Just purchased an 04 monte carlo intimidator ss about a week ago.
Payed 4,500 for it. 156,000 miles. Great physical condition. No leaks.
According to the seller nothing under the hood was an issue.
Besides a headlight switch & a blower motor issue nothing was wrong.
It's been garage kept for most of it's life.
Everything under the hood looked & sounded great.
Drove it from where I purchased it to where I'm storing it (28 miles)
until I get tags & inspection done (I live in dallas)
A day later I notice a motor oil leak but it seems like it's coming from two different places. Threw it on a car lift at a shop next door from where it's being stored & noticed its coming from up top (not the oil pan)
So my question is, what could this be?
I've done a bit of research on the 3800 and it seems to me a lot of folks
have issues with the intake manifold gasket, since it's plastic.
However I also think I might have a a transmission fluid leak.
Not too sure. I'm going to have a mechanic look at it this week
However I just want a little more guidance before hand on what to look for.
Also, If anyone can let me know if this was a good purchase for the price I paid. Obviously I'm stuck with the car regardless but just want different opinions. I love the car itself, everything about it. I had an 86 monte carlo ls a couple years back & I'm glad I'm back in the monte family. Just need guidance. Also, What else would ya'll reccommend switching out next,
I only have about 800 bucks to work with right at this moment.
But since I have to get these leaks figured out I might as well make a couple more urgent changes. Thanks

 

First of all welcome to the forum.
The price seems fair considering the overall condition. Body and paint look great.
As for the leaks, the most common ones are valve cover gaskets and the engine front oil seal. The transmission fluid leak looks to be from the pan gasket. Trans filters often come with a POS all rubber pan gasket. Common sense tells most people to use it, but they would be better off staying with the old re-usable, metal core gasket the car came from the factory with. I would do a trans fluid drain and refill with a new filter and a new OEM pan gasket. Look for any metal in fluid when you drop the pan. That's an indication of wear. 156K miles might be approaching the life of the transmission so you might want to save that $800 and use it toward the purchase of a replacement.

 

X2 or that.


It would be smart to give the Car a complete Service.
Check the oil and change it and the filter.
Trans fluid should be Red
Air filter is good
and fuel filter is a good item to replace it might never have been done. Not sure if it is under the passenger seat under the Car about the size of a small beer can with metal tube in and out?
Alignment is another thing that will save your tires.
Price not to bad they vary from location saw one the other day for over 8K with about the same miles.
It is wise to drive in drive and not overdrive this will save the Trans some wear, and shifting. Unless you are on the Hwy.
Good luck!!

 

I'm glad I joined the forum. A lot of great help.
Thanks plumbob & drivernumber 3.
I'm having an actual mechanic come look at it since I'm just a beginner when it comes to engines.
Any ideas on cost of parts? I've been looking around but I'm a little clueless.
Aluminum, plastic gaskets. So any brands that are affordable and long lasting would be awesome. Don't want to go with regular autozone parts if they're not quality parts.
I'm sure the labor varies but if anyone has had these leakage issues about how much was the repair (obviously if you didn't do it yourself)
I'm going to do all fluid drains & changes after I get these leaks sorted out, as well as the alignment.
Anything else I should look after?
Thanks guys.

 

go to youtube and ask what to do and several vids will come up for Monte Carlo pick the one you want and it will talk you thru it.
rockauto dot com is a source for parts the Garage Squad on Velocity channel uses them.