1999 CHEVROLET LUMINA Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems

CONCERN: 1999 LOW MILEAGE CHEVROLET LUMINA. PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEMS. CORROSION OR DEFECTIVE WHEEL SENSORS CAN CAUSE TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKING AT SLOW SPEEDS. MY CUSTOMER EXPLAINED THAT HIS ABS LIGHT WAS ON FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. HE HAD DRIVEN THREW HIS FENCE AFTER TURNING INTO HIS DRIVEWAY. HE MENTIONED THAT HE WOULD LOSE ALL BRAKING IF THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS LIGHT CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME, THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL UNIT WAS ACTUATING. IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IF THE ABS LIGHT WAS ON IN ALL VEHICLES THE ABS WOULD DROP OUT OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM RENDERING THE VEHICLE WITH CONVENTIONAL BRAKES. I GUESS THIS IS NOT TRUE WITH SOME LATE MODEL GMS. I HAVE LEARNED THAT DIAGNOSING INTERMITTENT WHEEL SENSORS AND WIRING IS A DAUNTING TASK. THE VEHICLE WE WORKED ON HAD A DEFECTIVE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SENSOR. WE SCOPED THE SIGNAL FROM THE SENSOR AND IT SHOWED PERFECT AMPLITUDE, VOLTAGE AND WAVE FORM. FURTHER TESTING SHOWED IT READ OPEN WITH AN OHMMETER. UNLESS THE CIRCUIT IS COMPLETELY OPEN OR SHORTED TESTING THE WHEEL SENSORS AND WIRING WITH AN OHMMETER OR A SCOPE IS USELESS AT TIMES. IN THE PAST FOLLOWING A GM TROUBLE CODE FLOW CHART WAS USELESS, THE FIX WAS TO REWIRE AND REPLACE THE SUSPECT PARTS. . I FEEL THAT GM SHOULD RECALL THESE VEHICLES. OR AT LEAST OFFER THE REPLACEMENT PARTS INCLUDING A REPROGRAMMED TRACTION CONTROL/ABS CONTROLLER AT A REASONABLE PRICE. SEARCHING THE ARCHIVES I FOUND ONE OTHER LATE MODEL GM WITH THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEMS AND LOSS OF LOW SPEED BRAKING. 1997 PONTIAC GRAND AM ENGINE: 2.4 L / 146 CID / 4 CYL / GAS / DOHC FUEL: FUEL INJECTION IGNITION: DISTRIBUTORLESS TRANS: 4-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE (ELECTRONIC) MILEAGE: 95,000 MI VIN: [XXX] TIME. TODAY CUSTOMER COMES IN WITH A COMPLAINT OF CLICKING, LOSS OF PEDAL, AND NO STOP. CUSTOMER WAS IN TODAY WE GOT THE ABS TO ACTUATE AND HE SAID THATS WHAT IT WAS DOING.*JB UPDATED 07/19/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.

Mileage: 2,400

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE CONSUMER HEARD A CLANKING AND GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE BRAKES. THE SOUNDS COULD BE HEARD WHEN EVER THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE RIVETS FROM THE BRAKES SHOES RUSTED OFF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *JB *MR

Mileage: 23,238

I HAVE 3 DIFFERENT COMPLAINTS. 1. THE ROTORS ON MY CAR HAD TO BE REPLACED 3 TIMES BEFORE I HAD DRIVEN 36,000 MILES. THEY WOULD WEAR UNEVENLY, AND CAUSE NOISE AND VIBRATIONS WHENEVER THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED. 2. THE TRANSMISSION LEAKED FROM THE PAN, AND THE GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED 2 OR 3 TIMES.THE TRANSMISSION STILL LEAKS. AND THE BRAKES NEED FIXING AGAIN, BUT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 36,000 MILES. 3.WHENEVER THE ENGINE IS UNDER ACCERLATION, MY AIR CONDITIONER DOES NOT COOL. THE VENTS CLOSE OFF PREVENTING COLD AIR FROM COMING THROUGH. HOW MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE REPORTED PROBLEMS SIMILAR TO THESE?*AK

Mileage: 7,000

THIS VEHICLE SEEMS TO HAVE A DEFECT WITH THE BRAKES IN WET WEATHER BRAKING. THE BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS IS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED IN WET WEATHER. SOMETIMES IT IS ALMOST LIKE YOU HAVE NO BRAKES AT ALL! I THINK THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED. I MOVED THIS YEAR TO NY SO THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER BEING SERVICED AT THE DEALER LISTED WHICH IS WHERE I ORIGINALLY PURCHASED. DT

THE ABS SYSTEM HAD BROKEN AND HAD FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE WHEN BRAKE PEDAL WAS PRESSED. ALSO, WHEN ITS RAINING AND PRESSING ON BRAKE PEDAL AND TURNING STEERING WHEEL, BRAKES WOULD LOCK UP COMPLETELY. WOULD ALSO MAKE LOUD GRINDING NOISES. MR

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE BRAKING PERFORMANCE IN WET WEATHER OR WET CONDITION IS REDUCED MORE THEN EXPECTED. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON SIMILAR PROBLEM. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE AMNY FURTHER INFORMATION.

BRAKES FAIL TO ENGAGE PROPERLY WHEN WET (FROM RAIN OR CAR WASH). SAME PROBLEM AS NHTSA CAMPAIGNIM01I014000. NOT A RECALL BUT LOOKING AT THE COMPLAINTS FOR LUMINA AND MONTE CARLO I THINK IT SHOULD BE. FEEL FREE TO DRIVE MINE AND SEE WHAT YOU THINK.*AK

ONGOING SEVERE BRAKING PROBLEMS UPON APPLYING BRAKES ON WET ROADS. IT CAUSES EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO TWO SEPARATE DEALERS AND ONE REPAIR SHOP, NO ONE IS ABLE T0 LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THAE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PROBLEM ARE THE SAME AS THOSE DESCRIBED FOR THE 95-99 MONTE CARLO'S-NHTSA SIC #011014000; ARE BUILT ON, (THE SAME CHASIS AND USE THE SAME COMPONENTS). *SCC

WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN AND WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THEY DON'T HOLD, AS A RESULT THE DRIVER HAD AN ACCIDENT, THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE EXTREMELY GLAZED BRAKES MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP IN RAINY OR WET CONDITION, THE VEHICLES VIN FALLS WITHIN THE RANGE FOR A SERVICE BULLETIN WHICH REFERENCES THIS PROBLEM BUT THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS RECALL HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HIS CAR. *AK *NLM

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AFTER 35MPH ON WET ROADS, BRAKES FAILED. FELT LIKE NOT HAVING BRAKES WHEN APPLIED, AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. BRAKES WERE GETTING WET AND A FEW SECONDS LATER, WOULD DRY OUT BEFORE CATCHING. HAD BEEN IN CONTACT WITH DEALER AND INFORMED NO RECALL. *AK *TT

CAR WAS PURCHASED ON 4/23/01, UP UNTIL TODAYS DATE 5/21, I HAVE HAD THESE PROBLEMS OCCUR: 4/25 UPON BRAKING CAR WOULD SHAKE, IT WAS DETERMINED THE ROTORS WERE WARPED. 4/28, DRIVING OUT OF TOWN FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT, HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT TIRES WITHIN TWO DAYSOF EACH OTHER ALONG WITH NOISE AND VIBRATION FROM BRAKING. WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE LOUD ROAR AND VIBRATION NOISE COMING FROM REAR TIRES, CAR PULLING ALL OVER HIGHWAY AT SPEED OF 60MPH. 5/11 COMPLAINED TO DEALERSHIP, THEY PERFORM ALIGNMENT. CLEANING ASHTRAY, UPON REPLACING BACK PIECE BROKE. NOISE COMING FROM AC, WHEN I ACCELERATE, IT BECAME LOUDER, TURN OFF AC, NOISE WENT AWAY. CALLED CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP, FAN MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ROAR COMING FROM TIRES, HE STATED TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, NOT TO SURE, TREAD WEAR STILL IN GOOD SHAPE. WINDSHIELD WASHER DOES NOT WORK ON PASSENGER SIDE. WHILE SITTING AT TRAFFIC LIGHT OR STOP POSITION, CAR SEEMS AS IF IT WANTS TO SHUT OFF. THIS PAST WEEKEND 5/19, I SMELL GAS FUMES. ALSO, AFTER HAVING BRAKE INSPECTION PERFORMED, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT BRAKE PADS WERE NEEDED, HONDA SAID THEY WERE NOT, BUT TIL THIS DAY, WHEN BRAKING I HEARING SCRUBBING OR RUBBING NOISE WHEN BRAKING, AND TURNING EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT. PLEASE NOTE, I WAS NOT ABLE TO RECORD ALL THIS INFORMATION IN THE "FAILED COMPONENT PARTS" SECTION.. *AK

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL WOULD GO TO FLOOR BEFORE STOPPING. DEALER REPLACED PADS, AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

AT 42000 MILES I FEEL THAT THE REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS SHOULD NOT LEAK. *AK

WHEN DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS WITH WET PAVEMENT BRAKES GET WET. VEHICLE IS VERY HARD TO STOP,BRAKE PEDAL GETS VERY HARD WHICH CAUSES DELAY IN BRAKING, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN, THE BRAKE PEDAL GETS SOFT WITH 1" - 2" OF FREE TRAVEL, THE BRAKES FADE OUT AND THE BRAKE PEDAL GET REAL HARD. THE DEALER SAID THAT'S THE WAY LUMINA BRAKES ARE. UPON MY INSISTING, THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT PADS AND TURNED THE ROTORS WHICH IMPROVED BRAKING IN THE RAIN. THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE THE REAR PADS OR TURN THE REAR ROTOR EVEN THOUGH THE REAR ROTOR IS STAINED AND PITTED. A CHEVY DEALER MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEMS THAT MY LUMINA IS HAVING THE BRAKE PADS HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND THE ROTORS TURNED OR REPLACED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN, THE BRAKE PEDAL GETS SOFT WITH 1" - 2" OF FREE TRAVEL, THE BRAKES FADE OUT AND THE BRAKE PEDAL GET REAL HARD. THE DEALER SAID THAT'S THE WAY LUMINA BRAKES ARE. UPON MY INSISTING, THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT PADS AND TURNED THE ROTORS WHICH IMPROVED BRAKING IN THE RAIN. THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE THE REAR PADS OR TURN THE REAR ROTOR EVEN THOUGH THE REAR ROTOR IS STAINED AND PITTED. A CHEVY DEALER MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEMS THAT MY LUMINA IS HAVING THE BRAKE PADS HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND THE ROTORS TURNED OR REPLACED. *AK

SITTING OVERNITE VEHICLE FRONT ROTORS FOR OXIDES AND CAUSES SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN STOP DISTANCES FOR FIRST 4 TO 5 MILES.

BRAKES SCRUBBING/RUBBING WHEN BACKING UP OR TURNING TO THE RIGHT. NLM

WHILE BACKING UP OR TURNING TO THE RIGHT BRAKES MAKE NOISE.