The automotive "OMG it costs HOW much to fix this?!" thread.

[I~LUV~Caddys8792]

Oh definitely, that and the headgaskets, which are apparently pretty common on the M104's.

[clarkz71]

Yes, did a lot of 104 headgaskets as well, oil leaks though. Not coolant.
Also common are front driveshaft flex disc, engine mounts, blower motor resistors, door checks,
belt tensioners, and rear window regulators which
use big rivits to mount to the door.

[dwight.j.carter]

Come on guys we dog the northstar because all we hear about in the seville forum is overheat this or headgasket that. Look at it in comparison to how many are out there and the majority of them don't go bad till 150-200k miles and if I get that far I will pay the 3 thousand with a smile knowing I will get another 200k out of her. The northstar isn't a bad engine we just hear about all the headgasket issues in the seville forum so it makes us think they are all bad. I think 2000-20004 sevilles in most cases will be fine if the coolant and oil systems are maintained don't you guys think ?

[I~LUV~Caddys8792]

I'd have to agree with that statement.

[clarkz71]

Me too.

[dwight.j.carter]

The only think I don't like about the FWD Northstar is that nobody wants to help us out with tuners and things for our cars they either say not enough demand or just blow us off !

[Jesda]

N* repair is $2500+, and still affects cars 2000+ and later. Some unfortunate people on this forum have dealt with head gasket failures on 02+ cars before even seeing 60,000 miles.

Chain guide job cost me $1400. I bought the parts from a dealer and paid a guy on a buffalo ranch in Iowa to do it in his driveway one afternoon. I enjoyed a free buffalo steak dinner.

Nissan remedied the chain guide issue by the 1993 model year, and I can count on one hand the number of known head gasket failures on the VH45DE. Most Qs have terribly neglected cooling systems. On Q45 #1, I finally did the water pump, t-stat, and some hoses at 175k. Radiator was finally replaced at 190k. Its shocking how much brown gunk spewed out during the flush.

N* is a wonderful engine with serious design flaws. Hopefully for RWD use GM made some changes.

[Spyder]

Uh oh...wish our ex-resident N* guy was still here, god rest his soul...He'd be a great one to have on this particular thread.

How many people remember him nowadays, anyways?

[Jesda]

Bbob is dead?

[clarkz71]

Originally Posted by Jesda

N* is a wonderful engine with serious design flaws. Hopefully for RWD use GM made some changes.

Fortunately for me, my 12 year old Eldo with 75k has not been afflicted
with ANY of these "design flaws". It doesn't leak oil, doesn't burn oil,
and doesn't have any cooling system issue's what so ever.