2004 Chevrolet Tahoe Engine

THE GM 5.3L BUILT BETWEEN 2002 AND 2006 USING CASTEK CORPORATION ENGINE HEADS WERE INCORRECTLY BUILT PER GM AND CASTEK. THE HEADS LEAK ENGINE COOLANT INTO THE COMBUSTION CHAMBERS AND BURNS OFF CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. GM HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL BULLETIN REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND REQUESTS THE HEADS BE CHANGED OUT BUT AT THE CLIENTS EXPENSE. WITH THE LOSS OF COOLANT AND INEVITABLE ENGINE DAMAGE THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD BE A RECALL AND REPLACED AT GM COST. TECHNICAL BULLETIN 06-06-01-019B ISSUED 6/12/2007.

2004 CHEVY TAHOE WITH CASTECH HEADS HAS A HISTORY OF RUNNING HOT OR OVERHEATING WITH LITTLE WARNING. IN THE COOLER MONTHS, WILL FAIL TO HEAT THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. CAN LEAVE DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS (LIKELY CHILDREN) WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION IN A HARSH ENVIRONMENT. *TR

THE ENGINE CYLINDER HEADS FOR THE 5.3L GM MOTORS BUILT BY CASTECH LEAK COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE CAUSING ENGINE OVERHEAT AND INTERNAL ENGINE FAILURES. GM HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL BULLETIN #060601019B TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE AND DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE. GM WILL NOT OFFER CUSTOMERS ANY FINANCIAL HELP IN THE REPLACEMENT OF THE DEFECTIVE PARTS. THIS ISSUE EFFECTS THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE AND THE SAFETY OF THE PERSONS IN AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. THE FOULED ENGINE OIL CAUSES THE LIFTERS TO FAIL, THE OIL PRESSURE TO DROP AND THE ENGINE TO LOCK UP DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION BY THE FOULED OIL AND THE DRIVER HAS NO WAY OF KNOWING THIS IS HAPPENING AS THERE IS NO EXTERNAL INDICATORS. *TR

CONSUMING OIL AND WATER - NEEDING 1-2 QUARTS OF OIL AND 1 GALLON WATER/COOLANT PER 900 MILES. NO LEAKS, NO DRIPPING, NO SPOTS ON GARAGE FLOOR. AT START UP, THERE IS A LARGE CLOUD OF BLUE/WHITE SMOKE FROM EXHAUST. SOMETIMES THERE IS A VERY LOUD TAPPING IN THE ENGINE UNTIL WELL AFTER REACHING NORMAL TEMPERATURE. OIL AND WATER IS BEING CONSUMED INTERNALLY - DUE TO CRACK IN CYLINDER HEAD WHICH IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH CERTAIN ENGINE BLOCKS. *TR

2004 TAHOE, 79,000 MILES. ENGINE OVERHEATED WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED FIRE IF I HAD NOT NOTICED AND STOPPED. GM DEALER SAYS OVERHEAING DUE TO CRACK IN CYLINDER HEAD AND CONFIRMED TSB 06-06-01-019B (06/12/2007) APPLIES TO VEHICLE, WHICH ADMITS THERE IS KNOWN MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN CERTAIN CYLINDER HEADS WHICH CAN CAUSE ENGINE COOLANT TO LEAK INTERNALLY CAUSING OVERHEATING AND POTENTIAL ENGINE FAILURE. DEALER REFUSES TO COVER REPAIR. I HAVE PENDING COMPLAINT WITH GM CUSTOMER SERVICE TO PAY FOR DAMAGE. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AS IT CAN LEAD TO OVERHEATING, ENGINE FAILURE AND POTENTIAL FIRE. THERE ARE MULTIPLE REPORTS ON INTERNET OF SAME PROBLEMS BY OTHER OWNERS. *TR

I HAVE BEEN HEARING A RATTLING SOUND UNDERNEATH MY CAR WHILE DRIVING. ALSO WHEN I TURN OFF THE CAR, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR A WHILE, I HEAR A POPPING NOISE, MAYBE FROM THE MUFFLER AREA. I WAS TOLD TODAY THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW, SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THAT COULD BE ALREADY WITH ONLY 85K ON THE CAR. *TR

DT: THE CALLER STATED VEHICLE STALLS. THIS HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING AT SLOWER SPEEDS AND IDLING. THE ENGINE HESITATED JUST BEFORE IT STALLED. DEALER SAID THE PROBLEM WAS IN A COMPUTER CHIP THE FIRST TIME. THE SECOND TIME HE HAD IT IN THEY TOLD HIM HE MAY BE OUT OF GAS THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND HE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THEM. *AK *JB

DT: WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 76 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS STALLED, AND THE ENGINE CUT OFF. THE OWNER HAD TO PULL OVER AND RESTART IT. VEHICLE STARTED BACK UP, AND DIED TWICE AFTER THAT WITHIN 40 MILES. THE OWNER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THE OWNER CALLED ONSTAR AND THEY DIDN'T SEE A PROBLEM. THE OWNER STATED VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKES WHEN THE ENGINE CUT OFF. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. THE OWNER CONTACTED CHEVROLET, AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WILL LOOK INTO THE PROBLEM, AND ADVISED THE OWNER TO CALL BACK TODAY. THE PROBLEM HAPPENED SINCE LAST YEAR. THE OWNER WAS STILL DRIVING, IT BUT DID NOT WANT THE CAR ANYMORE SINCE IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. *AK

IDLING OR WHEN VEHICLE IS HOT IT BACKS FIRES. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

LOUD POPPING/PINGING SOUND COMING FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IDLE POSITION OR WHEN IT HAS BEEN TURNED OFF.*AK

PURCHASED NEW 2004 Z-71 TAHOE 06-30-04. NOTICED VEHICLE HAD A LOUD POPPING SOUND COMMING FROM EXHAUST. DEALER HAD A BULLETIN STATING GM ACKNOWLEDGED PROBLEM BUT HAD NO FIX. CONTACTED GM SIX WEEKS AGO AND WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WOULD BE RESOLVED BY THE MIDDLE OF OCTOBER.HAVE NOT YET BEEN CONTACTED....

THERE IS A VERY OBVIOUS POP/PING, ALMOST LIKE A BELL LIKE SOUND THAT IS COMING FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR A WHILE AND THE SOUND CAN BE HEARD DURING IDLE OR IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN TURNED OFF.*AK