Try calling your local Buick Dealer and ask them.

93 SLE - I am really sorry to hear about your Dad. Clearly you don't need this hassle. I wish I could give you some encouraging news about dealling with GM, but I was stonewalled by GM Canada. Since the total repair was only about $300 (doing it all myself) I gave up. I hope the advice you get hear helps you out of this bind.

I just got my '98 going again so I am going to hunt for the cause of the backfire in the first place. If I find anything, I will post it back hear.

I was interested to note the PCM reflash. Did that affect the '98 models?

Yeah, the problem with calling GM about it is that if they DO help you, it takes forever. For me it was about a month before everything got sorted out. But if you can deal without the Buick for that long... I guess your other ride is not exactly functioning, is it :?

Took the advice and called 1-866-608-8080 and they gave me a case #.
For some reason my cars VIN is not one of the 1996 Buick Regals with an L36 that are in the recall.
I will have to call GM back and see what they say.

The people at GM talked like they did not believe me till I told them that my 82 year old mother was in the car with me when it exploded. Scary stuff.

They could be correct, the recall is (below) for Regals made between 6/95 and 5/96 with plant code 1.(Oshawa II )

Make : BUICK Model : REGAL Year : 1996
Manufacturer : GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 96V116000


The "Fix" was to have your PCM flashed.

I spoke too soon, heres the one for your FPR:

Make : BUICK Model : REGAL Year : 1996
Manufacturer : DELPHI
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 07E021000 Mfr'* Report Date : MAR 12, 2007
Component: FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES


You also have a recall on a brake hose and another on the Rack and Pinion.

It was probably not me who posted about it but yes, I received a letter about this from the mfgr and I took my car to a Buick shop, they replaced the regulator for free.

This was a recall that GM was court-ordered to perform on certain H body cars.

For those who have not had it done, look into this recall. Seems quite a few of the intakes explode...

Talked to the lady at GM and they said the next step is to have the car towed to a dealership.
Once the car is at the dealership they would check it out and call me back.

Wonder what the odds are of GM fixing this without charging me?

There you will probably have a fight on your hands. They are probably not going to volunteer this service. Since it is the intake and probably a couple other things needing fixed, you might have to contact the higher ups at GM and tell them your case.

Don't forget to be polite at first and professional. If things get nasty, they do but you might not have too hard a battle.

I'd visit a dealer first, give them the VIN# and let them check if the recall is there or has been done. If not then I'd proceed with towing it there. I don't think they'd have an issue with doing the work, recall/warr work is decent $$$ for them. The main problem for them would be in waiting for GM to authorize the repair