Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us
Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network
HomeAnnouncements
Discussion Groups
By Brand
BMWChevroletDodgeFordGMHondaLexusMercedes-BenzNissanPeugeotToyotaVolkswagenOther Brands
By Topic
4x4 CarsRVsDrivingMaintenance & RepairCar AudioCollectible Cars
Country Specific
Australian ForumsUK Forums
ArticlesAuto InsuranceBuyingCars & TechnologyMaintenanceMiscellaneousSafety
DMV Resources
Related Topics
MotorcyclesBoatsMore Topics ...

Car Forum / GMC Cars / January 2006

Tip: Looking for answers? Try searching our database.

1994 Buick Century-strange problem

Thread view: 
Enable EMail Alerts  Start New Thread
Thread rating: 
Craig W - 28 Jan 2006 04:10 GMT
I have recently had problems with a 1994 Buick Century, 6 cyl, with approx
100K miles.  It seems like these problems could be symptoms created by
another problem, but I'm just guessing.  Any advice would be greatly
apprecaited.

Slight loss of coolant with driving,  does not overheat, does not loose
enough to run low. I just keep topping it up.  It might loose between a
pint and a quart after several hundred miles.  I can't find any signs of
external leakage.  I have a professional quality cooling system pressure
tester; using it I have not been able to detect any signs of leakage.
System holds pressure cold and hot.  Running the car with the pressure
tester the guage holds steady, does not fluctuate.  The radiator cap tests
out ok.  This problem is still occurring.

About 3000-5000 miles after the above started the porcelain on the #6 spark
plug cracked and was causing shorting to engine head and misfiring.
Replaced all plugs and car ran fine.

5000 miles after the cracked plug the car started missing.  It was #6
cylinder again.  The plug wire had developed a problem.  The plug wires have
only been on the car for about 15K miles.  After removing from the plug wire
the metal end that attaches to the spark plug, none of the carbon strand was
visible.  I had to chop off about an inch of the wire to find the strand.
There was a lot of black dust on the metal end off of the plug wire.  It
looked like the carbon filament had been destroyed and turned into powder as
far as an inch back up the length of the plug wire.  After chopping off an
inch of the wire, stripping a small length of the insulation, reattaching
the metal end, and reinstalling the boot, the car ran fine.

The only idea that I have as to a possible common cause would be the cooling
system.  Could it be that there is a blockage in the water passages in the
head and that the spark plug for #6 is not able to dissipate its heat
effectively?

Any other ideas, good guesses...anything?  I have never encountered anything
like this before.

Thanks,

CW
Montgomery, AL
=AB Paul =BB - 28 Jan 2006 04:27 GMT
GM made more than one v6.  Which one is in your car?
Craig W - 29 Jan 2006 04:59 GMT
The engine is the 3.1 with sequential fuel injection

"« Paul »" <"=?x-user-defined?Q?=AB?= Paul
=?x-user-defined?Q?=BB?="@houston.rr.com> wrote in message
news:43DAF2FA.6EC68670@houston.rr.com...
> GM made more than one v6.  Which one is in your car?
=AB Paul =BB - 29 Jan 2006 07:24 GMT
> The engine is the 3.1 with sequential fuel injection
>
> "« Paul »" <"=?x-user-defined?Q?=AB?= Paul
> =?x-user-defined?Q?=BB?="@houston.rr.com> wrote in message
> news:43DAF2FA.6EC68670@houston.rr.com...
> > GM made more than one v6.  Which one is in your car?

Sure sounds like the typical intake problem with the 3.1.
If you don't know about it you should read up on it.
There are tens of thousands of hits on Google about it.
Craig W - 29 Jan 2006 22:42 GMT
>Sure sounds like the typical intake problem with the 3.1.
>If you don't know about it you should read up on it.
>There are tens of thousands of hits on Google about it.

Thanks a lot.  I'll check that out.

CW
ernie - 28 Jan 2006 15:42 GMT
> I have recently had problems with a 1994 Buick Century, 6 cyl, with approx
> 100K miles.  It seems like these problems could be symptoms created by
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> plug cracked and was causing shorting to engine head and misfiring.
> Replaced all plugs and car ran fine.

Try removing the plugs, cover the plug holes with a white paper towel
and turn the engine over a couple of times to see if there is any
coolant
in there.( after car sets overnight)
ernie
> 5000 miles after the cracked plug the car started missing.  It was #6
> cylinder again.  The plug wire had developed a problem.  The plug wires have
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
> CW
> Montgomery, AL
 
Sign In
Join
My Latest Posts
My Monitored Threads
My Blog
My Photo Gallery
My Profile
My Homepage

Start New Thread
Enable EMail Alerts
Rate this Thread



©2008 Advenet LLC   Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.