ldog2003
Buick Newbie
- Joined
- Mar 5, 2018
- Messages
- 12
- Reaction score
- 1
- Points
- 0
- Location
- Mount Pleasant, Michigan
- Buick Ownership
- 2013 Buick Encore
Hello All:
I really think my Encore is a Dud (not a Lemon.. I didn't buy it new.. I am not lucky enough to have Lemon Law protections)
About a year ago I bought my first Buick, a used 2013 Encore, black, "convince" package, it had 62K on it but it was a local trade and a one owner car. Carfax looked good. The vehicle seemed well maintained.
I bought it to my local trusted mechanic give it an inspection before I bought it. He gave it a clean bill of health with one exception. He said the low coolant was his only concern and he topped it off and told me to keep an eye on it. I informed the dealer of this and they also told me to keep an eye on it and let them know if I had any problems. For the first month of ownership I had to fill the coolant 4 times. I finally took it back to the deanship. They did a full inspection and could find nothing wrong, but the problem has not recurred.
Then the problems. The front lower air dam was damaged when i bought it and I was promised a fix buy the dealer.
They repaired it all right and damaged the lower body trim near the rear tries in the process.
They then repaired that.
A bout 7K into my Buick ownership experience I got my first check engine light P0171 and P0420. Shortly after my first oil change. I Took it to my local dealership (not the place I bought it) and was quoted $3,500 to completely rebuild the engine because the they told me the piston rings had failed.
Pressure tested it myself, no problems. Took it to another mechanic who found no problems with the engine itself but did replace the valve cover and PCV hose. This seems to have fixed the P0171. I got the Buick dealer to give me by $90 diagnostics fee back but they say they are "sticking by" their diagnosis of bad rings. They tell me the problem will re-occur.
About 5 months after his I got the P0420 code again. Back to the mechanic. They tell me they could find nothing wrong with the car. They cleared the code. It has not come back. Looking at live data on my scan tool the bank 2 O2 sensor seems to hold steady at about .6-.75 even when driving on the freeway and varying speed. I am keeping an eye on this and getting ready to replace the cat when this code comes back.
About a month ago a new code surfaced. P0449. Its an Evap code. I am going to have to deal with it but its not a priority.
3 weeks ago I got a BAD misfire and flashing check engine and traction control lights during freeway driving but the situation stopped and I did not do anything waiting for it to happen again when I had my scan tool handy.
Last weekend it happened again. Scanner in hand I checked it P0303 misfire cylinder 3. I replaced the pugs and noticed no damage or fouling on the firing end of any pugs but did see usual top side corrosion on the #3 plug. The boot on the coil pack assembly seemed to be damaged on #3 as well.
The new plugs did not help. I ordered a replacement coil pack which I changed this weekend. That seems to have fixed the misfire for now. Looking at the OEM coil pack there was burn damage and lots of corrosion on #3. for the time being I consider this issue resolved.
And then there is the NOISES (plural)
When I bought it the dealer had just put new breaks and new tires on it. The tires were very quite. The breaks were not. They have squeaked since I bought the car. Usually on the firs breaking of the day, or on the first breaking after sitting. I have inspected them and found nothing wrong. I have had them inspected by the dealership and a local shop and no one else can seem to find an issue either.
The tires, Uniroyal Tiger Paws, have been getting progressively louder and louder since I have owned the car, even despite regular rotations. I have had two tire shops inspect the tires, there is nothing wrong with them, they are apparently just loud tires.
I really think I have a dud, what do you think
I really think my Encore is a Dud (not a Lemon.. I didn't buy it new.. I am not lucky enough to have Lemon Law protections)
About a year ago I bought my first Buick, a used 2013 Encore, black, "convince" package, it had 62K on it but it was a local trade and a one owner car. Carfax looked good. The vehicle seemed well maintained.
I bought it to my local trusted mechanic give it an inspection before I bought it. He gave it a clean bill of health with one exception. He said the low coolant was his only concern and he topped it off and told me to keep an eye on it. I informed the dealer of this and they also told me to keep an eye on it and let them know if I had any problems. For the first month of ownership I had to fill the coolant 4 times. I finally took it back to the deanship. They did a full inspection and could find nothing wrong, but the problem has not recurred.
Then the problems. The front lower air dam was damaged when i bought it and I was promised a fix buy the dealer.
They repaired it all right and damaged the lower body trim near the rear tries in the process.
They then repaired that.
A bout 7K into my Buick ownership experience I got my first check engine light P0171 and P0420. Shortly after my first oil change. I Took it to my local dealership (not the place I bought it) and was quoted $3,500 to completely rebuild the engine because the they told me the piston rings had failed.
Pressure tested it myself, no problems. Took it to another mechanic who found no problems with the engine itself but did replace the valve cover and PCV hose. This seems to have fixed the P0171. I got the Buick dealer to give me by $90 diagnostics fee back but they say they are "sticking by" their diagnosis of bad rings. They tell me the problem will re-occur.
About 5 months after his I got the P0420 code again. Back to the mechanic. They tell me they could find nothing wrong with the car. They cleared the code. It has not come back. Looking at live data on my scan tool the bank 2 O2 sensor seems to hold steady at about .6-.75 even when driving on the freeway and varying speed. I am keeping an eye on this and getting ready to replace the cat when this code comes back.
About a month ago a new code surfaced. P0449. Its an Evap code. I am going to have to deal with it but its not a priority.
3 weeks ago I got a BAD misfire and flashing check engine and traction control lights during freeway driving but the situation stopped and I did not do anything waiting for it to happen again when I had my scan tool handy.
Last weekend it happened again. Scanner in hand I checked it P0303 misfire cylinder 3. I replaced the pugs and noticed no damage or fouling on the firing end of any pugs but did see usual top side corrosion on the #3 plug. The boot on the coil pack assembly seemed to be damaged on #3 as well.
The new plugs did not help. I ordered a replacement coil pack which I changed this weekend. That seems to have fixed the misfire for now. Looking at the OEM coil pack there was burn damage and lots of corrosion on #3. for the time being I consider this issue resolved.
And then there is the NOISES (plural)
When I bought it the dealer had just put new breaks and new tires on it. The tires were very quite. The breaks were not. They have squeaked since I bought the car. Usually on the firs breaking of the day, or on the first breaking after sitting. I have inspected them and found nothing wrong. I have had them inspected by the dealership and a local shop and no one else can seem to find an issue either.
The tires, Uniroyal Tiger Paws, have been getting progressively louder and louder since I have owned the car, even despite regular rotations. I have had two tire shops inspect the tires, there is nothing wrong with them, they are apparently just loud tires.
I really think I have a dud, what do you think
