2002 with exhaust leak, video and more details below

[skorpiius]

What kind of financial pain would you guess I'd be in to get a shop to repair this?
What's interesting is if you rev the engine the sound mostly goes away

Video
youtu.be/vhBnapsoDjU

I can potentially get this for $1200-1500 usd, has 95k miles on it. Body is mint. Interior ok, most power door/windows don't work, instrument cluster is messed. Oil pan is slick. 18 yr old tires, and this exhaust leak
Oh and air compressor and evap purge valve codes. 
Thoughts? 180k+ miles ones in average shape get listed here for $3k usd

[ljhermsen]

Sounds like a lot of problems like the current owner refused to make any repairs or put any money into it. Unless you're really mechanically inclined on some of these repairs, you may end pulling a lot of hair out of your head in the end.

A 180k mile Aurora in good condition for $3K might end up being a less stressful decision than this with all the unknowns. Maybe take it to a mechanic first and get an opinion/estimate. Good luck with your decision. Wish you the best.

[skorpiius]

Thanks. I am mechanically inclined for non-engine, non-exhaust work (sensors, brakes, electrical items, etc, no problem)
Hence my debate about whether I'm willing to spend my time or alternately pay for someone else.
My biggest concern is if the exhaust leak, which is what I assume that sound, is a prohibitively expensive engine-out or a more normal exhaust job.

[Paulaurora]

I think i had that too my shop just welded together i think its be a hole where the bend is going but i can be wrong. But thats where i had it on my intrigue and almost same spot on Aurora with same engine.

[skorpiius]

Aug 23, 2023 15:40:22 GMT -6 Paulaurora said:

I think i had that too my shop just welded together i think its be a hole where the bend is going but i can be wrong. But thats where i had it on my intrigue and almost same spot on Aurora with same engine.

Well I guess I get to find out, it turns out I bought the car without knowing!



Backstory: Auction car, no bids, minimum bid of $825, reserve of $1650 (this is all USD)

I bid $25 over minimum, post auction seller offers $1300, I counter with $1100 (this all through the auction house) and then I never heard back, so I thought maybe I should offer more but before I do I started this thread.

Well I called today and found out they accepted my counter but the auction house forgot to call me.

So now the fun begins

[ljhermsen]

Congrats! Feel free to ask questions. Many of us have been through many of your required repairs.

[skorpiius]

Thanks. First order of business is to get a leak down test and see what is required to fix the exhaust leak. If none of that brings scary news then mechanical inspection and new tires. Then interior detail (I think this car lived on a farm..). Then I'll probably tackle the interior electrical failures myself. 

[skorpiius]

So it looks like the exhaust leak is a cracked manifold. Seems there's also no replacement parts available (v6). Any other options? Seems like Aurora ownership saga may be done already.

[ljhermsen]

I hope I can help somehow. I went to Wholesale GMC Parts Online and search for your car's manifold. I did get what I think is the correct part number. You could have a GM dealer verify number and have them do a locate to see if there are any of these manifolds sitting at a dealer. If they do, they will OFTEN discount the part to get it off their shelf. Good Luck #1

I also checked on Car-Part.com. Fill in the required information and YOUR zip code. You can see the scrap yards closest to you and maybe get it there or have someone ship it. Good Luck #2

[RCA1186]

Also the 3.5 is shared with the intrigue, I would guess they share the same manifold, shouldn't be HORRIBLE to find 2nd hand at a salvage yard or ebay etc.

[Marc]

There is a very large yard in Yonkers,NY. www.sawmillautoparts.com/ I think that they can ship all over the US & Canada.

[ljhermsen]

skorpiius,

As you will see, there are many members on here willing to help others. Many of us are 'Been There, Done That' type of owners.

Good luck with the manifold and your new purchase.

[skorpiius]

Sept 19, 2023 17:51:03 GMT -6 ljhermsen said:

I hope I can help somehow. I went to Wholesale GMC Parts Online and search for your car's manifold. I did get what I think is the correct part number. You could have a GM dealer verify number and have them do a locate to see if there are any of these manifolds sitting at a dealer. If they do, they will OFTEN discount the part to get it off their shelf. Good Luck #1

I also checked on Car-Part.com. Fill in the required information and YOUR zip code. You can see the scrap yards closest to you and maybe get it there or have someone ship it. Good Luck #2

This is awesome, thank you so much!

[skorpiius]

Sept 20, 2023 6:31:18 GMT -6 RCA1186 said:

Also the 3.5 is shared with the intrigue, I would guess they share the same manifold, shouldn't be HORRIBLE to find 2nd hand at a salvage yard or ebay etc.

That's good info, I think the part # is different but maybe they're interchangeable anyway? That would make a huge difference since I assume the Intrigue was sold far more.

[skorpiius]

Sept 20, 2023 7:11:16 GMT -6 Marc said:

There is a very large yard in Yonkers,NY. www.sawmillautoparts.com/ I think that they can ship all over the US & Canada.

Thanks!

[skorpiius]

Sept 20, 2023 8:48:40 GMT -6 ljhermsen said:

skorpiius,

As you will see, there are many members on here willing to help others. Many of us are 'Been There, Done That' type of owners.

Good luck with the manifold and your new purchase.

I see that! thanks again. I think if I can get over this exhaust hump then I think I should be good.
most of the door locks/windows don't work and the tach and speedometer are wonky, but it sounds like there is a good chance those are comms bus corrosion and bad grounds most of the time, I will tackle those myself once the major stuff is done.
Also the steering is a bit 'crunchy' when I turn the wheel, not sure what that is. And it needs a new windshield.
Unfortunately I think the initial shop I took this to to inspect/repair was pretty lacking in their inspection quality. Now I'm $3000 usd into the car (purchase + new tires + valve cover gasket + 2 wheel bearings plus some other stuff) so I'm in that scary 'sunk cost fallacy' point where any more $$ and I will then feel like I must keep throwing $$ due to how much I've already spent. 

But that all said, if I can get this exhaust issue figured out then the car will then be fully drivable, and I can get the other stuff dealt with over the next 6 mos.

[ljhermsen]

The crunching or possibly binding type feeling may be the intermediate steering shaft. Original design was not good. Grease dried up and there was a binding feeling when turning the steering wheel. Not sure if that's your 'crunching' issue though.

[RCA1186]

Sept 21, 2023 18:00:07 GMT -6 skorpiius said:

Sept 20, 2023 6:31:18 GMT -6 RCA1186 said:

Also the 3.5 is shared with the intrigue, I would guess they share the same manifold, shouldn't be HORRIBLE to find 2nd hand at a salvage yard or ebay etc.

That's good info, I think the part # is different but maybe they're interchangeable anyway? That would make a huge difference since I assume the Intrigue was sold far more.

Yea don't quote me on that, but if a salvage yard is near by it might even be worth taking a look.

[skorpiius]

Do all Auroras have rain sensors? and if not, how does one determine if it does?
I'm assuming this means yes?


It seems the rain sensor model of windshield is obsolete/unavailable. There seems to be a quantity of non-rain sensor ones around.

I'm curious if you could just stick the sensor to a non-sensor windshield as long as it's below any tint.

[Marc]

The 2001 - 2003 4.0 has one as standard equipment. It'll be glued to the upper inside windshield, to the right of the rear view mirror. It's about 3" By 3", and 1" high.

[skorpiius]

Sept 22, 2023 10:30:34 GMT -6 Marc said:

The 2001 - 2003 4.0 has one as standard equipment. It'll be glued to the upper inside windshield, to the right of the rear view mirror. It's about 3" By 3", and 1" high.

I just updated my post with a photo, does that look like it?

[Marc]

No.

[Paulaurora]

Aurora using Pontiac Bonneville windshield thats what safelight put in for me about 2 years ago. There is other GM cars that used same shape windshield . Yes you need a special one otherwise the sensor wont work right ask me how i know?

[Paulaurora]

Yes if you see that box sensor like on your pic means its a rain sensor otherwise you wont even see that big of a mirror it be just reg type of mirror with no extra sensors. Not all aurora came with sensor i seen 2003 aurora with almost all options except no rain sensor and no memory option.

[skorpiius]

Sept 22, 2023 17:17:28 GMT -6 Paulaurora said:

Aurora using Pontiac Bonneville windshield thats what safelight put in for me about 2 years ago. There is other GM cars that used same shape windshield . Yes you need a special one otherwise the sensor wont work right ask me how i know?

Hmm a Bonneville windshield is interesting. You don't happen to still have a receipt or record that gave the specifics of the windshield do you? (like model # etc) I'm also curious what the difference is between the rain sensor and non sensor windshields. I can see my windshield has a spot marked for the sensor outlined by sort of a pattern of dots but unsure why you couldn't just affix it to a non sensor windshield. Hmmm.

[Paulaurora]

Its reflects the sensor light in a deferent way same as windshields with heads up displays and with out not same glass type.

[Paulaurora]

[skorpiius]

Sept 23, 2023 15:35:31 GMT -6 Paulaurora said:

Awesome, thanks

[skorpiius]

I just wanted to thank everyone for your help with this. In the end it took trying 3 mechanics before finding one who wanted to work on the exhaust manifold issue (actually they did not want to work on it but I convinced them too over their protests and said I was in no rush). 7 weeks later they called and said it was fixed, it turns out it was a blown EGR gasket plus broken bolts plus a rotted out exhaust and the manifold was actually fine. I'm in over the value of the car now but I don't care haha, I'm excited to drive it. Also to get the EGR gasket they had to buy a $200 gasket kit so now I have a bunch of gaskets.

Next up for repairs:
- instrument cluster (grounding?)
- power doors/windows (corroded canbus?)
- multi-cracked windshield (non-rain sense is available, rain-sense is not)
- steering column creaking
- engine air pump codes

How does the saying go, nothing more expensive than a cheap auction aurora? 

But I will sign off this thread and post any questions about those issues in separate ones.

In case anyone is morbidly curious how much underwater I'm in, after auction purchase, manifold repair, replacement of much of the exhaust, battery replacement, new front wheel bearings, 4 new all weather tires, alignment, and rear valve cover replacement my total  is now $6633 CAD which is ~$4850 USD. Oof.

[ljhermsen]

Get a Safelite quote for the windshield. I received one for a rainsense windshield a couple months ago - $430

The creaking steering is likely just a dried up intermediate steering shaft. The grease gets dried up and it binds when turning. You could remove it and try greasing it or install a replacement (the new and improved version)