1991 CHEVROLET CAPRICE

Typical onset: 80,000-150,000 mi

Symptoms: Pink or strawberry-milkshake colored fluid in radiator or transmission, Transmission slipping or refusing to shift, Overheating transmission, Sudden loss of forward gears

Fix: Factory cooler lines rust through where they connect at radiator, cross-contaminating coolant and ATF. Destroys 700-R4/4L60 internals within days. Requires transmission rebuild (8-12 hours) plus radiator flush, new cooler lines, and external cooler installation to prevent repeat. Many shops won't warranty a rebuild without adding external cooler.

Estimated cost: $1,800-3,200

Typical onset: 60,000-90,000 mi

Symptoms: No-start condition with crank but no fire, Severe misfiring and stumbling, Stalling when wet or humid, Check engine light with multiple misfire codes

Fix: The optical distributor sits low behind water pump and gets moisture intrusion or bearing failure. Requires water pump removal to access (design flaw). Budget 6-8 hours labor for optispark replacement, and always replace water pump while you're in there since it's 80% of the labor anyway. Use vented aftermarket unit, not OEM.

Estimated cost: $800-1,400

Typical onset: 100,000-180,000 mi

Symptoms: Coolant weeping from intake valley or front/rear rails, Slight overheating or coolant loss with no external leak, White smoke at startup, Rough idle or misfire if coolant enters cylinders

Fix: The composite intake gaskets deteriorate and leak coolant into valley or externally. Not catastrophic but gets worse. Intake removal on TBI engines is straightforward: 4-6 hours for gasket set, new coolant, and valve cover gaskets while you're there. Use Fel-Pro printed metal gaskets, not OEM paper.

Estimated cost: $450-850

Typical onset: 90,000-140,000 mi

Symptoms: Clunking over bumps from rear, Rear axle feels loose or wandering, Uneven rear tire wear, Rear end hops or skips during hard braking

Fix: The rubber trailing arm bushings rot out, allowing rear axle movement. Shows up on NHTSA recalls for this generation. Replacement requires pressing out old bushings and installing polyurethane or rubber replacements. Figure 3-4 hours labor for both sides. Alignment mandatory after.

Estimated cost: $400-700

Typical onset: 120,000-180,000 mi

Symptoms: No-start with crank, no fuel pressure, Stalling at operating temperature, Surging or hesitation under load, Whining noise from fuel tank before failure

Fix: The in-tank pump eventually quits, usually after years of running on low fuel (kills pump life). Tank must be dropped: 2-3 hours labor. Replace pump, strainer, and fuel filter together. Not difficult but time-consuming on the B-body because of exhaust routing and tank straps.

Estimated cost: $350-600

Typical onset: 100,000+ mi

Symptoms: Power steering fluid puddles under front of engine, Groaning or whining when turning, Intermittent heavy steering effort, Burning smell from fluid on exhaust

Fix: High-pressure hose crimp fittings corrode and weep, pump seals leak. The pump itself is bulletproof but seals age out. Hose replacement is 0.5 hour, pump is 1.5-2 hours. Not a breakdown risk but messy and murders belts if ignored. Flush system when replacing pump.

Estimated cost: $250-500

Symptoms: Body-to-frame clunking over bumps, Doors misaligning or hard to close, Visible rust perforation at rocker panels or rear frame rails, Body sag or lean at one corner

Fix: The rubber body mounts deteriorate and the frame rusts at rear trailing arm brackets or outriggers in salt states. Body mount replacement is straightforward (lift body, swap mounts, 4-6 hours for all), but frame rust is structural and expensive to repair properly. Inspect thoroughly before purchase.

Estimated cost: $400-900 for mounts; $2,000+ for frame welding