1996 Chevrolet Tahoe Engine

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND BEGAN FLASHING. THERE WAS SMOKE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. AFTER OPENING THE HOOD, THE SMOKE CONTINUED TO MULTIPY; HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO FIRE PRESENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT PROVIDE MORE DETAILS AFTER RECEIVING A COPY OF THE POLICE REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 168,000.

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR 9 HOURS WITH THE ENGINE OFF BEFORE THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THE FIRE STARTED FROM THE ENGINE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT USUAL SPEED OF 35 MPH,DOWN A STEEP HILL MY WIFE WAS TERRIFIED WHEN SUDDENLY THE ENGINE FAILED, STEERING AND BRAKING BECAME DIFFICULT AND, IN HER MIND, NOTHING WAS WORKING. SHE MISSED A NUMBER OF CARS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL AND PULLED INTO A VACANT GAS STATION. THE ENGINE STARTED FOR ME AFTER SHE CALLED ME ON HER CELL PHONE AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAD HAPPENED BUT THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME DRIVING AND I UNDERSTOOD THE STRESS THAT SHE ENDURED. THE CHEVY AGENCY(CHASE MOTORS IN MIDDLEBORO MASS WAS NICE AND CURTIOUS AND STATED THAT THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN FIXED AT NO COAST TO US. THE IDENTICAL THING HAPPENED AGAIN ? TIME BETWEEN AND AGAIN THE CHASE CHEVY REPLACED THE PART AND STATED THAT THIS HAD BEEN FIXED AND WOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN AND MY WIFE STATES THAT SHE WILL NEVER DRIVE THE CAR AGAIN. IN TALKING TO A REPRESENTATIVE AT GMC HE STATED THAT ALTHOUGH THAT WAS DANGEROUS AT 40 MPH TO HAPPEN THEY DID NOT CONSIDER THAT A SAFETY ISSUE

EXHAUST Y PIPE SHEARED OFF, COMMON IN THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. VERY EXPENSIVE BECAUSE PARTS INCLUDE Y PIPE TWO CATALLETIC CONVERTERS AND THREE O2 SENSORS.*AK

INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKS CAN LEAD TO ANY NUMBER OF VERY SERIOUS, AND EXPENSIVE, PROBLEMS. WHILE THE PART ITSELF ISN'T COSTLY, THE LABOR TO REPAIR IT IS VERY INTENSIVE, AND HAS BEEN QUOTED AROUND $800 USD (GIVE OR TAKE A COUPLE HUNDRED DEPENDING ON THE VEHICLE). THIS IS IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER COSTLY PROBLEM(S) THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK MAY HAVE PRODUCED. WE ARE DEMANDING ACCOUNTABILITY FROM GENERAL MOTORS. A NATIONWIDE BACKORDER SHOULD BE REASON ENOUGH FOR GM TO ASSEMBLE A RECALL. WE CAN ONLY HOPE THAT THE WORLD'S LARGEST VEHICLE MANUFACTURER WHO HAS BEEN THE WORLD'S AUTOMOTIVE SALES LEADER SINCE 1931 WILL STAND UP AND CLAIM RESPONSIBILITY FOR A PROBLEM THAT IS SO PREVALENT AMONG THEIR VEHICLES. RECALLS SHOULD BE MANDATED IN ALL CASES OF INCOMPETENCE, NOT SOLELY WHEN IT AFFECTS PUBLIC SAFETY. WHILE SOME OF US HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM OCCUR WITHIN OUR WARRANTY, THERE ARE MANY OTHERS OF US THAT HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR THESE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS JUST AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRES. BECAUSE GM HAS REFUSED TO ADMIT LIABILITY ON THIS ISSUE, WE FEEL THAT THIS WILL BE A REPETITIVE PROBLEM. ONCE THIS GASKET HAS BEEN REPLACED, AND CUSTOMERS POCKETS DRAINED, GM SERVICE CENTERS EVERYWHERE CAN EXPECT TO SEE CONSUMERS RETURNING, FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM THAT HASN'T BEEN RECTIFIED DUE TO A DESIGNING FLAW ON GM'S PART. THIS ERROR SHOULD HAVE BEEN CORRECTED, NOT THE FIRST TIME IN FOR SERVICE, BUT BEFORE ENTERING MASS PRODUCTION IN MILLIONS OF VEHICLES. CAN ONE PRESUME THIS IS ONE WAY OF KEEPING GENERAL MOTORS PATRONS COMING BACK TIME AFTER TIME? *NLM

ENGINE STALLED TWICE IN 2 DAYS. PRIOR TO STALL, THE CLOCK WAS INOP AND THE RADIO WENT BLANK. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING THE RPMS WOULD DROP TO ZERO, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL WITHOUT INDICATIONS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED/ SHUT DOWN WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.*AK

ENGINE FAILED.

ENGINE FAILURE, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

MUFFLER FAILED.

OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED.

EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE FAILED.

VALVE SEAL AND VALVE FAILED.

WATER PUMP BRACKET INSTALLED WRONG AT FACTORY, CAUSING SERPENTINE BELT TO WEAR THROUGH/BREAK, AS WELL AS ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND RADIATOR TO OVERFLOW. *DH