GMC Repair: Engine 1998 Park Avenue, buick park avenue, engine coolant

Question
Dear Pete,

I have a 1998 Buick Park Avenue (not Ultra) with a 3800 engine. I've had it about nine months and have had nothing done to it except a new battery soon after we got it. A few weeks ago the air conditioner stopped cooling, but other than that, no problems. It has about 90,000 original miles on it.   

At the end of a 50+ mile trip yesterday I was nearly at my exit from the expressway when the check engine light came on and the warning signal started dinging. When I got to the stop sign at the base of the exit, the car started chugging and nearly stalled. I was close to home and was able to nurse it the rest of the way. When I got home, I left it running and had my husband come out to look at it. I told him what it had done and he had me rev it up to see if he could hear it missing. When he did, he had me shut it off and started looking around. The first thing he noticed was that the engine coolant resevoir was empty so he checked the radiator. It took about a gallon and a half of water to fill it up, but the indicator hadn't shown that it was overheated. It was over the half-way mark but not in the red zone. Then he told me to start it up again to get the water recirculating. (I live in Florida so not putting antifreeze in it right away wasn't seen as a problem.) I turned the key and it turned over a little then all of a sudden THUG. After that, it wouldn't do anything. After a couple of minutes, he told me to try again, and this time it clicked like it does when the battery is dead. Well, he didn't feel like fooling with it anymore so he said he'd check it out today. The first thing he did was take the battery in to be checked and it was okay. Next, he pulled the starter off and found that it was in pieces inside! So, he went to Advance Discount Auto and spent $187 on a new one. He got that put on and tried to start it again. It turned over about 1 1/2 times then wouldn't move anymore. We don't have a clue what caused the starter to crumble and even though we HOPE the engine isn't seized up too, we realize it could be. What we need to know is if there is anything else it could be before we take it to a mechanic. We don't know any mechanics in the area and don't want to be told definitively it needs an engine overhaul if there is a possibility it could be something less catastrophic. (In other words--if we are told it does need an overhaul, what do we need to ask that will assure us that is indeed the case?) I've read many of your posts, and I want to thank you for volunteering your time to help people like us! I so deeply appreciate any ideas you can give us about this problem.  

Answer
hello dorthy
the first thing you want to do is check the fly wheel tell your husband to pull the starter out once more and then get a long pry bar and see if you can turn the fly wheel if yes the eng is ok.
If your husband can not turn then yes it is seised and then the eng. would have to be be replaced or rebult .
Rember you can go with a good used eng and much cheaper than a rebult.

So if you need help finding one let me know .


Good luck to u hun pete