Car Experts - 3800 v6 motor - suggestions?

[Paulson]

Buick Park Avenue
Year: 1988
Miles: 220,065
Amount spent to get it: $1000 (this was when the mileage was at 208,700)

Anyways, the problem with it is there's a balancing rod bearing that's going out in the motor. There's a distinct clicking noise, that's not constant, and not dependent upon RPM's... it was like this when we got it, but it has since gotten worse...

Now keep in mind this is a 3800 motor, a damn good one at that. Is it worth it to have the local dealership fix it (they will for $300 with labor included in that estimate)

The only reason my dad is baulking about it is because he says "well what else might go wrong on it?" The tranny fluid is dark, but the tranny works like a charm, very smooth shifts, very smooth altogether...

The only other problem we have is a power steering valve that is occationally leaking, and a rear wheel brake that is sticky and clunks every now and then...

Everything else about the car is perfect, all the electronic dashboard and cooling components work. The inside is very comfy and nice. My dad loves the car...

Do you think it's worth it to have the motor fixed? What will happen if the bearing goes out on the balancing rod?

Thanks for answering the questions

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

for $300 fix it, I'd also have them fix the leak and breaks while they're at it. I don't see why you couldn't get another 100K-200K miles out of that car.

 

[Pepsi90919]

fix it for $300. easily.

the brakes sticking, i had that problem on my bonneville. the old shoes were just glazed over and bonding to the rotor sometimes. you can either fix it or not.

power steering leaking is apparently common on old GM's after a while.

my friend had an 88 bonneville with the 3.8L and went over 350,000 km until he decided to park it. everything except the engine was starting to screw up

 

[Pepsi90919]

and if the tranny fluid is dark why don't you change it?

 

[Paulson]

Yeah, I keep telling him this but.. now I have more help to convince him... hell I love driving the thing... it may not be stylish but it's fun driving it

I don't know about the tranny fluid, he had it looked at at some place that does oil changes (not the regular one we take our cars to) and they said it was dark, but we've had it serviced at the local GM dealer and they said there's nothing wrong with it...

i love learning about cars but for now I don't know jack

 

[Marshallj]

You're telling me that they're going to pull your motor and take it apart to change a rod bearing, and only charge $300??? I find that hard to believe.

 

[notfred]

What the hell is a balancing rod? or a balancing rod bearing for that matter...

 

[Paulson]

A balancing rod was put in them to keep the motor from shaking...

And yes, they said they'd take the motor apart and replace that for $300, I'm not lying... that's their estimate. Unless other crap is really messed up, it should be around that ballpark... they have the bearings to fix it..

 

[Iron Woode]

Originally posted by: notfred
What the hell is a balancing rod? or a balancing rod bearing for that matter...

almost every 4 banger has them. They counteract the crankshaft's vibrations.

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: Paulson
A balancing rod was put in them to keep the motor from shaking...

And yes, they said they'd take the motor apart and replace that for $300, I'm not lying... that's their estimate. Unless other crap is really messed up, it should be around that ballpark... they have the bearings to fix it..

what is "them"? that the "balancing rod" was put in?

Are you just inventing parts of a motor or what?

 

[Iron Woode]

Originally posted by: notfred

Originally posted by: Paulson
A balancing rod was put in them to keep the motor from shaking...

And yes, they said they'd take the motor apart and replace that for $300, I'm not lying... that's their estimate. Unless other crap is really messed up, it should be around that ballpark... they have the bearings to fix it..

what is "them"? that the "balancing rod" was put in?

Are you just inventing parts of a motor or what?

He means balance shafts.

look here http://www.gm.com/automotive/gmpowertrain/vortecinline/shaft.htm

 

[Paulson]

ok a shaft then lol.. I was informed it's a balancing rod...

I'm assuming they don't use the shafts in newer 3800's?

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: Iron Woode

Originally posted by: notfred

Originally posted by: Paulson
A balancing rod was put in them to keep the motor from shaking...

And yes, they said they'd take the motor apart and replace that for $300, I'm not lying... that's their estimate. Unless other crap is really messed up, it should be around that ballpark... they have the bearings to fix it..

what is "them"? that the "balancing rod" was put in?

Are you just inventing parts of a motor or what?

He means balance shafts.

look here http://www.gm.com/automotive/gmpowertrain/vortecinline/shaft.htm

Alright. I thought he might have gotten confused and been talking about a connecting rod.. I really had no idea what he was talking about, actually.

 

[Paulson]

Well I'm sorry I'm not a car man... I'm trying to learn. You can't know everything about a car right away... lighten up a bit... you make it sound like it's fun to insult my intellegence...

:|

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: Paulson
Well I'm sorry I'm not a car man... I'm trying to learn. You can't know everything about a car right away... lighten up a bit... you make it sound like it's fun to insult my intellegence...

:|

I wasn't trying to insult your intelligence, I just really didn't know what you meant. I have no experience with motors with balance shafts at all, and I really have no idea if $300 is a good price. I wouldn't even know about where to start looking for the bearing in question. The V8s in my cars don't have balance shafts.

 

[Paulson]

I'm sorry, I took in the wrong way...

Oh well, I looked it up and this site has some info...

1988

3800 transverse mounted FWD
New on-center block design with balance shaft for improved primary balance
Steel camshaft with improved precision tolerances
Crankshaft balanced with 50% on bob weights
Lighter Slipper skirt pistons with thinner rings for reduced mass

 

[Vette73]

If you keep the oil changed and fix all the minor stuff, the 3.8L motor will go a LONG time.

I am a mechanic and my 87 Buick LeSabre has the OLD series one 3.8L in it. The only reason I got the car was it is 2 doors and has the 3.8L motor.

But fix it and change the Trans fluid and keep rolling.

 

[Iron Woode]

Originally posted by: notfred

Originally posted by: Paulson
Well I'm sorry I'm not a car man... I'm trying to learn. You can't know everything about a car right away... lighten up a bit... you make it sound like it's fun to insult my intellegence...

:|

I wasn't trying to insult your intelligence, I just really didn't know what you meant. I have no experience with motors with balance shafts at all, and I really have no idea if $300 is a good price. I wouldn't even know about where to start looking for the bearing in question. The V8s in my cars don't have balance shafts.

Perfectly understandable.

V8s don't need them as v8s have excellent balance to start with. The crank's counterweights and rod journals are cast (or forged) in such a way that vibration is virtually eliminated. V6s have problems due to the way the crankshafts are designed. But this is now getting over my head as I haven't bothered studying balance issues in internal combustion engines.