Tis a sad day, and I need some help

[emberg89]

Well guys, I never thought the day would come, but the bonne died today. She will live again though!

Never had anything like this with this car. 1997 SE, coming home from work today, pull onto base and through the gate and she starts shaking, not like a misfire though. I wasn't sure whats up but I had to keep going because I can't stop the flow of the gate. Anyway, I go to the post office real quick, which is about 100 yards from the barracks. go get my lovely valentine's day card and come back, start her up and she's still shaking. I'm said, self, the barracks are right there, she can do er. Well I guess not. Pulled out of the parking lot, she shook, blew a nice puff of white smoke out the exhaust and there she died. Steering wheel in my hands. I got her into a parking lot across the street from the barracks. and I go to start her back up to get her home. Nope. No check engine light.

From my gatherings, I think the infamous head gasket finally had its way with her.
If you guys think its something else, please tell.
I will be doing the work myself if its the gaskets. It seems fairly easy enough if I'm careful about everything. That and the Chicago shops up here would charge me more money than I make to do them.
I will be dreading the cold during this project but it looks like I'll be makeing a midnight run to push her across the street to the barracks lot to the morgue she will be in till she comes back to life.

[haro1225]

Not likely a head gasket, more like the intake gaskets have probably expired. It's a good idea to check the upper intake for damage as well while it's off, and replace it if it has melted by the egr stovepipe.
http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/fo ... c3591.html

[emberg89]

I honestly don't know why I put head gasket, I even have the page for the intake gasket pulled up on Rock Auto to order one

[1oldman]

I honestly don't know why I put head gasket, I even have the page for the intake gasket pulled up on Rock Auto to order one

I do things like that all the time. Don't feel bad. I do feel bad you don't have a place to do the work. - BC

[nos4blood70]

May very well be the upper intake manifold. Check both.

Where are you located? If it's the upper intake, I can literally swap it out for you in half an hour if you buy the part. It's easy. LIM gaskets are easy as well, just more time consuming.

[emberg89]

I'm on the naval base in great Lakes. If that's not too far that would be awesome.

[nos4blood70]

Looks like you're just over an hour north of me. If you can confirm whether it's the LIM gaskets, or the UIM, that would help us out.

Are you losing coolant at all? Any milkshake?

[emberg89]

I'll look at it today, it has been losing coolant ever since my grandpa bought it off the lot. I just added about a half gallon to the radiator on sunday. Haven't looked at the oil yet to see if there is antifreeze in it.
I've never had this happen so I don't really know what to look for on how to check it if its more than looking at the coolant and oil.