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JimD

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GM warns Buick, Pontiac owners that cars can catch fire

Company recalls 1997-2003 models

By TOM KRISHER

AP Auto Writer

Published on: 03/14/08

DETROIT — General Motors Corp. is recalling 207,542 Buick Regal and Pontiac

Grand Prix sedans over a risk they could catch fire, and warned their owners not

to park the cars in garages until they are fixed.

The automaker said Friday it is recalling the 1997-2003 Buick Regal GS and Grand

Prix GDP models with 3.8-liter supercharged V-6 engines.

During hard braking, oil can leak from the engine onto the exhaust manifold, and

fires can start if the oil gets hot enough, the National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration said on its Web site.

GM spokeswoman Carolyn Markey said the problem has caused 267 vehicle fires and

six injuries, five of them minor and one moderate. It also has caused 17 fires

in structures, GM said.

The NHTSA said that if the exhaust manifold is hot enough and the oil gets below

a heat shield, "it may ignite into a small flame and in some cases fire may

spread to the plastic spark plug wire channel."

Markey said GM sent letters to the owners on Thursday telling them the vehicles

are safe to drive, but they should not be parked in garages or carports until

the problem is repaired.

The automaker is working with suppliers to get the parts to fix the problem, and

owners will be notified as soon as the parts are available, Markey said. She did

not know how long it would take to get the parts but said it would be soon.

If owners smell burning, they should take their car to a dealership for

inspection, she said.

"Consumers can always can go to their dealership if they do smell something and

are concerned," she said.

They also should run premium 91 octane fuel, which is recommended for the cars,

she said.

"Lower octane fuel increases under-hood temperatures during operation," Markey

said.

Markey said there are "very, very low incidences of vehicles actually catching

fire while driving."

On the Net:

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: http://www.nhtsa.gov

General Motors Corp.: http://www.gm.com

Jim

Drive your car.

Use your cell phone.

CHOOSE ONE !

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Yup, I heard some of this on the way home tonight. I wonderd why my 98 Riv with the 3.8 SC motor wouldn't have the same issues. I'll have to look into this more. Hopefully I won't have to worry about this anyway, I'm still on the search for my next Eldorado or STS! I have had zero oil leakage from my Riv though... I have to say it is one of the best running, trouble free cars I have ever owned. I probably just jinxed myself!

'09 Cadillac CTS-4 3.6 direct injection, 128 K mi.
'15 Chevy Tahoe LTZ, 5.3i V8, 125 K mi
'70 Firebird Formula 400, Bored+.04, RAIII heads, M21 4spd., in-process restoration!

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Yup, I heard some of this on the way home tonight. I wonderd why my 98 Riv with the 3.8 SC motor wouldn't have the same issues. I'll have to look into this more. Hopefully I won't have to worry about this anyway, I'm still on the search for my next Eldorado or STS! I have had zero oil leakage from my Riv though... I have to say it is one of the best running, trouble free cars I have ever owned. I probably just jinxed myself!

I wish my Caddy was included, it drips oil on the manifold and stinks! My 96 Regal didn't use much oil at all! Boy do I miss it!

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