I need a real auto mechanic advise!!! PLEASE!!! 1998 Pontiac Bonneville SE 3.8L?

Question

My 1998 Pontiac Bonneville SE 3.8L with 150,000 miles started bucking & jumping the other day.I put it in the shop and the mechanic put on a new fuel filter but that wasn't the problem,now the mechanic tells me that he pulled the #3 sparkplug and it had water on it so that mean's it's the head gasket or the head cracked and it's going to cost me anywhere from $300.00 to $500.00.
My question is how does a head get cracked overnight from sitting in my driveway??? Because he can't tell me!!
She drives this car everyday and we've never had a problem with it & I always keep up maintence up on the car,the car has never been run hot or overheated.The car ran excellent up til this!!
I've asked the mechanic everything I can think of but seems like he's giving me bulls#*t answers and as far as I know he hasn't hooked it up to any machines that diagnose problems.
I'll probably end up taking it to a certified Pontiac mechanic but it's just worrying the crap out of me right now.

The car wasn't low or using any anti-freeze,I just flushed & changed anti-freeze in Nov. the anti-freeze was full and there is no signs of anti-freeze or anything in the oil.

I'd like to thank everybody that answered my questions,they were all good answers but the real problem was a mice chewed one of my injecter wires in half.

Answer 1

The problem with your car is a leaking upper intake plenum. I have seen it many times. You will have to replace the upper plenum. It will be nessecary to get coolant out of cylinders and replace plugs and change oil.
http://www.automotivehelper.com/topic550452.htm

Answer 2

First off, you would more than likely blow a head gasket before you would crack a head if the damage was done while driving. Anything of this nature that could occure while the car was sitting in your driveway, would have to be caused by freezing. Although the engine block would probably crack before one of the heads would. Remove the oil cap and check for a frothy cream colored foam. That foam is water. Also, check your radiator for oil.

Answer 3

The bad news is that if it really is a cracked head, there's no way you're going to get out of the shop for $500. Heads can crack for any and no reason (for example due to a manufacturer's defect) Most often, heads crack due to putting cold coolant into a hot engine with the engine not running.
I would also get a second opinion but if you pull the plug on a cylinder and water comes out, that is a sure sign that the coolant compartments and the cylinder are connected through a crack in the head, a blown head gasket or a cracked cylinder.

Answer 4

I'm not an automotive mechanic, but I do recognize BS when I hear it, first thing, get yourself a reputable mechanic!!
Also our estimate for a blown head gasket/ warped head is a tad low. get your car out of that shop, even if you need to hire a tow truck to drag it out for you.
There could be a very logical and easy fix to the problem, though I would be getting ready for some very high repair bills, just in case. You need a mechanic you can trust here

Answer 5

i own a repair shop,and been at this for 36 yrs,i have seen those cars blow a head gasket just setting and idling,not even being drove,as far as that much anti freeze in the cylinder,it should have some in the oil also if not, i think i would question it, also its not un common for any car to blow a head gasket,but like you said from setting,it seems un-likely that this would happen,if its not a heat crack in the head and it didn't freeze it just sounds a little strange,but it can happen,is not impossible,after 36 yrs at this ,i have seen some weird things happen to cars,,but you might want to get another opinion on this ,i wouldn't settle for one opinion any way on it,good luck with it,i hope this help,s.

Answer 6

OK are you ready? There is a solid engine strut mounted from the engine to a front mount. Get a coat hanger ready, remove the nut and bolts on the BOth sides of the mount and remove the strut. You will need a pry bar or something close to it to now pull the motor to the front of the car, engine will move a good 3 -4 inches. I think at this point yo will understand what the hanger is for, if you have help would nice for them to loop the hanger through the mount holes that you just moved to hold the engine forward. this will give you as much room as you can get. Good Luck to you. Dennis

Answer 7

If he put a new fuel filter on it, he must have suspected a fuel problem. I would take it to another shop and have the fuel pressure checked. I had a 99 grand am that was acting up, the fuel pressure was normal until it was driven a little, then it dropped. It turned out to be the fuel pump in the tank. As many miles as this car has, I almost bet that is the problem! good luck!

Answer 8

if your car is drivable maybe you could get a second oppinion because i ve had 3 cars that the head gasket messed up and all 3 of them over heated i had white smoke my car used alot of water, when i shut the car off id hear alot of bubbling from the radiator i cracked mine from driving the cars hot i have 2 kids lol was trying to get home before we got broke down. and one i added cold water to a hot motor didnt know it then but i know now i wasnt supose to do that. and my 3rd one my water pump was bad didnt know it drove it and it blowed my gasket but my cars shut off and i couldnt drive them at all. i copied and pasted a sign of blown head gasket for you here is it
Your car or truck's head gasket has a tough life. Squeezed between the cylinder head and the engine block, the head gasket is responsible for containing all the heat and compression generated by your engine. If you throw a turbocharger, supercharger, or high-compression engine into the mix, the head gasket stresses are even greater. Leaking or blown head gasket symptoms are usually pretty easy to spot: Signs of a blown head gasket include coolant in the engine oil (and/or engine oil in the coolant), low compression in two adjacent cylinders, and overheating. So your car, truck, or SUV has the symptoms of a blown head gasket. Not to worry. We have the head gasket or head gasket set you need to repair the problem. Whether you need a Honda head gasket, BMW head gasket, Toyota head gasket, Mercedes head gasket, or a head gasket for a domestic vehicle like a Chevrolet, Ford, or Dodge, our head gasket selection has you covered. And don't forget the other items you'll need: We also have head gasket sealer, head gasket hardware, and auto and truck repair manuals to make the job easy and affordable

Answer 9

If you have driven through water anything as a big puddle to low water crossing.The water may have been sucked through the air intake. Water cannot be compressed like air therefor it causes problems inside the cylinder. You need to ask him to personally SHOW you the crack in the head. Make sure the casting numbers match the numbers on the motor. It sounds like to begin with he trying to sell you un-needed repairs. You might think about taking it somewhere else!

Answer 10

you should have noticed it losing anti-freeze if that were the case and if you check your oil you would see that the oil level is too high from water entering the crankcase and the oil will be really milkey looking, I think I would get a second opinion.