Need Advice

[Pirate Pete]

I was watching a YouTube video with the car wizard who for years highly praised PAs and basically any car with the 3800 engine . Well his video was about ABS modules no longer being available if you need it replaced . He said the item has been discontinued ( no longer in production) and he no longer recommends these cars.
Im 56 and was pretty much hoping to drive this car to my grave . I've spent thousands keeping everything up to date and my next step was to have the seats reupholstered . Now I'm thinking I should hold back on having the seats reupholstered . What are your thoughts on not being able to have the ABS replaced if it goes bad? Is there a workaround for this? I'm sure we could get one from a junk yard but how long will that one last?🤔

 

[02LTD2.0]

If you plan on driving your car for another 10 to 20 years then you should go ahead and get the seats done. I have owned 6 or 7 of these big 3800 powered cars over the last 22 years and have NEVER had an issue with the ABS unit.

 

[DrivenDaily]

I was watching a YouTube video with the car wizard who for years highly praised PAs and basically any car with the 3800 engine . Well his video was about ABS modules no longer being available if you need it replaced . He said the item has been discontinued ( no longer in production) and he no longer recommends these cars.
Im 56 and was pretty much hoping to drive this car to my grave . I've spent thousands keeping everything up to date and my next step was to have the seats reupholstered . Now I'm thinking I should hold back on having the seats reupholstered . What are your thoughts on not being able to have the ABS replaced if it goes bad? Is there a workaround for this? I'm sure we could get one from a junk yard but how long will that one last?🤔

I saw that one, too, over the weekend.

While he may have an opinion that is valued, I'm still gonna keep my 2005 and maybe buy another one someday. I sure don't want a Lucerne with the VVT V8!

 

[Pirate Pete]

I saw that one, too, over the weekend.

While he may have an opinion that is valued, I'm still gonna keep my 2005 and maybe buy another one someday. I sure don't want a Lucerne with the VVT V8!

I'm just worried about putting a lot of money into a car then get screwed if the ABS does go on me . Everyplace I looked online said it's not available. I wouldn't want the Lucerne either . They don't even make the power steering pump for that car anymore. You have to go hunting at the junkyard.
I don't like the LaCrosse either. It's just not the same as the old LeSabres . Can't compare the two. I'm probably going to hold off on reupholstering the seats for now .

 

[Pirate Pete]

If you plan on driving your car for another 10 to 20 years then you should go ahead and get the seats done. I have owned 6 or 7 of these big 3800 powered cars over the last 22 years and have NEVER had an issue with the ABS unit.

Yeah I had a 98 LeSabre myself . I actually miss that car a lot. As for the ABS no car part is bulletproof . I must have put $5000 into this car and I get compliments on how nice it rides . I can't stand any of the newer cars which is why I bought this PA a few years ago. I'm going to hold off on upholstering the seats though. It's not necessary especially since I only drive 4,000 miles a year.

 

[02LTD2.0]

I guess I'm the lucky one as the leather seats in my 2002 Limited are still in great shape.
Why don't you just try to find some tight fitting seat covers?
P.S. I agree with you about getting a Lacrosse. From the posts about them that I see here on the forum they seem to have more problems than LeSabres and Park Avenues.

 

[Pirate Pete]

I guess I'm the lucky one as the leather seats in my 2002 Limited are still in great shape.
Why don't you just try to find some tight fitting seat covers?
P.S. I agree with you about getting a Lacrosse. From the posts about them that I see here on the forum they seem to have more problems than LeSabres and Park Avenues.

It's impossible finding seat covers between the split bench seat and the seat belt mechanism being attached to the seat and not the post.

 

[02LTD2.0]

It's impossible finding seat covers between the split bench seat and the seat belt mechanism being attached to the seat and not the post.

Perhaps either you or an upholstery shop could modify some seat covers with access slits for the seatbelts.

 

[Pirate Pete]

Perhaps either you or an upholstery shop could modify some seat covers with access slits for the seatbelts.

At that point I might as well just pay to have the seats resurfaced. I was already given a price of $600 to resurface both front seats. Anyway, I'm just going to hold off on that project for now as I don't even drive much . I still have to get my EGR valve plate replaced but haven't gotten it done because I don't want to pay $1200 for something that isn't necessary. Only thing is I can't have the HVAC set to "outside air" as it will smell like exhaust in my car 😷

 

[02LTD2.0]

Do you have an EGR block-off plate or just a malfunctioning EGR?

 

[Pirate Pete]

Do you have an EGR block-off plate or just a malfunctioning EGR?

I've changed the EGR Valve twice. No longer have a check engine light . My mechanic said the EGR valve plate needs to be replaced . He said that's why exhaust smell is coming from the engine bay and why my car makes a loud tapping noise on a cold start. He explained that once the car is warmed up and I start driving the plate gets hot and the metal expands in which the gap goes away and doesn't make a tapping noise anymore. It's been like this since I bought the car . I just keep the recirc button engaged . It's hot here in Vegas most of the year and I use the AC anyway .

 

[02LTD2.0]

Perhaps you have a leak in the EGR tube.

 

[Pirate Pete]

Perhaps you have a leak in the EGR tube.

It makes sense that it's the plate at its making a loud tapping noise on cold starts. Either way it's not affecting my use of the car.

 

[Ultra Ego]

At that point I might as well just pay to have the seats resurfaced. I was already given a price of $600 to resurface both front seats. Anyway, I'm just going to hold off on that project for now as I don't even drive much . I still have to get my EGR valve plate replaced but haven't gotten it done because I don't want to pay $1200 for something that isn't necessary. Only thing is I can't have the HVAC set to "outside air" as it will smell like exhaust in my car 😷

Something’s amiss here. You said you have replaced the EGR valve before, but then you said the mechanic told you the EGR “plate” needed to be replaced?

Either you’ve got an EGR valve or you have a plate. What *does* commonly leak is the metal tube that exits from the EGR. Here is a link to one that costs about $75:

24508516 - Genuine GM Pipe Assembly, Egr Valve Outlet

GMPartsGiant.com offers the great deal for genuine GM parts, 24508516. Pipe Assembly, Egr Valve Outlet for $151.80. All parts are backed by the GM's warranty.

www.gmpartsgiant.com

You should investigate this more because exhaust leaks into the hvac system or cab are very dangerous, low annual miles or not.

 

[timoch]

My old Ford Tempo developed a leak in in the EGR tube and failed state safety inspection. I went down to the auto parts store and bought a "muffler bandage" and wrapped around the tube and it solved the problem. It held up for years. I would guess the tube would be the weak point on the Buick unit.

 

[bigsky]

I'm just worried about putting a lot of money into a car then get screwed if the ABS does go on me . Everyplace I looked online said it's not available.

The ABS (edit: "module") went bad on the 03 Ultra I had. I used a repair service on Ebay and did the R & R myself. I had some questions on which sealant to use when reinstalling the ABS module. That is on a thread here somewhere in the forum. While I no longer have the car; the new owners are still driving it.

This is the service I used (as stated this may not fix all issues):

00 01 02 03 04 05 Buick LeSabre Park Ave ABS EBCM Delphi Module REPAIR SERVICE | eBay

You are responsible for the troubleshooting and research of the failure with your module. This repair does NOT fix ALL EBCM/ABS failures (see below for fixes). Once we receive your module, we will repair it and water tight seal it.

www.ebay.com

 

[Pirate Pete]

The ABS went bad on the 03 Ultra I had. I used a repair service on Ebay and did the R & R myself. I had some questions on which sealant to use when reinstalling the ABS. That is on a thread here somewhere in the forum. While I no longer have the car; the new owners are still driving it.

This is the service I used (as stated this may not fix all issues):

00 01 02 03 04 05 Buick LeSabre Park Ave ABS EBCM Delphi Module REPAIR SERVICE | eBay

You are responsible for the troubleshooting and research of the failure with your module. This repair does NOT fix ALL EBCM/ABS failures (see below for fixes). Once we receive your module, we will repair it and water tight seal it.

www.ebay.com

Thank you for your help however I'm disabled with severe degenerative disc disease and my pain is crippling. I wish I could do everything myself but that's not the story unfortunately. I made my decisions and tried deleting this thread but can't find the option to remove it. If a mod sees this please delete this thread.
Thank you to everyone offering advice 🙏