1999 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

ON 11 APR 2005, I PURCHASED A 1999 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA FROM A NH DEALER, WITH APPROX. 74000 MILES ON IT. WITHIN ONE WEEK, THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED FOR A BAD WATER PUMP, AND DRIVER'S WINDOW SWITCH. DURING THE WEEK OF 21 APRIL, I HAD THE ALTERNATOR REPLACED. THIS VEHICLE HAD A NH STATE INSPECTION STICKER, BUT IT HAS YET TO PASS A MA STATE INSPECTION. THE AIR INJECTION PUMP THAT ASSISTS IN THE AIR/FUEL MIX HAS BEEN UPDATED BY GM, BUT THEIR "UPDATE" ALLOWS THEM TO CALL IT SOMETHING OTHER THAN A RECALL, SO, IT WOULD COST ME AN ADDITIONAL $400-500. FOR THIS "UPDATE". IN SEP OF 2005, I NOTICED A GRADUALLY GROWING NOISE FROM THE FRONT END. I WAS TOLD THE ENTIRE FRONT END WAS WIPED OUT. THE SAFETY ISSUES ALONE WERE EXHAUSTIVE. THE FOLLOWING HAD TO BE REPLACED, AND WERE DONE, TO THE COST OF $1700.: PITMAN ARM / IDLER ARM / UPPER, LOWER BALL JOINTS / CV JOINTS,AXLES,BOOTS/ ENTIRE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLIES / FRONT BRAKES (ROTORS,PADS,CALIPERS) / 4 TIRES CURRENTLY, THE DRIVER'S FRONT DOOR IS SAGGING DUE TO POOR DOOR PINS AND BUSHINGS. MAACO WANTS $1200. TO REPLACE THE HINGES, PINS, AND BUSHINGS, AND REPAIR/REPLACE THE STRIKER PLATE AND SURROUNDING AREA. THE DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL SOUNDS CONSTANTLY EVEN WITHOUT USING THE SIGNAL, AND GOES AWAY WHEN YOU STEP ON THE BRAKE (!?) THE KEY FREQUENTLY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WON'T COME OUT. LAST MONTH YET ANOTHER ALTERNATOR HAD TO GO IN AS THE OTHER FAILED. I HAD THIS BACK IN THE SHOP YESTERDAY 01FEB06 FOR A BANGING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END, AND THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED ME THAT HE CALLED GM. THEY CONFIRMED THERE IS A DEFECTIVE FRONT TORSION BAR IN THESE BLAZER-TYPE VEHICLES. THE TECHNICIAN STATED IT WOULD COST ME AROUND $250. IT NEVER ENDS. I AM TRULY EXHAUSTED BOTH MENTALLY AND FINANCIALLY WITH THIS CAR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN. THE DEALER WON'T TAKE IT BACK, WILL NOT ASSIST, AND GM DOES NOT WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH ME. THEY WON'T EVEN TAKE MY CALL. I TRULY FEAR FOR MY AND MY FAMILY'S SAFETY. *JB

Mileage: 74,190

VEHICLE MADE A LOUD SOUND. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT ENGINE WAS DEFECTIVE. *AK

Mileage: 75,000

THE HEATER HAS FAILED TO WORK THIS YEAR AT ALL. THE SYSTEM WAS FLUSHED AND RADIATOR FLUID CHANGED WITH OLDSMOBILE RATED FLUIDS. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD NO MAJOR PROBLEMS AND HAS BEEN GOOD OTHER THAN SEATBELTS NOT LOCKING AND DOME LIGHTS ARE INOPERABLE. I AM GOING TO ASSUME IT COULD BE THE HEATER VALVE AND GET THAT REPLACED SO HOPEFULLY THAT DOES THE TRICK.

Mileage: 83,000

I HAVE A 1999 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA THAT HAS DEVELOPED A SERIOUS LEAK IN THE OIL LINES (HOSES) GOING TO THE OIL COOLER. I ALSO OWNED A 2000 GMC SONOMA THAT DEVELOPED THE SAME LEAKS WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. MY MECHANIC SAID THEY HAVE REPLACED THE OIL LINES ON SEVERAL VEHICLES WITH THE 4.3 AND 350 ENGINES. THEY HAVE ALSO REPLACED 3 ENGINES WHERE THE OIL LINES FAILED AND THE ENGINE LOST ALL OIL. IT SEEMS THIS PROBLEM EXISTS ON NEARLY ALL IF NOT ALL OF GM'S PRODUCTS USING THE RUBBER OIL LINES. CAN ANYTHING BE DONE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM OR REIMBURSE OUR REPAIR COSTS DUE TO AN APPARENT DEFECT? NOT TO MENTION THE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINES AND GARAGE FLOORS. THANK YOU RON. *LA

Mileage: 60,000

THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING, THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE, BUT WHEN IT STARTS IT CONTINUES UNTIL IT HAS STOPPED RUNNING FOR A WHILE. *YD

THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING, THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE, BUT WHEN IT STARTS IT CONTINUES UNTIL IT HAS STOPPED RUNNING FOR A WHILE. *YD

1. THE OIL COOLING LINES WERE LEAKING. I FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD NOT FAIL AT ONLY 76,000 MILES. 2. THE PINION SEAL HAS FAILED TWICE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT.*AK

VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. NLM

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH COMPLETE LOST OF POWER INTERMITTENTLY ON THREE OCCASION, THIS PROBLEM CAN LEAD INTO A VEHICLE CRASH. DELAER NOTIFIED AND UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS:

WHEN STOPPED, IN GEAR, WITH A/C RUNNING, THERE IS A VERY PRONOUCED VIBRATION-SHUDDER IN THE VEHICLE. WHEN YOU TURN OFF A/C AND PUT IN NEUTRAL, IT DISAPATES. DEALERS PEOPLE HAVE RIDDEN IN AND AGREE THERE IS A PROBLEM. YET WHEN THEY HOOK UP TO THEIR COMPUTER, EVERYTHING IS 'NORMAL'. THUS THERE IS NO FIXING IT. SERVICE MANAGER IS CONDENSENDING AND SAYS HE CAN NOT FIX IT. HAVE DRIVEN OTHER LIKE VEHICLES THERE AND NO SUCH PROBLEM. HAVE WAITED NOW 14 WEEKS FOR THE ZONE MGR TO COME IN. NO ONE WILL PROVIDE A DIVISION OFFICE PHONE NUMBER. HELP

NO SUMMARY.