Buick Good over 200K miles?
03-14-2014, 12:21 AM
#1
Member
Posts like a V-Tak
Thread Starter
Buick Good over 200K miles?
Just got my first used buick 97 base with 197k paid 1600. Are they pretty good after 200k miles? just did inspection it failed. Needs rack and pinion because of leak, Rear shocks are leaking, and needs replacement wheel bearings. Besides that its in good condition as far as the body. ..Is it worth it to keep? I really like the car thats why i was so desperate to get it. Any advice?
03-14-2014, 04:42 AM
#2
Retired
Certified Car Nut
We've got a couple here that lasted to 300K.
Regular oil changes and good maintenance will help it last.
Regular oil changes and good maintenance will help it last.
__________________
Retired Administrator
2002 *-10 5.7 V8
2023 Jeep Rubicon Diesel
Retired Administrator
2002 *-10 5.7 V8
2023 Jeep Rubicon Diesel
03-14-2014, 06:41 AM
#3
Senior Member
True Car Nut
These cars are known for running until they drop dead. Biggest areas of concern are the uim issues. Trannys dont last forever either. Dont let the mileage scare you, if the car is reliable, and not sucking money, its usually worth keeping around
03-14-2014, 11:38 AM
#4
-- SITE DONATOR --
True Car Nut
My GF has a 97 LeSabre with high miles and I've gone through and fixed all the little issues that come with an older car.
Look out for rust, especially around the engine cradle, its mounts, and the brake lines.
Check the color of the fluid in the transmission and do a pan drop, filter replace, refill, if it is looking dark.
The shocks and wheel bearings aren't bad to replace IMHO, especially if you have the right information which we can certainly provide you.
Let us know about any other issues, there is a good chance we have been there/done that.
Look out for rust, especially around the engine cradle, its mounts, and the brake lines.
Check the color of the fluid in the transmission and do a pan drop, filter replace, refill, if it is looking dark.
The shocks and wheel bearings aren't bad to replace IMHO, especially if you have the right information which we can certainly provide you.
Let us know about any other issues, there is a good chance we have been there/done that.
The following users liked this post:
wonderwoman305 (03-14-2014)
03-14-2014, 12:33 PM
#5
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Problem is, you bought a high mileage car, and you don't know the maintenance history......but in a sense you do......because you are seeing problems that were not fixed......
Bonnevilles/LeSabres, were excellent vehicles, if maintained.......If your vehicle lived in a salt area, it was prone to problems like brake lines, fuel lines, body rotting, and gas tanks rusting.....Transmissions were not known for going over 100K, without some sort of problem, so at 200K, unless those problems were already addressed, you are on borrowed time....
Same thing with the typical engine problems.....MAF, Upper Plenum, f/p regulator, lower intake gaskets, plastic coolant elbow, etc. At that mileage, there are radiator, w/p, alternator possibilities, if they haven't been replaced already.....and then there are the regular maintenance items every car needs replaced, like brake pads, wipers, tires, oil changes, coolant flushes, transmission services, etc.
Also if the exhaust has not been replaced(stainless), you are on borrowed time......you will go though your share of front wheel bearing assemblies.....and so on, and so on, and so on.....
It'* a crap shoot with a high mileage car.....sometimes you just want to get one or two years out of them, and you do....sometimes they even last longer.....but unfortunately, most high mileage cars are money pits, especially if you don't know their history....
Bonnevilles/LeSabres, were excellent vehicles, if maintained.......If your vehicle lived in a salt area, it was prone to problems like brake lines, fuel lines, body rotting, and gas tanks rusting.....Transmissions were not known for going over 100K, without some sort of problem, so at 200K, unless those problems were already addressed, you are on borrowed time....
Same thing with the typical engine problems.....MAF, Upper Plenum, f/p regulator, lower intake gaskets, plastic coolant elbow, etc. At that mileage, there are radiator, w/p, alternator possibilities, if they haven't been replaced already.....and then there are the regular maintenance items every car needs replaced, like brake pads, wipers, tires, oil changes, coolant flushes, transmission services, etc.
Also if the exhaust has not been replaced(stainless), you are on borrowed time......you will go though your share of front wheel bearing assemblies.....and so on, and so on, and so on.....
It'* a crap shoot with a high mileage car.....sometimes you just want to get one or two years out of them, and you do....sometimes they even last longer.....but unfortunately, most high mileage cars are money pits, especially if you don't know their history....
The following users liked this post:
BettyBuick (05-15-2018)
03-14-2014, 09:04 PM
#6
Member
Posts like a V-Tak
Thread Starter
Problem is, you bought a high mileage car, and you don't know the maintenance history......but in a sense you do......because you are seeing problems that were not fixed......
Bonnevilles/LeSabres, were excellent vehicles, if maintained.......If your vehicle lived in a salt area, it was prone to problems like brake lines, fuel lines, body rotting, and gas tanks rusting.....Transmissions were not known for going over 100K, without some sort of problem, so at 200K, unless those problems were already addressed, you are on borrowed time....
Same thing with the typical engine problems.....MAF, Upper Plenum, f/p regulator, lower intake gaskets, plastic coolant elbow, etc. At that mileage, there are radiator, w/p, alternator possibilities, if they haven't been replaced already.....and then there are the regular maintenance items every car needs replaced, like brake pads, wipers, tires, oil changes, coolant flushes, transmission services, etc.
Also if the exhaust has not been replaced(stainless), you are on borrowed time......you will go though your share of front wheel bearing assemblies.....and so on, and so on, and so on.....
It'* a crap shoot with a high mileage car.....sometimes you just want to get one or two years out of them, and you do....sometimes they even last longer.....but unfortunately, most high mileage cars are money pits, especially if you don't know their history....
Bonnevilles/LeSabres, were excellent vehicles, if maintained.......If your vehicle lived in a salt area, it was prone to problems like brake lines, fuel lines, body rotting, and gas tanks rusting.....Transmissions were not known for going over 100K, without some sort of problem, so at 200K, unless those problems were already addressed, you are on borrowed time....
Same thing with the typical engine problems.....MAF, Upper Plenum, f/p regulator, lower intake gaskets, plastic coolant elbow, etc. At that mileage, there are radiator, w/p, alternator possibilities, if they haven't been replaced already.....and then there are the regular maintenance items every car needs replaced, like brake pads, wipers, tires, oil changes, coolant flushes, transmission services, etc.
Also if the exhaust has not been replaced(stainless), you are on borrowed time......you will go though your share of front wheel bearing assemblies.....and so on, and so on, and so on.....
It'* a crap shoot with a high mileage car.....sometimes you just want to get one or two years out of them, and you do....sometimes they even last longer.....but unfortunately, most high mileage cars are money pits, especially if you don't know their history....
I do have some of the history of the car, the gentleman that i got the car from is a mechanic and his mother drove it for the time that they owned it. so he gave me all the service receipts that he performed on the car...he replaced the rack and pinion 3 years ago but from my understanding its cheaper to get a used one or something of that nature. but I got second opinion on what the inspection folks told me and my shocks are not leaking just old, turns out the high pressure pump is leaking but not much. Also the sway bar link is busted...
03-19-2014, 11:58 PM
#7
I do have some of the history of the car, the gentleman that i got the car from is a mechanic and his mother drove it for the time that they owned it. so he gave me all the service receipts that he performed on the car...he replaced the rack and pinion 3 years ago but from my understanding its cheaper to get a used one or something of that nature. but I got second opinion on what the inspection folks told me and my shocks are not leaking just old, turns out the high pressure pump is leaking but not much. Also the sway bar link is busted...
03-24-2014, 02:41 PM
#9
Member
Posts like a V-Tak
Thread Starter
No the guy i purchased the car from fixed it i believe he is a manager at a repair shop so he gave me the discount on the parts and labor. but its giving me codes now. p0441 and just this pass weekend p1406. Any ideas fellas?
03-24-2014, 03:03 PM
#10
Senior Member
True Car Nut
441 is purge valve which is on top of the engine kind of 7 o clock. it has vacuum lines going to the canister and throttle body those are a common source of trouble because they are on top of the hot engine and the engine cover keeps the heat in. check those tubes and the boots at both ends for checking like on a old tire. if there is replace them all, you can get rolls of vacuum tube from the parts store cheap.
as far as the egr, you posted in a thread that already has all kinds of good info and solutions
https://www.gmforum.com/buick-172/19...h-idle-306946/
as far as the egr, you posted in a thread that already has all kinds of good info and solutions
https://www.gmforum.com/buick-172/19...h-idle-306946/