Shop Oldsmobile Window Regulators

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

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.