9.0
really awful- Typical Repair Cost:
- $480
- Average Mileage:
- 109,650 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 8 complaints
Most common solutions:
- pay to replace the gasket (6 reports)
- not sure (1 reports)
- repair manifold (1 reports)
click to see larger images
1st coolant lead in timing chain area that was $500, now in intake.
- G S., Coeur D Alene, ID, US
We bought this car Last year with about 70000 miles on it and just recently the heater stopped working. I brought it in because i thought it was just the thermostat... Well, the mechanic told me not to drive it until i got it fixed because coolant was in my oil :-) LEAKING INTAKE GASKET!!!! GM SHOULD PAY US THE 500 dollars for making such a sh*tty engine design! I love this car, but god, the engine is terrible!!
- Eric W., Jefferson, WI, US
This is the worst way to start the new year. I leave to go to a party and my coolant light comes on.So i go to put some in and i can smell the coolant burning. I look on the ground and bam,the car is pissing out fluid. It was new years eve and i couldn't quit see were it was coming from but it was all over the top of my transmission. the next day i go to work and tell someone and instantly they ask what size motor, i tell them 3.1l Monte Carlo and before i say another word the guy say "rear lower manifold gasket". sure as sh*t pop the hood and he points right to wear its coming out. Hes doing the job for me for a $100 plus parts cost. He only charged me that much because he said hes done so many before it'll only take him a couple of hours for job. I'm sorry anything that known by a part time mechanic is ridiculous and should be a recall by GM.I don't think I'll ever buy another GM again
- Cyle T., Woonsocket, RI, US
I paid to have this gasket problem fixed 3 years ago. Chevrolet knew that the material in which the gaskets were made from would not last. Chevrolet combined two types of metal that are not compatible! Well it leaked again and this time water/ coolant got into my engine and oil. Now I have to find a car. It won't be easy and if any one knows how to contact chevrolet i would like the number. They need to carry their weight on this problem!!
- icebird, Amarillo, TX, US
I changed the intake manifold gasket at 80000 miles and then it blew out again at 120000. the first time cost $550 the second time cost $485 thats $1035 on the same part what poor design!!!! I'm going Ford next time!
- Josh D., Lancaster, NY, US
I was told that the shop replaces an average of 2 of these a month! gm knows of the problem but refuses to do anything about it!
- Debi B., Davison, MI, US
Lower intake gasket was leaking coolant. I was told that the problem happens when the car overheats the intake warps because of the metal used to make it.
- Debi B., Davison, MI, US
Me and my mom have had 3800 engines for a long time. Don't just replace the mani because this issue will just reoccur over and over again. You have to actually fix the mani. There is a part in the mani that fails when heated up past temp. You just need to fix that problem not the whole mani. Then this engine runs better then ever. Just trying to save people money on this type of engine
- Dean L., St Paul, MN, US