[MandyS9]

I’m so overwhelmed. Found out my vehicle was in 3 collisions and somehow it’s not reported. My friend has been a licensed mechanic for over 25 years and he is who informed me (while showing me) how the frame was damaged and painted many times. He said oil was leaking from the oil drain plug. Every time it rains, I know something will be broken. We had a good rain, now my vehicle is sputtering and tons of smoke coming out of the exhaust. I can’t accelerate, or if I’m at speeds if 55mph my engine starts to slow down. Because mine is a 2009, I cannot find any mechanic who is willing to even look at it. It could be a coincidence that this issue happened after a hard rain. I have no idea what I’m supposed to do. I have never heard of a certified dealership refusing service because it’s over 10 years old. I have a new oil drain plug, will try to replace it when I get home. Oh and the check engine light blinks when it starts to do this. It’s happened twice now and I have it parked, not wanting to damage anything. Any advice? I’m a mom of 4 and being a “little female” (hopefully that’s not offensive to anyone. I’m 5 feet 2 and 100 pounds) I simply don’t have the strength of a man and doing all this work myself is very discouraging. Now that I’m being turned away because my vehicle is over 10 years old, I’m just ready to cry. It’s financed, I’m upside down and can’t afford to pay a note for a new vehicle in addition to my current note.

 

[rbarrios]

Im wondering if theyre refusing to work on it because its been in accidents?

Also, when the check engine light flashes, it means stop driving the vehicle as damage could be occuring to the emissions system.

 

[MandyS9]

Im wondering if theyre refusing to work on it because its been in accidents?

Also, when the check engine light flashes, it means stop driving the vehicle as damage could be occuring to the emissions system.

Both my catalytic converters need to be replaced. I haven’t experienced any symptoms that they are blocked, but I do have codes P0420 and P0430.
There is no accidents reported. It’s not on the title history and the seller denied it was ever in an accident. After many YouTube videos, I was suspicious that the title was wiped and it had been in an accident, but my friend confirmed it definitely has been in at least 3. Or at least the back drivers side was hit, it appears it was t-boned on the passenger side and the driver front was smashed in. In addition to being a certified mechanic (for Nissan) he also does body work.

 

[MandyS9]

UPDATE
I hooked up an OBDII and to my surprise, I got P0300, P0449, P0089, P0305, P0303, P0301, P0420, P0430.

I am going to call the company I have my limited warranty with and tell them to come get it and do whatever, then going to look at buying a new vehicle. It’s so heartbreaking because my credit isn’t the best (700) and despite all the issues, I really did love the Enclave. But I’ll never be able to afford a new one. The one who sold it to me, I pray this eats his conscience knowing he destroyed my trust and made my car buying experience a nightmare. He’s been reported to every agency I could find. I know he has done this to multiple people after me. Hopefully he gets shut down. The good thing is I went from only knowing how to change the bare minimum of things on a vehicle and not knowing how to really inspect a vehicle before purchasing to someone who is confident and armed with knowledge that I’m positive I’ll never get scammed again. Expensive lesson, but having 4 kids (1 gets her license in less than a month), I needed to learn how to fully inspect a vehicle to ensure that I don’t buy them something that will leave them on the side of the road.

 

[Alvenir]

Sorry you had such a bad experience, Mandy. Guys like that deserve a physical reminder of why you don't do those things to people. Hopefully, at least one of the agencies you contacted will do something, and if so, we'd like to hear about it. I hope you have better luck with your next vehicle.

 

[rbarrios]

With that P0089.. i believe that is for a malfunctioning high pressure fuel pump.
I had 3 codes one being that one.
One of the others pointed to a leaky injector.
I figured the pump was causing the other 2.
Ii replaced the pump.... and 4,000 miles later, no more check engine light.
I wonder if your 0089 is leading to the misfire codes.

 

[MandyS9]

Sorry you had such a bad experience, Mandy. Guys like that deserve a physical reminder of why you don't do those things to people. Hopefully, at least one of the agencies you contacted will do something, and if so, we'd like to hear about it. I hope you have better luck with your next vehicle.

I do agree with you. I leave reviews every place possible. People have contacted me asking what came of it because he did it to them as well. I have copies of every document that proves what he did, I have receipts for everything I’ve had to replace or modified (adding LED lights, simple stuff), I even have all proof of just how damaged it is. Because I will never put someone in the position I’m in. I may lose more money, but I will always maintain my integrity. I come from a small town where a handshake is your word, you never go back on it. So it was heartbreaking to learn people can be like this. But with every bad situation, there is a lesson. I feel the knowledge I’ve gained is priceless.

 

[MandyS9]

With that P0089.. i believe that is for a malfunctioning high pressure fuel pump.
I had 3 codes one being that one.
One of the others pointed to a leaky injector.
I figured the pump was causing the other 2.
Ii replaced the pump.... and 4,000 miles later, no more check engine light.
I wonder if your 0089 is leading to the misfire codes.

I’m so happy yours was fixed. I think because of the amount of damage that was caused from it being in 3 accidents makes this one a bit different. Because of how many electrical issues happen when it rains, this one really should be junked. As soon as it is running perfectly, it will rain and something else will malfunction. I’m not financially prepared to keep up with it all. I’m praying that I’ll get approved for enough to get another vehicle. Hopefully my warranty covers all the things that are needing repaired just for me to trade it in. But I’m going to stick around this forum until I own a different vehicle.

 

[rbarrios]

For reference, the codes I got were
P0087- Fuel rail pressure low.
P0089- Fuel pump regulator 1 performance.
P02A9- injector leaking.

A new pump cleared all codes.

 

[JayS]

Sorry for your situation but looking at your post history it’s definitely time to dump it and move on. Any money you put it at at this point is just digging the hole deeper.

 

[MandyS9]

I called another Buick dealership. They first claimed GM stops manufacturing parts for vehicles over 10 years old so they can’t work on it. I told her “how odd. I brought my vehicle in there for maintenance in June”. Then she claimed they don’t accept my warranty. I told her I just spoke to them and they said as long as they are certified, they will pay. She gave this man the phone and he chews me out like a dog. Not knowing what issues I’m having, he states “you declined changing out your catalytic converter from us. So whatever is wrong is because you failed to let us change it”. When he told me $3,000, I declined because we were unsure if we would file a lawsuit against the dealer we bought it from, plus I feel that buying aftermarket ones and doing it ourselves would suffice since it’s not like sensors or something that fragile. He had no idea what my vehicle is doing, he has no idea if my cats were changed, he just bashed and blamed me. I’m so over all of this. I’m ready to move on.

 

[MandyS9]

Well, it’s official. 2 mechanics came to my house and both confirmed it’s done. Blown head gasket.

 

[tmb0eser]

Mandy... where are you located? How much do you owe on the loan?

 

[tmb0eser]

Do you even still have the enclave? Please let me know, Thanks

 

[MandyS9]

Do you even still have the enclave? Please let me know, Thanks

I’m sorry I’m just seeing this. As of now, I still have if. I owe $6,764! I’m about to start making double payments so I can pay it off. I’m down in Louisiana

 

[tmb0eser]

I just finished up my mom's enclave. Runs great! Saved her $4k on a head job and timing set doing it myself for $800.

 

[MandyS9]

I’d be lying if I said I don’t miss driving mine. They really are very nice, spacious, it never gave me issues other than a few things that could have been fixed. Some things I fixed myself. Upgraded lights and stuff. Despite its age, it’s still a beautiful SUV. As soon as I survive paying for my teens prom and class ring, I’m paying it off.
It’s amazing you were able to fix it yourself. I know very minimal, always willing to learn, but I don’t have hope for this one. I accept my loss

 

[tmb0eser]

I think buick should buy it from you and trade up for the inconvenience caused by poorly trained mechanics.