11th Apr 2010, 22:01
Hello.
So I really really want to purchase a Reatta; there are at least 10 for sale in my area, which I am looking to purchase, I promise you I am.
Now for the part that may be helpful; my grandmother had a 1984 Cadillac Seville and it only had 94k miles on it when the back passenger door lock started to fail, and had to be locked by hand.
My grandma being the lady she is, of course took it to the dealership LOL. The "AKA sucker shop", and they told us that it was a chip error. After that, they said it's a chip that is causing the motherboard to crash, and soon the whole car would be on the fr-its and can't be replaced.
So is this likely to happen if I decide to get a Reatta?
8th May 2010, 14:37
I have a black 1989 Reatta with <>59k miles and it's in very very nice condition. I keep it garaged in the winter and only drive it once in awhile. In just 4 more years I can get "classic car" license plates. People are amazed at the condition of my car when I tell them it's 21 years old!
10th Nov 2010, 20:01
I bought my 1991 Reatta new. It now has 112,000 miles.
Great car. Good gas mileage. I love it, love it, love it, and plan to keep it and drive it because no other car I have seen or driven measures up.
I had the ignition switch and transmission replaced the first year under warranty. This year I replaced the master brake cylinder, water pump, and leaking seals. I believe that was caused from sitting in garage four years while I was ill.
The only repeated problem is the head lights lifting mechanism has been replaced twice on each side. Also the tape player and CD player don't work and the striping is faded.
If you are thinking of owning one, drive it and enjoy it.
7th Jan 2011, 14:56
My wife and I have two Rhetta's. Our 89 coupe now has 326,000 miles on it, and needs work done on the ABS brake system. It appear that we have found a source for a factory re-manufactured Teves brake system. The price tag for that is will be in the $2,000 range. Not bad, since the first system is still on the car. So are the original valve covers, which have never been removed. Great car, always fun to drive.
Our 91 convertible is even more fun to drive. It has 175,000 total miles on it, and both the engine and transmission were replaced less than 40,000 miles ago. I have not found anything that I can replace them with that would be any more fun to own. So, I guess we will keep them running.
Since we occasionally make long distance trips we have become friends with Mr. Hertz, Mr. Avis and the people at Enterprise.
23rd Jun 2011, 10:20
Hello.
I am the owner of a 1991 Reatta and cannot find a driver's side headlight motor. The headlights are in the up position and I would like to have the motor replaced so the lights are down when not in use as they should be.
Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. I have gone the route of searching online salvage yards with no results.
I am female and have no mechanical ability so "do it yourself"
is not a option. Thank You. email nobody5544@comcast.net.
26th Jul 2011, 21:27
I have a 89 Reatta, and my touch screen won't recognize when I touch it. All else is fabulous; 126k miles, great tires, if only I could get the screen to work. I am selling as it is my toy car. Any suggestions?
24th Sep 2011, 12:08
Many times, the headlight motor is working fine.
The problem is the soft metal headlight motor bellcrank, that lifts the headlight assembly.
You can buy steel ones that don't wear out from eBay sellers, or from Barney Eaton at http://www.reattaowner.com
Another common problem is inside the electric motor where the factory plastic rollers are deteriorated with time. There are (3) of them inside the motor. You can get durable Delrin bushings or aluminum ones off eBay sellers.
If you find someone who can change these parts, your headlights will be trouble-free for years.
24th Sep 2011, 12:13
Get yourself a Buick Service Manual off eBay.
It could be the CRT screen is okay, but the BCM (Body Control Module) is faulty.
Best to trouble-shoot the problem with the Service Manual to be sure.
Parts are readily available off eBay or from Jim Finn.
Jim Finn can be contacted at jfinn@cpinternet.com
Jim Finn is very reliable and sells only good parts, as I've purchased from him in the past and highly recommends his service.
18th Mar 2012, 16:31
Hello, my mother has had an 88 Reatta since 2001, and never had any real problems. It was totaled in 2010, and I found her an 89 Reatta as a replacement.
Unfortunately, randomly while driving the car, the CRT comes up with an engine control electrical malfunction. The code it throws is E013, which is an O2 sensor. Well the sensor has been replaced 3 times, and the last of which was done at Buick. It still does it. Do you have any ideas of what it could be?
I can be reached at JasonTexKline@gmail.com, and would greatly appreciate it if you could even point me in the right direction, because I'm lost on this one. Thank you.
18th Mar 2012, 23:53
I don't know if you still own the Reatta at the time of my response, but I came into possession of a 1989 coupe that had only 68k miles on it.
My problem lies with the CRT screen and the inconsistent readings I get. Sometimes it's on... then disappears... my gas gauge readings are off when I'm full... it shows the engine needing checking on fluids, but I've checked them all. So my six million dollar question... where do I go to get a new screen or have someone look at it, that won't charge me an arm or a leg?
Sincerely, Jerry Sinkey
530-368-1048
Newcastle, Calif. 95658.
13th May 2014, 23:12
You may have an actual problem with the "metal to metal" mechanism inside the door. I have a 1990 Reatta (that works fine), but my 1989 Riviera driver's side door won't lock or unlock using the buttons. I had both door actuators replaced, but my mechanic said that I need to replace the actual metal mechanical items inside that door. I am only having the non-opening/closing problem with the driver's door. If you can find a donor car or a parts yard that has the door, you may be able to get them to pull the part that you need. Good luck!
26th Jan 2010, 14:57
I own a 1989 Silver hardtop and it started running really rough, like a fuel filter or vacuum hose is bad. Can anyone suggest a mechanic in Southern California that knows how to work on it? The touch screen goes in and out also; I need to have it looked at. Suggestions. I live in Sylmar, CA, which is just north of Burbank and south of Santa Clarita, CA.
I also need some interior parts for it. In an earlier suggestion someone wrote that you could get the seats re-upholstered. Any ideas?