Manifold/header/muffler/tail Pipe problems of the 1997 Oldsmobile Silhouette

No floor heat in 1997 olds Silhouette. Mechanic did not find cause of problem but did note that an un associated problem was occuring. The original plastic intake manifold gasket was failing. After investigating and researching I have found that both the lack of heat in the front of this vehicle and worse yet the failing of the gasket are common problems with this vehicle. I am scheduled to have both problems taken care of on 12/28/2005. The estimate (no tellsing the cost to repair the heat until they get into it) will run at least $700. Based on the past intake manifold gasket repairs this shop has done on gm vehicles the shop estimates this repai alone will cost at least $500.

The intake manifold gasket in our 1997 Silhouette went bad. After speaking with the repair facility and performing several searches across the internet, it was obvious that gm had a defective part. The original gaskets were made out of plastics, while now gm is constructing them of a more normal / acceptable material. We were lucky and caught this early, but if someone were to have this happen on a highway trip, oil could leak out or mix with coolant causing the engine to seize up at highway speeds. This repair averages around $800 to $1200 from what I could find.

10/27/01 - had to replace motor do to intake manifold gasket failure internally at 62139 miles. 08/27/03 - again van is at the garage with intake manifold gasket problems the mileage is now 102000.

Failure of intake manifold gasket. Was told this is a common gm problem with this v-6 engine. Gm denied request for reimbursement.

Door would not latch when driving. No power to open door. Also, left front wheel censor malfunctioned for abs traction control/ transmission failed, and intake manifold leak.

The issue we ran into last year is where the intake manifold gasket leaked causing coolant to leak into the engine. We took it into our local dealer, pearson pontiac, gms, olds in sunnyvale, on March 21 2002. Around that time both myself and the dealer, at least that is what I was told, called Oldsmobile customer service asking for assistance since the van was at 41788 miles, 5k miles out of mileage warranty, and the belief on my part that a major engine repair was not reasonable for a van with only 41k miles. Why say the coolant can last 150k miles when it all leaks out at 41k miles? I was turned down for assistance since the vehicle was out of warranty. I believe I talked with justin and the case number was c06614725. The dealer diagnosed the issue as a leaking intake manifold gasket. At the same time he determined the lifters should be replaced along with a leaking water pump. The total cost was $1,709. 72. Breakdown was $1,130. 84 for labor and the rest for parts and sales tax. The dealer repair order number is 56819. I've never owned or heard of a vehicle which had a intake manifold coolant leak, water pump and lifters fail at 41k miles. My wife and I are not hard on our cars. This cost was high (over 5% of the original purchase price) and something we did not expect to incur.