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2001 Monte Carlo intake explosion
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Matt98svt
Novice
Nov 1, 2014, 8:24 AM
Post #1 of 7
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2001 Monte Carlo intake explosion
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Hi all, I have a 2001 Monte carlo ss with 90k miles and no mods. I was in the process of changing a window regulator and ran down my battery to the point of needing to jump start the car. I try to crank it 3-4 times with the jumper cables on and it doesn't have enough juice to turn over till about the 4th try..and when it just starts to turn over there is a loud BANG! I jump out and there is a small fire limited to about a 3 inch radius and about a foot high so I grab the fire extinguisher off the nearby wall and spray down the engine. After inspecting the damage it appears the plastic upper intake exploded into a million pieces. I was surprised how thin the plastic that makes up the intake was. The only other damage I see is one of the injectors (back of engine closest to passengers side) is pushed out of the lower intake about a half an inch and the fuel rail that connects to it is bent slightly. This is where the fire was and the injector looks shot...other than that there is no fire damage. Of course spraying the fire extinguisher sprayed this fine sand like stuff all over and into the engine. I had it towed to a shop and they are supposed to look at it Monday. My plan was to pull the lower manifold and clean out as much of that extinguisher mess and plastic. I wanted to do a leak down on that back cylinder and maybe put a borescope in the plug hole but I really don't feel there is any internal damage...but not certain. The intake is only like 1/16th in thick plastic which was the path of least resistance and it exploded before the engine ever really started
turning over. Not sure why this happened but found other instances online of gm 3800 series II engines having the same intake explosion. I had changed the plugs and wired about two weeks ago and the pvc valve and had no issues such as misfires or anything after that so not sure if that could be related. Any advice on getting this fixed is appreciated and I will post pics soon
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Nov 1, 2014, 8:30 AM
Post #2 of 7
(7212 views)
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Re: 2001 Monte Carlo intake explosion
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Intakes explode because fuel builds up inside and then a source of ignition like a backfire ignites it. You need to determine if you have a fuel leak from something like a stuck open injector or an ignition problem causing the backfire.
The thickness of the intake isn't important because there is never supposed to be any pressure in there anyway.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Matt98svt
Novice
Nov 1, 2014, 9:43 AM
Post #3 of 7
(7198 views)
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Re: 2001 Monte Carlo intake explosion
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The mechanic called and left a voicemail that he only glanced under the hood but that he recommended replacing the upper intake the fuel rail and all 6 injectors....(quoted $1000 for the 6 injectors alone)$2200 total. He said if it was him though he would replace the entire engine since the fine sand like stuff from the extinguisher prob got into the engine. The motor wasn't running when I sprayed it though and I was 10ft away so not sure I need a new engine here.
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Nov 1, 2014, 10:50 AM
Post #4 of 7
(7189 views)
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Re: 2001 Monte Carlo intake explosion
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You know it is funny that GM had a recall on 2000 Monte for the fuel pressure regulator leaking and causing intake manifold explosions in 2004.
File In Section: Product Recalls
Bulletin No.: 03054B
Date: June, 2004
PRODUCT SAFETY RECALL
SUBJECT:
FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR - REPLACE
MODELS:
1998-2000 BUICK PARK AVENUE, LESABRE
1998-2000 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE
1998-1999 OLDSMOBILE EIGHTY-EIGHT
2000 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO, IMPALA
EQUIPPED WITH 3.8L V6 (RPO L36 - VIN CODE K) ENGINE
THIS BULLETIN REPLACES 03054A ISSUED FEBRUARY 2004, AND IS BEING REVISED TO INCLUDE 1998-2000 BUICK LESABRE, PONTIAC BONNEVILLE; 1998-99 OLDSMOBILE EIGHTY-EIGHT; AND 2000 BUICK PARK AVENUE, CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO AND IMPALA MODEL YEAR VEHICLES. DUE TO PARTS AVAILABILITY, 03054B IS BEING CONDUCTED IN 2 PHASES. PHASE 1 WILL CONSIST OF 1998-1999 BUICK LESABRE, PONTIAC BONNEVILLE AND OLDSMOBILE EIGHTY-EIGHT MODEL YEAR VEHICLES. PHASE 2 WILL CONSIST OF 2000 BUICK PARK AVENUE AND LESABRE, PONTIAC BONNEVILLE, CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO AND IMPALA MODEL YEAR VEHICLES. WHEN SUFFICIENT PARTS ARE AVAILABLE TO NOTIFY CUSTOMERS OF 2000 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES, YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED AND WILL RECEIVE A NEW INITIATION REPORT. PLEASE DISCARD SAFETY RECALL BULLETIN NUMBER 03054.
CONDITION
General Motors has decided that a detect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in certain 1998-2000 Buick Park Avenue, LeSabre, Pontiac Bonneville; 1998-99 Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight: and 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Impala model year vehicles equipped with a 3.8L V6 (RPO L36 - VIN Code K) engine. These vehicles have a much higher than usual rate of fuel pressure regulator diaphragm leaks. A leak can allow fuel to enter the intake manifold through a vacuum line. In low battery conditions, if the engine does not start when cranked, the fuel from the leaking regulator and a mistimed spark can cause a backfire. The backfire can rupture the intake manifold, causing a loud bang. The rupture of the intake manifold can displace a fuel line, pulling an injector out of place, and causing a fuel leak. If there is an ignition source, a fire can result.
Slow engine cranking and difficulty starting the engine could indicate a low battery. Poor driveability or a check engine light could indicate a fuel pressure regulator leak.
CORRECTION
Dealers are to inspect the engine fuel rail and, if necessary, replace the fuel pressure regulator.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Nov 1, 2014, 10:59 AM
Post #5 of 7
(7186 views)
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Re: 2001 Monte Carlo intake explosion
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#1 - Glad you had an extinguisher around!
Fortunately I don't have but ONE time I had to use one and was just a fine baby powder dusty crap but worked thank you. IDK if this is worth tossing total engine quite yet? Think I'd just blow the crap out of cylinders with compressed air and think/bet you'd be OK but mind you I'm not there looking at this show either.
Small point was that dust from the extinguisher made a simple, no damage to anything fire on engine seriously not want to fire after the fact not what caused the fire - carb cleaner a bit too much in that case on a hot spot on manifold.
End of that story is it didn't hurt anything once cleaned up mostly with compressed air externally as it was ugly of course,
T
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Nov 1, 2014, 12:24 PM
Post #6 of 7
(7178 views)
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Re: 2001 Monte Carlo intake explosion
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I personally don't think the engine is going to need to be replaced. That is a little extreme.
I'm sure the engine wasn't running when you blew powder all over it, so no big deal.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Nov 1, 2014, 1:29 PM
Post #7 of 7
(7174 views)
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Re: 2001 Monte Carlo intake explosion
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I agree, you need a manifold and to repair whatever caused the explosion in the first place. Make sure none of the plastic went into any of the cylinders.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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