Leaky Gaskets

[Aurea11]

Haha - as soon as I posted that my GA was solid, I knew I'd find something wrong. I discovered this weekend that I have some gaskets in the front leaking oil. I believe it's the lower intake manifold gaskets but I'm not positive (I need to pick up a Haynes or Chiltons). I have the extended warranty w/ $100 deductible so I've made an appointment for this Thursday. I thought there was a TSB on something of this sort, but I can't find it. Anyone else have experience with this?

[Aurea11]

4.5 hours labor and the parts listed below. Only cost me $100 with GMPP MajorGuard.

10477565
SEAL
$1.84

10154775
Engine Camshaft and Valve Cover Gasket
$13.86

12480250
Manifold Gasket
$48.35

12481317
Manifold Gasket
$9.89

12345739
SEALANT-R
$11.79

12346290
COOLANT
$15.00

12378254
COOLING S
$1.87

[PACE]

ouch....Mine looks leaky too. I have always had stains coming from my lower intake maifold but it doesn't drip or anything...I have always used synthetic oil though.....Every 99+ GA that I have looked at has had oil stains coming from the lower intake.......I don't know if that makes you feel better or worse though......:confused:

[lrymal]

Originally posted by ECAP
...Every 99+ GA that I have looked at has had oil stains coming from the lower intake.......

Nope, no leak on mine.

The secret is to buy a GrandAm during the middle of a General Motors strike. That is when I purchased mine, back in mid-98 and it has been the best car I have ever had.:confused: ;)

[PACE]

its really not a leak but more like an oil stain....my buddy's 02 already has it...look close I'm sure a 99 does......Its twards the back...on either side....

[lrymal]

Originally posted by ECAP
its really not a leak but more like an oil stain....my buddy's 02 already has it...look close I'm sure a 99 does......Its twards the back...on either side....

You know, the motor is "sideways". When you say "back", do you mean the motor's back toward the transmission, or "back", as in the left head next to the firewall, where the coil back is?

[FireBird]

I bet it is the lower intake gasket... had the same thing with my car and had it replaced under warranty. I would suggest anybody that is still under warranty to get it checked.

[PACE]

Yep. Lower intake gasket.....

[RAMAIR1]

Mine is in the shop right now as we spea.....type!! Same problems, intake and valve cover gaskets leaking. That extended warranty is definitely paid off after this trip to the shop.

[StarFire]

I've had my lower intake gasket replaced twice since 9/18/2002...I think the first time they fixed it they messed up, because I heard this tinny metallic sound after I got the car back...took it in this time and it runs a little bit better and no metallic sound.

[StarFire]

Well it's happening again...3rd time in 3 months...looks like back to the shop my car goes...maybe one of these times it'll get fixed and won't leak!

[nokiatech]

I just had mine done today actually... :rolleyes:

[claymore]

I went in for an oil change this weekend and was told I have this dreaded leak. the garage told me it will cost about 3-400 total to fix. is this reasonable or not? and should I just go ahead and get the SA ported upper and lower intakes? or not worry about porting any thing and just get the leak fixed?
Thanks for any advice,
matt

I guess this means im not getting my lowering kit this year :( GD GM crappy gaskets!!!!!:rage:

[Faylix]

They estimated $950 for me so, Nah, that's not cheap.

We did it ourselves, as well as a complete valve job and engine flush, cleaned everything out, for $300ish -- most of that was for the 3400sfi engine kit, comes with all the gaskets necessary, etc. We also went through about 80 gallons of oil.

[SeanCrammer]

i just called midas, and they said 500 - 600 for labor and only 60 for the gasket set, the set includes just about every gasket for the top of the motor. he said it is a 2 day job! that is crazy. i think i know someone who will do the motor work for cheap. ;) or maybe i can do it myself, does anyone know how much time it would consume to do this job?

does the SA intakes come with gaskets?

thanx;

[JGA-GT]

Just got the news today, intake gasket leaking. Got a low collant light sunday, monday on it's way to dealer. Lucky for me still under warranty.

[SeanCrammer]

luck for you, my warranty ran out 16,000 miles ago :(

just got my power steering replaced though:thumbs:
i was without powersteering for a week, kinda hellish! a hose came off the rack & pinion, and leaked my fluid, and bam, no fluid = blown pump.

later
sean

[PACE]

:confused: last night I had a dream that I was driving and all my idiot lights started flashing and the car started driving really wierd....I pull over and oil is just pouring out of my Upper and lower intake manifold gaskets.....The is oil all over the ground and splashing all over....So, I dump a bunch of oil into the car and try to drive it home but it starts sputtering and chugging and then catches on fire.....wierd.:confused:

[SikMindz]

I just got a call and my mani is leaking as well. Over 700+ dollar estimate. Sounds high though and I'm not exactly sure what they're going to do. Must find out..*sigh*

[Bigkev]

Me too, happened yesterday, routine oil change then BAM!!! $925 job. Discussing w/ pontiac because it happened at 29k. Dealer gives Goodwrench 12m/12k mi. deal but check this..I did 16k after. Currently questioning dealer's work from 29k job. Cannot afford $925 right now. By the way I have another thread on this under GAGT - TEchnical:rage:

[dmurphy]

Here's my problem ...

I took my car in for an oil change this weekend, and the oil goon told me that the level was off the dipstick (only about a quart in the engine!)

Well, this would explain why it's been taking longer to turn over at start lately .... I thought it was just the cold :)

Question 1: Why didn't I get an oil pressure idiot light?

Anywho, looking at the front of the engine, I've got an oily mess down below, by the pulleys and soforth.

I'd just march back to the dealer's, BUT ...... the car's at 69,500 miles.

That's enough to be out of the extended warranty, but (just) within the California emissions warranty, which covers the intake manifold up to 70,000 miles. (I'm in NJ which follows the Cali regulations)

Yikes. Of course, my girlfriend & I are leaving in an hour for Cape May for a nice romantic getaway ... now I have to leave my GA at home and take her '00 Nissan Altima ... Not that the Altima is a bad car by any means, but it ain't a GA, that''s for sure!

Sooooo...... what are the odds that this leak is the intake manifold? I don't seem to have a problem in my coolant (a visible one, anyway). Of course, I'm not much of a mechanic, so unless things are _really_ awful I usually don't notice slight discolorations...

An interesting thing to note .... about 4 months ago, I was having the start-the-car-wait-10-secs-coolant-light-goes-on-and-comes-back-off problem.

Now, I took it to the dealer's, and they told me it was a bad sensor. They replaced it and life's been good since.

Now I'm wondering if that was indeed the case ......

Anyone have any suggestions? Do you think this is going to cost me a Freakin' Fortune (tm) or am I going to be able to get it fixed under the emissions warranty?

--DM

p.s. 2000 GA SE2 (V6, 3400). Redfire, pewter cloth if you're interested. Don't want leather; gets sticky in the summer and cracks in the winter ... welcome to New f'n Jersey!

[dmurphy]

OK, my dealer called this morning.

Lower intake manifold is what's leaking.... Surprise, surprise.

I'm also leaking from the valve cover, and the timing belt cover.

$1200 to do this and replace the serpentine belt.

The car's at 69,900 miles, and according to my little warranty booklet, the intake manifold is covered up to 70k. The dealer swears that the emissions warranty covers only the computer, muffler & cat.

Bullplop.

I've got the book that says otherwise.... so I have to go after work today and argue with them! :)

Has anyone else successfully gotten it repaired out of standard warranty and under the emissions one?

Thanks!

--Dennis

[Blackrider]

I just replaced my lower intake manifold Gasket members.shaw.ca/jordierobb for some pics

[Blackalero3400]

I had the alero's oil changed today and yes there was colant in my oil. The man told me it was the Head gasket. I don't know if he was right could be uper or lower too i guess. but he was pertty sure it was the Head gasket. should i call gm ? if so what number
1-800-462-8782
1-800-222-1020
which ^^

my car
1999 olds alero 3.4 with 40,600 miles

do i call then take it in and find out whats wrong for sure. Or do i bring it in and find out then call? HELP PLEAZE thanks ~Ash~Blackalero3400