The Buick LeSabre has been a daily driver for many and existed for 8 generations. This post and video reviews the most common 2000 to 2005 Buick LeSabre problems, covering typical symptoms and fixes of the 8th and final generation.
Top 5 8th Gen Buick LeSabre Problems (2000 to 2005)
1. Bad Intake Gasket
Symptoms of a Bad Intake Gasket
- Leaking oil from the intake
- Leaking coolant from the intake
Causes of Leaking Intake Gasket
The intake consists of the intake plenum or upper intake and the lower intake, and the gasket can wear and leak coolant or oil. Sometimes these fluids can mix internally. The intake manifold plenum might crack, and the coolant tubes are also known to break. The valve cover gasket is known to leak.
How to Fix a Bad Intake Gasket
Remove the upper intake manifold to replace the intake gasket. Look where coolant travels through the plenum for cracking. If it’s cracked, replace the upper intake manifold plenum. Replace the coolant tubes at the same time as the intake gasket. One of the elbows is located down below the tensioner, so you’ll want to take the extra time to remove the tensioner and replace that too.
The valve cover gaskets are also known to leak, so inspect those and replace them at the same time.
2. Pressure Control Solenoid Failure
Symptoms of a Bad Pressure Control Solenoid
- Harsh shifting
Causes of a Faulty Pressure Control Solenoid
The pressure control solenoid is located inside the transmission and is known to fail and cause shifting problems on the 8th gen Buick LeSabre.
How to Fix a Pressure Control Solenoid
This job does not require removing the entire transmission but it is a detailed repair. Steps include draining the transmission fluid, removing the side cover, and removing the solenoid.
3. Rear Air Ride Shocks Failing
Symptoms of Faulty Rear Air Ride Shocks
- Spongy or bouncy ride
Causes of Bad Rear Air Ride Shocks
The air ride shocks are known to fail in the 2000 to 2005 Buick LeSabre, and this can make your drive feel spongy or bouncy.
How to Fix Broken Rear Air Ride Shocks
The car in this example converted to coil-over shocks. The air ride shocks are expensive and can fail quickly, and converting them instead of replacing might fix this problem long-term.
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4. Front Wheel Bearings Failing
Symptoms of Defective Front Wheel Bearings
- Growling noise while driving that amplifies when turning
Causes of Broken Front Wheel Bearings
The wheel bearing is known to wear out, and when it does it makes a grinding sound that can be heard when driving or turning.
How to Fix Bad Front Wheel Bearings
To inspect the front wheel bearings, raise the front of the car with a jack and jack stands. Grab the wheel at the top and bottom and shake it, feeling for looseness. Grab the coil spring, spin the tire, and feel for vibrations. If there are vibrations in the coil spring, it’s likely from a bad wheel bearing and it’ll need replacing.
5. Blower Motor Problems
Symptoms of Blower Motor Problems in the 8th Gen LeSabre
- Heat isn’t as hot
- No air felt from the vents unless the fan settings are on high
Causes of Blower Motor Issues
The blower motor can fail, and this will cause an issue with the fan settings. Since the blower motor blows air through the vents, if it’s defective, less air will be pushed into the cabin and it won’t be as warm when the fan is turned on.
How to Fix a Failing Blower Motor
The blower motor is located underneath the glove box. Remove the cover underneath the glove box to access it. If it’s not working, lightly tapping it with a hammer might temporarily fix it. This isn’t a long-term fix, so if it’s defective it’ll need to be replaced. We recommended replacing the blower motor resistor at the same time.
8th Generation Buick LeSabre Years
- 2000 Buick LeSabre
- 2001 Buick LeSabre
- 2002 Buick LeSabre
- 2003 Buick LeSabre
- 2004 Buick LeSabre
- 2005 Buick LeSabre
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Got a 05 Buick LeSabre 3.8
The voltage is at 14.9 I changed alternator and no charge