1993 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

DURING ALL KINDS OF WEATHER CONDITIONS THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM HAS FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, TWICE CAUSING A REAR END ACCIDENT. DURING A HARD BRAKING SITUATION WHEN ON DRY PAVEMENT, OR ANY BRAKING CONDITION ON WET PAVEMENT THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN APPLIED AND THEY GRAB AND THEN RELEASE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD WITHOUT COMPLETELY STOPPING. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO MANY CHEVROLET DEALERSHIPS AND INDEPENDENT SHOPS FOR REPAIR AND BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED WITH COMPLETE BRAKE REBUILDS WITH ABSOLUTELY NO IMPROVEMENT IN STOPPING ABILITIES. THIS MODEL VEHICLE SHOULD ABSOLUTELY HAVE BEEN RECALLED SHORTLY AFTER MANUFACTURE. THERE IS SO MUCH DOCUMENTATION THAT THESE VEHICLES HAVE THIS PROBLEM THAT THIS AGENCY SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF NOT FORCING A RECALL FOR REPAIRS OR COMPLETE REDESIGN OF THE BRAKING SYSTEMS. THE MINOR RECALL AND"FIX" OF THE BRAKE-BOOSTER OUTPUT ROD WERE A JOKE AND NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN ALLOWED AS A FIX. THE EXCUSE CHEVROLET USES THAT IT IS A "BRAKE PEDAL FEEL" THAT IS THE PROBLEM IS INEXCUSABLE AND IRRESPONSIBLE. I HAVE BEEN A PROFESSIONAL TRUCK DRIVER (CLASS "A" CDL WITH ALL ENDORSEMENTS) AND MECHANIC AND HAVE DRIVEN SEVERAL OTHER MAKES OF LARGE HEAVY PASSENGER TRUCKS AND SUV'S WITH ABS BRAKING AND NEVER ENCOUNTERED THIS PROBLEM WITH ANY TYPE OF VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 82,000

MY SUBURBAN HAS DEVELOPED A PECULIAR PROBLEM THAT HAS LEFT EVEN THE DEALERSHIPS COMPLETELY CLUELESS!!! THE ENGINE HEATS UP TO ABOUT 180 F (STILL LESS THAN THE MID POINT ON THE GUAGE) AFTER A COUPLE OF HOURS OF DRIVING -- THIS IS QUITE NORMAL. IF WE STOP AND TURN THE ENGINE OFF, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START! WE HAVE TO WAIT A COUPLE OF HOURS WHILE THE ENGINE COOLS OFF TO ABOUT 160 F, AND IT STARTS UP JUST FINE. WE ONLY NOTICED THIS SINCE WE WERE ON A LONG CROSS COUNTRY DRIVE. THE PROBLEM IS ENTIRELY PREDICTABLE, AND WE HAD TO PLAN ON TWO HOUR STOPS DURING OUR TRIP. WE EVEN DROVE STRAIGHT TO A DEALERSHIP IN RALEIGH AFTER STRAIGHT 6 HOUR DRIVES SO THAT THEY COULD SEE AND DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM -- BUT THEY WERE COMPLETELY STUMPED. I WOULD LIKE CHEVROLET TO HELP DIAGNOSE AND FIX THIS PROBLEM. THE ABS MODULE FAILED WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING. ONE MOMENT THE BREAKS WERE FINE, THE NEXT WE WERE FLOORING THE BREAK PEDAL AND THE ABS LIGHT WAS ON. THE MECHANICS HAD TO GO THROUGH SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AT REPLACING THE UNIT ($1200 FOR THE UNIT ITSELF). THIS PROBLEM SOUNDS EXACTLY LIKE THE ISSUE INVESTIGATED IN 1992-1995 SUBURBANS. I AM SURPRISED THAT THE RECALL WAS LIMITED TO THE LIGHTER SUVS ONLY -- A DECISION BASED ON COST (MOST PROBABLY). IT STANDS TO REASON THAT THE PROBLEM WOULD BE MORE CRITICAL IN HEAVIER VEHICLES.

Mileage: 120,000

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND EXITED THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE SEVERELY DAMAGED. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT #10-89-257)*JB

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND EXITED THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE SEVERELY DAMAGED. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT #10-89-257)*JB

THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAILED THE FIRST TIME ON A BRIGHT SUNNY DRY DAY , I WAS UNABLE TO BRING MY SUBURBAN TO A STOP WITH PLENTY OF DISTANCE BETWEEN ME AND THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS CITED FOR UNASSURED CLEAR DISTANCE SINCE NO SKID MARKS OR OTHER EXPLANATION COULD BE GIVEN AT THE TIME. WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL INCIDENTS AND CLOSE CALLS SINCE THE FIRST ACCIDENT. WE HAVE NOT HAD THE ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM REPLACED AND WERE UNAWARE THAT THE UNIT MIGHT CAUSE PROBLEMS UNTIL WE RECENTLY SAW THE RECALL WHICH EXPLAINS PERFECTLY THE TYPE OF INCIDENTS WE HAVE HAD TO TRY TO STOP THE VEHICLE. WE DEFINATELY WANT THE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE FURTHER TO PURSUE THE ANTI-LOCK RECALL ON THE 1993 SUBURBANS. THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WAS JUST AFTER THE WARRANTY PERIOD EXPIRED. I COMPLAINED BITTERLY TO GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AND ALL BUT $350 WAS COVERED IN THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITH THE GEARSHIFT IN THE OVERDRIVE POSITION. THE TRANSMISSION COULD NOT MAINTAIN A LOCK IN THE OVERDRIVE POSITION AND WOULD CONSTANTLY SHIFT BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN 3RD AND OVERDRIVE GEAR.

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

THIRD RADIATOR IS LEAKING AROUND THE BOTTOM SEAL AS DID THE PREVIOUS TWO WHICH WERE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE.

RADIATOR WAS NOTICED LEAKING AROUND 36,000 MILES. DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS WITH NO SUCCESS. EVERY REPAIR HAS BEEN MADE EXCEPT REPLACING OF RADIATOR.

RADIATOR FAILED.

BRAKES STILL PULL, REPLACE HOSES,LUBE BRAKES.

MUFFLER FAILED/REPLACED.

RADIATOR SERVICED TWICE DUE TO LEAKAGE, WAS REPLACED THE SECOND TIME.

PROBLEMS WITH OIL PRESSURE, OIL FILTER REPLACED TWICE.

OIL SENSOR SWITCH FAILED/REPLACED.

WATER PUMP FAILED/REPLACED TWICE, ALSO THERMOSTAT FAILED/REPLACED.

WATER PUMP FAILED/REPLACED TWICE, ALSO THERMOSTAT FAILED/REPLACED.

FAN CLUTCH REPLACED DUE TO TIMING PROBLEM.

ENGINE REPLACED, HOWEVER PROBLEMS WITH REPLACEMENT ENGINE NOT FIRING/STALLING/SLUGGISHNESS.

SERPENTINE BELT NOISE.

ENGINE NOISE.

FAN BELT NOISE.

THE ORIGINAL RADIATOR FAILED AT 27,000 MILES. THE REPLACEMENT RADIATOR FAILED 20,000 MILES LATER AT 47,000 MILES, REPAIRS WERE MADE AND AGAIN HAS FAILED AT 56,000 MILES.

CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED.

RADIATOR LEAK CAUSED ENGINE TO OVERHEAT/REPLACED.

RADIATOR COIL LEAK.

847-437-6850,WK AT ENGINE TEMP. OF 95 DEGREES, THE CLUTCH FAN KICKED IN, CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER. *AK

PUFF OF BLACK SMOKE CAME OUT OF ENGINE, THEN STEERING WENT OUT AND WHEELS WOBBLED. VEHICLE TURNED OVER. TT

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND REAR ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT. TT VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO DEALER PRIOR TO ACCIDENT REGARDING BRAKE PROBLEMS, DEALER HAD RESURFACED REAR DRUMS, SANDED LINGINGS, AND REPLACED FRONT BRAKE PADS. ENGINE REVS TO 1500 RPMS AFTER SITTING 20 TO 25 MINUTES, ENGINE RUNS ROUGH. SEAT BELTS DO NOT ALWAYS RETRACT. TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD. WHEN AIR CONDITIONER IS ON MEDIUM OR HIGH, VEHICLE'S ENGINE REVS TO 2500 RPMS ON ACCELERATION FROM A STOP. *SLC

ENGINE OIL LEAK. *AK