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The head gasket on the Northstar engine is a trouble spot on the DeVille. As I understand it, the bolts pull out of the block under pressure, causing the head gasket to weaken. Then the head gasket fails, requiring a new gasket, and a replacement of the bolts with a stronger stud kit, which is better than the insert kits sold to try to remedy the problem. It's a relatively expensive fix, since it's very labor intensive, and I think that the engine needs to be removed from the car .
$3500 is a good price for the car, but I'd pay attention to the head gasket. It would cost a couple of thousand to fix it properly, IIRC. I cannot remember what a relative paid for that fix on a STS, but it was not inexpensive.
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All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages.
~William Shakespeare (As You Like It Act II, Scene VII)
The transmissions are also a weak point from what I see on my used car searches. The reason being is the northstar had too much power for the transmission that came with it.
The head gasket on the Northstar engine is a trouble spot on the DeVille. As I understand it, the bolts pull out of the block under pressure, causing the head gasket to weaken. Then the head gasket fails, requiring a new gasket, and a replacement of the bolts with a stronger stud kit, which is better than the insert kits sold to try to remedy the problem. It's a relatively expensive fix, since it's very labor intensive, and I think that the engine needs to be removed from the car .
$3500 is a good price for the car, but I'd pay attention to the head gasket. It would cost a couple of thousand to fix it properly, IIRC. I cannot remember what a relative paid for that fix on a STS, but it was not inexpensive.
+1 You should definitely factor the gasket into the price. Once modified, those engines last forever. I would say it's worth it in that regard.
The transmissions are also a weak point from what I see on my used car searches. The reason being is the northstar had too much power for the transmission that came with it.
I have seen more than a few of these cars run pretty hard... those automatics can hold their ground well.
The head gasket on the Northstar engine is a trouble spot on the DeVille. As I understand it, the bolts pull out of the block under pressure, causing the head gasket to weaken. Then the head gasket fails, requiring a new gasket, and a replacement of the bolts with a stronger stud kit, which is better than the insert kits sold to try to remedy the problem. It's a relatively expensive fix, since it's very labor intensive,
and I think that the engine needs to be removed from the car .
It's a 40+ hour job and yes, the engine has to come out.
It's a 40+ hour job and yes, the engine has to come out.
Geez, than that would mean the total cost of doing a head gasket is around $4,000. I hardly think it would even be worth doing since you could get a new engine for that much.
If they can get it for $3500 and spend another $4k or so on the head gasket replacement and stud conversion, it's still a lot of car for the money. A Park Avenue could easily be more than $7-$8k with that low mileage, and some of the 3.8 6-cylinder engines in the Park Avenue were not immune to head gasket issues, though I don't think they're as prevalent as it can be with a Northstar.
__________________
All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages.
~William Shakespeare (As You Like It Act II, Scene VII)
That's a car you pass on as it is more like a lotta' hassle for the money.
An engine is $4000ish and given that it is all aluminum, it's not rebuildable...at least the aftermarket thinks as much as they are boat anchors if overheated beyond a certain point.
Heck, a friend of mine traded a 1999 Deville with 39,000 on it for a 2010 GMC Canyon as he found out that even the first electronic gizmo repair on it costs you $500 easy. That was just fora steering stabilizer sensor, so I can hardly imagine how frequently a 2000 with more miles on it would do someone in.
So, to answer the last question, anything is fair game to break on a luxo car that old.
Great looking car and nice mileage on it. I've been looking at these cars as well..see my "used car 3k-5k" thread. With the issues mentioned, I have second thoughts on these cars..
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