I'm going to vent alittle about my 1994 Buick Park Ave. Ultra. Its not the cars fault that it wasn't taken care of very well but I can't help but calling this thing a pile of junk. Here is a short time-line of what has been going on.

Sept. - Bought car, seemed like a great find at the time

Late Sept. - made 300 mile round trip and did great

Late of Sept - car died in town wouldn't start

October - problem fixed, fuel sending unit bad, pump replaced as preventive maintaince 345.00

November - starting problem with poor fuel milage http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/...941&highlight= still not fixed

Christmas morning on the way to moms house - tranny line blew off and dumped fluid out but i noticed what was going on and saved it thankfully

Today - tranny line fixed BUT alternator is bad now.....checked advanced autos website and 138.88 plus 29.99 core for a autolite 140amp with liftetime warranty

I want to get rid of this car and get something else...the only problem is that I have 350.00 of loans i pay every month already from borrowing the money to do the motor swap on the cougar and to by this car because we couldnt get the cougar running again. So I can't afford a new car for about 2 years and I have to make due with this lovely 1994 Buick Park Ave. Ultra at which I don't know if it is going to start every morning to get me to work and on top of that I will have a baby boy in early June and i HAVE to have a reliable car for that. I'm done.

oi! sorry for your luck :(

These drivetrains are said to be very reliable, and its true they're better than a lot of others, but there'* a lot of small things that can go wrong that can leave your marooned. The motor itself will go for about ever, but everything attached to it will go to hell first.

Haha, that actually sounds normal to me I've had my alternator go bad 3, count it THREE times, once went bad on the road, another time about 5 minutes from home hah, both times it was dark and ALMOST lost lights the first time, go figure, and the third time I had the bearings go bad. I guess alternators are just one of those things that wear out. AND I've had my transmission cooling line spring a leak AND a bunch of other little problems. Haven't had any problems with the fuel system yet, and hope I never will, but YES, like previously stated, these engines WILL keep ticking as long as you can stand all the little annoyances along the way. I would say stick with her. Its a good car deep down. Good luck, and I wish you less problems!

Go with Advances Paladium rebuilt alternator..it'* your cheapest lifetime option that I can think of.. Currently my car is running this alternator and loving it.

Trans line... was it seeping and looking bad? I find that frequently if we look around the engine bay..we can save ourselves from being stranded.

94 Buick + lots of miles = some issues along the way. It'* is unfortunate they all happened at once.

I was lucky. Before I purchased my car from my father, my mother ran over something and took out the tranny and exhaust system. So I am driving with a newer underside.

From my understanding, the alternator is kinda a common thing with these cars. Mine had 3 alternators put on by it'* previous owner, all since about 1997.

Not kinda, IT IS.

But i have a 140 AC Delco reman for the SSEi on my SE. Loving it..

Must really go to show what a POS my old Ford Crown Vic was because I think these cars have the best alternators in the world. I'd say put the new alt in, i'm quite sure it'll last. Both my 93 and 97 have original alts.

Before you complain too hard about how bad the alternators are, think about how hard you're pushing it. Extra electronics in a vehicle (subs, amps, lights, etc) will definitely affect it'* lifespan. Granted, this is because GM is well known for supplying just enough electrical to run a stock car. So, when upgrading your lights, sound, or whatever, considering upgrading your battery (at least) as well, if not first.

After installing just a fairly cheap HU and new speakers, I used to watch my electrical gauge dance and dip. I just knew I was gonna have to buy a new alt. But, to save a few bucks, I upgraded my battery to the biggest one I could fit under the hood comfortably (I think it'* about 1000 cca instead of the stock 800) and the gause has been almost rock steady since. It still dips on really cold mornings when I have the fan on high, lights on, and music cranked, but nowhere near as bad as it used to.

Just my two cents. I know there are still problems with bearings and whatnot, but some issues can be avoided....