I just picked my 99 se up from my mechanic and he was telling me that we have a common problem with our plastic top intake cracking thus, flooding the engine with coolant. He told me he had this happen to a customer last saturday and the lady kept trying to crank it over with the cylinders full of coolant and woud up breaking her starter housing. plus she had to have it towed.
I've found this mechanic to be trust worthy so far. He told me he could replace mine for around $325 total.
Have any of you folks known this to be a problem? He said it'* on engines ending with a "K" code.

http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/...e=article&k=38

Yeppers, it'* a big problem. I'd say $325 sounds pretty darn fair...does that include the UIM, gaskets and everything?

Yep, that is a common problem. Make absolutly sure your mechanic drains the oil to remove any and all coolant that may have ended up in the oil. It would cause a bug bearing problem. You could contact Bob Dillon about a modified intake that will not have the same problem again.

Thank god it hasn't happened YET! He told me it would be cheaper to do it now ,before it fails.
I looked at the "TECINFO" link and see this can be a big problem. I can't say enought about this mechanic. He'* been very fair and trust worthy. Always uses Name brand parts.A honest mechanic can be had to find.He said I could be lucky and never have it fail.
I'm going to put some money back the next few weeks and have it done

You would be very lucky if it never failed...with this problem, it'* more of a question when rather then if.

How many miles do you have on your Bonneville?

It'* about to hit 114,000 . I had it in the shop for a tune up when he informed me of this problem. He told me he'* seen them go at about 80,000
I talked to a friend at work today and he told me he, had owned a 2000 Impala which had this same problem. He said he loved the car and the power but, it started having troubles like this and got rid of it.
You would think GM would have done more over the years to correct this problem seeing the 3800 is in alot of their top selling cars.
Is this problem only found in N/A engines or do the blown versions have it also?
Bad timing! I need tires to.

This particular problem is specific to the N/Aed engines only. On the good side, it is nice to see you have found a trustworhty, reputable mechanic to take care or you.

I really wanted a SSEI when I was shopping for a used car but, couldn't find one locally in my price range.
I took out a 3 year loan on this car and it'* been a good reliable car so far but, I owe less then a year on it. Isn't it the way it works? close or after pay off , things go down hill?It'* a daily driver. I put about 192 miles a week on her. Starting to have little bothersome things like, sheet metal coming loose from hood frame , hardware on door panels braking or making noise and I can't seem to keep my battary teminals tight or a good connection. Sorry I'm venting! She is a really good car. When I get it paid off I'd like to do some mods and use differant daily driver.

Been there...done that. My first Bonne was a '94 SE with leather. I looked for over a year and a half before I found an SSEi in the price range/condition/mileage I wanted. Not that my '94 was in horrible shape, but I was overdue for a little whine in my life....lol