My brother has a 1996 Buick Park Avenue, the previous owner was a old lady. my bro bought the car at 66,xxx miles so it was still running like new expecially because the previous owner took very good care of it. now its at 96,600 and his engine is started to act up until it stopped him oneday. the car still runs, but the motor makes a very loud noise when on. it usually shuts off when he starts slowing down parking the car. two mechanic opinions were that the motor was gone.

If the car still runs with loud noise though, is that a repairable damage or better off with another engine?

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- Zin

*SOLD* 2000 SSEi | Midnight Blue Metallic | 120k
Supercharged decal 3rd brake light | Mostly stock| black leather interior | One of a Kind Tails | Custom SSEi Overlay | Painted Grille | Tints 20%(back) 35%(front)
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Is the coolant low? It might have had a LIM gasket issue, or the UIM failure, which causes coolant to get into the oil and destroy the bottom end bearings. Its gone at that point.

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Andrew - owner/operator of Bonnevilles Unlimited

2004 Bonneville GXP | 60k | White Gold Tricoat | custom built supercharged 3800 hot rod | garage queen
1997 Corvette | 57k | Silver Metallic | Z06 wheels | Date-night Hauler/Parts runner
2014 Town & Country Limited | Cashmere Pearl | 110k | Family Hauler
2002 Ram 1500 Quad Cab Sport | Black| 270k | Official Bonneville Hauler

Coolant was good but thats what i think happend exactly. because, i checked the oil and it was very hot. It was also dirty(idk why, he just got a oil change last month). I told him maybe somthing leaked into the engine into the oil to cause it to be dirty and damage something what you said the bottom end bearings. You might be right on that. Anyways, that is why I think the mechanics said the engine is gone. One mechanic didnt even bother to look at the car as much. He said, he knows that the engine is badly damaged and needs to be replaced.

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- Zin

*SOLD* 2000 SSEi | Midnight Blue Metallic | 120k
Supercharged decal 3rd brake light | Mostly stock| black leather interior | One of a Kind Tails | Custom SSEi Overlay | Painted Grille | Tints 20%(back) 35%(front)
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** NEW PIC's **----->: http://pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=12985

Oil is always hot when the car is up to temp. Its running right along the hottest part of the engine.

If you have coolant in the oil, the oil will appear to look like chocolate milk, not dirty. Drain the oil and see if there is coolant in it, or metal flakes.

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Andrew - owner/operator of Bonnevilles Unlimited

2004 Bonneville GXP | 60k | White Gold Tricoat | custom built supercharged 3800 hot rod | garage queen
1997 Corvette | 57k | Silver Metallic | Z06 wheels | Date-night Hauler/Parts runner
2014 Town & Country Limited | Cashmere Pearl | 110k | Family Hauler
2002 Ram 1500 Quad Cab Sport | Black| 270k | Official Bonneville Hauler

the way the oil looks, it doesnt seem to have coolant in it. the coolant was full and no leaks on it. My bro, doesnt want to drain the fluid. he doesnt want to touch it again until he fixes it or sells it. Mechanic told him $1000 for another engine with labor.

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- Zin

*SOLD* 2000 SSEi | Midnight Blue Metallic | 120k
Supercharged decal 3rd brake light | Mostly stock| black leather interior | One of a Kind Tails | Custom SSEi Overlay | Painted Grille | Tints 20%(back) 35%(front)
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** NEW PIC's **----->: http://pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=12985

For $1,000 I'd say he should go for it.

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2000 SSEi - SilverBullet - 78,000 kms, 4" "straight shot" custom headlight ram air inlet, TOGs, 1.9's, Lsd, 2.9-3.4"MPS 10-15 psi, Ported GenV, EGR eliminated, OR pushrods, oil volume kit, trani cooler & shift kit, Titanium retainers, 90 lb springs, 160 Stat, 42# injectors, Fuel pump voltage increase, Wideband O2, 3" to dual 2 1/2" Magnaflows, Snow Meth/water injection, after SC temp gauge, 255/50WR17, timing commander set 15-18*@WOT, 2 speed Fan over-ride, disabled DRL, Solid motor mount, Meziere Electric water pump, adjustable fuel pressure regulator, Drilled & slotted rotors/ceramics, GXP sway bars and STB, Upgraded and rebuilt transmission with ZZP 2500 rpm stall TC, Pioneer Bluetooth stereo with sub and 800 W amps, PB 13.5 quarter, (April 2014 car of the month)

Well that is what he is saying he's going to do. then sell it ASAP because he's been wanted to sell it for a while now. Not because the car is going bad, but because he's been wanting a newer car. He will most likely fix it and sell it. I just thought someone here might be interested.

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- Zin

*SOLD* 2000 SSEi | Midnight Blue Metallic | 120k
Supercharged decal 3rd brake light | Mostly stock| black leather interior | One of a Kind Tails | Custom SSEi Overlay | Painted Grille | Tints 20%(back) 35%(front)
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** NEW PIC's **----->: http://pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=12985

If there is no evidence of an internal coolant leak, check out the harmonic balancer (the big pulley at the bottom of the engine). When the rubber starts to go, a bad HB can make a horrible noise that sounds like the engine is shot. About $100 for a new one and maybe as much again to install it.

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1998 3.8 Dodge Caravan 214K
2000 3.3 Dodge Caravan 175K
1949 Plymouth Special Deluxe 4-dr sedan 25K (needs some work!)

alright, thanks for the heads up. I'll check that out. when you say the big pulley at the bottom of the engine, do you mean where it has a belt on it. If not, i dont know what your talking about. If im right, then i'll checkk it tommorow.
Thanks.

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- Zin

*SOLD* 2000 SSEi | Midnight Blue Metallic | 120k
Supercharged decal 3rd brake light | Mostly stock| black leather interior | One of a Kind Tails | Custom SSEi Overlay | Painted Grille | Tints 20%(back) 35%(front)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
** NEW PIC's **----->: http://pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=12985

Yes, it is the big pulley with a belt on it. It drives the belt for all the accessories. You can see it on your avatar. Here's an image of the harmonic balancer (crankshaft pulley) on my '95. It is the big pulley on the bottom of the engine with a puller tool attached. The harmonic balancer comprises a steel hub that is keyed and bolted to the crankshaft, a rubber damper, and an outer steel pulley that drives the accessory belt.

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1998 3.8 Dodge Caravan 214K
2000 3.3 Dodge Caravan 175K
1949 Plymouth Special Deluxe 4-dr sedan 25K (needs some work!)