1999 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE VEHICLE WOULD DECELERATE ON ITS OWN INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING UNDER THE HOOD WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 45-55 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THEY DUPLICATED THE FAILURE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE DISASSEMBLED IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. UPDATED 11/04/09. *LJ UPDATED 11/05/09.*JB

Mileage: 15,000

I WAS AT A FRIENDS FOR SEVERAL HOURS PROCEEDING INCIDENT. I DROVE MY 1999 CHEVY MONTE CARLO Z34 ABOUT 1 MILE FROM MY FRIENDS TO TACO BELL. THE CAR HAD BEEN RUNNING GREAT. I WENT INSIDE TO ORDER I WAS IN THEIR 10-15 MINUTES. WHEN I CAME OUT SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I OPENED THE HOOD AND THE TOP OF THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. TACO BELL EMPLOYEES CALLED 911 AND THEN PROVIDED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT BY THE EXTINGUISHER AND THEY CANCELLED THE 911 CALL. I CALLED A TOW COMPANY AND HAD THE CAR TOWED HOME DUE TO THE HOUR AND MY ENGINE BEING MELTED. *TR

Mileage: 189,457

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS AN ODOR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION THE DEALER AND INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE. THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS CRACKED DUE TO HEAT FROM THE ENGINE AND NEEDS REPLACED WITH A METAL GASKET. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AFTER COOLING FOR AN HOUR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RETURNED TO THE DEALER OR MECHANIC. UPDATED 06/07/2006. *AK *TS

Mileage: 47,000

I HAVE JUST FOUND OUT THAT MY 3.1 LITRE ALSO HAS HAD THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET GO BAD. THE CAR ONLY HAS 57,000 MILES. LIKE OTHERS HERE IT IS GOING TO COST ME $450 TO GET IT FIXED. GM NEEDS TO STEP UP AND CREATE A RECALL OR AT LEAST PAY TO HAVE A NEW GASKET INSTALLED. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT IT ALL STEMS FROM DEXCOOL. I HAVE KNOWN SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD OR ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB

WE WERE PREPARING TO TAKE A LONG TRIP AND TOOK OUR 1999 MONTE CARLO INTO OUR MECHANIC FOR A PRE-TRIP ONCE-OVER. HE JUST CALLED AND INFORMED US THAT THE RADIATOR WAS ALMOST EMPTY AND THAT THERE IS A LEAK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, IT CAN (AND WILL) BE FIXED FOR A COST OF $750.00. OUR MECHANIC HAS A SMALL SHOP AND HE HAS FIXED THE SAME PROBLEM AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH ON GM PRODUCTS WITH A 3.1 LITER ENGINE, HE JUST HAD A BUICK LAST WEEK WITH THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM. DOESN'T ANYBODY ELSE SEE THIS AS AN ISSUE THAT GM NEEDS TO TAKE SOME KIND OF ACTION ABOUT?? WE WOULD HAVE BEEN LIVID IF THIS CAR HAD BROKEN DOWN IN THE DESERT ON THE WAY TO LAS VEGAS!! WE WERE REALLY HAPPY WITH THIS VEHICLE, BUT NOW PLAN TO SELL IT AND WE WILL BE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING WITOUT A RECURRING PROBLEM OF THIS MAGNITUDE! *AK

Mileage: 44,554

THERE IS A FLUID CALLED DEX/COOL WHICH IS LIKE ANTI-FREEZE. HOWEVER, IT EATS AWAY AT THE GASKET. CONSUMER HAS HAD TO HAVE THE GASKET REPLACED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE INTAKE GASKET WAS LEAKING. LOSS OF RADIATION FLUID AT 77000 MILES. *TC

Mileage: 77,925

MY 1999 MONTE CARLO STATED LEAKING ANTIFREEZE DIPS AT A TIME. THEN THE NEXT THING I KNOW THERE WAS PUDDLES OF ANTI-FREEZE UNDER MY CAR. I TOOK THE CAR TO A SHOP AND THE MECHANIC SAID I NEEDED A INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AND THAT'S GOING TO BE $450.00. I DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY SO I HAD THE CAR PUSHED HOME AND NOW I AM WAITING TO GET THE CAR FIXED WHEN I CAN COME UP WITH THE MONEY. *JB

Mileage: 91,000

INTAKE GASKET LEAKING COOLANT. *AK

Mileage: 74,000

INTAKE MANIFOLD COOLANT LEAK ON 3.1 ENGINE, WITH A COST OF $ 650.00 FOR THIS REPAIR. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON OCCURENCE WITH ALL THE 3.1 LITER ENGINES. MAYBE IT'S TIME GM STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE, AND TOOK A LOOK AT THIS PROBLEM. NO WONDER IMPORTS ARE BECOMING MORE POPULAR!!!*AK

WHEN DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED. *AK

INTAKE MANIFOLD COOLANT LEAK, HAPPENED TO MY 3.1 ENGINE, AND TO SEVERAL OF MY FRIENDS, EACH WITH THE 3.1 ENGINE. EACH STATED A COST OF $ 650.00 FOR THIS REPAIR, SEEMS THIS HAPPENS TO ALL THE 3.1 LITER ENGINES, SHOULDN'T CHEVROLET OWN UP TO THIS PROBLEM? WHEN IT HAPPENS TO A SELECT FEW THATS ONE THING, WHEN IT HAPPENS TO ALL OF THEN IS IT NOT A DESIGN FLAW?*AK

Mileage: 85,000

THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND STALLED DUE TO THE MANIFOLD LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE. THE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED. *NM MECHANIC SAID THAT THE OVERHEATING OF ENGINE IS ALMOST A MILE AWAY FROM A FIRE. *LA

Mileage: 75,000

AT 31K INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AND TRANS PAN GASKET ARE LEAKING ACCORDING TO CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP. AUTO HAS THE 3.1 L. ENGINE. DEALERSHIP NOT OVERLY CONCERNED AND THIS APPEARS TO BE NORMAL FOR A MONTE CARLO. INITIALLY THE TRANS PAN GASKET REPAIR WAS CONSIDERED AN OWNER MAINTENANCE RESPONSIBILITY RATHER THAN A COVERED EXTENDED WARRANTY ITEM. AFTER SPEAKING WITH DEALERSHIP AND ADVANTAGE A 2ND TIME, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE REPAIR WAS TO BE COVERED THROUGH THE WARRANTY. IN MY OPINION, CHEVROLET DOESN'T WANT TO STAND BEHIND ITS PRODUCT. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED AND WILL DEFINITELY NEVER BUY ANOTHER GM PRODUCT. *JB

Mileage: 31,468

VEHICLE HAS A 3.1L V6 ENGINE THAT WAS LEAKING COOLANT AS A RESULT OF A CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. I WAS TOLD BY MY MECHANIC THAT THEY ARE REPLACING THIS GASKET ON AT LEAST ONE VEHICLE A WEEK. AND THEY ARE JUST A SMALL SHOP. THE FIRST PROBLEM I NOTICED WITH THIS VEHICLE WAS A SLOW LEAK IN THE COOLING SYSTEM. THIS OCCURRED IN THE SUMMER OF 2002. LATER IN THE YEAR, I NOTICED COOLANT ON THE GARAGE FLOOR AND THOUGHT PERHAPS THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN TO BE REPAIRED ON DECEMBER 16, 2002, IT HAD 51,223 MILES ON IT. THE COST OF JUST REPAIRING THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS $482.21 PLUS TAX, FOR A TOTAL OF $512.35.

Mileage: 51,223

3.1 ENGINE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK. THIS PROBLEM STARTED JUST OUT OF WARRANTY AND WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE CAR GOING TILL NOW WITH STOP LEAK. I TOOK THE MANIFOLD OFF AND THE GASKET LOOKS TO BE BROKEN IN FOUR PLACES. A FRIEND OF MINE PAID ALMOST 500 DOLLARS TO FIX THE LEAK ON HIS 3.1 LAST WEEK. CHEVY SAYS THERE IS NO PROBLEM. JUST LOOK ON THE NET THERE"S THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE LIKE US .CHEVY CASE #1-12-2500234 STARTED ABOUT 38000 MILES USED STOP LEAK TO KEEP IT GOING TILL 80000 MILES REPLACEING GASKETS AT THIS TIME CHEVY SAYS THERE IS NO PROBLEM YA RIGHT

Mileage: 85,000

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACE AFTER LOSING COOLANT- $650.00 REPAIR. *NLM

CONSUMER STATES THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD IS CRACKED. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING VEHICLE WILL STALL, AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

MY 1999 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO LS, ENGINE 3100 V-6, HAS NEEDED A PARTICULARLY EXPENSIVE REPAIR TWICE. THIS REPAIR WAS TO FIX A COOLANT LEAK NEAR/ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THE FIRST REPAIR (AT 52,000 MILES) WAS DONE UNDER WARRANTY, THE SECOND (AT 90,000 MILES) WAS DONE AT A LOCAL SERVICE STATION BECAUSE THE CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. WITH THIS PROBLEM, THE COOLANT LEAKS OUT FAIRLY QUICKLY, AND COULD CAUSE AN ENGINE FIRE IF THE ENGINE GETS TOO HOT, ALSO THE COOLANT IS FLAMMABLE. THIS PROBLEM WAS THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL OF SEVERAL GM MODELS WITH 2000 TO 2002 MODEL YEAR CARS (CHEVY, PONTIAC, ETC) WITH THE 3100 AND 3800 ENGINE MODELS. HOWEVER, THE 1999 MODELS HAVE NOT BEEN RECALLED, AND MY CAR WITH I KNOW MANY OTHERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME ENGINE PARTS AS THE 2000 TO 2002 MODEL YEAR CARS. I PAID THE SECOND REPAIR AT MY OWN EXPENSE OF APPROXIMATELY $825. I HAVE CALLED CHEVROLET AND THEY HAVE DENIED ANY REIMBURSEMENT FOR MY EXPENSES INCURRED FOR THE REPAIR. IS THERE ANY OTHER WAY I CAN SSEK TO HAVE THE REPAIR REIMBURSED? IN ANY CASE, SHOULDN'T THE RECALL AFFECT THE 1999 OR PREVIOUS MODELS?*AK

Mileage: 90,000

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK, 1999 CHEV MONTE CARLO. NOTICE LOW RADIATOR COOLANT AT ABOUT 50M, PROBLEM GOT WORSE AND FOUND THAT DEXCOOL COOLANT WAS LEANKING TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE ENGINE FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD.

Mileage: 77,800

INTAKE GASKET BLOWN ON 99 MONTE CARLO 3.1 ENGINE. LOOSING 1/2 QUART OF ANITFREEZE PER DAY. MECHANIC HAS SEEN THE SAME PROBLEM ON 3.1 AND 3.4 ENGINES. GM IS USING A PLASTIC AND RUBBER INTAKE GASKET THAT DOES NOT HOLD UP. THERE IS NO UPDATED GASKET. THE REPAIR IS DONE WITH AN IDENTICAL GASKET.

Mileage: 98,000

THE HEAD GASKET AND INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILS EVERY 40-50K MILES. PH

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE VEHICLE ENGINE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE FOR SERVICE. MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE TYPE OF OIL USED IS NOT HEAVY ENOUGH TO LUBRICATE THE BEARINGS WHICH RESULTS IN ENGINE DAMAGE. CONSUMER STATES THAT" THIS WAS THE TYPE OF OIL TOLD TO USE IN THE VEHICLE OWNER'S MANUAL". TS

AT 59-60K MILES MY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET IS 'SEEPING' ACCORDING TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER, MY WATER PUMP IS ALSO SEEPING - $750 TO FIX - I FIND A MAJOR PROBLEM AT 60K MILES UNBELIEVEABLE, THE WATER PUMP, SURE, BUT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET? I HAD A SECOND OPINION FORMED BY 2 OTHER MECHANICS WHO HAVE BOTH SEEN THE SAME PROBLEM IN THE SAME ENGINE (3.1L) W/THIS CAR - SHOULDN'T CHEVY DO SOMETHING?*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING AT 45MPH INTAKE GASKET FAILED, CAUSING ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. DEALER CONTACTED. NLM

HEAD GASKET FAILED. *TT

HEAD GASKET FAILED. *TT

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ENGINE FEEL LIKE IT STALLS WHEN ACCELERATING AND MAKING TURNS, HAD ENGINE OIL FLUSHED. *JG

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ENGINE FEEL LIKE IT STALLS WHEN ACCELERATING AND MAKING TURNS, HAD ENGINE OIL FLUSHED. *JG

THE PISTONS AND RINGS WERE INITIALLY REPLACED AFTER HEARING TAPPING NOISES IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. FIVE MONTHS LATER, THE CAM AND LIFTERS WERE REPLACED WHICH STILL DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE FIXED THE ENGINE PROBLEMS. THE BRAKE CALIPER HAS "HUNG UP" NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE THE CAR PURCHASED. COMPLAINTS STARTED FOR THAT PROBLEM SOON AFTER PURCHASE AND WAS FINALLY FIXED IN MAY OF 2001. JUNE 2001, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. DEALER SAYS IN ORDER TO CHECK THE PROBLEM WE HAVE TO PAY DIAGNOSTIC FEE EVEN THOUGH THE FACTORY WARRANTY IS STILL IN EFFECT. JUNE 2001, NOW THE TENSIONER PULLEY IS BAD. WHAT NEXT???

SHEARED BOLT WAS FOUND ON MY GARAGE FLOOR AFTER DRIVING TO AND FROM WORK. TOW TRUCK DRIVER SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE. DEALER CLAIMS I HIT SOMETHING, BUT NO OTHER DAMAGE IS VISIBLE. I DIDN'T DRIVE BECAUSE I FELT IT WAS UNSAFE, BUT WOULD APPRECIATE KNOWING IF THE IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT TO OBTAIN COST OF REPAIR AND TOWING AND HOPEFULLY SAVE SOMEONE ELSE'S LIFE.*AK

:THIS SEEMS TO BE A ONGOING PROBLEM WITH A LARGE MARGARITY OF MONTE CARLOS. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT A DEALER MEMO WENT OUT IN 1998 NOTIFIYING CHEVY DEALERS OF POSSIBLE PISTON PROBLEMS. I HAVE SPOKEN TO A FEW MONTE CARLO OWNERS AND FIND THIS TO NOT BE A RARE PROBLEM. PISTONS ARE BLOWING THROUGH THE ENGINES WHILE DRIVING. I WAS AWARE ENOUGHT TO HEAR A KNOCK AND KNEW ENOUGH ABOUT CARS TO GET IT CHECKED I SPOKE TO A GIRL WHO OWNS A 1999 MONTE CARLO HER ENGINE BLEW WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 17,000 MILE. SHE NOW HAS A NEW ENGINE WITH 7,000 MILES AND IT HAS A KNOCK IN THE ENGINE. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM I AM CONCERNED FOR THE SAFTEY OF MY CHILDREN AND MYSELF AS WELL AS OTHER MONTE CARLO OWNERS WHO ARE NOT AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND MIGHT CONSIDER TAKING THERE FAMILYS ON A LONG TRIP SOMEWHERE. POSSIBLE LEAVING THEM STRANDED OR HURT IF THE ENGINE BLOWS WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. CHEVY IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM YET IT STILL CONTINUES TO MANUFACTURE THE SAME ENGINE FROM THE ORIGINAL MEMO DATE OF 1998 TO PRESENT. THIS SHOWS A SERIOUS LACK OF SAFTEY OR CONCERN FOR CONSUMERS ON THE PART OF CHEVY. PLEASE HELP ME AS THIS IS A LARGE EXPENSE AND I TRULY DO NOW HAVE A CONCERN FOR MY FAMILYS SAFTEY ON FUTURE PLANNED TRIPS. I BOUGHT A NEW CAR FOR THE SECURITY OF KNOWING MY CHILDREN WILL BE SAFE , FOR THIS REASON I DID NOT BUY A CAR THAT WAS OLD OR WITH A REBUILT ENGINE. YET CHEVY SOLUTION IS TO REBUILD MY ENGINE "END OF STORY " ACCORDING TO THEM . YOU ARE PROBABLY THE ONLY CHANCE ENDING THE PRODUCTIN OF THIS FAULTY ENGINE. PLEASE CONTACT ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU. *AK