So, I'm pretty sure my manifold has been going for a little while. The car had been grumpy the last week or so. Unfortunately, I kinda have to use it so parking it wasn't an option. And it was acting like an electrical problem (my big amp and the battery/alternator were fighting) Also, the coolant level has dropped slowly pretty munch since I got the car in Feburary. Lately it has not been starting at random times, and running fine others. Last night it went to ****, won't start and the overflow is practically empty. dammit. However, the car had never overheated, and I haven't noticed "huge" clouds of smoke anyway.

I read through the sticky about this, but no one really went over how to fix this problem. I assume it is hydrolocked, so do I tow it home, take out the plugs, let it dry, replace the upper manifold, then flush and new oil and coolant, and hope she runs. Or, do I take it to the dealership and bendover?

Unfortunately I haven't looked at the maintenance section for a little while to see all the info. I knew the intake failed, and knew mine was on its way, but I had no idea of the amount of damage it could do to the motor. I'm just saying good work on getting that up for people with slightly newer and better maintained vehicles so they can still fend this little demon off.

Yeah, get that looked at ASAP, although i don't need to tell you that.

Take it to the dealership or fix it yourself. I thought I would be able to keep on driving when that happened to me, I was wrong. It ended up costing me close to $1500 to get everything fixed. Mine did hydrolock which ended up snapping the starter. So the starter, plugs & upper intake manifold had to be replaced.

If snapping the starter was the worst thing that happened when you turned over the hydro-locked engine- you are very lucky. One of the other mechanics where I worked went to work on a car that was towed in - no start. Another shop had tried to fix it. Ended up they just had it towed to us because we were the Lincoln Dealer - it was a towncar (out of warranty). Our guy got in it and tried to turn it over so he could hear what it sounded like and such. Well, I was standing next to it when he tried and all I heard was rurrr- BANG! I looked down at my feet and saw oil flowing out from under the engine. The connecting rod broke through the block. Real mess. Ended up being that the fuel injector was stuck open and because the other shop had cycled the key on a few times, it filled the cyclinder with fuel. That was a big legal mess. I left that shop before I knew the outcome of it. So yah, turning over a hydrolocked engine is verrrry bad!!

Jon, there'* a new article in Techinfo that may interest you. Take a peek.

yeah, well, i guess I was half right.

Thankfully no hydro-lock, she won't start cause the freakin' fuel pump is also bad. Didn't think of that part, now did I :? So, its at the dealer for the intake and a new pump, plus oil and coolant. Total $1300 , thanks Dad. They're also checking for other problems that may surface in the future, and if there might be some, I might be driving an old honda or something next time you see me ....anyone know where to get a bigass wing and some stickers?

Jon

my ma has a 98 gmc 1500 4X4 with 5.7 vortec and her intake gasket is going 2 i heard that its pretty common in GM so not the exact problem but simalar mind it only has 65k