Someone needs assistance

[CPSMonteZ34]

I received this e-mail today and thought to run it by the know-it folks here. I also informed the submitter of the address to this post so he could see your replies. It doesn't strike me as the typical intake gasket problem. I'm thinking more toward intake / emission sensors, or electrical. Your thoughts?

 

E. Kratts writes:

 

I read your article about the symptoms and repair of intake manifold gaskets. I have a 1998 Buick Century with recently diagnosied leaking intake gaskets. My car has some of the symptoms described in your article, but not all. The dealership can't determine what is causing the problem. I hate to throw good money after bad to have a $500+ repair on the car if they can't do anything about my starting problem and I'll have to get rid of the car anyway. Could you review the symptoms I'll describe and see if they sound to you like it might be part of the gasket problem, or what else could be checked?

 

This problem started last winter and only happens in the winter. I can start the car when the engine is cold. The idle is a little rough, but not too bad. Power seems to be OK. I drive a short distance and the engine doesn't have a chance to warm up, I park the car for an hour or so to run an errand or eat out, then return to start the car. The car starts, the engine sounds "quieter", the "Service Engine" and oil lights come on. The car has no power; I'm unable to drive it. Usually I can stop and restart the car a couple of times and this condition will clear. When it was really cold last weekend, I stopped and restarted the car numerous times and ended up being stranded in a parking lot. It was left overnight in -0 degree weather and started with a little rough idle the next day. I don't usually have a problem if I drive the car long enough to warm up the engine or start it cold.

 

Last year I took the car to a GM dealership and they put it on the computer. They said the computer indicated a "throttle control problem" but didn't list any parts that needed to be replaced so they couldn't do anything. I took it back this year hoping that something would show up on the computer after I was stranded in the parking lot. This time there were no errors listed, and of course, the car never failed with the mechanic. When they looked the car over, they discovered the leaking intake gaskets.

 

Thanks for any help you can provide!

 

There you have it. What's your opinion?