1998 Chevrolet Astro

BELT TENSIONER CASING CRACKED/BROKEN AROUND MOUNT BOLT, CAUSING LOSS OF BELT TENSION, POWER ASSISTED STEERING, AND POWER ASSISTED BRAKING. THROTTLE CONTROL PEDAL "STICKS" AND EXCESSIVE PRESSURE MUST BE APPLIED TO OVERCOME RESISTANCE. BRAKE PEDAL COULD NOT BE DEPRESSED UNTIL EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS APPLIED WITH BOTH FEET, OCCURRED TWICE AT VERY SLOW SPEEDS WHILE CRESTING A SHORT STEEP INCLINE AND TURNING TO THE RIGHT TO PARK, CAUSE YET UNKNOWN. DT

CRUISE CONTROL FAILS TO DISENGAGE IN NEUTRAL AND REVERSE. INADEQUATE SHIFT LEVER DETENT ACTION RESULTS IN INADVERTANT SHIFTING INTO REVERSE. JULY 4, 2001:WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED AT 55 MPH, OPERATOR MISTAKENLY SHIFTS FROM OVERDRIVE INTO NEUTRAL (THINKING HE IS SHIFTING FROM 3RD TO OVERDRIVE). ENGINE BEGINS TO RACE WHEN CRUISE CONTROL FAILS TO DISENGAGE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RETURN TO OVERDRIVE, OPERATOR SHIFTS INTO LOWER GEAR DUE TO INADEQUATE DETENT ACTION IN SHIFT LEVER. ENGINE RACES FASTER (CRUISE CONTROL STILL ENGAGED). OPERATOR SHIFTS INTO REVERSE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LOCATE OVERDRIVE DUE TO INADEQUATE DETENT ACTION IN SHIFT LEVER. CRUISE CONTROL REMAINS ENGAGED CAUSING HIGH SPEED REVERSAL OF DRIVE WHEELS RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. VEHICLE SPINS OUT AND ROLLS ON SIDE. CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL LOCAL REPORT NUMBER 2001070020 (EL DORADO COUNTY).*AK

VEHICLE PULLED INTO PARKING LOT AT VET CLINIC AND DUE TO A MECHANICAL MALFUCTION , ACCELERETED AND STRUCK VET BUILDING. PUT VEHICHLE IN REVERSE IN AN ATTEMPT TO BACK AWAY FROM THE BUILDING, AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AGAIN, TRAVLING IN REVERSE ACROSS A BUSY ROAD (THANKFULLY NO CARS WERE COMING) AND STRUCK A HOUSE WITH THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE.*AK

VEHICLE PULLED INTO PARKING LOT AT VET CLINIC AND DUE TO A MECHANICAL MALFUCTION , ACCELERED AND STRUCK VET BUILDING. PUT VEHICHLE IN REVERSE IN AN ATTEMPT TO BACK AWAY FROM THE BUILDING, AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AGAIN, TRAVLING IN REVERSE ACROSS A BUSY ROAD (THANKFULLY NO CARS WERE COMING) AND STRUCK A HOUSE WITH THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE.*AK

GAS PEDAL STICKS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS.AT APPROXIMATELY 29,000 MILES THE GAS PEDAL WOULD STICK WHEN MOVING FROM A STOPPED POSITION AND WHEN REMOVING YOUR FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL TO SLOW DOWN, WHEN YOU PRESS DOWN TO REACCELERATE THE GAS PEDAL WOULD STICK. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO CAPITOL CHEVROLET ON NOVEMBER 18,1999 WITH 29,000 MILES. THE CORRECTION AT THAT TIME WAS TO REPAIR THE AIR VALVE THROTTLE AND RESET TO SPECS.AGAIN AT APPROXIMATELY 50,000 MILES THE GAS PEDAL STARTED STICKING AGAIN - IT WAS RETURNED TO CAPITOL CHEVROLET - THIS TIME THE CORRECTION WAS TO REMOVE THE THROTTLE BODY AND CLEAN CARBON. THE DEALER ALLEDGED THE AIR THROTTLE VALVE IS GUMMING UP AND SHOULD BE CLEANED OUT PERIODICALLY TO PREVENT THE GAS PEDAL FROM STICKING.I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO GENERAL MOTORS CUSTOMER SERVICE (CLAIM #C010486637) THEY CONCURRED WITH THE DIAGNOSIS OF CAPITOL CHEVROLET. HOWEVER, NEITHER GENERAL MORORS CUSTOMER SERVICE OR CAPITOL CHEVROLET COULD SPECIFY AT WHAT INTERVALS THIS SERVICE SHOULD BE PERFORMED.MY OWNERS MANUAL HAS NO REFERENCE TO ANY MAINTENANCE SUCH AS REMOVE THROTTLE BODY AND CLEAN CARBON AT ANY SPECIFIC INTERVAL.I CONSIDER THIS A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM AND SINCERELY BELIEVE THAT IT IS POSSIBLE THE VALVE IS DEFECTIVE.I WAS FURTHER TOLD BY THE DEALERS SERVICE MANAGER THAT THE VALVE WOULD STICK AGAIN CAUSING THE GAS PEDAL TO STICK BUT ONCE AGAIN WAS NOT TOLD AT WHAT INTERVALS THE VALVE SHOULD BE CLEANED TO PREVENT THE PROBLEM. SIMPLY STATED I WAS TOLD TO WAIT AND SEE WHEN THE GAS PEDAL STUCK AGAIN.I WAS FURTHER INFORMED THAT AT THIS ONE DEALERSHIP ALONE THEY ARE CLEANING 4-10 VEHICLES A DAY WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS.*AK