Guys,

I say again, thank you for all your postings and for being glad I was not injured. This is a great website with some great people, giving advice, and answering questions. So really, thanks again, I really appreciate it.

I will keep everyone posted along the way.

So far, car has been totaled by insurance company. They are going to pay the car off (yes, I still owed, in fact was upside down, good thing I have gap insurance). I also put in a claim with Chevrolet and they said they will call me back in 48 hours.

As soon as I hear anything, I will let you guys know.

This car has been a mess for me for a while. In fact, right before this happened, I ordered another Cat Converter but canceled it...since obviously I do not need it replaced now. Funny what you say about the cheap gas...my mechanic yelled at me for putting cheap gas in the car, he told me that didnt help my cat converter.

I wish there was a way for me to know for sure what happened. Not sure why, maybe just closure?? But everyone here is making some good points and they seem right to me. I just have no way of knowing with 100% certainty what the heck happened.

 

Just my .02 cents here.

First and foremost sorry about ur loss here.

I bought my ex-wife and 01 MC SS 3.8 NA brand new. In 2004 the cat plugged up and created so much backpressure it made the whole engine leak fluids from everywhere. ALL the gaskets had to be replaced. That's how much pressure built up in the engine while running. This was a KNOWN issue GM had with these cats. I made GM replace every gasket by dropping the sub frame AND put an extended warranty on the car for 7 years and 100K miles.

My theory here is the cold made the debris in the cat very hard causing the cat to be almost completely blocked off and then causing so much pressure that a backfire exploded something in the intake and breaking a fuel line. In other words a perfect storm in the engine compartment.

I would suggest that with this information you tell GM you are seeking the "advice" of an attorney if they do not want to assist you in correcting this problem of yours. Secondly I would give this information the the INS. company because they don't want to pay if they don't have to and with this information they will be more legally willing to assist you with having GM pay for it.

You play your cards right and you might come out of this better then you started.

 

Hello everyone, I am back with an interesting update.....

For the last two weeks, I was told by the insurance company that the car was going to be totaled, and the loan paid off.

Today, the adjuster came back with a new idea.....the car will be fixed. This includes getting a used engine from a junk yard and whatever else it needs.

Honestly, I was hoping the car would be totaled. Another engine or not, I still have to worry...........will this car catch fire again?? Plus, isn't replacing the engine a MAJOR job.........will things ever really be "right"?

I need to fight with the insurance company......because I want them to replace the catalytic converter. Before the fire the check engine light was on and the code said: Faulty catalytic converter. Considering the money I have put out of pocket during this matter, including losing a $300 dollar deposit on a replacement car I was buying, I am up against it. Buying a new cat converter, with labor, is out of my reach right now.

Then I recalled what another member of this site posted: "My theory here is the cold made the debris in the cat very hard causing the cat to be almost completely blocked off and then causing so much pressure that a backfire exploded something in the intake and breaking a fuel line. In other words a perfect storm in the engine compartment."

Obviously, I do not want this to happen again.

So many questions.....

1) Will the mechanic who removes the old engine, be able to tell me what caused the fire........hence working on defense to make sure it doesn't happen again?

2) My cat converter was replaced when the car had 66,000 miles. Now, at 88,000 miles, it is needing to be replaced again. The dealer is saying they will not replace the converter since the replacement is only guaranteed for 12,000 miles. Personally, I think this is crap. I thought there was some federal exhaust law to give me more help....other than a stinking 20,000 miles.

3) How can I get the dealer to replace the converter? I guess I have to hope the check engine comes on when they start up the replacement engine, followed by me insisting not to bring the car home until they fix whatever else is needed (boy I do not feel like fighting this fight).

I appreciate your review and postings in reply.

Thank you very much.

 

That quote was from me. I have owned in my 40 years approx 40+ GM vehicles. My advice here is to be relentless with GM. If this cat was replaced by a dealership then you call GM and do not except a NO for an answer. Let them know that lawyers and insurance companies are involved and if GMM wants to maintain a GM client they need to stand up and stand behind their product. In addition to the story I told you about the Monte Carlo SS I personally had issues with I have had other issues with GM vehicles. One was even bought back by GM but this was weeks after taking delivery.

It is my experience if you are relentless they will cave in and take care of this issue. In regards to a new motor. Well a motor is a motor. They come out and can be replaced very easily. I would ask for some sort of warranty on the used motor. 2years 24,000 miles or something reasonable. Plus have it inspected BEFORE it is installed.

 

After a months time, the replacement engine and fuel line has been replaced. Picked it up today and took it out for a long drive.

The transmission is slipping. Off the start, and increasing speed moderately, the transmission feels like it doesn't grab. Going faster, and trying to get the transmission to change gears quicker, it slips again. The RPM gauge goes above four, and then it will finally grab.

I apologize if I didn't explain the above well. It is subtle to slightly above subtle, but I cant notice it and so can my wife. It is not so bad that it is banging or totally missing, but I know it is not the same. I never had problems with the transmission. In fact, it was something I always felt good about because it was always smooth and you never felt it change gears.

I checked the fluid and it had the proper level, but didn't appear as red in color as before. I could be wrong here however.

I will take it to the GM dealer that replaced the engine tomorrow, first thing. I am sure they will say all if fine or that it must have been that way before. Wish me luck. I'll keep you posted if I need bail money after fighting with them.

Dumb question - if you replace the engine, and don't know what you are doing or take shortcuts, could it affect the transmission performance?

Thanks!!!

 

yes taking shortcuts can really mess things up. Take you time

good to no you ok

 

Thanks Gothkid.

Today I took the car back to the shop and was told the transmission "slipping" I was feeling was due to the fluid being down at least a quart. They put new fluid in and took it for a test drive and said all was fine.

Driving it home and again tonight, it is not fine! The transmission is now banging. Off the start, with a light about of gas, the transmission BANGS when switching gear, I can feel the banging underneath. Instead of feeling the gears shift smoothly, I feel a banging.

I will take the car back tomorrow. I will take the mechanic with me for a drive. It didnt do this BEFORE the car caught fire and I am going to demand it gets fixed.

Some questions:

1) Could the engine they put in be bad?
2) Could it have a bad coil?
3) Could the engine have internal damage? Should I ask for a compression test?
4) What can I asked be checked when I go in tomorrow? Is there a special transmission test? Is there something they should look for to see if something was not "hooked back up" correctly?
5) Why is the check engine light coming on? It usually works and comes on and gives an accurate code.
6) Is there any chance this could be due to a bad cat converter, which was bad (per the check engine light) before the car caught fire? I am thinking I am feeling a transmission banging, versus a bad cat converter missing/clogged feeling.

Thanks as always!

 

It sounds exactly what my monte did. Turned out to be the pressure control solenoid.

 

pressure control solenoid (TSB for this) also will not set a MIL indicator but will store a code in the ECU.

 

Update:

Took the car back to the automotive dealer/mechanic. The check engine light came on. The code was checked and AH HAH, once again, the Cat Converter is bad (replaced at 60K miles, now 88k miles).

Also, the transmission was banging and an auto tech experienced the same.

The latest is that shop is going to try to get all of this fixed through the insurance company. The shop feels they can get the cat converter covered but the insurance company is going to fight me on the transmission.

My story is that before the fire and repairs, I did NOT have any problems with the transmission. None whatsoever. Now, that the replacement engine is in, the car does not run right!

The car shop wants to help me, my battle will be with the insurance company.

This doesnt look good and I guess I need to be ready to fight fight fight. Shame....starting to think after the fire and engine replacement, the car will never be right.

Thanks.