common problem and Buick will not do anything about it. Buick service department told consumer they kept a number of them because of this problem. When the consumer attempted to start the engine, the starter housing broke. The mechanic found the engine full of coolant and traced the problem to an upper intake failure due to heat from the egr passage eroding away the plastic manifold causing coolant to leak into the engine. The consumer requested reimbursement.

My number one problem with this car is the plastic intake manifold failed under normal use. This allowed coolant to mix with the oil while I was driving on the highway in heavy traffic. The result was that the main bearings were destroyed and I had to buy a new engine. (I have the original plastic intake manifold in my possession. ) the problem is that the plastic intake manifold can not withstand the heat generated by the egr valve and eventually suffers from thermal fatigue at the egr and stress relaxation around the flange of the manifold. I notified gm of the problem in writing and they offered me $800 compensation for my $5,000. 00 problem. They told me that my engine was probably on its last legs. I told them that the car has been babied and offered up results of the mandatory emissions test that the car underwent not 3 weeks prior to failure as proof that the car was in good running order. (in toronto, all vehicle owners must submit their cars for emissions testing every 2 years. The car is measured for hydro carbon output, nox output, CO, and co2. If the engine had been malfunctioning, it would have been qualified. ) this problem would not have occurred if gm didn't switch from aluminum to plastic. Other problems with the car include a rear window defogger that caught on fire, - 3'rd alternator, 2nd battery , a security system that sounds while driving down the street, water in the trunk (several attempt to repair, ended up drilling a hole in the trunk), failed ac compressor, failed heated seat, several instrument control light bulbs have burned out and can not be replaced, you have to replace the entire instrument. The rear brake rotors that warp every 35,000 km. - fuel gauge that doesn't work below a quarter tank. If you would like copies of correspondence sent to gm, let me know. Regards doug webb 13 brumell avenue toronto, ontario m6s 4g3 doug. Webb@sympatico. Ca 905-238-0007 ex. 2624 (daytime).

The car was parked for 6 days. Weather was slight drizzle, with temperature about 50 degrees. At approximately 8:30 pm on 10/25/2002, I placed the key in the ignition and turned it. I heard a lot pop from the engine. The pop was so loud that neighbors approximately 100 feet down the street came out of their closed houses to discover what happened. Smoke begin to pour from the engine compartment and then flames appeared. Fire department came to extinguished the flames. Car will probably be totalled. Dt.