2002 PONTIAC AZTEK Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC AZTEC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE HEAD GASKET OVERHEATED ON THE VEHICLE. HE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD OVERHEAT BY THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE RISING ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.

Mileage: 111,000

DROVE TO WORK NO PROBLEMS, WENT TO START UP TO GO HOME 8 HOURS LATER AND GOT NOTHING . TOWED HOME AND REPLACE THE STARTER AND RECHARGE BATTERY(DEAD AFTER TRYING TO START IT) STARTED WITH A VERY LOUD KNOCK SOUND FROM WHAT I THINK IS THE TOP END , TOOK IT TO DEALER WHERE BOUGHT IT 28 EARLIER FROM AND THEY SAI DMOTOR WAS SHOT. HOW CAN THIS BE WITH NO ENGINE LIGHT EVER COMING ON , NO OVER HEATING .I HAVE BEEN PAYING A YEAR NOW ON A AUTO I DROVE FOR ONLY 28 DAYS PLEASE HELP ...WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT OR WHAT CAN I DO TO GET IT FIXED WITHOUT COSTING A BUNDLE (DON'T HAVE ALOT CAUSE I HAVE TO MAKE PAYMENT ON MY "LEMON". *TR

Mileage: 67,000

I HAVE A 2002 PONTIAC AZTEK AND THERE'S A TICKING NOISE IN THE MOTOR AND THE OIL IS GOOD AND ALL THE OTHER FLUIDS ARE GOOD. MY A/C STOP WORKING AND THE BACK HATCH DOESN'T UNLOCK SOMETIMES AND TO FIX THE PROBLEM I HAVE TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY FOR ABOUT 15MINS OR LONGER FOR IT TO WORK , CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT COULD BE THE PROBLEM AND HOW TO FIX IT . *TR

Mileage: 92,402

FAILURE OF INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AS INDICATED BY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND SHAKING OF VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING. TOOK TO DEALER AND WAS DETERMINED TO NEED REPLACEMENT OF LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. REPLACEMENT COST WAS $1200. *TR

Mileage: 69,393

AT 51,000 MILES ENGINE OVERHEATING WHEN STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS. ADDED ANTIFREEZE, BUT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. AT SAME TIME AC FAILED. THEN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM STARTED FAILING. ALARM GOING OFF FOR NO REASON, DOORS LOCKING AND UNLOCKING THEMSELVES, REAR HATCH OPENING, AND ALL GAUGES LIGHTING UP THEN GOING BLANK FOR 5 - 10 SECONDS. TOOK TO DEALER WHO STATED THAT I HAD A FAILURE IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, A LEAKING FUEL FILTER, A SHOT AC SYSTEM, AND NEEDED TO REPLACE THE BODY CONTROL MODULE. DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THEY HAVE HAD TO DO THE SAME WORK ON MANY AZTEKS. TOOK TO MY REGULAR MECHANIC FOR VERIFICATION AND REPAIR ($600 LESS THAN DEALER WANTED). PAID $1156 FOR INTAKE MANIFOLD, FUEL FILTER, AND AC CHECK. MECHANIC DOESN'T BELIEVE THAT THERE IS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE AC SYSTEM, BUT THE PROBLEM IS RELATED TO THE BODY CONTROL MODULE. CAN NOT FIX THE MODULE AT THIS TIME - HAVE BEEN GIVEN ESTIMATE OF $800. SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS MODULE IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THAT NHTSA SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND HAVE GM REIMBURSE THOSE THAT HAVE ALREADY HAD THE PROBLEM FIXED. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP BY MANY AZTEK OWNERS BOTH ON THIS SITE AND OTHERS. IT IS REALLY ALARMING TO BE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN SUDDENLY ALL THE GAUGES GO BLANK, EVEN IF JUST FOR A FEW SECONDS, NOT TO MENTION DOORS LOCKING AND UNLOCKING THEMSELVES AND THE ALARM GOING OFF FOR NO REASON. BY READING OTHER COMPLAINTS I SHOULD LOOK FORWARD TO REPLACING WHEEL BEARINGS ALSO. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. *TR

Mileage: 51,008

AT 51,000 MILES ENGINE OVERHEATING WHEN STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS. ADDED ANTIFREEZE, BUT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. AT SAME TIME AC FAILED. THEN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM STARTED FAILING. ALARM GOING OFF FOR NO REASON, DOORS LOCKING AND UNLOCKING THEMSELVES, REAR HATCH OPENING, AND ALL GAUGES LIGHTING UP THEN GOING BLANK FOR 5 - 10 SECONDS. TOOK TO DEALER WHO STATED THAT I HAD A FAILURE IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, A LEAKING FUEL FILTER, A SHOT AC SYSTEM, AND NEEDED TO REPLACE THE BODY CONTROL MODULE. DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THEY HAVE HAD TO DO THE SAME WORK ON MANY AZTEKS. TOOK TO MY REGULAR MECHANIC FOR VERIFICATION AND REPAIR ($600 LESS THAN DEALER WANTED). PAID $1156 FOR INTAKE MANIFOLD, FUEL FILTER, AND AC CHECK. MECHANIC DOESN'T BELIEVE THAT THERE IS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE AC SYSTEM, BUT THE PROBLEM IS RELATED TO THE BODY CONTROL MODULE. CAN NOT FIX THE MODULE AT THIS TIME - HAVE BEEN GIVEN ESTIMATE OF $800. SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS MODULE IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THAT NHTSA SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND HAVE GM REIMBURSE THOSE THAT HAVE ALREADY HAD THE PROBLEM FIXED. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP BY MANY AZTEK OWNERS BOTH ON THIS SITE AND OTHERS. IT IS REALLY ALARMING TO BE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN SUDDENLY ALL THE GAUGES GO BLANK, EVEN IF JUST FOR A FEW SECONDS, NOT TO MENTION DOORS LOCKING AND UNLOCKING THEMSELVES AND THE ALARM GOING OFF FOR NO REASON. BY READING OTHER COMPLAINTS I SHOULD LOOK FORWARD TO REPLACING WHEEL BEARINGS ALSO. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. *TR

Mileage: 51,008

I HAVE HAD THREE MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH MY AZTEK. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY A FEW MONTHS OLD, THE COMPUTER SYSTEM WENT OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS, OF COURSE, WAS COVERED BY THE WARRANTY, BUT WAS A HARBINGER OF THINGS TO COME. BOTH THE CONDENSER AND THE COMPRESSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED, NEITHER OF WHICH WAS COVERED BY THE WARRANTY; I WAS WITHIN THE ALLOTTED TIME, BUT HAD A FEW HUNDRED MORE MILES ON THE VEHICLE THAN WHAT WAS ALLOWABLE. VERY EXPENSIVE. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, I BEGAN TO HAVE TROUBLE WITH TRANSIENT OVERHEATING. THINKING THAT THE THERMOSTAT MIGHT BE STICKING, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, WHO AT FIRST SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. WHEN I WENT TO PICK IT UP, THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD DISCOVERED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS LEAKING AND THAT THE CAR WAS NOW INOPERABLE. THE REMEDY DUE TO LABOR WAS CLOSE TO $1000. I WAS QUITE UPSET, AND TOLD THE DEALER THAT, SINCE THEY HAD SOLD ME THIS CAR, WHICH HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS, THAT I THOUGHT THEY SHOULD EITHER FIX IT OR PROVIDE ME A FAIR TRADE. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE CAR, WHICH I PAID $26K FOR, IS NOW ONLY WORTH ABOUT $6K BECAUSE OF ITS POOR RESALE VALUE. I REALLY FEEL LIKE A VICTIM AND THAT THE LEMON LAWS SHOULD BE REVISED TO INCLUDE VEHICLES THAT HAVE MULTIPLE SYSTEM FAILURES. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE ON THE VEHICLE ROSE ABOVE NORMAL WHILE PARKED. THE CONTACT FILLED THE WATER TANK, WHICH COOLED THE VEHICLE FOR 30 MINUTES. HOWEVER, THE TEMPERATURE ROSE AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHO DETERMINED THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THERE WERE NO IMMEDIATE REPAIRS MADE.

Mileage: 92,110

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD DEVELOPED A LEAK. SERVICE TECH INDICATED THAT THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS TYPE OF GM ENGINE. HE HAS DONE DOZENS OF SIMILAR REPAIRS. THE LOCAL DEALER ALSO UNDERVALUED MY CAR'S TRADE-IN VALUE WITHOUT KNOWING THERE WAS A LEAK. IT WAS NOT VISIBLE. THEY INDICATED THAT "JUST BASED ON THE ENGINE I'LL ALMOST CERTAINLY HAVE TO REPLACE THE MANIFOLD GASKET." THE SALES REP SAID THIS WAS STANDARD BECAUSE OF ALL THE FAILURES THEY'VE SEEN. *NM

2002 PONTIAC AZTEC - 55,000 MILES. INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK FOUND TODAY BY LOCAL OIL CHANGE SHOP. OIL RESIDUE LEAKING INTO COOLANT SYSTEM (RESIDUE ON INSIDE OF RADIATOR CAP). SAME PROBLEM THAT CANADIAN RESIDENTS ARE CURRENTLY SUBMITTING CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FOR. REPAIR ESTIMATE $900 - $1,100 FOR GM'S ENGINEERING OVERSIGHT! *NM

MY PONTIAC AZTEC USES THE DEXCOOL ORANGE COOLANT AND HAS 60,000 MILES. I NOTICED THAT THE TEMPERATURE OF THE VEHICLE HAS BECOME ERRATIC AND BEGAN TO RESEARCH THE ISSUE I READ AN ARTICLE STATING THAT THE COOLANT BECOME BROWN AND TURNS TO SLUDGE IN THE RADIATOR AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS THE CASE WITH MY 2002 AZTEC. THIS IS KNOWN TO CAUSE BLOWN HEAD GASKETS AND ENGINE DAMAGE. *JB

DT: THE CALLER SAID ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT WAS ON. WHEN SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID THEY FIXED IT. THE CALLER SAID AFTER PICKING UP THE VEHICLE THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS MISSING. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS STOLEN. THE CALLER SAID THE VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET.*AK

Mileage: 66,500

THE AIR COMPRESSOR WENT OUT ON THIS VEHICLE WITH 32,000 MILES AND AT APPROX. THE 38 MONTH OF OWNERSHIP. GM HAS TSB'S THAT TALK ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT WHEN YOUR OVER THE WARRANTY PERIOD TSB'S DON'T FIX THINGS TOTALLY. GM AGREED TO REPLACE THE PART BUT LEFT THE LABOR BILL FOR THE ME TO PAY. THIS PART IS DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE DOCUMENTED HERE BY MORE OWNERS INSTEAD OF AZTEK.COM SITES. THE OLD PART HAS BEEN REPLACED AND IS NOT AVAILABLE. *NM

5/04 CONDENSER REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY 7/05 CONDENSER AGAIN RIPPED NOT UNDER WARRANTY 5 TIMES MY HUB WAS REPLACED THAT HOLDS THE BEARINGS IN THE WHEELS. *NM

Mileage: 20,000

DT: THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING TO THE POINT TO WHERE CONSUMER ACTUALLY HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. THE DEALER TOLD HER THAT THERE WAS A INTERNAL LEAK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. SHE HAS DONE RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THIS IS WAS COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE TYPE OF ENGINE AND MODEL THAT SHE OWNED. ALSO, WHILE DOING RESEARCH SHE LEARNED THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS OCCURRING BETWEEN 60,000-80,000 MILES. SHE FOUND TWO WEBSITES WITH COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER AZTEK OWNERS.*AK IN ADDITION, WHEN COMING TO A STOP, THE HEAT STOPPED COMING FROM THE DASH VENTS. DEALERSHIP PURGED AN AIR POCKET FOUND IN THE COOLING SYSTEM. THE CONSUMER AND MANUFACTURER WAS ABLE TO COME TO SOME SORT OF COMPROMISE REGARDING THE COST OF REPLACING THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET.*TT *SB

Mileage: 56,776

MY VEHICLE HAS REPEATEDLY OVER HEATED SO THAT I HAVE TO PULL OVER ON THE INTERSTATE, AFTER HAVING THE THERMOSTAT REPLACED, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO OVER HEAT SO THEREFORE I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASE. I WAS TOLD I HAVE A LEAK IN THE MANIFOLD GASGET. WHILE ONLINE RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM I CAME UPON A WEBSITE THAT INDICATED THAT A LEAKING MANIFOLD GASGET IS A COMMOM PROBLEM WITH MY TYPE OF VEHICLE ALONG WITH OTHER TYPES MADE BY GM

Mileage: 56,776

2002 AZTEK FRONT LEFT WHEEL BEARING AND CUPS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, A COOLANT LEAK DEVELOPED, REPLACED INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AND THE ENGINE OIL LIGHT WOULD NOT TURN OFF DUE TO BROKE WIRE UNDER AIR CLEANER BOX .***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE REAR SPOILER REDUCES VISIBILITY THROUGH THE REAR WINDOW AND POWER DOOR SWITCH DOES NOT UNLOCK THE REAR DOOR LATCH, HAD TO BE UNLOCKED USING THE KEY. *NM

FRONT LEFT BEARING & HUB ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT AT 31,277 MILES. FRONT RIGHT BEARING & HUB ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT AT 49,482 MILES. REPLACE LEAKING HEAD GASKET AT 39,931 MILES. *AK THIS CAR IS ALSO ON IT'S 3RD SET OF TIRES I'M NOT GETTING ANY REASONS WHY ON THIS EITHER - THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR TOLD ME "TIRES ARE LIKE BRAKES-SOME JUST WEAR OUT FASTER THAN OTHERS." I DON'T KNOW IF THE HUB PROBLEMS ADDED TO THE TIRE WEAR OR NOT - THE WHEEL ACTUALLY WOBBLED ON THE CAR BEFORE IT WAS REPAIRED. 1ST SET REPLACED AT ABOUT 20,000 MILES. 2ND SET REPLACED AT ABOUT 28,000 MILES. I HAVE CALLED PONTIAC SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST 2 YEARS ABOUT CAR REPAIRES & TIRE WEAR. I WAS TOLD THESE THINGS ARE JUST MAINTENANCE! I CONSIDERED THE BRAKE JOB AT 39,931 MILES MAINTENANCE BUT NOT HUBS & A HEAD GASKET. ALSO, I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN FOR HEATING PROBLEMS. IN VERY COLD WEATHER, YOU NEED THE BLOWER ON HIGH & THE HEAT SETTING ON HIGH - EVEN THEN, YOU ARE STILL COLD. THERE IS ALOT OF OUTSIDE AIR COMING IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR (NOT SEALED VERY WELL)

THE FAILURE WAS THE COOLING SYSTEM. KEEP IN MIND I TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY CARS. ALL OF A SUDDEN IT GOT HOT WITH NO WARNING SIGNS. AFTER ONLY 47000 MILES, MY PONTIAC STARTED TO LEAK COOLANT FROM EVERYWHERE. SO I TOOK IT TO A PONTIAC DEALER WERE THEY SEEN I NEEDED A NEW THERMOSTAT, WATER PUMP,AND UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE GASKETS AND SEALS. AFTER IT WAS ALL SAID AND DONE. I HAD TO PAY 1,200 DOLLARS ! *JB

Mileage: 47,000

LOUD KNOCKING NOISE IN ENGINE. WE HAD IT IN THE SHOP TWICE SO THEY COULD REMOVE AND DISASSEMBLE THE ENGINE AND REPLACE ALL SIX PISTONS, ROD BEARINGS AND GASKETS. FIRST TIME AT 34,000 MILES, SECOND TIME AT 46,000 MILES. CURRENTLY AT 51,000 MILES AND ENGINE NOISE IS BACK. FRONT LEFT WHEEL BEARING WENT OUT AT 41,000 MILES. LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING WENT OUT AT 51,000 MILES. FLY WHEEL RATTLES. REAR HATCH ONLY WORKS INTERMITTENTLY AFTER 2 REPAIRS.*AK

Mileage: 41,000

BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND VEHICLE STARTED TO LOSE POWER.*MR ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS ON THE SHOULDER, IT COMPLETELY DIED. AFTER WAITING FOR 30-40 MIN. FOR ASSISTANCE, THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FIRESTONE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE FAILURE OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF THE COMPUTER FAILING TO COMMUNICATE WITH ANOTHER PART. ON THE OTHER HAND, A MECHANIC FROM THE PONTIAC DEALERSHIP STATED THE FAILURE COULD HAVE OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF LOOSE CABLES. THE CONSUMER DISAGREED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE STARTED UP AFTER APPROX. 30 MINUTES. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR EXPENSES PAID TO FIRESTONE TIRE & SERVICE CENTERS FOR DIAGNOSES. *PH *JB

Mileage: 23,000

TRUCK WILL MAINTAIN ACCELERATION, STICKING WHILE BRAKING OR NORMAL DRIVING. THIS FAILURE HAD BEEN CHECKED BY DEALERSHIP WHICH REASSURED OWNER PROBLEM WAS FIXED. TRUCK PARKED IN OWNER'S GARAGE NOT BEING MOVED.*AK ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE DRIVES WITHOUT USING ACCELERATION. THE BRAKE IS USED TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE THIRD REPAIR, CONSUMER IS AFRAID TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD A FUEL GAUGE FLUCTUATION. THE WARNING BELL CHIMES AT DIFFERENT LEVELS BEFORE THE GASOLINE IS EXEMPT FROM THE TANK. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATES. FOR THIS MATTER TO BE RESOLVED, CONSUMER WOULD LIKE PONTIAC TO BUY THE VEHICLE BACK. *JG