1993 Chevrolet Lumina

PLEASE REFER TO ODI #736006 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. THIS MORNING AT THE VA HOSPITAL MY CARBON MONOXIDE LEVEL READING WAS 10, WHICH IS EQUIVALENT TO A ONE PACK A DAY SMOKER. I AM A NON-SMOKER, THE VENTILATION AND/OR EXHAUST SYSTEM IS IN DIRE NEED OF PROPER ANALYSIS AND REPAIR. MY WIFE AND BABY WERE VERY SICK ON 11/5/00 FOLLOWING A TRIP TO A NEAR BY TOWN, AFTER WE TRAVELED ON THE HIGHWAY.

DISTINCT ODOR OF GAS OUTSIDE OF CAR IN REAR TRUNK AREA/DISTINCT ODOR OF EXHAUST AND OIL COMING INTO DRIVER/PASSENGER SEATING AREA OF CAR THRU FRONT. DEALER WILL NOT LOOK INTO, MY WIFE AND BABY WERE VERY SICK ON 11/5/00 DUE TO ODOR TRAVELING INTO AUTO THRU VENTILATION SYSTEM. CHIEF MECHANIC IS UNABLE TO SMELL WHAT WE EXPERIANCE, AND WILL NOT RUN DIAGNOSTIC NOR WILL INSPECT FURTHER TO CORRECT THE SITUATION.

FREEZE PLUGS, PIPING FROM ENGINE CRUMBLING INTO TRANSMISSION, FUEL PUMP, ALTERNATOR, CORRODED BATTERY, ENGINE MOUNTS BROKEN, THE ALTERNATOR DYING MADE MY CRUISE CONTROL GO OUT A MONTH EARLIER BEFORE IT DIED. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME OR COME ON. BACK END OF CAR HUMMS WHEN IT GETS WARMED UP AND CONTINUES UNTIL 30 SECONDS AFTER I TURN OFF CAR.

ON JULY 18, 1999, I LEFT MY CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP. I WANTED AND OIL CHANGE, CHECK THE BATTERY AS IT WAS SLUGGISH WHEN STARTING AND TO CHECK ON A SQUEAK IN THE REAR OF THE CAR. THE SHORT VERSION IS THE DEALER CALLED AND ADVISED THAT THE COOLANT COUPLER IS ABOUT TO BREAK OFF IN THE LOWER INTAKE. THE COST TO REPAIR WOULD BE ABOUT $700. I WAS NOT HAPPY AND DID NOT LET THE DEALER MAKE THIS REPAIR. WHEN I PICKER UP THE CAR AS THE OTHER ITEMS HAD BEEN FIXED, I HAD THE MECHANIC SHOW ME THE PROBLEM. HE INDICATED THAT THE COUPLING WAS ABOUT TO BREAK OFF. I ASKED HIM WHAT WOULD CAUSE THIS PROBLEM AND HE ADVISED THAT THE COUPLING WAS POORLY MADE BY CHEVROLET AND THAT THE PART WAS INHERENTLY DEFECTIVE AS THEY HAD USED VERY THIN ALUMINUM TO MAKE THE PART AND THAT THE ENGINE COOLANT ATE AWAY THE TUBE FROM THE INSIDE. HE ALSO INDICATED THAT THE NEWER INTAKE'S COOLANT COUPLING WAS MADE OF MORE SUBSTANTIAL METAL AND THAT THE REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE MADE OF BETTER METAL. HE SAID THAT HE SEE'S THESE ALL THE TIME. THE PART COST $12 AND THE REST IS LABOR. I DISCUSSSED WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER WHO CONFIRMED WHAT THE MECHANIC SAID. I CALLED CHEVROLET, BUT DID NOT GET ANY TYPE OF ANSWER EXCEPT THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I ASKED IF THERE WAS ANYONE TO APPEAL AND THE WOMEN SAID NO. BOTTOM LINE IS IT APPEARS THAT A CHEAP PART WAS USED IN MANUFACTURING THE VEHICLE THAT IS NOT READILY APPARENT DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD. THE OTHER THING IS I AM NOT TO SURE THAT THE MECHANIC MIGHT NOT HAVE JUST BROKE THE TUBE AND IS TRYING TO BLAME IT ON CHEVROLET AND MAKE ME PAY FOR HIS MISTAKE. IF ANYTHING ELSE IS NEEDED, PLEASE CALL OR WRITE.