Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Options
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
My uncle has a '98 Buick Park Ave Ultra with the 3800 & charger. It is a much superior engine. alot smoother & quieter.
to break.
First, please be aware that the LTZ is what makes this Lumina a great car for me. With the LTZ option package you get four wheel anti-lock brakes, the sport suspension package, and the 3800 Series II V6 engine, the same engine that is standard in the new Bonneville and Monte Carlo SS. And, if you shop around a bit, you don't have to pay much more than you would for a standard Lumina.
Second, the Lumina finishes as a "best pick" for safety in the Insurance Institute for Highway safety crash tests.
Third, it looks like the "Lumina" namplate has graced two very different cars during the 1990's. From my research, it looks like the early 90's vehicles had some problems, the redesigned 1995 Luminas got better, and it seems the reliability ratings got much better within the past two years. Please do your own research. I did way too much to be able to quote exact sources now.
Fourth, this car is fun to drive! I holds the road *very* well for a larger sedan. Road noise is there but not annoying. And, the 3800 V6 provides the feeling that you have a lot of power at your disposal. (And no one can tell because the LTZ styling is so subtle.)
Fifth, the visibility one experiences from the driver's view point, in my opinion, is superior to many modern sedans. Some of the very round new sedans make it difficult to see the front of your car and the corners. Parking becomes a guessing game of how close your car really is to the next nearest car or wall. At least with the Lumina you can look out over most of the front of the vehicle.
The only minor annoyance I have experienced is that the gas guage is all over the place. When I am driving up hill, you "gain" a lot of gas, the opposite happens when I drive down hill. When I last filled the tank the guage read one-quarter full, but I only pumped a half tank of gas to get it to read full.
100 for example, you are probably going 110.
"used" tranny has sloppy shifts in mid-rpms, firm shifts at lower rpms ( under 3k) and at full throttle, what i call "whiplash" shifting- whole car bucks... old tranny acted exact same way... tranny seems to get confused and rpms tend to hang on freeway after i let off gas. they installed a new flywheel, and said " check tranny for slippage" on top of reciept... heh this car just has to last me til i get a newer Ford ;-)
thanks for any input
2. When I'm driving on the road about 45 and up and I'm cruising for a while when it's raining and push on the brake, it will go to the floor and feel real "spongy". Has anyone else noticed this or should I take it to the dealership. But don't forget, it only happens when it rains.
Another thing is: When it's cold out side and I'm backing out of my house for the first time in the morning, the car feels "loose". As in, i'm hearing a rattling in the front end of the floor board like the struts are shaking around when I drive over bumps.
These are just annoying and wondering if I should take it to the dealer to have it fixed. Thanks everyone!
Buck
I own a 1990 lumina 3.1 V6, 4 door sedan. I must say for my first car it is the best. I have had no major problems with my car so far. Its been three years and only the power steering went out, and cost me 150 dollars. I believe that luminas are the best all around, and i will be driving mine for many years.
I thought my shock absorbers are failing or maybe the joints. I will probably not worry about it since it seems to be common in the cold weather.
After replacing the brake pads, I still don't feel any different from that before when I brake. It seems not be possible this car (in very good condition) had just run for 22K miles need brake pads replaced. Did inspector cheat me?
From everything I've been reading previously, we just bought a great car. Am I correct in my assumption?
I hope so because it has to last us until we get rid of his ex-wife and kids in another 5 1/2 years. Ha!
I am in need of a car. I have none! A choir member is selling a chevy lumina '91 minivan with 150,000 on it for $3,000. I'm going to have someone take a look at it, but want to know what others have found. She says its been a great car, they just want a new one. However, another friend of mine says they had a van like this and HATED it.
We need feed back quick because we need to get SOME car quick we have to small kids!
Is this an issue on a 1996 Chevy Lumina ???
in the fuel tank can take abuse by letting the
level go low as in my 92 Euro which I allow all the time. Keep in mind the fuel " cools " the
pump. Keep your fuel filter refreshed as well to
avoid problems.( response to " brewster3, #132)
like to share my experience with the vehicle.
First let me say that once all the " Cheap Parts"
are chased out of the car it does hold its' own
well and is quite worthy. What are " Cheap
Parts"? ...let me provide a rundown:
Struts, done at 50k. These are at the back and
began to leak way before that.
Brakes,...chronic with GM10 platforms. At the
earliest oppertunity replaced with brass mount
bolts and stainless steel sleeves ( sliders ) and
routinely compress them with a woodworking
clamp to ensure they are not seized. 40k is
asking a lot from these brakes, replaced rotors
and all pads at this point.
Tires done at 50k. At 50% tread depth they are
dangerous . Aquaplaning and no sidewall left. This
" Cheap Part " came from Michelin bearing the
" TPC 1086 " specification moulded into the
sidewall which is GM's spec for " make the
part CHEAP !Ignition Coils (3) & Spark control
module. These parts were toast at 90k. OK,
so I should have flipped the car, but didn't.
$65 a pop and there are 3 of them ( coils ) and
1 module at $210, but are quality units from Bosch
or Lucas sold by NAPA assocciates.
O-ring, for the stub that plugs the old distributor
opening. I think it is a $0.10 piece but another
"Cheap Part" for the General. Since at about this
mileage began losing 2 qts./mo. from a shrunken
brittle o-ring which took ½ a day to R & R.
Water pump, alternator ( diode trio ) went at
just over 100k, and shortly after the bypass tube
for coolant. I could go on but I'll stop leaving a
tip. In the front suspension there exists a part
known as a " bearing plate" or the bottom land
of the coil spring. To keep it from seizing drill a
1/8 hole to get the nozzle extension for a can of
lubricant to go in sideways, and load the sucker up.
Free up the bearing plate or it will wreak havoc
on suspension components. Possible breaking the
spring. ( all figures in U.S. $ and miles driven )
I'm a CANNUCK who can be reached at:
somokle@netcom.ca.
Some people out there DO have problems with Lumina's. I personally don't have any problems with them at all considering all of the problems that other people have had.
I said it already and I'll say it again. I wish I had never gotten rid of the 91.
Buck
Luminas are still being made for 2000, but fleets only. You may contact a dealer's fleet manager to get one.
It is obviously something they did.
I own a 2000 Impala LS (Bought 2/2000) with 1200 miles on the clock. So far no problems and the car is just fantastic!.
It is a totally different car from Lumina.
And I would get the 3.8L because frankly I think the 3.1L is more reliable than the 3.4L even though less powerful. Most of the Lumina troubles in this forum have been because of the 3.4L engine.
Now the correction...The current OHV 3.4L engine on the base Impala has nothing to do with the old 3.4L DOHC Lumina engine of the early to mid 1990's. The current 3.4L OHV V-6 engine comes straight from the Venture/Silloutte/TransPort/Sintra (Opel version)
minivans. True the old 3.4L DOHC was a reliability nightmare and GM no longer produces that engine.
And.. I agree with you I take the 3800 Series II (Normal and Supercharged) over any other V-6!engine...anyday
This Lumina is like a rock.
According to the engine book I got it said its on the top left back of engine and that there is one bolt holding it in place. Also the oil pump has a o ring on it and belive thats where the oil is coming from since I clean the engine and other oil can be seen.
Has anyone had this problem and what did it cost to fix??? Or can this be fixed at home????