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05-24-2012
Masters,
After smelling something burning one day, I opened the hood and noticed a light smoke.. and it seems to be coming from somewhere here.. I'm inclined to think that the area is supposed to be dry? and whatever is leaking, that's the source of the smoke? What went wrong??
98 GT..series II.
Thanks in advance,
MK
download.jpg
05-24-2012
That would be your front valve cover gasket. If you've never had the warranty free cover gasket replaced. Stop by your local dealer to see if it's been done to your car.
05-24-2012
front valve cover gasket..got it!Originally Posted by BillBoost37
warranty free cover gasket replacement? please do tell more!
edit: quick googling returns about the valve cover gasket recall. I remember the recall, on this car, was about putting plastic retainers.
05-24-2012
They do retainers, remove the heat shield on the exhaust and the valve cover gasket.
05-24-2012
LOL... While your googling... look for Grand Prix Engine Fire. That is what the recall is in place to prevent.
FIX IT NOW!!!
Originally Posted by AmericanSoldier
05-24-2012
Personally, I'd change both the valve cover gaskets. I did it while I already had the engine apart for the LIM gaskets. The front had been replaced under warranty, but the rear was in absolutely crap shape and there was signs that oil had leaked there at one point. I bought the fel-pro kit, replaced both gaskets, and am very happy with the results.
But yes, at the very least, couldn't hurt to have the dealer do the front, if you'd rather not dive into it yourself.
05-24-2012
If you do the gaskets yourself don't forget to install new bolt grommets as well, or it will leak again.
05-24-2012
Absolutely agreed, if you get the Fel-pro kit from rockauto, it will include these bolt grommets as well.
05-24-2012
ok..now i'm scared and confused. Is it covered under the recall? I get conflicting results while googling.. mine is not supercharged..(vin K)
Any supporting evidences I could take it to the dealer who did put the retainers and say I need the gaskets replaced as well?
05-24-2012
ok.. I found these:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NHTSA Recall Campaign Number: 09V116000
Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Details: GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING 1,497,516 MY 1997-2003 BUICK REGAL, MY 1998-2003 CHEVROLET LUMINA, MONTE CARLO AND IMPALA, MY 1998-1999 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE, MY 1997-2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.8L V6 NATURALLY ASPIRATED ENGINE. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH DROPS OF ENGINE OIL MAY BE DEPOSITED ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD THROUGH HARD BRAKING.
Consequence: IF THE MANIFOLD IS HOT ENOUGH AND THE OIL RUNS BELOW THE HEAT SHIELD, IT MAY IGNITE INTO A SMALL FLAME AND MAY SPREAD TO THE PLASTIC SPARK PLUG WIRE CHANNEL AND BEYOND INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
Corrective Action: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE SPARK PLUG WIRE RETENTION CHANNEL AT THE FRONT OF ENGINE AND INSTALL TWO NEW SPARK PLUG WIRE RETAINERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537, AND PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668 OR HTTP://WWW.PONTIAC.COM OR HTTP:WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
Units Potentially Affected: 1497516
Recall Initiated By: ODI
Date added to NHTSA database: 04/08/2009
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NHTSA Recall Campaign Number: 08V118000
Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Details: GM IS RECALLING 207,542 MY 1997-2003 BUICK REGAL AND PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.8L SUPERCHARGED V-6 ENGINE. THESE VEHICLES HAVE HIGHER FRONT ROCKER COVER GASKET TEMPERATURES, CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR EARLIER DEGRADATION OF THE FRONT ROCKER COVER GASKET AND EVENTUAL OIL SEEPAGE.
Consequence: CERTAIN UNDERHOOD FIRES MAY BE CAUSED BY DROPS OF ENGINE OIL, FROM SEEPAGE OR SPILLAGE, BEING DEPOSITED ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD THROUGH HARD BRAKING. IF THE MANIFOLD IS HOT ENOUGH AND THE OIL RUNS BELOW THE HEAT SHIELD, IT MAY IGNITE INTO A SMALL FLAME AND, IN SOME INSTANCES, THE FIRE MAY SPREAD TO THE PLASTIC SPARK PLUG WIRE CHANNEL AND BEYOND.
Corrective Action: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW FRONT (LEFT) ROCKER COVER GASKET WITH AN IMPROVED DESIGN FROM THE ORIGINAL GASKET AND REPLACE THE SPARK PLUG WIRE CHANNEL WITH NEW RETAINERS. DUE TO PARTS AVAILABILITY, OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTERS WILL BE MAILED IN TWO PHASES. THE CUSTOMER LETTERS FOR THE 1997-2000 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES WILL BE MAILED ON APRIL 28, 2008. GM WILL ADVISE AS TO WHEN THE OWNER LETTERS FOR THE 2001-2003 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES WILL BE MAILED. UNTIL SUFFICIENT PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE, GM STRONGLY RECOMMENDS THAT OWNERS OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING IMPORTANT PRECAUTIONS (1) THEY STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT OWNERS DO NOT PARK THEIR VEHICLE IN A GARAGE, CAR PORT, OR OTHER STRUCTURE; (2) IF OWNERS NOTICE A BURNING ODOR, THEY SHOULD HAVE THEIR DEALER INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT CHARGE; (3) USE PREMIUM FUEL (91 OCTANE OR HIGHER) IN THE VEHICLE AS RECOMMENDED IN THE VEHICLES OWNER MANUAL. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080 OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM .
Units Potentially Affected: 207542
Recall Initiated By: ODI
Date added to NHTSA database: 03/12/2008
05-24-2012
if your not the original owner of the car, call any gm dealer, with your vin # in hand, ask them if they can tell you if the valve cover recall has been done on your car yet. they will know by the vin. if they say its never been done they will make an appointment with you.
not sure about your state, but the vin # is on my NJ registration card. or your title.
if your on your own the front is easy to change, the grommets are just a rubber piece that sits in the valve cover bolt hole, then the bolt goes through the grommets hole, its all easy to see after you take off the valve cover.. dont worry. and torqued to 98 inch pounds. ( i think, double check that) you need a small torque wrench. if you over tighten the cover you will crush the new gasket and it will leak like mine is. (yes i over tightened mine.) <<<<sucks.
05-24-2012
The previous owner received the letter just before selling the car and gave me the letter. I took the car to the dealer with the letter, and that was when they put the retainers...not the gasket. (??)
also, is this something I can delay to fix? will it get worse? what's the risk of leaving it as is?
Last edited by kind153; 05-24-2012 at 07:33 PM.
05-24-2012
I've been getting the recall notice on my 00 GT for a while now, and I'm the 2nd owner. Since I've already done both covers and grommets I haven't taken it in, and won't. My motor is actually dry (if you can beleive a 3800 can be dry, lol).
Some dealers won't replace the gasket, just the wire guide.
I wouldn't put it off personally. It would suck to loose my car to a fire that $35 worth of parts and a few hours of my time could have stopped, ya know?
If you don't own a inch pounds torque wrench then just find an online converter that will convert in/lb to ft/lb, as most people own a ft/lb wrench.
05-25-2012
It's worth looking into. Maybe the notice you got was only the retainer notice. Keep in mind it costs nothing to ask the question. You had one recall, not two to your knowledge and there are two.
Letting this go, what happens is oil and crud builds up under the heat shield and that starts on fire. If you enjoy roasting marshmallows on your GP as it goes up in flames, I'd say you can definately wait. If you like your car and want to keep it, I'd move on this instead of putting it off. We can't say for sure if yours will have a fire or not, but it's common enough that we don't suggest waiting to find out.
FM77: Did you know that in many cases GM will reimburse you for the job if you had it done outside of the recall program. All they usually need is the receipt for the gasket/labor.
05-25-2012
there are two?? I see one for each engine..supercharged and n/a.
marshmallow mod, great!
oh well, looks like I will have to get it done in either way.
Your letter.. does it mention what they will do? I remember my letter said something about the retainer..but didn't mention anything about gaskets.
05-25-2012
You own a GT, you will not get a valve cover gasket.
In fact, they only replace the front gasket and leave the rear gasket and all of the grommets, but only if its supercharged.
Just go out and buy the gaskets and grommets yourself and pop 'em on.
You're not covered by the recall anyways.
And the fire thing can also be fuel injector disconnects that fail over time.
05-25-2012
this makes more sense. it's also how i read those recalls. I wonder how hard it'd be to replace the gaskets and gromets??
Last edited by kind153; 05-25-2012 at 01:45 PM.
05-25-2012
not hard at all, you remove your belt, the dog bones, and then the icm/coil bracket from the side of the head, and you have full access to the cover.
if its your first time, maybe a hour to complete, tops, i never did them till i did mine and spent about 1.5 hours for front and back, back has a few more things to remove to get a clear shot at it. front was real easy. was done in less than 30 minutes.
just remember to clean up the head, where the cover sits, and the cover where the gasket sits inside it real good. brake cleaner works good, i also cleaned up the whole inside of my cover, it was kinda nasty.
05-25-2012
I've received that letter plenty of times, third owner of my grand prix. Mine never mentioned anything about the gaskets or the retainers, only a engine fire is possible.
I agree with fordman, just research it if you dont know about the covers and do the project yourself (much more satisfaction out of doing it yourself).
I did mine a few months ago and have had no oil leaking from them.
05-25-2012
If you plan on this, you might as well make an event out of it and go for the LIM gaskets as well.
You'll have to remove the belt tensioner which means the coolant elbows will probably break and need replacing (should be replaced once removed anyways).
However if you're drain some coolant, just make an event out of it.
LIM gasket with grommets, coolant elbows, new UIM, coolant flush and an oil change.
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