1993 Chevrolet Lumina

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.