1998 Buick Lesabre 1998 Buick LeSabre- Dangerous condition

Engine Mechanical problem
1998 Buick Lesabre 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 49500 miles

(Hello, I am the guy that has posted a few questions here already. Thanks to the people that responded to them)

But, I need to expand upon the problem that occurred with my car.

I would like to see if anyone in an authority position within GM/Buick would be able and/or willing to give an answer?

I would like to have an upper level GM/Buick Expert help me to understand all of what happened to me...

I have a 1998 Buick LeSabre that did what I am finding out to be is a known problem by GM. The facts are:

A few days ago when I tried to start the car, it started and then stalled. Upon restarting, the car backfired and some smoke came out from under the hood. A few days later, I opened the hood to find that the large plastic cover on top of the engine had a very large crack in it. I took the cover off to look underneath only to find the plastic intake manifold had exploded when the car backfired.

I did a search online and found that it apparently is a widely known problem and that there was a recall back in 2004. I asked a local auto repair mechanic if he knew about this & he told me that he knows that the plastic intake manifold does crack, and/or explode- but he didn't know about a recall. I called a Buick dealer to ask and they pretended to not know about this problem and/or any recall.

Can anyone tell me the truth about this? Will GM own up to this problem and fix the car?

I have found out that there was indeed a recall concerning this known problem, but for a different model year cars. Here is the information I found so far, and the cars that were involved:

[img:ab662057a3]http://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/326203_20090307_185638_r1_2.jpg[/img:ab662057a3]
[img:ab662057a3]http://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/326203_20090307_185706_r2_2.jpg[/img:ab662057a3]
[img:ab662057a3]http://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/326203_20090307_185730_r3_2.jpg[/img:ab662057a3]
[img:ab662057a3]http://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/326203_20090307_185752_r4_2.jpg[/img:ab662057a3]


Now, since you know my situation... What would you do?

I am pretty mechanically inclined and have access to tools. Is this something that a regular guy can replace?

Also, can you tell me whether or not this previous problem (explained below) had anything to do with the exploding intake manifold?

Over the past few months the car just cut out on me three different times while I was driving on the highway (and in traffic). Fortunately, I was able to put it in neutral and restart it while driving. Could the two problems be related?

I also understand that a recall will stay open indefinitely if it involves a "dangerous" condition.

HOW could GM/Buick deny that a car engine that stalls out while driving in traffic on a highway is not a dangerous condition?

Or that by simply starting your car could cause a part of the engine to explode and/or possibly cause a fire? How is this not a dangerous condition?!

I do understand that things wear out and that car parts do need to be replaced, and I have no problem with that... but EXPLODING engine parts is definitely something that should NOT happen, EVER!!!

(Are the people in charge of GM for real? Now I know why they need chapter 11. Do they really expect to stay in business treating their customers this way?)

Also, I would like to ask www.2carpros.com to help me understand the logic used by GM/Buick to deny this is a problem.

Thank you very much.
Mark
mkacz@comcast.net


ps. I have tried again to upload pictures using the link, but no matter what I do it will not appear in the photo album like the .gif images above did.