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Buick Century Maintenance and Repair

575 messages,  Last post on Feb 21, 2013 at 8:01 PM

You are in the Buick Century Forum.

What is this discussion about? Buick Century, Buick, Electrical, Engine, Sedan, SUV

Messages Page 49 of 58

#477 of 575 Rocker Panel rust out by johnminn

Nov 07, 2009 (11:19 pm)

I have a 2001 Buick Century with 46,000 miles who's rocker panels have rusted out.
 
Since the rocker panel is considered to be a structural member the whole side panel right up to the roof panel must be replaced.
 
??How in the world can GM sell a car that rusts out a structural member that quickly get past a recall??
 
My 96 Buick LeSabre has 178,000 + miles on it and it still is not rusted, much less rusted out. Fantastic car. Low maintenance costs, Great ride, Economical.
Granted I put on the best tires available, but that car handles slippery roads as if they were dry. ABS system still works perfectly in spite on Minnesota salted roads. Love that car.
 
??Anyone out there have another fix for those rusted out rocker panels??

#478 of 575 98 buick century by melisssssa2187

Dec 10, 2009 (7:23 pm)

My buick is giving me alot of problems. It has probably about 220000. The previous owners only drove it highway back n forth to work and they were older so you know they didnt dog the car. I have had it since June of this year and most recently since it has gotten colder it has gave me tons of problems. This is what happens the most. I will start it up and take off. The heat will sometimes get hot but after about a minute and extreme heat it will turn cold and the temp will go all the way up to the red but not go into the red. When i pull over and and put it in park i can rev up my engine and if i keep doing that then it will get hot again but that doesnt last it will go right back to cold. i have no idea what is going on. i had someone change the thermostat but that didnt work. i dont know what to do.

#479 of 575 Re: 98 buick century [melisssssa2187] by kframe

Dec 10, 2009 (11:29 pm)

Replying to: melisssssa2187 (Dec 10, 2009 7:23 pm)
Had a similar problem on a another car. Sounds like you have air in the cooling system. Some cars have a bleed screw usually on top of the themostat housing but could be elsewhere. I would thouroughly flush the system with prestone super flush. Backwashing would be better. Refill and find out any special way of bleeding out air.
Check also that there is no coolant in oil(milky looking) or oil in coolant. Suggests a blown head gasket. A compression leak down test would also show a problem. A check of water pump would also be a good idea. Have you recently used any sort of stop leak in the radiator? This stuff is notorious for blocking off internal cooling passages. Got to flush it out of there. Best of Luck...

#480 of 575 96 century w/ unknown coolant leak by amc31

Dec 12, 2009 (6:23 pm)

Have a 96 Century that is leaking coolant. 99,000 miles. replaced a squeaky water pump but that didn't stop the leak. All hoses and radiator appear fine as well as no heater core leaks and all coolant seems to be leaking on the belt side of the engine. I'm hoping its not an Intake manifold gasket leak but can tell where its leaking from. It also seems to be worse one day then not as bad the next. going through about 1 to 2 bottles of antifreeze a week. Any ideas? Was told to try a sealant made by K&W.?
 
Thanks,
   Alex

#481 of 575 Re: 96 century w/ unknown coolant leak [amc31] by molerj

Dec 12, 2009 (10:58 pm)

Replying to: amc31 (Dec 12, 2009 6:23 pm)
Believe me, it is the head gasket. Pretty common problem. Been there, done that.

#482 of 575 Re: 96 century w/ unknown coolant leak [amc31] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Dec 13, 2009 (10:29 am)

Replying to: amc31 (Dec 12, 2009 6:23 pm)
nothing in a bottle is going to save you on this one I'm afraid. You should have the cooling system pressure tested to identify the problem for certain, but odds are it's the intake manifold, yes. Maybe you'll get lucky, hope so.

#483 of 575 Electrical Mayhem Please Help! by loopsy

Dec 26, 2009 (8:43 pm)

I have a 95 Buick Century Wagon Special 3.1L I have maintained this car very well had no problems until this fall replaced tranny,windshield,brakes you name it. Very well maintained. Day before christmas eve drove to store got home power locks quit working. Took it out again went shopping and got in started car up and no headlights,no brake lights,no hazzard lights and every time I start the engine my clock and radio reset themselves. I checked the fuses two 5 amps that blew still no luck. Checked turn signal switch unplugged and plugged in no luck. Checked all wires for cracks,shorts,burned wires no go. Unhooked battery no go. Tested to see if alternator was bad or draining battery no go. I am now replacing the headlight switch on the dash to see if that makes a difference lets hope. Now I am trying to see what goes together here and the power locks are not fitting in at all. Not sure if it could be a relay switch or the ecm modulator. Also they say there are two fuse boxes can't find the second one underhood if you know where that is let me know owner manual only tells you so much. I am trying to fix this on my own because I know It will cost me dearly at a garage and can't afford it right now. Same problem with my back windows not wanting to go up but an inch at a time if I am lucky. Any advice or anyone that had same problem and knows how to fix this please let me know. I have checked every wire on this car possible everywhere nothing. I am going down the line and seeing what I can do any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Got me boggled because they are seperate and wondering if I have an overload or not enough juice to make it do that. This car is costing me a lot of money more than I'm ever going to get back. Thanks in advance for any input or help

#484 of 575 driverside turn signal problem by donovan5

Dec 29, 2009 (8:58 pm)

I have the exact same problem as one other person ralz on discussion page 1 except my turn signal isnt working on the oppisite side. my right side blinkers are working normal but the drivers side is all out of wack I have changed bulbs headlights even switched headlight plug. So my front drivers side blinker is not blinking at all and the back blinks rapidly. No left light indicator shows up in dash when I signal but I can hear the turn signal blinking rapidly (the left back blinker) any suggestions are wanted

#485 of 575 Re: blinker light problem [ralz] by donovan5

Dec 29, 2009 (9:03 pm)

Replying to: ralz (Feb 15, 2005 1:26 pm)
I have the exact same issue with my 98 buick century but mine blinker is doing that on the drivers side if you have any advise for me give me a holla thanks

#486 of 575 '03 Century headlight failure by gbilotta

Feb 09, 2010 (9:02 pm)

Why do the headlights on my '03 Buick Century fail after driving 25 min's. Flipping the direction signal lever from high to low, or from low to high restores the lights for a period of time.

Messages Page 49 of 58

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