1996 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

1996 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, MOTOR SEIZED UP AND BEGAN TO SMOKE, MOTOR CAUGHT FIRE. *BF PRIOR TO THE FIRE, THE DRIVER NOTICED THE VEHICLE WAS LEAVING SOME TYPE OF FLUID BEHIND. ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, THE ENGINE WAS LEAKING OIL. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0409-90)*JB UPDATED 08/05/10 *BF

1996 PONTIAC TRANSPORT VAN WITH LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE INTERNAL MANIFOLD LEAKED FILLING THE OIL PAN UP WITH WATER WHICH IN TURN FROZE THE MAIN BEARINGS TO THE CRANKSHAFT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOCK UP AT 50 MPH. HE SENT IN PREVIOUS LETTER ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM ON ANOTHER VEHICLE. *KB THE CONSUMER NOTICED A SMELL OF ANTI-FREEZE, BUT COULD NOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM, BECAUSE IT WAS INTERNAL NOT EXTERNAL. *JB

COOLANT MIXING INTO ENGINE OIL DUE TO DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET,WHY IS THERE NO RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM?*JB

VEHICLE STARTED EATING COOLANT, WITHIN 4 DAYS OF COOLANT LEAK HEAD GASKET HAD COMPLETE FAILURE DUMPING CONTENTS OF RADIATOR INTO OIL PAN. UPON EXAM FOUND THAT DEXTROL COOLANT HAD TURNED CORROSIVE AND EATEN THREW GASKET CAUSING FAILURE. REPLACE ALL TOP END GASKETS AND REBUILD TOP END. PRAY THAT LOWER END WILL BE OK ONCE FLUSHED COMPLETELY. HAVE KEPT OLD PARTS FOR FURTHER EXAM. *NM

Mileage: 75,000

AFTER THE 2ND VALVE SPRING BROKE, I WAS TOLD THAT THE VALVES WERE SEIZING UP AND A NEW ENGINE WOULD BE REQUIRED. ALL OF THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE BAD DESIGNED MANIFOLD GASKET THAT CAUSED COOLANT TO GO INTO THE OIL. AFTER SPENDING OVER $1,000 SINCE 4-29-03, I FINALLY HAD TO TRADE IN FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE. I DIDN'T HAVE BETWEEN $4,000 AND $5,000 FOR A NEW ENGINE, WHICH ON A '96 MODEL WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN WORTH IT. I COULD HAVE GOTTEN A USED ENGINE, BUT ALL OF THEM HAVE THE SAME MANIFOLD GASKET AND THIS WOULD HAVE COST APROXIMATELY $2,000. I'VE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS VAN. GENERAL MOTORS SHOULD HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THIS AS A RECALL, BUT I GUESS IT WAS TOO EXPENSIVE FOR THEM TOO.

FAILURE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET.

Mileage: 115,000

INTAKE MANIFOLD & GASKET FAILURE - OIL & COOLANT MIXING IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT - IMMINENT ENGINE FAILURE FRONT WIPER MOTOR/TRANSMISSION INTERMITENT FAILURE WHILE DRIVING - DIFFICULTY DIAGNOSING PROBLEM - MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WHEN THE WIPERS SUDDENLY STOP/START WORKING WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN & SNOW OR SLOPPY HIGHWAY CONDITIONS COMPRESSOR CLUTCH HUB & PULLEY FAILURE

Mileage: 88,000

INTAKE MANIFOLD & GASKET FAILURE - OIL & COOLANT MIXING IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT - IMMINENT ENGINE FAILURE FRONT WIPER MOTOR/TRANSMISSION INTERMITENT FAILURE WHILE DRIVING - DIFFICULTY DIAGNOSING PROBLEM - MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WHEN THE WIPERS SUDDENLY STOP/START WORKING WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN & SNOW OR SLOPPY HIGHWAY CONDITIONS COMPRESSOR CLUTCH HUB & PULLEY FAILURE

Mileage: 88,000

EXCESSIVE CONSUMPTION OF COOLANT. REPAIR SHOP TOLD US COOLANT WAS BEING SUCKED INTO INTAKE MANIFOLD. REPLACED GASKET AND CONVERTED FROM ORANGE TO GREEN COOLANT. *NLM

Mileage: 96,000

COOLANT IN OIL DUE TO MANIFOLD INTAKE GASKET..HAD GASKET REPLACED AND IS BACK IN THE SHOP AGAIN FOR SAME PROBLEM. IN BETWEEN THESE TWO TOWINGS, I HAD TO HAVE THE VALVE SPRING REPLACED BECAUSE IT BROKE. *NLM

Mileage: 96,500

FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET ON 1996 PONTIAC TRANSPORT. *JB

Mileage: 115,000

DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS ON 1996 PONTIAC 3.4 LITER ENGINE 79,000 MILES. GASKET LEAKS ENGINE COOLANT INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY. COOLANT CAN MIX WITH ENGINE OIL, CONTAMINATING OIL, CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE WHILE OPERATING VEHILCLE. COOLANT CAN LEAK FROM ENGINE, CAUSING ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND SEIZE.

Mileage: 78,500

NO SUMMARY LIKSTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, NOTICED ENGINE SURGING, THEN HEARD PUFF SOUND, SUDDENLY SMOKE CAME OUT OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE.*AK