2003 Chevrolet Suburban 1500

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, ONE OF THE TIRES FLATTENED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO USE THE SPARE TIRE BECAUSE THE TIRE RELEASE CABLE LATCH WAS RUSTED AND IMPOSSIBLE TO REMOVE. HE WALKED TO A GAS STATION AND HAD THE FLAT TIRE REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TEN MONTHS OVER ITS WARRANTY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 32,200. *UPDATED 12/12/07 *BF

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR WAS AUDIBLE WHILE RUNNING. I AM NOT THE PRIMARY DRIVER, SO I WROTE THE NOISE OFF AS NORMAL. A FEW DAYS LATER HOME MY WIFE STARTED THE VEHICLE AND TURNED THE AIR CONDITIONING ON AND SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. THE COMPRESSOR HAD SEIZED UP AND THE CLUTCH WAS BURNING UP. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED IT AS NEEDING A NEW COMPRESSOR, DRYER-RECEIVER, ORIFICE FILTER, AND A RECHARGE AND I SHOULD BE ALL SET. NOT THE CASE, THE ENTIRE SYSTEM WAS FILLED WITH METALLIC PARTICLES AND IMMEDIATELY PLUGGED THE FILTER. NOW, I WAS FACED WITH REPLACING MOST OF THE MAJOR COMPONENTS WITHIN THE SYSTEM TO THE TUNE OF NEARLY $1000.00. THE MECHANIC TOOK PITY ON ME AND EXTENDED ME A DISCOUNT, BUT THE PRICE SHOULD HAVE BEEN SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS HIGHER. THE VEHICLE HAD 61,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. I HAVE HAD COUNTLESS VEHICLES WITH A/C AND NEVER HEARD OF THIS, UNTIL IT HAPPENED AND I BEGAN TO ASK QUESTIONS AND FOUND THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON AMONGST GM AIR CONDITIONING. *JB