1987 BUICK ELECTRA

Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi

Symptoms: Clunk when shifting into drive or reverse, Excessive drivetrain movement felt through floor during acceleration, Vibration at idle in gear that disappears in park or neutral

Fix: Rear transmission mount becomes oil-soaked and separates internally. Replacement requires lifting transmission slightly with a jack. 1.5-2.0 hours labor. While you're under there, inspect the rubber lines to the trans cooler—they often weep at the same mileage.

Estimated cost: $180-320

Typical onset: 70,000-120,000 mi

Symptoms: ATF puddles under front of vehicle near radiator, Pink residue or crusty deposits on rubber cooler lines, Low transmission fluid without visible underbody leak, Transmission slipping or delayed engagement after fluid loss

Fix: Rubber cooler lines harden and crack where they connect to steel tubes at radiator and transmission. Often both lines need replacement simultaneously. Some techs replace with braided stainless kit to solve permanently. 2.0-3.0 hours labor depending on whether you replace just rubber sections or full hard-line routing.

Estimated cost: $250-500

Typical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi

Symptoms: Coolant seepage at front or rear of intake manifold, Slow coolant loss without external drips on ground, Rough idle or misfire when coolant intrudes into cylinders, White residue or crusty buildup on lower intake plenum

Fix: The 3.8L suffers from lower intake manifold gasket deterioration—composite gaskets fail and allow coolant into the valley. Upper plenum removal is required for access. 4.5-6.0 hours labor. Replace upper gaskets, thermostat, and coolant while you're in there. Check for warped mating surfaces with straightedge.

Estimated cost: $650-1,100

Typical onset: 90,000-140,000 mi

Symptoms: Check engine light with code 39 (TCC circuit), Shudder or bucking sensation at 40-50 mph under light throttle, Poor fuel economy as lockup stops functioning, Transmission shifts fine but won't lock converter in 4th gear

Fix: TCC solenoid inside transmission pan fails or connector corrodes. Drop pan, replace solenoid, new filter and fluid. Sometimes external wiring harness connector at transmission is corroded—clean and apply dielectric grease. 2.5-3.5 hours labor including fluid and filter service.

Estimated cost: $350-600

Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi

Symptoms: Extended cranking before engine starts (3-5 seconds), Intermittent no-start condition, especially when hot, Engine dies immediately after starting then restarts fine, Fuel pump doesn't prime when key turned to 'on' position

Fix: These cars use an oil pressure switch as a backup fuel pump relay trigger. When the switch fails, pump runs only during cranking. Replace both the main fuel pump relay (behind glove box or on firewall) and oil pressure sender. Check wiring connector corrosion. 1.5 hours labor total.

Estimated cost: $180-300

Typical onset: 100,000+ mi

Symptoms: Oil drips from bellhousing area onto crossmember, Oil accumulation on back of oil pan and front of transmission, Slow but steady oil consumption (1 quart per 1,500-2,000 miles)

Fix: Early '87 production used two-piece rope rear main seal that eventually weeps. Later production switched to one-piece neoprene. Repair requires transmission removal. If you're doing this, replace rear trans mount, pan gasket, and inspect flex plate for cracks. 8-10 hours labor as trans-out job.

Estimated cost: $900-1,400

Symptoms: Rough idle, high idle, or stalling when cold (carbureted models), Hard starting requiring multiple attempts (TBI models), Black smoke or fuel smell from tailpipe, Surging at highway speeds or poor acceleration

Fix: The 3.0L Buick V6 came with either Rochester E2SE carburetor or primitive TBI depending on production date. Carb models need frequent rebuilds due to degraded rubber components; TBI models suffer from injector clogging and pressure regulator leaks. Carb rebuild 3-4 hours, TBI injector replacement 1.5-2 hours. Consider TBI swap if carbureted.

Estimated cost: $400-750