Now its my first problem

billytheman1188 · 10-06-2006, 03:46 PM

So me and bob(moms fiancee) saw a puddle in the driveway, so i pull my car up on the ramps and come to find out its the coolant like i thought it was, he thinks its a gasket(im pretty sure thats what he saidlol) but he said its like a $1,000 job. which f*ckin sucks.

Ive been waiting for my first problem in this car, and i knew it would be a big one.

10-06-2006, 04:08 PM

Lower Intake Manifold Gasket.

jackal2000 · 10-06-2006, 04:35 PM

its not a 1k job, more like half that. the big part is labor (of course) which is around 6.5hrs. i got mine done for $550.

10-06-2006, 04:52 PM

the 3X00's are notorious for the intake manifold gaskets. Its not that bad. The car can run with a bad gasket (not recomended but u can do it). I have done the lower intake gasket on a few cars, its not that hard if you would prefer to save some $$$ and do it yourself. You just need basic tools and some time and patience. If you need instructions PM me and ill will send them to you.

alero440 · 10-06-2006, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackal2000

its not a 1k job, more like half that. the big part is labor (of course) which is around 6.5hrs. i got mine done for $550.

Me too. Book time is like 7 hours, but a good mechanic can do it in like 4.

10-06-2006, 05:15 PM

alero440 is right. I dont have much experience with that(about 5 cars) and i can still do it in about 4 hours. It sounds alot harder than it really is. A good way to be sure about it being the gasket is to look at the edge of the valve covers at each end. and on top of the transmission. If it looks wet or has a puddle on the trans, then your gasket is bad.

Redog · 10-06-2006, 05:44 PM

Get it fixed right away before it works it's way into the oil.

And $550 to $650 sounds about right

billytheman1188 · 10-06-2006, 06:38 PM

Thanks everyone for the help, and projectalero thanks i will PM u if i do end up trying to do it, but i prob will bring it to someone. Are there any other problems in the 02 aleros that i need to know about????(3400) i know there are, but i just would like to know for future reference

10-06-2006, 07:09 PM

the only other thing i found was a TSB(technical service bulletin) on Alldata that said something about one of the pistons was made of a different material and made some noise on cold starts, but its no big deal. That was a year ago so i could be wrong or it could be updated. Outside of that, i haven't heard of anything. The only problem i have personally had with my car is a TCC solenoid messed up and it had some really harsh shifting and i have had my car for 3 years!!

jackal2000 · 10-06-2006, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by projectalero

the only other thing i found was a TSB(technical service bulletin) on Alldata that said something about one of the pistons was made of a different material and made some noise on cold starts, but its no big deal. That was a year ago so i could be wrong or it could be updated. Outside of that, i haven't heard of anything. The only problem i have personally had with my car is a TCC solenoid messed up and it had some really harsh shifting and i have had my car for 3 years!!

yes they are notorious for "piston slap" but that is in no way related to his problem.

New Polymer Coated Piston and Rod Assembly
2000-2003 Buick Century

2002-2003 Buick Rendezvous

1996 Chevrolet Lumina APV

1997-2003 Chevrolet Venture

1999-2001 Chevrolet Lumina

1999-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, Monte Carlo

2000-2003 Chevrolet Impala

1996-2003 Oldsmobile Silhouette

1999 Oldsmobile Cutlass

1999-2003 Oldsmobile Alero

1996-1999 Pontiac Trans Sport

1999-2003 Pontiac Grand Am

2000-2003 Pontiac Grand Prix, Montana

2001-2003 Pontiac Aztek

with 3.1L or 3.4L V-6 Engine (VINs E, J -- RPOs LA1, LG8)

A new piston and rod assembly has been released for use in the above models. The new piston is Polymer coated and will arrive with the piston rings and connecting rod already assembled to it, but does not contain the connecting rod bearing. Use this new piston assembly any time the need to replace either the piston or connecting rod should arise.

The new piston assembly part numbers are:

Engine VIN
Engine RPO
Assembly P/N

E
LA1
12578021

J
LG8
12564008

10-09-2006, 11:00 AM

I just had mine done at GM (still under warranty) it cost my warranty company $850 tax included mind you thats canadian funds book time is 4.5hrs (Just long enough for me to not get a rental car) A guy I work with just had his go and he was quoted $500 plus tax at a private garage.

Mr_Reed · 10-09-2006, 11:41 AM

A guy at Big 10 Tires told me that my Lower Intake Manifold Gasket was leaking a little and it needed to be replaced. But its not even leaking enough to leave a puddle or even hit the ground yet so I'm going to get some stop leak and see if that fixes it until I can get the money up to get the work done he quoted me 900 bucks to get it fixed I was like HOLY CRAP! No way! So hopefully GM will be cheaper or maybe a local shop.

Satsuriku · 10-09-2006, 12:37 PM

i think the previous owner of my alero had the LIM leak and fixed it, hence why that person sold it. but i do have the piston slap going on, i just learned to ignore it, once the engine warms up, its fine after that.

10-09-2006, 03:30 PM

Thanks for the input jackal. It has been a long time since i read that bulletin. I couldnt remember exactly what was going on.

battistoni21 · 10-09-2006, 06:41 PM

aww man billy, sorry to hear about that bro

eag182 · 10-09-2006, 08:20 PM

My gaskets been leaking for over a year, no problems, except making a trip to walmart for coolant every month or so...

billytheman1188 · 10-10-2006, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eag182

My gaskets been leaking for over a year, no problems, except making a trip to walmart for coolant every month or so...

hmmmm, i was wondering is there anything that can happen if u dont treat a car that has leaking coolant????? i mean if u keep refilling the coolant...... im bringing my car into an actually TRUSTED mechanic later tonight, he said that a lot of aleros have a problem of some plastic peice coming off and causing a leak???

Good news is that when i get headers i think i might bring the car to this guy and have him put them on

I finally found someone who might be able to put them on......i mean the headers arent coming for a long time, and i havent asked him if he can put them on, but im pretty sure he could.

But is there a common problem of a plastic peice coming off??????? the mechanic might be mixed up, but he will look at it and tell me whats wrong by tomorrow, i will fill everyone in on whats wrong.

billytheman1188 · 10-11-2006, 01:41 PM

hmm well the mechanic said it was transmission fluid leaking, they tightened the pan and i guess it stopped.......wtf? i mean me and my moms fiancee thought it was the coolant cause he though it smelled like coolant, and the leak didnt seem like it was transmission fluid cause it was in a weird spot, we did think it was transmission fluid but then he said its probably coolant, but then the mechanic tells us he just tightened the pan.....it cost me $51.00 to have him look at it and determine thatlol

battistoni21 · 10-11-2006, 02:43 PM

you shoulda got a tranny flish and new tranny fluid for the hell of it....

billytheman1188 · 10-11-2006, 03:40 PM

yea didnt think of that. lol