96 Lumina with 3.1

Tiny
BARTMAN
  • MEMBER
  • 1996 ALL OTHER MAKES ALL OTHER MODELS
I have a 96 Lumina with the 3.1 engine. Recently I had the PVC valve replaced and the radiator flushed and refilled. After doing this I developed a radiator fluid leak. Also when the car gets up to temperature it acts almost as if it has a governor on the throttle. It will rev up to a certain level and then surge back and forth from that rpm to a little lower. I have read the other issues people have had with intake gaskets being the cause of the fluid leak but would that also cause the loss of power and higher RPMs? Any advice would be appreciated. I already got a quote on the intake gasket and they want $550 so I need to know. I did put in some stop leak and the leak seems to have gone away but still having the problem with the RPMs.
Sunday, February 26th, 2006 AT 12:58 AM

8 Replies

Tiny
BARTMAN
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Anyone have any ideas?
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Monday, February 27th, 2006 AT 1:32 AM
Tiny
MVANNESSJR
  • MECHANIC
  • 223 POSTS
Intake gasket is a possibility. I would get a bottle of throttle body cleaner and clean out the throttle body. Be careful with this stuff it IS highly flamable. Do not start the vehicle until most of it has evaporated. See if this helps first.
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Monday, February 27th, 2006 AT 7:09 AM
Tiny
BARTMAN
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Sounds like a good idea. But seeing as the problem with the RPMs and the coolant leak started at the same time I am inclined to believe they are somehow related. Is this possible the RPM issue being related to the intake gasket.
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Monday, February 27th, 2006 AT 2:57 PM
Tiny
RENALDO
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Try checking the sensor on the intake because if there isn't enough air flow the rpm would do that and check if no water or liquid is on the sensor
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Tuesday, February 28th, 2006 AT 12:56 PM
Tiny
RENALDO
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  • 2 POSTS
I have a question my second fan on the radiator doesn't come on but when I open up the relay switch and touch the contact together the fan came on could this be a problem with the one of the heat sensor. I check the voltage and there isn't enough to kick in the relay but on the second relay it have the same amount of voltgage and the number 1 fan works just fine can someone help me on this
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Tuesday, February 28th, 2006 AT 1:01 PM
Tiny
MECHANIC116
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  • 28 POSTS
Hmmm, have you also noticed a power loss that has conincided with this problem? Typically, when the intake gaskets on these motors fail, water sometimes finds its way to one of the intake PORTS and causes hydro-lock in the affect cylinder. Which can bend the connecting rod. I have seen this many times. It has all sorts of indications, just depends on what happened exactly. Do a compression test. If you find a weak cylinder (and you'll notice it right away), chances are its' been hydro-locked. Bad news. Good luck.
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Tuesday, February 28th, 2006 AT 2:46 PM
Tiny
BARTMAN
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But with that would you only see the power loss once it gets up to operating temperature. Seems to me that if I had a bent rod the power loss would be apparent at all times which it isn't.
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Wednesday, March 1st, 2006 AT 1:23 AM
Tiny
BARTMAN
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Well I am back. Got the intake gasket replaced and all seemed well. But the power loss problem is back. Seems like when the engine start to get up to temperature I will lose all mid-range power. It is only happening when the motor is getting close to normal operating temp tho. And when the problem rears it's ugly head the temp will quickly climb the rest of the way up to normal temp. Engine will rev fine while sitting in park or neutral but as soon as it comes under load it's like someone is cutting off the gas, it just won't rev. I am going to have it in to get sparks and fuel filter replaced soon but would appreciate it if you guys had any other ideas.
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Wednesday, April 26th, 2006 AT 5:59 PM

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