2002 Trailblazer Engine Failure 72,000 Miles

[Perdicable]

Purcased vehichle new. Drive 95% highway miles. Changed oil and filter every 3000 miles. Documented.

A month ago the vehichle started up as if it was a cold start.. chugging and coughing as I tried to start it. Never did this at all before. Car starts but is not coming up to rpm level. Chugs for about 40 seconds and then starts to run at the right rpm. Warning light comes on stating the battery is not charging. Meter gage indicates that voltage is being supplied to battery. Turn car off and restart it. Starts but now service engine light is on. As I begin to drive you can feel the car missing. Take it to nearest Chev dealer. Diagnostic.. 35% compression in #1 cylinder, will need at least a valve job.

I had contacted GM during first three months of ownership because I found out that 02,TB was having engine failure in # 1 cyl. Gm advised me at the time that a sleeve was not pressed properly in some engines at a plant different from where my engine was manufactured.

Contact Gm with latest problem and remind them of my initial concern with # 1 cyl. Area service rep looks at situation and indicates they will preform repair with a 50/50 cost. I request that they just put a new engine in the car at 50/50 cost. They then agree to replace engine..only if after taking the head off, they feel engine cannot be repaired. I agree.

The head is removed to find that a rocker arm came off. They replace the rocker arm and I pay halfthe cost and get the car back. Drive it home and the next morning go to start it and it starts up just as it had the day I took it in to the dealer intially. Service engine light comes on again as well.

Return car to dealer.

They say it has bad gas in it. I remind them that it is the same gas that was in the car when I took it to them with the rocker arm problem. After two days they tell me to come pick the car up ( they were going to remove the gas from the car). I go to pick the car up and service informs tells me TB is running in the back of the building..they could not get the gas out of the car. About a 1/4 tank is still in the car They give me a bottle of cleaner to put in the gas tank when I fill it, but only after I run the tank as close to as I can to empty.

When I fill the tank and add the cleaner, the service engine light eventually comes off.Car seems to run fine.

Drive about 180 mile during the course of a week. Fill the car with gas again and drive 210 miles in one day. next day go to start the car and it is chugging jus like the other two times. Can hear the valves tapping and then bang. Starter is destroyed by the kickback.

Tow the car to the dealer and wait about two weeks because of the Thanksgiving Holiday for the area Rep to look at the car. Diagnostic is that a valve broke and dropped into the cylinder. Looks like it is the # 1 cylinder. Fighting now with GM on what to do with the car.

HELP
I heard from someone that GM warranties some part in this engine for 100,000 miles and will replace engine if it fails due to this part failing. Does anyone know what this person is talking to me about?????

I am sick over this thing and would advise anyone that is approaching the milage that I have on this vehicle to stay with me on this post.
Regards,
Rodney

[usa1811]

Have you had any other major issues with yours? I have an 04 and am getting nervous with all the bad news I now read about them. How was oil consumption b/4 the destruct?

[Perdicable]

Originally Posted by usa1811

Have you had any other major issues with yours? I have an 04 and am getting nervous with all the bad news I now read about them. How was oil consumption b/4 the destruct?

I had the cluch fan sound like a jet engine, yes it is proprietory product of GM, costs around $700 to replace. Somee other posts explain about this problem. Not sure if it is a different clutch fan in the 04 model. doubt that it is.

The starter was destroyed with my current problem,get ready for this, the plastic planetary gear can not be purchased to rebuild the starter, dealer item at $284 dollars, a real rip off since they want the oldstarter back so They CAN REPLACE the $12 dollar plastic gear in the starter.

Around seven months into owning the TB, the key would not turn in the ignition, under warranty they replace the whole sterring column. On a positive note, did get 68k miles out the the original set of tires, rotated every 5k. I am at the point where I think I may never purchase a chevy product again, I have driven them all my life.