Eric_Hanke

Hey Everyone! This is my first forum post here at AutomotiveForums.com.

Enjoy!!!

I am the unfortunate owner of a 2001 Chevrolet Venture that has experienced this problem first hand. Here is my story…

About a year ago my wife and noticed that “Vicky’s” heater was not working properly; it was taking a long time for her to start blowing hot air. After an oil change, air filter replacement, and the addition of coolant, the problem seemed to resolve itself. This went on for a few months until we were scheduled to take our 4 children to Disney back in March 2007. So we decided to take Vicky to the GM dealer we purchased her from for “official service”. In addition to replacing the cabin air filter and performing an oil change in preparation for our big trip, they also recommended we flush the cooling system. Even though it was not noted under the “recommended future service” portion of our bill, they also mentioned we had a slow coolant leak and recommended we replace the intake gasket for around $900. We opted to wait.

Well, you can only assume, that since I am posting here our problem has worsened and we had the intake gasket replaced last Thursday 2/28/08 for a cost of $830. The dealer also recommended we flush the oil system to remove sludge built up in the engine as a result of coolant leaking into the engine. We also had that service performed for an additional $147.

On the bill we received from the dealer were listed several gaskets, and gasket kits which confused me so I decided to look up a few of the part numbers on Google. The first part number 19169127 lead me to this forum where I found a great deal of information regarding this part, the symptoms, and how most of the “reputable” GM dealers would work with the vehicle owner and pay a portion of the cost of the repair under the “Goodwill Warranty” category.

So I called the dealer’s service manager on Saturday 3/1/08 to see if we could work something out.

Suzanne, the service manager, was not helpful at all. While she stated that they perform at least 4-5 of these a day she stated that based on her last call to GM (at least 3 months ago) that GM was not willing to work with the dealer to cover any of the cost of my service. I was extremely courteous with the Suzanne on the phone and informed herr that I was not asking the dealer to cover the complete cost of the repair. Rather I was asking them to cover a reasonable cost of the repair and I was comfortable as the vehicle owner with assuming some of the financial responsibility for the repair. Needless to say, they were not willing to assist at all.

So I downloaded the Chevrolet Warranty and Assistance Center manual from GM.COM and read through what recourse I have with the dealer and GM to recover a portion of my expenses. I called the GM Customer Service Center (800) 222-1020 this morning 3/3/08 to escalate my issue. There I spoke with Elizabeth at the GM center who after we exchanged pleasantries and I provided my pertinent information, Name, Address, VIN, etc, provided me with her direct number and extension. I was actually surprised; Elizabeth seemed genuinely concerned about my issue and placed me on hold to contact the dealer on my behalf. She returned a few minutes later and informed me that the service manager she needed to speak with at the dealer, Suzanne, was not in yet and was not scheduled to be in the office until 9:30 CST. Elizabeth asked if she could call me back between 3-5 EST today after she had the opportunity to speak with the dealer. WOW!!! A call back? I am not going to hold my breath, but I actually feel like she is going to call me back this afternoon. Guess I will have to wait and see.

I also discovered a class action lawsuit in progress regarding this issue. Visit http://www.girardgibbs.com/dexcool.html for additional information.

Good Luck Everyone!!!

I will continue to keep this post updated as more information becomes available.

Eric_Hanke

This is part 2 of a multi part story.

So I heard back from the GM Customer Service Rep Elizabeth a few minutes ago. What a waste! Basically she spoke with Suzanne at the dealer and had no new information for me. Elizabeth might have well said "sorry to hear your complaint, but based on the fact that I have no authority with GM or the dealer, I can't help you". You guessed it, Elizabeth was of no assistance.

So, my next step is to file a complain with the BBB Auto Line program. Since the BBB Auto Line Program is funded by the major auto manufacturers in the form of "fees to belong" I am not expecting much to come out of filing the complaint. It will however, be good fluff when I file my small claims court case against the dealer for the repair.

On another front, I contacted the law firm in San Francisco handling the Class Action Suit against GM and Dex Cool. I await a call back from the attourney handling the Class Action Suit.

More to follow......

hueroloco

It's going to be interesting to find out what ultimately happens with the whole GM DEXCOOL issue.

Literally millions of people have had the same issue you did with coolant leak and sludge problems due to GM's DEXCOOL. Good luck.

Eric_Hanke

Thanks for the reply. I am also reviewing the Small Claims procedure for the Indiana County I live in. Can't attack this thing from too many angles.

cjstew4

I also have an email into the law firm you mention having the class action suit for over a month now asking next steps, etc. No word yet. Hopefully I can recoup some of the intake/head gasket repair expense related to "Death-Cool."

Eric_Hanke

This is part 3 of a multi part story

After no luck with the GM Customer Service Center I opened a case with the GM BBB Auto Line. I currently have a case number and GM agent assigned to the case.

Thanks for all the interest.

tepco

Good job! Keep us informed. My gasket was done when i bought the Venture at~ 38K at the dealer, then again at 112K by myself, now at 125K it just stranded us 140 miles away from home with the usual signes and worse and im not sure i want to fix it again. Its a shame because we love the van and its in great shape.

I put that Dex-cool in when i replaced it because of the class action law suit, but i got an email and my van was to old or something like that, its a 99. I wish i would have used the green antifreeze because when i got stuck i pulled the rad cap off and it had a big clump of that red crap stuck to it.

I dont want to give up with GM, i have a 1994 C1500 PU with 205K which is great with no problems, and a spotless coolant system!!!

Good luck, its not right that we all have to deal with this, due to this coolant. I could understand if it was from abuse but its not it is coolant failure!!

Funny thing is the manual says that the coolant is good for 5 years or 150k, Well i havent made it to either on the same coolant.

Please keep us informed.

Tim

Eric_Hanke

Part 4...

Following the unsuccessful resolution with the GM Dealer and GM Customer care I opened the GM BBB Autoline case on Monday and received a call back from the GM Agent now assigned to the case.

We scheduled a call back for Monday 3/10/08 so she could contact the dealer and get all the information together before making a decision and involving the official BBB.

On the lawsuit front. I received a call back from Alyssa (SP) from Girard Gibbs LLP. They are the firm in California handling the class action suit with GM and Dexcool. Below is the status of the suit:

From the Girard Gibbs website http://www.girardgibbs.com/dexcool.html

GM Dex-Cool/ Intake Manifold Gasket Lawsuit


TENTATIVE CLASS SETTLEMENT REACHED

A tentative nationwide settlement has been reached with General Motors in the Dex-Cool/ Intake Manifold Gasket class action lawsuits. The lawsuits were filed on behalf of owners of General Motors vehicles, which were factory-filled with "Dex-Cool" coolant. In summary, the lawsuits alleged that Dex-Cool degraded certain vehicles’ intake manifold gaskets and other engine sealability components, and that in certain other vehicles, Dex-Cool formed a rusty sludge, clogging the vehicles’ cooling systems and causing vehicles to overheat.

Terms of the Settlement: GM automobile owners and lessees will have the option to be included in this class action settlement if they incurred out-of-pocket expenses for any of the following repairs:
1. A replacement of the nylon/silicone lower intake manifold gasket, made within the earlier of 7 years or 150,000 miles of the date of initial delivery for 1995-2003.5 Model Year vehicles with 3.1-liter V6 and 3.4-liter V6 engines that were originally equipped with Dex-Cool coolant.
2. A coolant sealability repair (including, but not limited to, throttle body gasket, upper intake manifold gasket, lower intake manifold gasket, etc.), made within the earlier of 7 years or 150,000 miles of the date of initial delivery for 1995 - 2004 model year 3.8-liter V6 engines (RPO L36) that were originally equipped with Dex-Cool coolant.
3. A Dex-Cool sludge repair, made within the earlier of 7 years or 150,000 miles for 1995 - 2000 model year S/T light trucks and sport utility vehicles with 4.3-liter V6 engines that were originally equipped with Dex-Cool coolant.
The precise terms of the proposed settlement remain confidential while the settlement papers are being prepared for court approval. We hope to obtain court approval and provide formal notice of the settlement beginning in February. At that time we will be able to answer inquiries regarding the specifics of the settlement and how to file a claim. In the meantime, anyone who believes they incurred an expense in connection with a repair or replacement described above should retain all receipts they have for the repairs or replacement.
If you would like us to email you with updates about the Dex-Cool settlement, please fill in the form below and let us know. You may keep checking back on this webpage for further settlement documents and updates as they become available.

The above text is from the Girard Gibbs website.

The attorney I spoke with recommended to everyone interested sign up for e-mail updates on their website regarding this case. The settlement is in the hands of the attorney's on both sides with an expected publication mid March 2008.

Cheers!!!

Eric

rockwood84

as with most class action lawsuits against big companies the final settlement will give the lawyers 3/4s of the settlement as legal fees. the remaining 1/4 will be split between thousands of owners, think of how many vehicles were sold with the 3.4 between '96 and '04 . g.m. and dexcool will walk away with a slap on the wrist and still expect you to buy a vehicle from them.

javaswing

Good story let us know how things turn out. I'm interested but I'm in Canada so can only look at cases, Yes there is an case suit in Canada but our system is an joke..

Good luck