'98 Buick Century 3.1L, opinions/experience?

[wagsg]

Looking at buying this vehicle for my daughter. It has 151K mi and is nearly perfect inside and out. I think I can buy it for around $3000, or just slightly under.

I've done a quick look-over and it appears to have been maintained well: serp belt looks very good, newer plug wires, oil fill hole shows no build-up. I need to test drive it and take my flashlight and do a more thorough inspection of the brakes, fluid conditions, and look for coolant around the block (intake gasket). Are there any model specific problems to be aware of and/or that I can inspect for. Or any good comments about this particular model.

Help is appreciated... thanks!!!

 

[G-MAN]

The 3.1/3.4 is notorious for coolant leaks at the intake manifold gasket which allows coolant to get into the oil. If you are not seeing any sludge in the oil fill opening on the valve cover, chances are good this one had the gasket replaced before the leak got too bad. But at 151,000 miles you can be sure the gasket has leaked and has been replaced. I've never heard of one of these engines going 100K and not leaking. On the outside chance that this one is that 1-in-a-million car that has made it this far with no leak, you can count on having to replace the intake gasket SOON.

If the transmission has been routinely serviced it's probably still good. If it hasn't, it's on its last leg. Count on it.

 

[wagsg]

Thanks G-Man, that's the first I've heard of a transmission problem. I'll check the fluid and a good hour long test drive should give me some indication of it's health.

I'm going to see if I can get the owner's name from the dealer and give them a call to ask about the maintenance. As clean as this car is, including engine bay, and P/M that I can see has been done, I'd be surprised if everything wasn't well maintained.

Any idea on the cost of the intake gasket replacement?

 

[G-MAN]

Originally Posted By: wagsg
Any idea on the cost of the intake gasket replacement?


Around $500. Just make sure they use the Problem Solver gasket by FelPro and you won't ever have to replace it again.

 

[benjamming]

I asked local mechanic earlier this week and was told $600 on a '94 3.1L. They replace a lot of them. Check the appearance of the oil on the dipstick for chocolate mousse. You may not notice any coolant on the exterior as the leak can be only interior.

Check the shaft seals for ATF leakage.

Beware of only cosmetic appearance as most folks know that people equate this with "well taken care of" since it can many times be a good sign of just that. Talk with the owner (private sale?) to get a good feel for the person's knowledge to see if they really could/would take care of it or just took it to a detailer for prior sale cleanup.

Good luck.

 

[wagsg]

Believe me, I'll recognize coolant in the oil if it's there... I owned a Quad4 for 12 years

. Thanks for the heads up on the FelPro gasket, if I should ever need it.

As far as appearance, the car is spotless in the way that a well maintained car should be. Great shape and everything is clean, but not the recently detailed clean that you see from dealers. After years of shopping vehicles, I've learned to look for the tell-tale signs: shampoo marks in carpeting/seats, Armor All'ed surfaces (interior and engine compartment), etc. To me, there's a distinct difference in cleanly maintained cars and detailed for sale cars, and it's easy to spot.

I think I'm going to drive it this weekend and take it to my mechanic for a check-over.

 

[JTK]

My mom & dad had a 1997 Century 3.1L some years ago. It was a very nice car. Large, comfortable, safe, economical. They had the IMGs replaced around 60Kmi IIRC. I don't know of any real trouble spot with this car aside from the already mentioned 3.X/IMG issue. The 4T65E transaxle is a good one. 150Kmi is up there, but for $3K (or hopefully less), a good amount of car for the money.

Joel

 

[onion]

My '94 Corsica went 124k before the LIM gaskets leaked, and my '01 Lumina went 157k. So it's quite possible that those are original. Unless you're sure that these have been replaced, I'd count on it being neccesary soon. These gaskets often leak externally, too- and if you're lucky, you can spot them that way. They can leak at any of the four corners toward the bottm of the lower intake manifold- you'll need a flashlight to check.

Coolant in the oil often shows under the oil cap. Also, pull the radiator cap and check for an oily scum... it's a good indication of the infamous LIM gasket leak. I'd also look for signs of Dex-sludge- it's quite common of GM's of this vintage. Looks like mud- but very sticky.

 

[Merkava_4]

I'd recommend you getting a Buick LeSabre instead. They have the infamous 3.8L V6 and and is a much better motor in my opinion. I have a 2000 LeSabre and I just love the thing. A smooth supply of 200HP and lots and lots of leg room. The 2000-2005 model years all have identical bodies.

 

[alanu]

I would say that even replacing the intake gaskets with felpro ones do not guarantee 100% success. I've replaced many gakets on those GM's and the newest of the felpro are steel gaskets with rubber seals on them. I still say they can leak over time.

Over time your $3000 car will become alot more with un preventable maintenance such as transmission issues, fuel pump, intake gaskets, leaking heater cores etc etc.

Not gonna start an import vs. domestic debate but over time the GM will cost you alot more than other car manufacturers.

 

[Anduril]

I wouldn't buy a car with 151k on it. I bought a Honda (!) with slightly over 100k on it and things started going wrong a few months after I bought it. There's just too many unknowns. Even with a complete service history, there's no way I could have known the thermostat would fail and blow the radiator.

 

[ThirdeYe]

Originally Posted By: Anduril
I wouldn't buy a car with 151k on it. I bought a Honda (!) with slightly over 100k on it and things started going wrong a few months after I bought it. There's just too many unknowns. Even with a complete service history, there's no way I could have known the thermostat would fail and blow the radiator.


May I ask how your thermostat failing blew your Honda's radiator? The Honda thermostats are designed to fail in the open position, which would just mean your car wouldn't warm up properly... not blow your radiator. Unless someone else replaced it once before you got it?

 

[alanu]

Originally Posted By: Anduril
I wouldn't buy a car with 151k on it. I bought a Honda (!) with slightly over 100k on it and things started going wrong a few months after I bought it. There's just too many unknowns. Even with a complete service history, there's no way I could have known the thermostat would fail and blow the radiator.


Perhaps your were mis informed from your mechanic. Plastic tanks on radiators potentially crack over time and due to heat cycles. 100K miles does sound premature though.

 

[lobo11]

2002 Century with about 114,000 miles. I replaced the upper and lower intake gaskets myself at about 80K miles. Other than the gaskets I have spent pretty much no money on anything not considered routine maintenance. Just my experience.

 

[wagsg]

Well, the mileage doesn't scare me if I can be relatively certain of the maintenance. My son's '95 Accord has 180k (bought with 178k) and is wonderful (mechanically). Same with my daughter's current '97 Galant which has 142k (bought with 132k).

I'm going to make a call to the previous owner tonight (1-owner car) and get what info I can.

The La Sabre is a no go due to size. My daughter isn't comfortable driving something that large. Regal's with the 3.8L are out of my price range.

 

[JustinH]

Around 3 grand is too much money for that car.

You can do better for the same amount of money.

I wouldn't buy a car with one of those motors in it 3.1/3.4 unless you are going to do the manifold gaskets yourself.

 

[Merkava_4]

Originally Posted By: wagsg
The La Sabre is a no go due to size. My daughter isn't comfortable driving something that large.


That's funny!


1998 Buick Century
Length: 194.5 Inches
Wheelbase: 109.0 Inches

1998 Buick LeSabre
Length: 200.8 Inches
Wheelbase: 110.8 Inches

2000 Buick LeSabre
Length: 200.0 Inches
Wheelbase: 112.2 Inches

 

[HM12460]

decent car. i agree with g-man absolutely. most younger girls don't really like a fine car like the lesabre. women don't think logically! on the off chance the intake gasket hasn't been changed, you may want to consider just doing it now (if you buy) and get it over with. might save you from buying an engine. i really think $3000 for this car is a over-priced though. it is certtainly a better car than the same year taurus. imo of course.

 

[mstrjon32]

$3000 does seem a bit steep. You can actually buy a really nice LeSabre for $3000.

 

[wagsg]

Merkava, you're right. I was thinking that the LaSabre was the size of a Park Ave, which I believe is a fair amount larger.

If I can verify, by talking to the previous owner, that the intake gasket has been done and that the car has been reasonably maintained... $3k is not bad (they are asking for more than that). You would have to see the int/ext. It is literally like new and as I said before, not the freshly dealer detailed look, but a very well cared for looking car. I also think I can get it for a bit under $3k as the salesman slipped and gave me a spec sheet that showed when they took it in on trade. They should be ready to get rid of it rather than sit on it any longer.

Thanks for the feedback.