Own a GM car from 1997-2003 with the 3800 Series II engine?

[JCE]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/gm_recall

You better pray you don't catch fire! In all seriousness check with your local GM dealer and get it fixed! Kind of late for GM to announce this kind of a recall.

 

[Jay]

These engines have always been notorious for oil leaks, usually around the oil pressure sender (easy fix) and rear seal (not so easy).

I wonder if this 'recall' applies for Holden's in Australia too? I know I have fixed a few 3800 II (and 3800 I) oil pressure sender based leaks.

 

[JCE]

The 3800 wasn't very reliable indeed...but at least it produces adequat power. Lets not forget the headgasket issues either...

 

[Jay]

I find them quite reliable to be honest, I mean they can loosen up, rattle, leak and fall apart but the keep on going.

Unless you mean flawless relaibility (no leaks, rattles etc).

 

[Rotary Junkie]

The 3800 wasn't very reliable indeed...but at least it produces adequat power. Lets not forget the headgasket issues either...

The issue is with the intake gaskets.

Further, the Series 1 and pre-Series 1 3800s were unkillable, the Series II brought on the intake gasket issues amongst others.

 

[Jay]

Initial Series II 3800's in Australia had serious oil consumption problems due to the design on the new light wieght pistons, this was fixed pretty quickly though.

 

[Paulie]

Series II is the "Ecotec" as it's known in Australia right? I have a Series I then, I actually made sure to get a Series I because they're a stronger engine.

 

[Rotary Junkie]

Ecotec is the 4-cylinder...

But yeah, you should be safe Paulie.

 

[Jay]

Australian series II 3800's are called Ecotec, when some one here says 'Ecotec' they are almost always referring to the SII 3800.

 

[Rotary Junkie]

*sigh* Aussies.

Doesn't look like this affects you guys though. It may but the site is rather obviously pointing at US market issues so... Actually, any news as to if it does affect the Aussie cars?

 

[Paulie]

*sigh* Aussies.

Doesn't look like this affects you guys though. It may but the site is rather obviously pointing at US market issues so... Actually, any news as to if it does affect the Aussie cars?

Well after over a decade of thousands of Commodores on the road I've never heard once that they could catch fire. By reading how it happens it sounds like an extremely rare occurence anyway, like 1 in a million.

 

[Adamgp]

I've seen this for months now on the Grand Prix forum. I've gotten a couple recall notices myself but haven't taken the car in.

The recall I got was just for cars with the L67 (supercharged 3.8 series II) Their idea to "fix" this problem is to replace the valve cover gaskets and re route the spark plug wires.(I and alot of other owners believe the fuel rail o-rings are to blame)

More than a couple members have had the recall done on their cars (that were running just fine) and their cars would catch fire within weeks after the "fix", which is why I'm shy about bringing my car in.

 

[Sniffs]

hmm...what is it with 3.8 v6's and leakage issues? ford's version has this problem, too.

oh, a little FYI...i had a recall on my 90 Lumina around 2000 for something to do with the lug nuts shattering...some companies won't do a recall until they have enough complaints and lawyers to make it worth while.

 

[YSSMAN]

Well, looks like we'll have to take the lead-sled in. We've got a '99 Grand Prix SE 3800, suppose this works out well enough, since we need an oil change too.

 

[Eric.]

I had a Grand Am with a 3400 in it...not related to the 3800, but also had its fair share of intake gasket and head gasket problems...

 

[YSSMAN]

Outside of the bad throttle sensor and a fuel rail that went kaput, the engine has been solid as a rock. Personally, the only thing I know to worry about on the cars were the transmissions... Which is odd, because normally they're very solid units.

The way things are now, I'm trying to find a way to make it a reasonable alternative to trade the Pontiac in for a Ford Fusion. Well, assuming they do a "Cash for Clunkers" program here.

 

[Paulie]

Outside of the bad throttle sensor and a fuel rail that went kaput, the engine has been solid as a rock. Personally, the only thing I know to worry about on the cars were the transmissions... Which is odd, because normally they're very solid units.

The way things are now, I'm trying to find a way to make it a reasonable alternative to trade the Pontiac in for a Ford Fusion. Well, assuming they do a "Cash for Clunkers" program here.

I beg you to consider the awesome new Malibu too.👍

 

[JCE]

Now, screw the Malibu the new Ford Fusion is solid platinum!

 

[Joey D]

Now, screw the Malibu the new Ford Fusion is solid platinum!

What he said.

I got a chance to drive one two weeks ago and was impressed, for an American car it wasn't bad. It was a 3.0L V6 FWD model and had decent performance. The only thing I faulted the car for was the cheapness inside, the interior looked nice but felt very cheap. Comparing the new Fusion to the Malibu and there is no contest, the Fusion is the better car. Looks better too, although that is subjective.

 

[Rotary Junkie]

for an American car it wasn't bad.

Perhaps because it's not all that American. The chassis etc is Mazda. Although, the actual tuning may be a bit different.

 

[YSSMAN]

Well, it depends on if we're comparing the 2009 Fusion to the 2009 Malibu. While my preference would lie with the Fusion based on the fact that I can nab it with a 2.3L MZR and a 5-speed manual, yeah, that makes a lot of sense. But otherwise, I may end up leaning toward the Malibu when you start packing the options on. Especially if we're talking about the LTZ model.

But, the tables turn completely with the 2010 model. I think the only car in GM's current lineup that will be able to compete with it in terms of quality, looks and performance, it will be the new Buick LaCrosse. Which starts weeeel above that of the Fusion. Until the Insignia shows up in some tangible way as a Malibu replacement, GM is going to need to work very hard to improve the current car to make it better than the Fusion.

Lets be honest:

A 2010 Fusion SE with the 2.5L I4, a 5-speed manual, and the Mondeo five-spoke wheels rolling on sport rubber and the sport tuned suspension... Available at $22,600 (with the sales tax available as a write-off for 2010). Wow. Its a steal. Beyond that, where the Fusion price leaves off, that's where Malibu pricing starts. Poop.

 

[JCE]

Good to see you actually slowly coming towards the good (blue oval) side. Mwuahaha!

 

[YSSMAN]

I can't turn down a legitimately good car. Thing is though, I prefer it hand-over-fist to its sister car, the Mazda 6. Throw the other direct competition into the mix, particularly the Honda Accord and Nissan Altima 2.5S, and the Ford still pulls far, far ahead in my book. They've got a helluva car on their hands, and as I understand it, most dealers are having a very hard time to keep them on the lot.

A shame that GM couldn't keep that momentum going for the Malibu. Of course, I don't think many of us were able to anticipate last summer (and its after-effects) either.

 

[JCE]

My dealer can't keep them for longer than a day or two. The SEL V6 models get eaten up very quickly. It is amazing that this doesn't outsell the competition when it most certainly should. And now with the hybrid being the best hybrid in the US it SHOULD be an insanely good seller.

 

[YSSMAN]

I keep looking for SE models with the four-pot and the stick, arguably the sweetest of sweet-spots in the entire lineup... But no luck. I've only seen a handfull of previous-generation Fusions with the similar engine/trans combo, beyond the one I looked to buy (despite knowing it was too much). A shame really, I honestly can't think of too many brand-new cars I'd rather have than that car. Especially at the $22K mark.

 

[JCE]

$22k? I'd buy this...

 

[Jim Prower]

That's 26K.

 

[JCE]

I was just showing the type of car not the specific options.